The Long Awaited Princess

Alexander's Pov

Prince Alexander had never been fond of attending the mating ceremonies of lesser packs. As the eldest son of the Lycan King, he had duties that often required his presence at such events. This ceremony was no different, or so he thought.

The idea of finding his own mate, someone who could match his strength and stand beside him, had long been a source of frustration. Years passed without any sign of her, and he had begun to wonder if he was destined to be alone.

But as he entered the clearing where the ceremony was to be held, a scent hit him, stopping him in his tracks. It was intoxicating, a mix of wildflowers and fresh rain, tinged with something uniquely feminine. His lycan senses, far sharper than those of ordinary werewolves, went into overdrive, honing onto the scent as if it were a lifeline. His heart sounded in his chest, and fire ignited deep within him.

Could it be? After all this time?

He scanned the crowd, his sharp eyes searching, hungry to find the source of that scent. And then her saw her.

There, standing near the edge of the gathering, was the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes on. Olivia. Her name came to him as if it had always been there, whispered by the wind, destined to be his. She was slender yet curvaceous, with soft, ethereal glow had set her apart from everyone. Her long plantum blonde hair framed a face that was both delicate and striking, with eyes that had a depth of emotion held him in.

His body responded immediately, the primal instincts of his lycan nature roaring to life. He wanted her, and he needed her in a way that was almost unbearable. The mere sight of her sent a rush of desire through him so powerful that it took every ounce of his self-control to restrain himself. He could imagine it so clearly - taking her into his arms, claiming her, their bodies entwined in a passionate embrace. The thoughts of her skin against his, of tasting her lips, of hearing her cry out his name while he is deep inside of her, nearly drove him mad.

But they were in public. The eyes of the pack and his royal family were upon him. He had to keep himself in check. But inside, he was anything but controlled. His lycan howled for him to take her, to show her that she belonged to him now, to claim her in every way possible.

Alexander's eyes never left hers as he made his way through the crowd, his movements purposeful, like a predator stalking prey. The closer he got, the stronger the pull became until it was almost painful to keep his distance.

He noticed dried streaks of tears on her cheeks. The sorrow in her eyes. This slowly was replaced by something else. Recognition, and maybe just maybe a spark of the same desire that was coursing through him.

"Olivia," he said in his low voice, toughened by the intensity of his emotions.

She looked up at him, her eyes wide, her breath hitching. He could see it in her gaze - she felt the bond too. But he also saw the remnants of her pain. This only made him want her more, to erase that pain and replace it with pleasure, with love and passion he knew he could give her.

His hands itched to touch her, to pull her close. He imagined tearing the distance between them, pressing her against him, feeling her body and those luscious curves. Even just the mere thought of her name made him hard. He wanted to take her right now in front of all of these people's, claim her, and make her cry his name.

But he couldn't yet. Not here.

He forced himself to breathe, to regain some control. "I've waited for you, searched for you," he confused in his voice strained with the effort of holding back. "And now that I've found you, I can't let you go."

He could see the conflict in her eyes.the confusion and desire that mirrored his own. She was beautiful-my goddess, she was everything he had ever wanted and more.

The Lycan King, a towering figure with silver hair and piercing blue eyes, had immediately recognized the situation for what it was. His son had found his mate, and not just any mate—a Lycan. But there was something more to this girl, something that demanded answers. His suspicions had grown as he watched the scene unfold, leading him to request a private audience with Olivia’s adoptive parents.

In a secluded chamber within the pack’s grand hall, Olivia’s parents stood nervously before the royals. Olivia had been excused to rest, unaware of the confrontation taking place. The King, Queen, and Prince Alexander were seated, their expressions unreadable, though the intensity in the room was palpable.

The Lycan King spoke first, his voice calm but firm. “You are aware, I trust, of the significance of what has occurred tonight?”

Olivia’s father, Beta Henry, nodded, swallowing hard. “Yes, Your Majesty. We understand that your son has found his mate.”

Queen Helena, her beauty regal and her gaze sharp, leaned forward slightly. “But that is not all, is it? We are well aware that our son’s mate is of Lycan blood. The question is, why has this fact been hidden from us—and, more importantly, from Olivia herself?”

Henry and his wife, Margot, exchanged a nervous glance. They had always feared this day would come, though they had hoped it might be avoided entirely. Henry took a deep breath and began to explain.

“Your Majesties, when we found Olivia, she was just a baby, left alone in the forest near our territory. There were no signs of her parents, no indication of where she came from. We brought her in, cared for her, and… well, we couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. We didn’t know her true heritage at first, but as she grew, certain signs became apparent.”

Margot, who had been silent up until now, spoke up, her voice trembling slightly. “We noticed her strength, even as a child. She was different from the other pups, more resilient, more… powerful. But we didn’t want her to grow up with the burden of being different, of being a Lycan among werewolves. So we kept it from her. We thought it was safer that way.”

King Leon’s eyes narrowed slightly, though he remained composed. “Safer? Or easier?”

Henry winced, but he didn’t back down. “Both, Your Majesty. We love Olivia as our own daughter. We feared what might happen if her true heritage was discovered, both to her and to us. Lycans are rare, and we didn’t know how others might react. We wanted to protect her.”

Queen Helena’s expression softened slightly, though there was still a hardness in her gaze. “You should have informed the royal family the moment you suspected her origins. A Lycan child, especially one with no known parents, is not something to be hidden. You have done her a disservice by keeping this from her.”

Henry’s shoulders sagged under the weight of the Queen’s words. “We understand that now, Your Majesty. But we never imagined this… that she would be mated to your son. We only wanted to give her a normal life.”

Prince Alexander, who had remained silent up until now, finally spoke, his voice low and intense. “She is not normal. She is extraordinary. And she deserves to know who she truly is.”

The room fell silent for a moment as Alexander’s words hung in the air. The intensity in his gaze was unmistakable; this was not just about duty or heritage for him. This was about Olivia, the woman he had waited so long to find, the woman who was his mate.

King Leon nodded as if he was coming to a decision. “It is clear that Olivia’s heritage can not be hidden any longer. The time has come for her to learn the truth. She is a Lycan, a princess by blood, and she must take her rightful place.”

Margot’s eyes filled with tears, but she nodded in agreement. “We only ever wanted what was best for her.”

Queen Helena stood, her presence commanding the room. “What is best for her now is to know who she is and to be with her mate. You have raised her well, and for that, we are grateful. But from this point forward, her path will be different.”

Henry nodded, though his heart was heavy. He had always known that Olivia’s path might lead her away from them, but the reality of it was still painful. “We understand, Your Majesties. Please… take care of her. She means everything to us.”

Alexander rose from his seat, his gaze softening as he looked at Olivia’s adoptive parents. “She means everything to me as well. I will protect her, and I will love her, as she deserves.”