THE BLIND PRINCESS SECOND CHANCE MATE

Part six: Pining after a hopeless cause

One thing Trace had been looking forward to when he realized who his mate is was having to watch that haughty face crumble under his feet. For that proud and poise demeanor to disintegrate and its place a broken hurt and helpless look in their place.

One of the things that hit him wrong where the princess is had been the way she carries herself. The girl had inherited her mother's poise and grace that it makes anyone around her feel less of a a human being.

She is the one that is blind, that is weak yet she always manages to make the rest of them feel inferior.

Trace have always hated that around her. He has never been able to win anything against her.

When they were still young she had been very good in school, well behaved and liked. No one was noticed when the darling princess was around. She was always treated like an angel and he has been so jealous of the attention she gathered from everyone in the pack even with her looks.

When she lost her sight the attention began to dwindle and everyone began to notice him until he became the apple of everyone's eyes.

But the princess wasn't content to remain in the shadows and had to grow up to become one of the most beautiful creatures in the pack.

He was stunning but he will never be the most beautiful because of the princess. Her looks were incomparable.

It irked him that once again she has managed to find a way to make him lose even when he was supposed to be winning.

Watching the cold blank look in her eyes and the words that followed, delivered in such a strong conviction with no emotions behind them made Trace really want to hurt the Princess.

I Fiona Stein accept your rejection.

Even though saying those words nearly killed her, Fiona knew it had to be said.

Begging wouldn't change anything and the only thing she could do was accept the bad hand fate had dealt her with grace and her head held high.

She was aware what his friends expected.

Her broken and dejected.

She had heard their mocking laughter and words when they realized she was Trace's mate but she was unfortunately going to deny them the pleasure of seeing her broken.

It was her little way of exacting revenge on the selfish bastard few feet away from her.

The love she has never nursed for him had been murdered tonight and she promised herself that she will never ever nurse the hope of ever being loved.

Tonight has made it clear that all she will ever be seen as is the blind Princess and no one will ever love her for who she is.

His little evil pleasure denied him, Trace sort to look for entertainment else where. There were plenty other ways he could amuse himself.

" Whatever, I can't waste the night with a piece of nothing like her when there are so many hot women out there to enjoy. "

A wicked coy look came over his face as he imagined himself thrusting into some lady's p***y.

The image of the brunette he spied earlier made its way causally into his mind fueling his excitement. Soon Fiona and every drama of the night was forgotten in the pursuit of his pleasure.

" Guys, I am out, " he told his friends and without waiting for any words from them disappeared into the crowd.

As soon as Trace was out of sight Brooklyn decided to tinker off and find her own little source of pleasure. Maybe she might even run into her mate.

" Guys, I am off, " she told her other two friends but they were barely paying her attention. Aria was watching Trace walk away with a forlorn look in her eyes, while Xander stood watching her with the same look.

Aria stood with a deep frown on her face as her boyfriend disappeared. She felt helpless to stop him and that made her tremble all over with fury.

Seeing this Xander thought to make the woman he loves feel better.

He has always had a crush on Aria but knew in his heart that she will never look his way. He was nothing compared to his gorgeous friend. Every girl wants him including the woman of his dreams.

" Hey you know he loves you right, " he said softly coming up beside her.

Aria knew it wasn't true but her heart leaped in her chest all the same.

" Really? " she asked in a hopeful tone of a child.

Xander smiled bitterly in his heart as he gave his reassurance even though the besotted look on Aria's face was like a dagger to his heart.

" Really, " he said and turned to take two glasses of champagne off one of the passing waiter's tray.

" Here, " he stretched out one glass towards Aria.

Aria reached out for the glass looking into Xander's eyes and then...

The impossible happened.

Everything froze and a great silence fell upon them.

" Mate! " their two wolves exclaimed in excitement.

An excitement that was shared by one part of the human equation.

Xander couldn't believe his luck.

Did his wolf just say, Mate!

His eyes grew double their size in excitement which was quickly extinguished by the disappointment glaring from Aria's face.

" Oh, you are not happy about this, " he grumbled under his breath looking down.

It tore his heart to pieces to know that Aria didn't want to be his mate.

" Well is okay, " he took a deep breath. He already knew she didn't like him. As long as she is happy he will accept her rejection.

He braced himself up for the words of rejection that are sure to follow but none came. Instead...

Aria didn't respond to his words. She was pretty bombed out from the recent development.

Xander her mate!

If she didn't find it shocking she would have been down on the ground rolling in laughter.

Who would have thought?

But it wasn't funny. Xander wasn't the one she loved and she couldn't bring herself to accept the mate bond but at the same time, she didn't want to hurt him because he was a friend.

" Please if you will excuse me I need some fresh air, " Aria told Xander and walked off before he could protest.

Her wolf wasn't happy about this.

" Hey! what are you doing? " the animal in her mind growled jumping around in protest but Aria ignored her and continued to make her way towards the door.

Xander's wolf wasn't faring any better. He was also pissed at his human for being a coward and not going after their mate.

" Are you just going to let her walk away?! " he yelled from his cage.

Xander's fist tightened by his side. He was angry at his helplessness and at his wolf for not understanding their predicament. He couldn't force the mate bond on Aria if she doesn't want it.

" What the f**k do you want me to do! " he snapped at his wolf drowning the rest of the drink in his hand and then he walked away.

Finally, the evil friends were off to God knows where and the crowd lost their interest and found something else to focus on leaving Fiona alone with her two best friends who were currently watching her like they were scared she was going to break any minute.

Fiona have never felt so empty as she was feeling right now even if she masked it with a look of indifference. She wished she could escape it all but that will mean Trace has won.

No she was going to act as if nothing happened. If he could shrug the whole thing off so can she.

"Guys, I am fine, you can stop staring at me like I am going to lose my s**t. "

Fiona tried laughing her friends' concern off but her laughter sounded hollow even to her ears.

They said if you tell a lie so often then it becomes the truth. She wondered how many times she has to tell the lie tonight before it become the truth.

She wasn't fine, not that she was going to admit it to her friends.

Being rejected by her mate had hurt and only by sheer strength was she holding herself together right now.

She was the wolf's King's daughter and many eyes are on her tonight which means no weakness. She has to be strong even in the face of mockery.

Stark and Ciara stared at their best friend individually wondering whether to believe her. Their best friend was so good at hiding her emotions that they hardly knew when she was hurting. They wished the girl will trust them more with her feelings but she is who she is.

They turned to look at each other to figure out how to help their friend through this but something else entirely happened.