The Princess and Her Secret Mate

Chapter 3

Today is the mating gala that’s being hosted at the palace. My parents host it every time a bunch of the youngsters as dad calls us turn eighteen and we’re able to find our mats.

Right now we’re trying on dresses for tonight. Skyler wanted to come the day she saw my new bodyguard Liam but my dad wanted the two of us to have lunch and I couldn’t go.

“You need a better fitting dress then that to impress my brother,” Sky tells me when I show her the float pink dress. Pink isn’t the best color but with the sun tan I got pink looks great on my skin. Sky walks over the rack of dresses and comes back handing me a tight fitting blue silk dress that’s open in the back with a v shape bodice and slit up the thigh.

“My dad will flip out,” she shrugs. “Don’t you want to get Lennox's attention? You better take my advice because this is the last time we’re trying,” She reminds me.

Skyler chose a red tight mermaid dress with a lot of shimmer and sparkles. Sky is a beautiful girl with brown hair just past her shoulders, tanned skin curves in the right places and her eyes are a soft emerald green like mine.

“Fine,” I tell her and take the dress back into the fitting room. I’m not fat but nor am I skinny but f**k this dress is so tight but makes my boobs look like I have some being all squished together like this. Sky’s right, this is definitely the dress.

The mating gala started out like it always does. Once all the ones the were eighteen arrived everyone gathered around as the boys took one side and us girls took another one. My dad wasn’t too fond of my dress choice just like I thought but he did say I looked beautiful and that made me smile. Lennox hasn’t shown his face yet but he promised Sky he’d be here to see if she finds her mate tonight.

The first boy stands at the end and we all hold out our hands for him to touch. That’s how we know and find our mates by touch.

I was the last one in line with Skyler next to me. As the boy made it to the middle of the line he pauses and when he smiles we all know he found her, his mate. They leave so they can get to know each other. Did I mention that people from all over come to this shindig so they can find their mates? Well they do and dad won’t host unless we have a good hundred or two people looking for their mates.

My dad smiles and waves at me and I wave back. When the next boy stood ready to come down the aisle full of girls we stood hands out but he seemed different then the other one he radiated power.

“He’s in line for Alpha,” Lola informs me.

“He's soon to be Alpha,” I whispered to Skyler when Lola told me.

“How do you know?”

“Lola told me.”

She hums. “Winter never mentioned it but she seems anxious,” Skyler told me and both shrugged it off as he drew closer towards us.

He stops in front of Skyler his eyes are green but blue swirled through them as he stares at her and says. “Mate,”

Oh f**k. Skyler’s mate is an Alpha. Go Skyler.

We must have stood for hours until I was the only one standing and wouldn’t you know it mateless at that. I walked back to my dad and he wasn’t sure what to say.

Mom would know what to say.

“I’m sorry you didn’t find your mate, princess,” He said, kissing my forehead. When I glanced over at Skyler he was there smirking at me but that didn’t last long as his eyes fell to the dress I was wearing. His jaw tics as his shoots daggers at something behind me.

“Pardon me Alpha King, but may I dance with your daughter?” My father nods. “Of course,”

My dad walks over to Lennox and strikes up a conversation but Lennox wasn’t paying attention to him; he was watching me as this young man led me to the dance floor.

My stomach swirls with butterflies having him stare at me like he is. Of course it’s short lived as he storms off but dad watches me and Bill dance. That's his name by the way Bill and he’s sixteen.

After Bill and I danced another came to dance with me and believe it or not it took my mind off not finding my mate tonight plus watching Lennox look like he wanted to kill each one I danced with was priceless and a little hot if you ask me.

“I’ll be right back, I need a drink,” I tell Skyler and her new mate Jack Thompson. We’ve been dancing for the last three songs non-stop. Jack seems like a really nice guy and I couldn’t be more happier for Sky although I will miss her when she leaves.

I’ll have no one then.

“You will always have me,” Lola tells me and my heart fills with joy at her words.

“Thanks Lola,”

“No mate?” I grabbed my can of coke and turned to face Lennox. And I shook my head, “No. Dad said he might be younger than me and wasn’t here,” his eyes hardened at my response but he didn't say anything.

“Jack seems nice. Can you believe Skyler's mate was an Alpha?”

“You should go upstairs to your room, Red. No mate, no need for you to be here,” He said, my lips parted to say something but he walked away. Can you believe that he just walks off. I groan in frustration. I might as well give up. He's going to see me as anything other than a kid and his best friend's daughter.

I did the opposite of what Lennox told me and I marched right back to the dancing crowd and found me someone to dance with.

A slow song comes on and everyone that has found their mates or already has one begins to dance and I start back to the table since I don’t have a mate or a partner.

“Hold on Princess, it’s my turn,” Dad grabs my hand and twirls me around as he brings me into his chest.

“Thanks dad,”

As we dance the thought occurs to me what if my mate is over eighteen. I mean it’s possible if he can be younger he can definitely be older too, right?

“What are you thinking about?”

“My mate. I know you said he could be younger but what if he’s older?” My father raised his brows.

“He could be. There are some here that are older that have not found their mates, so it’s possible,” my dad nods.

“If you’d like I can ask all the males that’s un-matted to check if your their mate,”

I shake my head, “No I don’t want to seem desperate,”

“Just go ask someone to dance,” He encourages me.

“Fine,”