Chapter 3

The entire ride back to the castle was silent. You could cut the tension with a knife. It was clear to Eva that the Prince could be her mate. She was showing all the symptoms based on all the books she read. What she couldn't understand was the fact that he had yet to say anything. Maybe he wasn't her mate? That still didn't explain how he made her feel just by being close to her. Something was off.

Why hadn't he said or done anything? Usually, wolves with higher rankings became much more possessive.  Surely if Eva was his mate he would say something... no?

Alana knew something was wrong. Sure Eva was shy and everything but she was never this quiet. Alana kept her guard up. She didn't fully trust the prince. He gave her weird vibes.

Alana dared not to say anything. No matter how badly she wanted to comment on her best friend's attitude at this moment. She didn't want to draw attention to her best friend.

No one could sense Eva's inner turmoil like her mate could. Prince Cole said nothing to even hint at the possibility of Eva being his mate. Surely the mood goddess wouldn't be so cruel as to grant him a vampire mate. A BLIND vampire mate at that. This had to be a mistake. She was a mistake.

There was no way in hell he would accept something defective.  He was a prince after all. He had higher standards.

He decided not to say anything on the matter. As long as he kept his mouth shut no one would know. He was sure that the Vampire would keep her mouth shut. She probably had no idea.

A part of him... the weaker part wanted to accept her. To love her, to cherish her, but he made sure that part of him was caged up deep in his soul. Never to see the light of day.

He was NOT weak he was strong and he DESERVED a strong mate.

As the car drew closer to the castle the prince decided to do something he knew would benefit them both. If he rejected her the moon Goddess would grant him a second chance mate. Surely a prince had a second mate. He was a prince after all and Eva could go and live her life with her 'Pack'.

Now that he thought about it. Maybe keeping Eva at the castle wasn't such a bad idea. He could mate her as much as he needed until his second chance mate came into the picture. Then he could send Eva back home.

The prince smiled proudly at his plan. He had thought of everything. Eva wouldn't reject him she needed him. He was a prince and could give her anything she desired. Anything but his love for her.

The car slowed down and eventually came to a full stop. The doors were opened from the outside by the guards and everyone climbed out. As the prince climbed out of the car he caught a whiff of Eva's scent. She had a sweet scent that made him weak to the knees.

The prince hated the fact that Eva had so much control over him. He had to deal with this mate's business as soon as possible. No one could have so much control over him. He was above everyone and he would be damned if he let anyone rule over him.

As everyone walked towards the castle the guards opened the doors for the prince. He led them inside and towards the King's Throne Room.

Eva had yet to say a word. She was still dumbfounded about what the actual fuck was going on! This matter was starting to frustrate her and she was not one to get angry.

If he was her mate why not say anything?! She didn't understand. Maybe it was her... maybe she was just imagining things.

Eva decided not to say anything further and tried to push the matter to the back of her head.

"Welcome, Alpha Vasiliev, Beta Stone, Future Alpha Alana Vasiliev" The King spoke out as he greeted almost everyone.

"My apologies it seems that I don't know your name" The King added in confusion. 

"Her name is Eva, she is a vampire and daughter of Beta Stone" Alexandrov spoke out and everyone bowed.

Eva knew that when meeting with Royals it was customary to bow as a sign of respect. She was glad she had read the book on how to greet Royals. She would have looked like a disrespectful person had she been the only one not to bow.

"This is New, a vampire that bows? Might I ask how you guys came across adopting a vampire Beta Stone" The King questioned as he placed a hand over his mouth.

"We found her in the woods when she was just a child" Antonio spoke out.

Eva knew that he lied. She knew that she was left at the pack to be protected from hunters. Her mother Nerine promised to be back but never returned. Even at a young age, Eva wasn't stupid. She knew the hunters had probably killed her off.

What Eva didn't understand was why her father would lie to the King. Why not simply let him know that she was an Orphan who was abandoned? 

"And her parents?"

"I am her parent your Majesty" Antonio bit out in annoyance. 

Eva knew this side of him all too well. He would get angry when anyone ever said that she was not his child. Eva's mother Misty was the same. Misty would raise hell and high water if anyone dared say that Eva wasn't her child.

Hell hath no fury like a mama bear.

"I see" His majesty simply spoke as he was now uninterested in this vampire.

"If I may your majesty... Eva here is my mate." The prince spoke out nonchalantly. 

Everyone froze at his comment. Eva was shocked to hear that she was, in fact, the mate of the werewolf prince. Alexandrov and Antonio had said nothing and were still a bit shell-shocked. Alana was the only one to curse under her breath and roll her eyes at the Prince's Confession. 

"Oh?" The King questioned with newfound Intrest in a small Vampire before him.

"Congratulations Son, I am happy for"

"Actually your Majesty, I was hoping you could authenticate my Rejection. Eva here is not only a vampire but she is also blind. I will not be weighed down by a defective mate."

Eva felt as if an Arrow had passed through her heart. His words burned her like blue flames. She could t explain the pain she was in. Eva doubled over and fell to the ground on her hands and knees.

How could he say those things about her? He was her mate. From all of the stories she had read, mates were a blessing, not a curse.

She couldn't understand the feelings passing through her. They were going so fast she couldn't pinpoint which one was the strongest. Anger, Hurt, Pride, Sadness, and most of all Betrayal.  These emotions crashed into her like a tidal wave. Eva had never been in a position where she had so many emotions running through her.

Although Eva didn't exactly want a Mate she wasn't going to reject one either. So what if she was claimed by one man for the rest of her life?

Alana quickly fell to her knees to comfort her best friend. She knew this wasn't a good time but all she wanted to yell out was 'I knew it!' Although she hadn't told anyone her feelings for the Prince she knew he was a piece of shit. He had just confirmed what she thought from the beginning!

"You son of a bitch" Antonio growled as he lunged at the prince.

Antonio was seeing red and his wolf wanted blood. He didn't care that he was in the presence of a King or that he was attacking the future king. To him, this pup had hurt his daughter and he was going to pay for it in full.

Alexandrov watched in horror as Antonio shifted in mid-jump and landed on the Prince. The prince had shifted as well into a large pure white wolf. Even in his wolf form, he looked regal.

The prince defended himself against the angry father. Although Prince Cole was convinced this man wasn't just a Beta, the way this wolf moved and attacked. He held the strength of an Alpha. At least he did base on the strength of the other Alphas he had fought. Then again Alpha Vasiliev ran a strong pack. They hadn't been to war in a while and were mostly peaceful. Now he was beginning to understand why.

Antonio fought with all his might to kill the prince. He managed to get in a couple of scratches and bites. The prince was fighting to defend himself but he was weak. Even for a prince, he was too weak. Antonio was only a Beta and had managed to injure him in more ways than one.

"Beta Stone! Enough!" Alexandrov yelled out in his Alpha command. 

Against Antonio's desire, his wolf stopped his assault on  Prince Martin Cole. The Blood in his mouth wasn't enough to calm his wolf but he couldn't go against his Alpha.

The King simply watched how everything unfolded in front of him. The way his idiot son had just rejected his Goddess-given Gift. The way her 'Father' had fought to defend her honor and almost beat the Prince into a coma.

Sure he wasn't expecting the Moon Goddess to pair a werewolf and A vampire together, especially a royal but at the end of the day, she knew best.

Although he admitted that his son had done an idiot thing like that In front of everyone and had almost ruined the royal image by almost dying at the hands of a Beta, The King couldn't help the contempt that he felt for Beta Stone.

Alexandrov could feel the Anger and contempt rolling off the King in waves. Almost drowning him. He was sure that Antonio could feel it too. Alexandrov had to defuse this situation as fast as possible before a public execution happened and Eva ended up being Beta before she was ready.

"Your Majesty, please forgive my Beta. He simply lost control. Surely you know what it's like to have someone attack your child."

"The Difference here Alpha Vasiliev is that your Beta physically attacked my son." The King bit out.

"I understand but please understand that Antonio is a father first and he is very protective of his daughter. Especially since his mate is so far away."

The King remained silent as he tried to calm himself and tried to think things through. He knew what it was like to have his Mate far away from him. How he was constantly in an irritated mood and almost anything set him off.

"Your Majesty, I demand recompensation for this brutal attack." The Prince Spoke as he limped towards the King.

"Very well, you shall receive it. Name your price"

"I want the Vampire to be my full-time maid." The prince smirked as he looked at a crying Eva on the floor.

"No way in hell" Alexandrov growled out shocking everyone in the room.

"Excuse me?"

"With all due respect your majesty, I will not allow my future Beta to stay in a place she isn't wanted. She has duties waiting for her in our pack. I refuse to leave her behind with this little pervert prince" Alexandrov bit out.

"Alpha Vasiliev you do understand what will happen if you deny a royal order"

"Yes I do and I stand by my decision"

"Alpha Vasiliev, I, Eva Kora, Deny the Beta position and sever all ties with the Green Forest Pack," Eva spoke out as she stood from the floor.

"To avoid war, I will stay here and become his maid" Eva added as she wiped her tears.

"Over my Goddamn body!" Antonio growled out drawing everyone's attention to him.