Protect The Queen

5 - Confessions

Bobby’s POV

The first morning session was brutal, even though it was nothing I couldn’t handle. I can’t say the same for some of the cadets. They were doubled over in the first twenty minutes of starting. They will need to pick up their game for the sorting assessment after the late admissions arrive. Especially since the assessment is specifically for us to be sorted into our different abilities. I know I will be chosen for leadership and Shaun should be too, which will make the experience more enjoyable.

Some of the other cadets argued with the master trainers, which didn’t go down too well. Jeremy argued too, stating he was a future Alpha and was automatically a leader but couldn’t keep up with everyone. Being the son of an Alpha, doesn’t mean he will automatically be in the leadership classes if he can’t do the work, and I’ve heard that some previous years cadets that had kept complaining didn’t make the cut. Anyway, the leadership classes will be tougher than the other classes because we do everything: combat, intelligence and stealth, weapons, tracking and schematics.

“We need to shower and get going before the afternoon practice session starts," Shaun said, pulling me out of my thoughts and coming up behind me with a knowing smile on his face, which I was skeptical about.

“And where may I ask, are we going?” I answered, walking towards the barracks towards the showers.

“Somewhere where you need to give those pretty boy features a workout”, Shaun laughed, pinching my cheeks while I pushed him away, staring at him, and he walked past nudging me with his elbow and leaning in to whisper something in my ear. “I have my mate, bringing yours, so you can tell her everything.”

My mouth dropped open, and I didn’t know if I should kick his ass or wrap my arms around him in thanks. “You’re welcome," Shaun chuckled, pushing open the door to the communal bathroom in the barracks and I followed him in.

I disrobed and jumped under the water spray of the shower with Shaun, and we finished our shower in record time, or at least I did. We quickly dressed and wandered away from the barracks towards a wooded area, south of the academy. “I found out who my mate was. The day I got my wolf but didn’t do anything until my going-away party. I spoke with master trainer Samson about Jasmine…” “Haven’s best friend? She mentioned Jasmine to me when we were at the lake," I interrupted, while Shaun nodded his head. I knew they were together, and Shaun must have realized Haven would have told me who Jasmine was.

“Haven knows we are in a relationship but doesn’t know the full extent of that relationship," Shaun replied while we continued to walk through the wooded area, to the south of the academy. That explains why she didn’t mention anything about them being mates. “Dad always mentioned when we find our mates, how hard it would be for us to leave them. Master trainer Samson understood my situation and told me about an abandoned hut they have for this very scenario. I’ve been meeting Jaz every few days between training sessions. The only rule they gave me to do this was that I needed to attend training and duty roster and be back by curfew.”

We kept walking without saying another word. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence; it was a silence to give me the opportunity to think about what Shaun had said. Does this mean I won’t be able to stay away from Haven, even though I have other obligations? Will I be able to fulfill these obligations? I can now see why my father refused me to be around anyone while I grew up. I was lonely and Haven lifted that loneliness the moment I saw her walking towards the café.

We reached a small clearing and saw the hut Shaun spoke about. There was a red sedan parked out the front, and I sucked in a deep breath that caused my wolf to sit up in my mind. The smell of raspberries was evident in the air, Haven’s scent. She was here. She was inside. “Shall we go in?” Shaun whispered, and I hesitated for a second before nodding my head slowly.

Shaun stepped forward, opening the door and I scanned the scene as I walked in behind him. Inside wasn’t as rundown as the outside. A one-room hut with a bed, a small kitchenette and sofa with Haven and another woman; Jasmine, I presume; sitting on it, and a door that was ajar and looked like a small bathroom was behind it. “You must be Bobby?” Jasmine asked, standing up and putting her arms around Shaun.

“I must be," I replied, not taking my eyes off Haven with a small smile. “I didn’t know you were coming here," I concluded, as she stood and walked over to give me a hug.

“I only found out this morning myself," Haven whispered, placing her arms around my waist as I closed my eyes, inhaling her raspberry scent.

“We are going for a walk, so you two can talk," Shaun responded, taking Jasmine by the hand and the pair disappeared out the door before I could argue.

I guess this was Shaun’s way of making me tell Haven everything. “Can we sit?” I asked, ushering my hand towards the sofa, while Haven nodded, and we moved together and sat down. “I… Um… I need to tell you...” I trailed, not able to find the right words to start.

“Are you Robert MacKay?” Haven asked, as my mouth opened, then closed with no words coming out. I imagined the whole conversation in my mind, but not once did I think she would guess who I was. “Jaz mentioned Bobby would be a nickname and hinted your name could be Robert. With what we spoke about last night, I tried to put two and two together, but I’m not sure if what I was thinking was piecing it together or what I’ve heard about the prince, is making it piece together.”

“I am Robert Mackay," I answered as Haven’s face fell in disappointment at hearing the answer. Did she not want to know me? Now she knows I’m a prince. I’m still Bobby; her mate, whether she likes it or not. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, I didn’t know how.”

“I get it," Haven replied, turning on the seat and placing her legs under her to face me directly. “You don’t have to explain yourself. You have obligations that don’t include having a relationship. I’m happy to be your friend…” “No, you don’t get it," I interrupted, picking up Haven’s hands and bringing them to my lips to kiss the back of them. “I do have obligations, and those obligations don’t include finding my mate. My father deliberately put things in place, so I wouldn’t find her, but I still did.”

“What are you doing here with me, if you know who your mate is?” Haven snapped, standing up and crossing her arms while she glared her green eyes at me as I fell back onto the sofa and pushed my hands through my hair. This is not going the way I imagined at all.

“Haven; you are my mate. My father didn’t want me to find you," I sighed as Haven’s mouth dropped open in surprise, and I quickly stood to put my arms around her, hoping I could salvage what little faith I had for us. “Father’s plan is for me to mate with Princess Valarie of the north, on the hope to end the conflict. I grew up knowing this and knowing I wouldn’t be finding you, but I did, and I don’t know what to do about my father’s plan because I don’t want to go through with it.”

Haven took a step back when the door swung open and Shaun and Jasmine walked back into the hut. I tried to move forward and wrap my arms around her again. “I understand completely," she whispered, stepping away and walking towards the door, before turning on her heels, her face full of disappointment and anger. “Did your father ever consider I would be going through my life, wanting to find the one person who was designed by the moon goddess to make me complete, and never knowing what happened to him because he was betrothed to someone that wasn’t his mate? If we hadn’t met each other, would you have cared about my feelings? I’m done; take me home.”

“Sounds like your confession didn’t go the way you hoped," Shaun mumbled. That was an understatement. I tried to follow Haven out the door, trailed by Shaun and Jasmine. “She’ll come around. Haven’s stubborn…” “Says the person who doesn’t have to choose between knowing the one person who was designed for him because his father isn’t a wanker and didn’t make the choice for him," Haven screamed, pulling open the front passenger door of the red sedan.

“I made the choice yesterday," I seethed, glaring my eyes towards Haven, who slammed the door shut behind her. “Goddess, Haven. I want you, not what Father wants. I just don’t know how to change a lifetime of preparations to do it.”

Haven pushed the door open with that much force, I thought it was going to swing off its hinges; “I’ll make it easy for you. You owe me nothing. You were very clear that you have obligations to your father, and I guess the kingdom. I’m insignificant to those obligations if it will stop this stupid conflict…” She didn’t get to finish her rant because I moved to the car with speed and precision, pushing my lips over hers with every bit of love I had for her. She was significant. She was my mate and, like hell, my father was going to stop me from being with her.

“I’m not letting you go, ever," I whispered as we broke apart, and I pulled her from the car, picking her up bridal style before she could argue, walking back into the hut.

“Do you need us to go for another walk?” Jasmine asked, giving Haven a broad smile which made her sigh dramatically. Or was it because I wasn’t putting her down? Either way, she wasn’t leaving here until we sorted everything out.

“We need to come up with a plan that will benefit both the kingdom and the pair of you," Shaun remarked, sitting down on the sofa as I placed Haven back on her feet, still refusing to let her go from my arms. “King Reginald may have thought of everything to stop the pair of you meeting, but the moon goddess made sure you did. He has to…” “What does the northern princess, Valarie, did you say her name was? What does she think about your father’s plan?” Haven cut in as I ran my hands through my hair, which allowed Haven to step away from me.

“She does what she’s told. The north treats their women more as possessions rather than people," I answered, causing both Jasmine and Haven to scoff in my direction and I put my hands up in front of me. “I didn’t say I would have treated her that way. I’m just telling you how it is.”

“Have you met her?” Jasmine asked, and I shook my head to give her the response. That’s probably an oversight I should have rectified. “Maybe you need to meet her and ask what she thinks of an arranged mateship. As primitive as it is to us, she might be used to it. She may also want to meet and be with her mate.”

“How do you propose we do that?” I asked, flopping myself down on the sofa in annoyance at what she was saying. Here isn’t exactly a place we could use for a meeting. “Hey Valarie, since we are betrothed, I thought you should come and check out the warrior academy, that way you can give your father all our secrets, and we won’t have to worry about being mated because you will destroy us before we get a chance.”

“There’s no need to be sarcastic. I was just putting something out there we could work on," Jasmine snapped, sitting down on Shaun’s lap as I closed my eyes, trying to reel in my frustrations. I know it’s not her fault. I, and I alone, have to fix this.

“I’m sorry," I muttered, and to my surprise Haven sat down on my lap, which made me smile as I placed my arms around her waist.

“Could you invite her to the kingdom, in the hope of getting to know her?” Haven asked as I raised an eyebrow at her. Does she want me to go through with the arrangement? Please tell me she doesn’t want me to go through with it. “You could hire two women to answer her every whim, while you speak with her about what she wants as opposed to what she is told to do. And the two women can plant a seed of doubt about this whole absurd arrangement.”

“Do you have any women in mind?” I asked, pulling Haven closer to me, not knowing if I liked this plan or not. It couldn’t hurt to meet Valarie and ask tough questions. But including Haven, I’m not sure if I can agree.

“There are two here at your disposal," Haven answered, with Jasmine nodding her head to let everyone know she was in with whatever plan Haven had in mind, while I smiled into her shoulder from behind. Not because I like the plan fully, but because I will have Haven by my side, with whatever life has to throw our way.

“I’ll email my parents and ask to arrange a meeting with my betrothed, so we can get answers," I whispered into Haven’s shoulder.

“And I’ll stand beside you for added protection," Shaun added, beaming his smile towards me with a gentle nod, letting me know whatever I decided, he would have my back.