Aidan's hated mate

France, 1690

Aidan

“Father, tell again why we have to visit all Europe's packs?” I ask.

We have been traveling for a long time, and I am impatient to get back home. But father made me go with him to visit all Europe's pack.

“Son, one day you will be the Werewolf King. Our people need to know you.”

I sigh. I was told this every day since I can remember, that one day I am to be the Werewolf King. Being the oldest of my brothers, this responsibility falls upon me. But I don’t want to be King. I want to have a normal, simple life.

“Father, you are still young. It will pass hundreds of years until I will be the next Werewolf King.”

Werewolves, like many other creatures that are thought to be only myths, can live thousands of years. A mythical creature is not immortal, it can be killed by cutting the creature's head.

“Aidan, I am two hundred and five years old. I have found your mother only seventeen years ago. Having you and your brothers have been my greatest joy. You know well as any that we have been at war with the demons for thousands of years. Your grandfather was killed when I was eighteen, forcing me to become the Werewolf King, and I wasn’t ready. I don't want this to happen to you, knowing that I can be killed any day. You have to be prepared for when that day comes. I know you are young, and only sixteen. You want to do normal things, but you are not like any other werewolf. You are a Prince, future King.”

I know all too well what my father is telling me. The Demon King is three thousand years old, killing more Werewolf Kings and Queens than any other Demon King before him.

It is late in the afternoon when we make it to our destination. The mansion of the Alpha Supreme of all France.

When we get out of the carriage and I look at the mansion. Slightly smaller than the palace where I live, the mansion stood proudly in the middle of a garden full of flowers. Around the garden, other houses are built.

“Come on son, the Alpha Supreme is waiting for us.”

I follow my father to the mansion and before we step on the first stair, a butler opens the door for us.

“My King,” he says, bowing his head and then looks at me, “My prince,” followed by another bow. “Please follow me, Alpha Jacques is waiting for you in the study room.”

“Thank you,” my father says.

We follow the butler down a hallway when I hear someone playing the piano. The music that comes from a room next to me sounds sad and lonely. I decide to look who is playing the sad song, and I enter the room. A beautiful young girl is sitting in front of a piano, and I can see her from the profile. Her hair is of a color that I have never seen before. It is long, curly, and pink. When she realizes I am looking at her, she stops playing and looks at me. Her eyes are violet, and I can see clearly that even her eyebrows and eyelashes are pink.

She has a straight nose and red lips. She is the most beautiful girl that I have ever seen in my entire existence.

My heart starts beating fast, and my instinct whisper in my ear* Mate*.

I can't believe it. My father waited for a hundred and eighty-eight years to find my mother, and yet I, at the age of sixteen, I found my mate.

“Can I help you?” the young girl asks me in a crystalline voice.

“No, my lady. I am afraid that I might have startled you and that’s why you stopped playing.”

She shakes her head.

“No, of course not. I was just surprised, that's all. No one ever comes in here, except me, when I want to play. Would like for me to play some more?”

“Only if the lady wishes so.”

She looks at some music sheet she has next to her and chooses one. When she starts to play, a piece of gentle, cheerful music fills the room.

I could stay like this for even and drawn in the beauty of my mate, while I listen to her music.

“Aidan? Aidan, where are you?” I hear my father's voice calling me, and the magic of the moment is lost.

“In here, father,” I say.

The next moment my father enters and I see my lady standing up fast and bowing to my father.

“My King,” she says, and she looks at me and bows again “Forgive me, my prince, because I did not realize it was you.”

“Lady Charlotte, I see you have already met my son, Aidan.”

Charlotte, that is the name of my mate. Charlotte. Charlotte. I say it over and over again in my mind, wanting to brand it in my heart.

“Come, Aidan, Alpha Jacques is waiting for us.”

I am torn between wanting to stay with my mate and tell her who I am to her and doing my duty. But alas, I am the Prince, and duty calls.

“My lady,” I say “until we meet again,” and she bows.

I follow my father, my heart beating now only for lady Charlotte.

After the meeting, we are invited to dine with the Alpha Supreme. More Alphas from packs all around France come to meet me, but I only have eyes for lady Charlotte.

During dinner, I barely pay attention to what the Alphas are saying. I can’t stop looking at my lady.

After dinner, the butler takes me and my father to our room.

“I have seen the way you look at lady Charlotte. I know what it means,” my father tells me.

I don’t try to deny it.

“She is my mate, father.”

“I understand, but you and her are still too young. You have much to learn, and she is only thirteenth years old. Be patient, my son!”

Only thirteen? So young.

“I understand, father. I will learn everything I have to learn so I can claim my mate soon.”

The next day I look for my lady. I want to say goodbye before leaving. I look in the piano room, but she is not there, so I take a walk through the garden when I see that lady Charlotte sitting on a bench.

I approach her.

“May I sit next to you, my lady?” I ask.

“My prince!” she says and rushed to stand.

“No need to bow, my lady. I only wish to enjoy your company.”

We stay one next to another for a while, none of us saying anything.

“Lady Charlotte, I am leaving today. May I have your permission to write to you? In the short time, I have been here I have to care a lot about you, and it would bring me joy if I could write to you.”

“Of course, my Prince. You don’t need my permission to do so.”

“Thank you, my lady,” I say and gently lift her right hand and place a soft kiss on top of it. “Until we meet again, my lady.”

“Goodbye, my Prince.”