Chapter 7

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ALPHA BEN

"THE PRINCESS IS YOUR MATE," Vince shouts, and I growl loudly.

"Shut up," I order, and he thumps down in one of my office chairs.

"I haven't told Chelsea," I disclose in a low voice.

"Ben, this is the kings' daughter we are talking about. Do you realize what you have done by parading a chosen mate in front of her," Vince says before gripping his own hair like he is the one stressed out.

"I am aware, but Vince, I can't just drop Chelsea. She is important to me, to this pack," I say before standing up and pacing behind my office chair.

"You think our pack wouldn't accept the princess as their luna," Vince asks with disbelief in his voice.

"I don't know. She is young. I don't know anything about her personality. She has never been away from her home pack.....and I know how sheltered Jackson kept her. She doesn't have the maturity level that Chelsea has," I say, trying to list the reasons why my heart is torn.

"From what I have seen, she is level-headed, caring, and polite," Vince says with a growl in his tone.

I snarl at his disrespect, and he briefly shows me his neck, but his eyes remain defiant.

"Watch yourself, Beta," I growl, and Vince stands to his feet.

"I will watch myself, Alpha.....and I will watch you ruin your bond with your mate...my TRUE luna. But when you come to me as your best friend, I will remind you of this moment. When you threw away my council," Vince says while throwing his words at me as if they were silver daggers.

He moves to exit my office, and my Alpha pride falls.

"Stop," I order, and Vince's body becomes rigid.

"What do I do," I ask with a hint of desperation in my voice.

Vince turns, and I sigh internally when I see that the look in his eyes has softened.

"You tell Chelsea the truth. You tell them both how you feel and who you want," Vince says calmly, and my head falls.

"What if I don't know what I want," I whisper, and Vince's brows lift.

"I would give my right arm to meet my true mate, but that is just me. I don't know how to help you decide, Ben, but I do know Sasha won't allow herself to be someone's second choice. Decide, Ben, before it is too late," Vince says, and then he leaves my office.

Silence consumes the room, and my shoulders immediately slouch. My mind instantly goes to how Sasha looked this morning. My mate had looked sad and tired. She was still beautiful, but I could see the faint under-eye bags and the misery she was trying to keep concealed. But she had spoken to Chelsea with nothing but respect and kindness.

Chelsea had been the perfect hostess even when she had gotten nervous about the border inspection. How do I choose between two amazing she-wolves? How do I walk away from Chelsea?

Shame from my past makes my chest tighten. I used dozens of females for sexual pleasure in the years I searched for my mate. I used and discarded them like they were nothing. I can't do the same to Chelsea. I can't throw her away now that I found my mate. Chelsea isn't disposable! She is my partner! My friend! No, I have never been over the heels in love with her, but I do love her.

A faint knock sounds on my door, and I straighten my spine instantly as my mate's scent hits my nose. I quickly sit in my office chair and compose myself. I turn on my computer and pull up one of the order forms that is already complete.

Another knock sounds on my door.

"Come in," I say evenly, and Sasha opens and closes my office door immediately.

My eyes travel over her curves quickly before I turn my attention to her deep brown gaze. I read the rage in her dark eyes, and Ace whimpers in our head. I try to hide the effect her emotion has on me by turning my gaze to my computer screen.

"How can I help you," I ask while not looking at her.

"Have you made your decision yet," Sasha growls, and my eyes close?

Guilt pummels my insides as I stand to my feet. I walk around my desk and stand in front of my fuming mate.

"No, I haven't, Sasha," I whisper as I search her eyes for any other emotion other than anger.

Her eyes flash to an ice blue, and my breath gets caught in my throat. Her wolf's eyes are gorgeous. I wish I were seeing them on different terms. I open my mouth, but before I can beg her to understand, my office door opens again.

Chelsea breezes her way into the tense room with an easy smile on her face, and more guilt hits me in the face. Sasha replaces the blatant rage on her face with an easy-going mask.

"I was looking for the two of you; dinner is ready," Chelsea says before placing a small kiss on my cheek.

The light in Sasha's eyes dim a bit, and Ace growls loudly.

"I'm sorry, Chelsea, but after today's tour, I am beat. I will have to take a rain check. Alpha Ben, I will be exploring the human town tomorrow, so Roland will be the one to meet with your border patrol. Luis will be accompanying me," Sasha says in an emotionally detached voice.

My stomach twists, and I fight the urge to yank her into my arms. Chelsea's presence feels like an anchor. An anchor that is dragging my soul from my body.

"Oh, I completely understand. Would you like my company tomorrow when you go visit the human town," Chelsea asks, and I feel sick for my mate.

"No, thank you, Chelsea. I appreciate the offer, but I honestly prefer to explore on my own. The only reason Luis is invited is due to my parents. My Father ordered me to never go anywhere without him. But again, thank you for the offer," Sasha answers politely.

She gives us both a slight nod, and then she is gone. Ace howls, and a piece of my heart breaks off. My mind wheels for a moment before I realize I am staring after Sasha in front of Chelsea.

I quickly shift my gaze to Chelsea and smile.

"How was your day," I ask, and Chelsea shrugs while smiling.

"Pleasant. Our guests are polite......are you and Sasha okay? I can smell the princess's anger...Did I do something to upset her," Chelsea asks while stumbling over her words.

Her eyebrows shoot up to her hairline, and fear over angering Sasha covers her features.

"No, my love, I angered her. The royals don't particularly like chosen mates. They never have, but I explained that at my age, choosing a mate is common," I half-lie.

"Oh, well, I hope she knows we value true mates. Our pack isn't like the old White Crest. She is probably worried that we are taking after your great grandmother's father," Chelsea sighs, looking at the door to my office with a sad expression.

"I explained, Chels, don't stress about it. The royals know that finding true mates is still hard. The war only ended thirteen years ago. Sasha is just too young. She didn't live through the horrors of war for very long," I say while walking back to my desk chair.

"But she did experience more than I did," Chelsea says with awe in her voice, and my interest peeks.

"How so," I ask, and Chelsea sits down across from me.

"She survived a direct attack from Lord Stefan. She listened as her caregivers and her relatives were slaughtered. She only survived because an older cousin told her to lower her heart rate and placed her in a small hidden hole inside a panic room. Roland told me the whole story. It got me thinking about how I grew up. I was always kept safe, you remember. My parents always had me in the hidden bunker. I still haven't experienced fighting a vampire, and I am only three years younger than you," Chelsea explains, and realization dawns on me.

My mate might be young, but she is old for her years. She has seen death and experienced more than I give her credit for. She has also maintained an extremely respectful attitude towards Chelsea. I can't believe I told Vince she might be too immature for me.....she has been nothing but mature. Nothing but.....perfect.

"I remember now. Jackson was stressed during the final battle because they had to leave her back at Riverstone. Amelia kept telling stories about how sassy her new five-year-old daughter was. Hard to imagine that same sassy child is visiting us and has been nothing but polite," I say while trying to keep my tone light and airy.

"Well, I like her, and I like her guards also. They are professional but not stiff. Especially, Roland, he is very likable. He had me laughing the entire time we were walking through White Crest," Chelsea says, and I nod, but I offer nothing else to the conversation.

I hate being dishonest, but the thought of hurting Chelsea makes me bite my tongue. Her eyes fall to her hands, and an awkward silence falls over us for the first time ever. I want to ease the weird tension, but I can't seem to find anything to say to the woman who has been by my side for years.

"Whelp, I'm going to head down to dinner. Would you like dinner sent up, or will you be joining us," Chelsea asks while standing to her feet and heading towards the door.

"Have it sent up, please," I answer, and she gives me a weak smile.

"Okay. Don't work too late," she says as she leaves.

Little does she know I completed my work hours ago. But avoiding dinner means avoiding going to bed with her and being intimate. And I fully intend to avoid all intimacy until I make a decision.

SASHA POV

Natalia huffs as we collapse next to a small pond of water we found last night. Her sadness echoes mine.

Sasha- how much time do you think we should give him?

Natalia- I'm unsure. I wish that she-wolf wasn't so likable. She even makes me soft towards her.

Sasha- I think we should let him come to us. We will focus on the training course.

Natalia- what if he never comes?

Sasha- then on our last day here, we will reject him. Maybe the goddess will take pity on us and grant us a second chance.

Natalia whines loudly before pushing me into the driver's seat. She disappears within the depths of our mind, and I let her. I stand up, and I shake the wet soil from our fur. I move back towards Ben's packhouse with my head hanging low. At least now we have a plan, an end date to our suffering.

Luis- Your Father called. He is upset you haven't contacted home.

Sasha- crap. I will call tomorrow...how was dinner?

Luis- It was awkward. The beta and I were silent while Roland and the Luna talked nonstop. The Alpha was a no-show. I am assuming that had to do with you.

Sasha- speaking of the Alpha. I told him you and I would be visiting the human town tomorrow. In all honesty, I just want some space from Chelsea.

Luis- alright. What will we be doing?

Sasha- we could see a movie. I've never been to a theater.

Luis- alright. Roland will...

Growls rip through the air around me, and Natalia immediately becomes alert. The putrid smell of garbage and death hits my nose at full force.

Sasha- LUIS ROGUES! ALERT EVERYONE. I AM SURROUNDED.

I cut the link and focus my attention on the threats beginning to edge out of the trees.

"You are a long way from home, Princess," a menacing voice growls, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

I snarl as a filthy well-built man drops to the ground from a tree right in front of me. I feel the presence of four more wolves behind me, but I keep my focus on the naked man. He seems to be their leader, and from his build, I would guess he has Beta blood running through his veins.

"You don't know how happy it makes me to find you alone, Princess," the rogue leader states as he leans his dirty body against the tree he dropped from.

"She is never alone," Luis snarls from the darkness behind the man, and I spring into action.

I twist my body at full speed and launch myself towards the closest rogue. My teeth slice through his throat like butter, and he is dead before his friends can register my movements.

The remaining three immediately attack but again, I use my wolf's superior speed. I twist and dodge their snapping jaws with ease. I inflict wounds to their underbellies as I move around them. Slowly their movements become sluggish as they lose blood faster than they realize. I snap one's throat as it stops to assess a rather large wound.

As he falls to the ground, one of the surviving rogues jumps on my back. He latches his teeth into my neck, and Natalia's rage skyrockets. She twists our head around and is able to bite the male's shoulder. She rips him off of us and immediately tears his throat out. She gives me main control back, and I turn to look for the fourth rogue, but I see Roland's blonde wolf standing over his still figure, and I sigh.

I shift back and walk towards the male that Luis has captured. I smile a sickly sweet smile towards the rogue who thought I would be an easy target.

"Do you know what prize you get for being the leader of an attempted assassination," I ask as I sink into a crouch in front of his bleeding face.

As he growls, Alpha Ben, Chelsea, Beta Vince, and a swarm of warriors show up in human form.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING ON MY LANDS," Ben yells, and I snarl so loud the trees seem to shake.

"SILENCE," I order, and Ben stares at me with shock covering his features.

His members stand frozen as they stare at their Alpha and me.

"He is my prisoner. I ask the questions. The only thing I need from you is directions to your dungeon," I growl, and Ben's shocked expression becomes one of absolute disbelief.

Luis and Roland pull the rogue to his feet. I smile internally as he mocks me under his breath. It is time to play!

"Lead the way, Alpha," I say to my mate.