INTRO

{Georgette}

When I first receive the news about my fated mate’s death, my brain doesn't seem to process the information correctly. I know that because the first thing I do is smile politely.

"Okay," I reply without letting my smile fade. My father approaches me and I allow him to hug my shoulders, but my brain is still working a million miles per second trying to understand, "W-what happened?"

"Asheron was at the front of the fight with the Sebdio Pack," the representative informs me, his voice pained and his eyes sad, just like his scent, "He died in battle."

Asheron died.

Asheron, the Alpha of the Blues pack, my fated mate, is dead. He died in battle, even though one day he promised me that would never, ever happen.

I should have known he had no way of promising me something like that, but I was too young and foolish.

I believed him.

"Thank you very much for coming to the palace to deliver the bad news, Aaron," my father responds, "Please convey our sincerest condolences to the Blues family. We will visit them as soon as possible."

"Of course. Again, I am so sorry, Princess Georgette," he says, but before leaving he takes a small box from his pocket. It's a blue velvet box, "The Queen wanted you to have this, it was supposed to be yours."

He leaves the box in my outstretched hand and gives us a slight bow before turning around and leaving. I stay very still, just looking at the box. I know what it is.

"Are you okay?" My father asks once we’re alone. I don't take my eyes off that box, "Georgie, please look at me."

"I don't know what to feel yet, dad," I admit in a whisper, "It doesn't feel real. Asheron... Asheron said he would never die in battle."

"Oh, sweetheart," my father sighs and hugs me again, taking my eyes away from that box for a second, "Asheron was the strongest Alpha I’ve ever met. I know he did his best and I know he died with honor. But I'm still so sorry he’s gone... Do you want to be alone?"

"Uh, yes," I reply, swallowing hard as a lump starts to form in my throat, "I'm going to go to my room, okay? Please, tell Josephine to cancel my obligations for the rest of the day."

"Of course, I will. I'll come to check on you in a bit to make sure you're okay," He says and I just nod, clearing my throat and starting to walk towards the door to leave the main hall and make my way to my room.

There are some employees walking around the palace, but I don't make eye contact with anyone and just continue on my way until I reach my room.

Once I'm there alone I walk to the foot of my bed and I let myself fall to the floor with the box in my hands.

It's no secret or surprise that Asheron wanted to marry me. It was the plan. He's my fated mate, there is no other option but marriage and a full life by his side... or at least that's what I used to think.

A couple of minutes later, I finally dare and open the box, looking at the stunning ring with a blue diamond right in the middle.

And that's when it all crashes down on me and a heartbreaking sob escapes from the depths of my soul.

My sweet, kind, beautiful Alpha Asheron is dead. What the hell am I going to do now? How am I going to live without him? How? There's no way.

I cover my face and cry there for a long time, unable to stop myself.

This shouldn't be happening to me, it's against the laws of nature. I shouldn't be dealing with the death of my mate, I should be going with him.

I shouldn't be here to face the rest of my life alone, but Asheron is five years older than me and he was waiting for my eighteenth birthday to claim me as his. To make me his wife and mark me. That was going to be my birthday gift two years ago when I turned eighteen… but then life got in the way and his pack was always under some kind of trouble he had to fix.

We’ve been ready to get married for two years. If only the Blues pack could stop making everyone hate them, we would’ve gotten married and I would be dead, just like him.

That’s the way it should be. I don’t want to live without him.

I don’t know how long I stay there, but at some point my father comes into my room and takes me in his arms while I cry.

I can't believe this is really happening.

For the rest of the week, I have to go out and carry on with my princess duties and although every time I'm alone and have time to think I break down in tears, it really doesn't feel real until I arrive at his funeral.

I'm wearing a black dress that covers my entire body and Josephine got me a dark veil so my face is covered, but I still feel one hundred percent exposed when I enter the Blues' palace and all eyes are on me.

My father grabs my arm and together we walk up to the Blues King and Queen. I hug them both and give them my condolences before approaching the giant photo of my handsome Alpha Asheron.

There is no coffin because his body was not recovered and, honestly, I don't even want to think about that because I don't want to imagine the state he must have been in order to be categorized as an unrecoverable body.

When the ceremony begins, I have to step up and greet the Blues pack.

I guess it doesn't matter now, but for a while I was their future Queen. I guess it doesn't make sense now because that's not going to happen, but I still read my speech in pilot mode and smile.

When I walk down, instead of following protocol and returning to my father's side, I slip away down a hallway until I find an empty place and then I give myself permission to collapse.

Now it feels real.

Asheron is dead. The love of my life. My Alpha, my rock and my protector, is no longer here.

I don't know what I'm going to do.