The Alpha King's Mate novel Chapter 19

It's an awful, violent, bloody battle. A wolf is skewered on someone's sword, and blood spurts all over me. I fall to my knees and stare at my bloody hands.

Soldiers hoist me up under my arms and drag me toward their army. I scuffle and try to shrug myself free to no avail. Finally, growling wolves pounce on them and rip their heads off.

They shift into their human form and drag me toward their base. I scuffle and try to shrug myself free of them, too. I summon the wind and force them backward, knocking them onto the ground. I run to the forest.

To calm myself, I sing. Two hands plant themselves on both of my shoulders. I spin around to see a tall, blonde, smiling man with blue eyes and a few small scars on his face, who is otherwise quite handsome.

He is wearing the same royal armour as the Wellmore Village soldiers and a red velvet cape clasped over his collarbone with a gold pin. A gold, red, rubied crown sits on his head, matching his cape.

Alpha King Damon appears in a different kind of uniform. He is dressed as a warrior and stands on my right-hand side. Seeing him, my heart races, and I'm instantly put on the spot and presented with two choices.

"Come with me, my love. I will protect you and keep you safe from the wolves," the blonde-haired man says, reaching his hand out to me and smiling.

"No!" Alpha King Damon shouts, offering his hand to me.

"You're my mate. We're destined to be together. Please take my hand," he says desperately. I rescind from them both.

"I don't understand. Who are you, and why do I have to choose? What if I don't want to choose? What if I choose wrong?" I ask.

Both men evaporate into thin air, and I wake up drenched in sweat. Ember is sitting on my chest, staring at me. Realising it was just a dream, I compose myself and shake it off. I decide to go to Vivian's house, where I can ask her some questions and hopefully get the answers I need.

Arriving on her doorstep, I knock and wait for her to answer. Vivian swings the door open, and I am greeted warmly. She wears a long-sleeved, floor-length green dress. She has been baking.

"Maia! You're back. How lovely to see you. Come in,

come in. You're just in time for some bread," she says,

closing the door behind us.

"The Forest Princess! The Forest Princess is here!" The twins chorus together, hugging my arms and giving me a greeting fit for a queen.

"Hello, Grace and Ella," I smile.

I sit down in my usual kitchen chair and drape my cloak over the back of it. Unfortunately, since washing up in the river, my dress and cloak are torn in places and look worse for wear. Vivian notices this and frowns.

"Maia, do you only have one set of clothes?" She asks, surprised.

"Yes," I say, accepting the cup she hands me. "Thank you," I smile.

"You need more than one set of clothes, darling. How do you manage?" Vivian asks, concerned.

"I manage just fine," I say, smiling.

"How are you otherwise?" She asks.