Obsolete Princess

No Choice

Chapter Three: No Choice

Charlie’s POV

Luca’s gaze did not leave mine. He stood there motionless, even after Astor left. I wanted to break the agonizing silence. I dug my hands into my pocket as I scooted back into a wall. I slid down hugging my legs.

“Is umm.. is there anyway the venom can be taken out of my bloodstream”? I dreaded the answer. Hearing my voice seemed to get him moving. He pulled a chair from the corner and scooted it close to me and plopped down onto it. From here I was finally able to take in all his features. He looked to be in his twenties at least. He had big blue eyes like rainstorms, light brown hair, plump kissable lips. He was very muscular and really tall. As an alpha should be. His chest was huge, it rose and fell heavily as he took deep breaths. He ran his strong hands through his hair giving himself a disheveled look. I was grateful for the distraction as he opened and closed his mouth to say something. Looking as though he was choosing his words carefully.

“Even if there were, it’d be too late for you”. His words stabbed at my heart. Panic started taking over. No, no, no. I gulped for air. More tears were clouding my vision. Why is this happening to me? I was going to die. I won't be alive long enough to get my memories back. I won't know what happened to me, how I got here. Who I am... much less be mated to this man staring at me with pity...

“You remember nothing at all”? I wiped my tears and stared at Luca, shaking my head. He stood and came close to me. I couldn’t read his expression.

“Where were you headed”? He asked softly.

“I don’t know, I just remember a man’s voice telling me to run.” I gripped my head as pain wracked it. He stepped forward as if to touch me but pulled his hand back to his side and thought better of it.

“Where did you come from”? He asked through his teeth. I shrugged my shoulders, confused with his hurtful tone.

“I’m not sure, I only remember running... I-I think from the south.” Before he could answer Astor came back. An elder lady followed with gray hair and a gentle gleam in her eyes. Luca straightened himself and nodded at them both.

“Alpha”. The elder lady greeted and lowered her head in respect to her Alpha.

“She needs to be examined and take extra care with the vampire bite as I am sure Astor has informed you on". He didn't look back at me. Completely cutting himself off. Not that I knew him well. Or at all for that matter.

“Yes Alpha”. The elder lady bowed her head again.

“Great, if you’ll excuse us, we’ll be back”. Luca grabbed hold of Astor leaving us with those parting words.

Luca POV

My wolf paced in my head impatiently as Astor stood with Victor. I could feel him clawing to get out, he wanted to be with his mate and make sure she was okay. But more than that he wanted to tear apart the damned vampire that dared to sink his teeth into our mate. He was completely overprotective of her already. It truly annoyed me. I wouldn’t accept this mate bond. It was ridiculous I should cut my losses before she turned 18 and the bond grew.

“Luca you’re making a mistake, you cannot cut the bond. Mate needs us”. Lucian hissed.

“She’s tainted Lucian, she’s going to die in a week’s time, we can find a second chance mate”.

“You don’t know that!" He roared. "Second chance mates are rarely granted you stupid boy”! I pushed him out of my head before my anger could take over.

“Victor please stand guard at the foot of the stairs make sure the girl stays down there. Let Ophelia know to report back when shes done". Astor commanded.

“Yes Beta”. Victor closed the door behind him. Astor and I moved to the interrogation room.

“Luca”? I stopped long enough to look my best friend in the eye.

“What is it”? I asked.

“What are you going to do”? I sighed pacing the room now folding my hands behind my back.

“I’ll inform the Royal Family, these are the types of situations they handle. They’ll come down for her themselves and make sure she doesn’t suffer”. He gasped and blinked rapidly. I could tell he was in shock at my words.

“But she’s your mate”! He said in disbelief.

“I have no choice, I HAVE NO FUTURE WITH HER! She is going to die Astor”! The weight of my words crushed my heart. I had finally found my mate only to have her ripped away from me. “I have to reject her”. I rasped out. Astor took me in his arms as I sunk to the floor. It felt like someone ripped the life out of me. I couldn’t f*****g breathe. My body shook. Despite that no tears came out. Only ragged breaths.

******

We stood after a while. Astor spoke first.

"If there were a way to save her, I'd help you in a heartbeat... she is my Luna afterall." At his sad tone my heart clenched. I shook my head to clear my thoughts.

"I know you would... I need you to send trackers to follow her scent. She thinks she came down south. We need to know what happened". Hesitation swirled in the gold depths of my best friends eyes.

"Do you believe her? About her not remembering"? He scratched his chin in thought.

"Judging by the scent of magic on her... yes. I believe someone wiped her memory. For what purpose? I don't know. This is almost unheard of. The Royal Court is going to want information. She said she remembers a man telling her to run. There is very little time to waste." My fists clenched at the thought. "I'm thinking the vampire must have been the one that compelled her to run. Simply by the fact that she ran without knowing where she was going or why. That sounds like compulsion.... bloodsucking assholes..... The blood on her body isn't hers either. Something terrible happened. Lucian can sense it. I really don't see any reason for us not to believe her. Or why she would feel the need to lie. She doesn't know us. She easily went through at least 2 pack territories before ours to get here."

"I suppose you're right. Poor girl is utterly lost... You think she had a pack or family"? Astor asked. I hadn't even thought of that.

"She didn't really smell like a rogue, my guess is she'd been running maybe all night. It'd be too soon for her to smell like a rogue. So yes... I think she had a pack at least. Family? I don't know, probably. If her pack is out there or if they were attacked we need to find them and get the full story. If she has family they need to know that she isn't going to make it." At the thought Lucian whimpered.

"I'll send the trackers". Astor placed his hand on my shoulder, squeezed as if to send me more strength.

"I'll send word for the Royals". I huffed out. Completely exhausted I rushed off to my office with my heart in my throat, and this unbreable ache of worries.

How will I get through this? Moon Goddess why have you cursed me so? First my brother, now my mate?