My Royal Mate

Shopping with my BBF.

Morgan’s POV:

Our breakfast became a fiasco after Alex left. We ate our food and went our separate ways; Allison and I got in her car and went to the mall. Meanwhile, Usher and Ryan went back to their pack duties. Their schedules were extremely crazy due to the preparations for tomorrow's event. Usher is a perfectionist and knowing him makes me feel sorry for his staff; I'm sure he would be pressuring them to work extra hours to ensure everything was up to speed for the Ball.

I was very upset, and I felt a knot in my stomach. I have no clue why this has affected me so badly. It could be that it was because I loved Lily so much, and I was afraid of the repercussions that would come her way and of the effects they could have on her life.

I had to go to the mall with Allison because going home would only make me get frustrated even more, but I honestly would rather sit down and talk to everyone about the situation. Everyone seems to be sweeping it under the rug. How the f**k could I ignore the fact that one of my best friends was hiding a secret from me? She could have been r***d, and she was refusing to speak about that matter. Now I have a thousand other questions flooding my head and who the hell is going to answer them? Great! I just got here and the tension I feel is already so overwhelming.

Wait, did she sleep with a married man? What the f**k! How many scenarios am I going to have in my head before she tells me who the father of her baby is? And how the f**k were our friends okay with her withholding something so important?

I couldn't really speak to Allison back in the restaurant. Ryan could not keep his hands to himself throughout the entire time we sat at that table. His tongue was smothering me from the moment Alexander left. I love him, don’t get me wrong, but I clearly told him to take things slow. But I guess he has no clue what taking it slow means.

We must get the council’s consent before I can accept him as my chosen mate. Ryan didn’t have a fated mate anymore, but I still did. He was somewhere out there. Our former Luna, along with the Elders, would have to give us the okay if we wanted to mark each other. Things weren't just up to the two of us. Things don't work that way for the safety of our pack.

Marking someone else’s mate could even lead us into a war. Things were that serious. An Alpha in Asia was executed for taking another Alpha's mate. Getting my Alpha and our pack in trouble was the last thing I wanted. Of course, I wanted to take things slow and wait for the right time and approval. I just got here anyway. I have not even started my new job yet, and now I feel like I have so much on my plate. Thinking about mating with Ryan and having pups right away was not even part of my equation at the moment.

I hadn't even thought that far in advance. I may have let my obstinacy get the best of me. I have no doubt that Ryan would be a great mate, but was he the right decision for me? I'm afraid I could hurt his feelings if things don't work out between us. He is willing to wait for me to love him for as long as I need to, but was he saying that right now that we are dating? What would happen if the Elders and the council approved our relationship, and then I met my actual fated mate? Will that mate-bond throw me off?

Dad once told me that a true-mate's bond is never broken. s**t! What have I gotten myself into?

By the pack's rules, I could only take a chosen mate if my Goddess-given mate had died or if I had been rejected by him—and survive it, needless to say. I could also take the initiative and reject him— once I found him, of course. But there was also that slight possibility that he wouldn’t accept my rejection. Even though not doing so could be so painful and sometimes even result in death.

Male wolves always thought of their honor and pride before anything else. Some of them were so stubborn that they would rather die before accepting a rejection from their mate. How pathetic. I know I personally wouldn’t want to die for someone who does not love me. It terrorizes me to think that my fated mate would rather die and not accept my rejection, though. That could also create a conflict between his family and me-- which would also involve my family involuntarily, and it could also affect my pack indirectly.

Love is supposed to be kind. Love is not proud or dishonest, it keeps no record of being wrong. Love is not self-seeking or delights in hurting others. I want to be genuinely loved, and Ryan can give me all of that. Even if Kira doesn't see it that way. I'm sure she will come around and like him after she realizes what a great option he is for me.

“Dimples, why are you so quiet?” complained Allison.

I released a deep breath before arguing, “Why didn’t you mention that Lily was pregnant? We talked over the phone and on video calls almost every day, Allison. Why keep me in the dark about it?” I looked out the window and continued. “She is about to give birth to that child. Who the f**k is the father?”

Allison’s hands gripped the steering wheel. I'm sure she was not expecting that to come out of my mouth. “I am so sorry, Morgan. I should have mentioned it to you— you are like a sister to me. We have never had any secrets between us.”

“I don’t mean to be a pain in the ass, but you know how reserved our culture is. What will people say about Lily having a bastard pup with no father? I’m just worried about her, her reputation, and the support her pup will need.”

“I know what you mean, Morgan. Even Usher has tried to order her to tell him, but she has kept her distance from us. She refuses to share this piece of information.”

Who the f**k was Lily protecting? We didn’t know, but it was unfortunate.

“C'mon, let’s do some shopping. We will talk about Lily some other day!” exclaimed Allison.

Shopping is her favorite pastime. It’s like a hobby for her. I wish I could enjoy it as much as she does, but I’d rather shop online. Thank the Goddess for Amazonian,. That’s where I do most of my shopping, and I do it from the comfort of my couch. And from the warmth of my pajamas.

“We need to get shoes and accessories, Morgan. Oh, and don’t forget makeup!” she shrieked with joy.

I was doomed. I should have stayed in India for another week or so. How did I completely forget about this annual Wolf-Ball? That’s all Allison has talked about for the past six months. Good Goddess! Now I have to embrace myself by doing one of the things that I dislike the most. Shopping.

Allison's eyes sparkled with joy the moment we started strolling around the mall. I was really doomed, wasn't I? This was going to be an all-day thing.

"Look, Morgan," she shouted. "I found the perfect shoes for you," she added.

"Girl, aren't we supposed to find the dress first?"

"Nope. I do it the other way around."

I was contemplating the idea of having Alex fake an emergency, but then I realized that she was going to find out, since her man was my brother's boss. I even started secretly praying to the Moon Goddess that a medical emergency would happen right here in the middle of the mall. Something. I needed something to happen.

"Moon Goddess, I am so sorry for calling you a b***h. I was mad." I prayed for forgiveness. I needed some kind of intervention right at that moment. I was going to lose my head by the time Allison was done shopping.

"Come here," she pulled me inside a*****e. "Let's try this on." She waved her hand trying to get the attention of one of the sales assistants.

Can you love and hate someone at the same time? Hello, anybody? This is exactly what I feel for my best friend. We have a love and hate relationship. I love her, but I hate shopping with her. I love her, but I hate going to the beauty salon with her. We have two very distinctive personalities. I consider myself very girly, but Allison goes above and beyond my reality.

I was so drained and my body needed some rest. I honestly hadn't slept in the last thirty hours or so. I was so excited. Then I packed. Then the pup cried the entire duration of the flight. I was too exhausted to be running all over the mall looking for a gown and shoes for a ball I was remotely interested in going to. Honestly, that was not my thing. I would rather just cuddle on my couch and watch a movie with my cat-- even if I didn't have one.

"Oh, Morgan. We are so going to this Ball."

"Kira, I'm not in the mood."

"I'll help you sleep like a baby throughout the night. But we are going to that Ball. End of the story."

Great, now my wolf was siding with my best friend.

There was no point in arguing about this. Was there? I knew Allison, Usher and even Alex would fight me into going. Not to mention Ryan, he sent me a picture of his tuxedo about twenty minutes ago. That way, we could match since we were a couple. I sighed heavily. This was going to be a long, long day.

A day I was not prepared for.