Acela POV

Blinking my eyes repeatedly as I force myself awake and shut off the alarm on my phone. I'm feeling a lot better after this nap, who knew all you needed was sleep after not sleeping.

God, I'm so stupid. Why did I think I would be fired for having an awkward moment with the Prince?

It was really weird and I noticed the Queen had noticed too. Is it that odd for him to not speak? Lisla seemed really friendly. Perhaps I just annoyed him in a way, I understand it must be hard for him being Prince and all and having people fuss over you..

I get out of bed and quickly turn the shower on and have the fastest shower on earth as I rush to get ready. The ball would've started an hour ago and I really don't want Elizabeth to handle it all on her own, a deal is a deal and I feel guilty sleeping while everyone else is working hard.

Slipping the uniform on we were instructed to wear for the lavish event, it's a beautiful black dress with white lining around the collar, a beautiful zip-up dress.. I never got to wear stuff like this.. I had no reason to when I looked after my mom.. but now that I look at myself in the mirror, I feel pretty and light even in my work uniform I feel myself again.

A knock at the door startles me. I'm not even ready yet, I still need to put on my tights, shoes and I need to tie my hair up. "Just a second!" I call out as I quickly put my tights on and hop to the door as I pull them up.

Please don't be anyone important.

I open the door and freeze.

"Hey." Prince Caelan says casually while dressed in a tailored black suit with royal shoulder pads and some military badges pinned into his blazer.

I try not to stare and gape at him like a trout while he stands there looking absolutely amazing.

"P-prince, can I help you with something?" I say seriously as I subconsciously hide my feet without shoes on. I don't know if it's rude or now, I'm panicking inside.

He leans against the wall opposite my door as he looks at me with an expression I don't understand. Longing? Yeah right. "I came to get you." He says, his eyes never leaving mine.

Get me? "Oh, Elizabeth must need my help." I laugh nervously breaking the tension.

Amusement flickers in his eyes as he shakes his head. "No, I do." He says as he moves off from the wall and walks in front of me, putting his hands on either side of my door frame.

I watch as his eyes flicker to a dominant yellow as he stares down at me with a hard gaze. "Do you feel it?" He asks me, searching my eyes for an answer.

I feel a lot of things right now. I breathe in his scent and it's intoxicating and distracting me from his question. "Feel w-what?" I ask as the air around us gets thick.

He reaches out and grabs my hand and I feel a sharp electric spark go up to my arm like I just got electrocuted. I try to pull my hand back in shock but he holds onto my hand and the sparks are coming off in waves. It feels incredibly uncomfortable but wonderful at the same time.

"How are you doing that?" I ask staring at our hands, he walks forward until he is in my room. He closes the door with his other hand as he keeps his eyes on me the whole time and I'm afraid my heart is about to leap from my ribcage from the pace it's beating right now.

He walks forward until my back is against the wall in the entrance and I'm comfortable frozen with confusion as to what the hell is happening right now.

He brings his head into my shoulder and groans quietly as he inhales my scent, bringing his body closer to mine until we are body to body, I can smell everything coming off from his to his cologne to the shampoo he uses. "I crave your scent." He moans out as he laces our hands together while the other is in my long curly hair.

I feel as if I might faint from his touch alone, I'm breathing but if feels as if his scent has clouded my lungs, I feel consumed by him. He pulls back slightly to see my face and he looks at me lovingly.

Wait, why is he looking at me like that?

What the hell is going on. We are both breathing heavily staring at each other, we haven't even kissed but it feels like we've done nothing else but that.

He closes him as if he is in pain. "Fuck." He says quietly. Opening his eyes I notice they are no longer glowing and are completely dark black.

"Your eyes.." I say staring at them as he stills still holding me.

He breathes deeply then looks at me. "You're my mate." He says breathlessly staring at me waiting for my reaction.

My eyes go wide as I process what he just said, mate? As in a friend or...

No. I don't understand.

I move away as I go under his arms and out of his grasp. I'm pacing my small bedroom without looking at him. How is this possible? I really don't understand.

"Does this upset you?" He asks and I freeze from pacing to look at him. He looks anxious and gorgeous.. no just anxious.

"I don't even know you!" I mutter out. "Maybe it's a mistake?" I say nervously looking at his face.

He frowns. "Its no mistake Acela, I knew instantly when I got home last night." He stays stiffly looking mad.

Oh my god but I'm not ready for this. I'm a nobody and he is... Damn, he is royalty.

I sit ok my bed and tub my forehead, please don't be a headache. "You need to leave." I say quietly.

He doesn't say anything so I look at him nervously to see him taking off his jacket and putting it behind the desk chair. What is he doing now?

"Prince Caelan you can't be here.." I say quietly in the dark-lit room.

He sits on the bed near me and I'm so close to passing out from having him this close to me.

"Do you not want me?"

I look at him shocked to see he looks sad and slightly annoyed that I want him to leave.. it's his birthday, people are here to see him.. and being mated to me has to be a mistake.. has to be.

"Prince Cae-"

He interrupts me. "It's Caelan." He snaps standing up pissed off.

I feel the blood drain from my face as he turns around and looks angrier. "What do I need to do?" He asks seriously with a hard voice as he kneels in front of me sitting on the bed.

My eyes go wide as I feel my face get hot. What what what? Do?

"What do you mean?" I ask confused.

He growls out annoyed. "I want this, I want you so what do I need to do to make you want me?"

My stomach does flips and I'm a puddle on my bed.

Why does he want me? Why, how.. what is going on.

I gape at him as he is looking deadly serious as he looks at me. "But you don't even know me." I say dumbfounded.

He shrugs then takes my hand in his. "So let me get to know you." He says staring into my eyes with hope.

My heart is screaming yes but my head is telling me to think about this, this is going way too fast, I've only known him for a day!

"My father is calling me, will you come with me?" He asks me hopeful with a half-smile.

My heart clenched as I shake my head and his smile turns to a frown. "I-I need time.. to think." I say honestly with a stutter.

He nods his head slowly as he slowly stands up, he turns and grabs his jacket from the chair and begins to put it on, his eyes not leaving mine.

"Let me know when we can talk? Please." He asks deeply while opening the door.

I nod my head and he smiles sadly. Looking at me one last time before leaving and closing the door gently behind him.

I let out a deep breath and I place my hand over my chest. Its beating rapidly and crazy since he first showed up.

I'm his mate, his soulmate.

How is this even possible, I'm human, he is a royal prince.

HE WANTS ME and I want to run.

I'm scared I can't be with him without feeling like he only wants me because of the mate bond. If mates didn't exist would he want me? I highly doubt it.. there is nothing special about me compared to the mountain of women who would love to have him.

I don't want to think like this, it hurts too much.

There's a knock at my door and my heartbeat speeds up again. Is that him?

Oh god, I need to answer it.

I slowly walk to the door and freeze for a second before I brave it and open the door.

"Hey, you feeling okay? I heard you felt sick earlier." Mason says worried as he scans my face.

I begin to feel calm again and nod with a smile. "Yeah, I slept and I feel fine now."

He sighs. "Phew! Good because I and Elizabeth were worried sick, want to come to the party? They are toasting soon.. their cake!" He says happily at the mention of cake.

I laugh. "I guess I could for a little bit." I say. I really don't want to run into Prince Caelan, too afraid I will embarrass myself or he will come near me, and then people will know... I don't want that attention on me.

"Let's go!" He says grinning, dragging me out the door and down the hall.

*****

The ballroom is packed with beautiful and wealthy people of all races and species, I have never seen anything like it other than in the news and pictures.

Everyone is laughing and having fun and I'm pleased everyone seems to be having a good time. I hope Caelan is too and he still isn't upset..

Oh god, it's his birthday and I totally had a panic in front of him and kicked him out of my room, of course, he is probably mad.

I feel guilty and sad knowing he is somewhere in this room not having fun.. or having fun with someone else.

I shouldn't think this way but I've clearly lost my mind.

"Psst, I got us cake." Mason says behind me holding out a plate of red velvet cake.

I giggle. "Woah it looks delicious." I say as I look hungrily admiring it. I skipped food don't judge me.

I was about to dig in with a fork before a loud spoon against a glass startles me and the whole room. I look up to the front of the ballroom to see the King and queen standing up from behind their table where I just noticed they are all sat, even Caelan and Lisla.

"Ladies and Gentleman, I'd like to toast to my two children on this special day." The king says raising his glass as everyone joins in. "To my daughter Lisla and my son Caelan, two very exceptional wolves who make me proud as a father and king, happy birthday!"

The room cheers delighted and clap to the king's toast as I put my plate down and clap along as my eyes go to Caelan to find Caelans are already fixated on mine.

He just found me in a room full of people, how the hell?

I see the king say something to him and he nods and smiles as his mother and father the king and queen give him a hug and then go to Princess Lisla and do the same.

I tear my eyes away from the scene as I pick up my plate and find a seat with Mason, I need to sit down.

"Damn I can't wait till I turn one hundred." Mason says beside me as we sit.

I raise a brow. "Why?" I ask.

He grins. "It's like being twenty-one for humans and you can finally do everything you wanted." He says with a mouth full of cake making me laugh.

"But couldn't you do everything you wanted now?" I ask laughing.

He snorts. "Money first human, partying in your hundreds is when life gets easy, my brother is 109 and still partying somewhere." He says.

Woah okay. "You're all odd." I say teasingly.

I see Mason pale as he looks behind me and stops eating and sits up straight. "Did I say something weird?" I mumble as I turn to see what he is looking at.

Caelan stands a foot behind me looking deadly at Mason.

"P-prince, happy birthday." Mason says nervously.

"Thanks." He says not looking at him but at me. "Can I have this dance?" He asks me with a breathtaking smile, leaving me breathless as I subconsciously nod.

Shit. No nod, no nod!!

But it's too late. He holds his hand out for mine as I put my hand in his and he leads us through the pass of people who are looking at us curiously as Prince Caelan leads us to the floor where people are dancing.

He positions himself like a professional dancer as I stand there awkwardly. "Uh, I can't dance." I whisper nervously as he puts his hand on my back and the other in my hand.

I see a grin before he leans in and his mouth slightly touches my ear as he whispers in it. "I got you." He says as he pulls me closer our bodies are practically glued at this point.

Oh God, I feel my face get hot. We move in sync no thanks to Caelan and his talented steps, I try to follow him but where I fail he brushes it off and steps in saving me from embarrassing myself.

"Did you think about it?" He whispers in my ear as I feel sparks from his lips touching my ear.

I nod slowly. "Y-yeah.." I breathe out and he leans back to look at me, still dancing together to the slow ballroom music.

"Can we keep it a secret? For now...?" I ask quietly afraid people will overhear us.

He frowns and looks disappointed but nods his head anyways. "But you will give me a chance to know you?"

I nod my head and smile. "Yeah.. maybe as friends first?" I ask knowing I'm asking a lot from him, he is a werewolf, when they find their mates it's straight to the point..

He stops dancing and stares at me hard as he shakes his head. "As long as you know I don't want to be your friend Acela, fine. But to me I am already yours, I have waited my whole life to meet you and I will do anything to make me yours in your heart." He states seriously as he leads me off the dance floor and through the crowd of people, not looking back at me as he leads us somewhere, heading straight for the door.

Leaving the ballroom and the whispers of those around us gone, we stand in the empty hallway as he leads us down the hall and straight to the staff section of the palace.

Why is he taking us there?

None of us speak until we make it to my room, we walk in silence until we are both standing outside my door.

I open my door and Prince Caelan opens the door for me, I whisper a 'thank you' as I head in first and take my shoes off at the door. I turn to see Caelan has done the same, he shuts the door and locks it.

My eyes go wide at the action and he notices my sudden panic. "We are getting to know each other, but first I want to lay with you." He says seriously and I gape at him.

"Excuse me?" I say nervously.

He takes his jacket off and freezes then looks at me, his tan ears are slightly pink. "I meant lay and talk, just talk." He says quickly avoiding my eyes.

I laugh softly, a little relieved but deep down a part of me hoped it was the other thing.

ACELA stop.

Is it weird if I changed into my pajamas with him here? I was about to ask but he begins to unbutton his tailored trousers off pulls them from his legs and hangs them on the back of his chair, along with his white shirt.

He's stood in black boxers and messy hair looking at me. "Do you want me to undress you?" He asks me and I grow hot.

"N-no!" I yell out nervously as I grab my pajamas and rush past him into the bathroom and lock the door.

Why on God's green earth did he just ask me that! And he is almost naked.

My god, the man is built like a god. He is so handsome, so handsome I have no idea what to say to him, and now he is practically naked in my room with a body like that...

How is he so damn good-looking and perfect?

I change into my pajamas and splash cold water on my warm cheeks and look at myself in the mirror.

I look like a strawberry. Great. It's a good thing it's dark in there so he won't see...

I unlock the door and see that he isn't stood where he was last time. I head into the bedroom and see he is laid on my bed flicking through the channels I didn't know I had, I notice he is on Netflix.

He looks and me and smirks. "I did not think you were a Harry Potter girl mate." He says teasingly as he hints to my top and bottoms.

I look down and blush as he taps the bed next to him. "I don't bite Acela." He says as he opens the blanket for me.

Oh hell with it. I've lost my mind anyways.

And he called me his mate. I don't know why but it made me happy and my stomach does flips.

I sit in the bed next to him and he shifts closer until my thin arms touch his large muscled ones. "Which do you prefer?" He asks hinting at the TV. "Love and Monsters or Stranger things?" He says in his thick deep husky voice and I swallow hard from the growing sexual tension in the room.

"Love and monsters.. " I say as I catch his eyes in mine and my heart beats faster from how close we are.

He grins and presses play. "Love and Monsters it is then."

This is going to be a long night.