Chapter 8 - Little Princess

Caleb's POV

I made my way into Nick's office, he was already on the phone, probably planning another pointless event that would waste time when we could be training or doing something important that didn't involve sitting in endless meetings talking in circles with power hungry Alphas who believed that they were more deserving than the other. I appreciated my position because I truly didn't envy Nick. He had dedicated the past fifteen years of his life to running the country and it's people. Not once taking time to himself to search for his true mate. I knew it was what he wanted but he always held "duty" above everything else and wanted to do what was best for his people and his kingdom, believing that he had an image and a standard to uphold. He didn't know that I was plotting something though. I silently smirked at myself remembering the fiery redhead from the night before.

Cate was perfect for Nick. Theo believed that she had been hurt in unspeakable ways but you could see a fire in her eyes, a stubbornness. Nick needed someone who would test him and push him. Someone to make him think of more than just duty and his image. He needed a true partner, someone to balance him out, a Queen; not these pointless women he keeps around. Yeah, they were hot and always ready but they were boring! Well...not all but most. Nick kept pretty faces around to please the public. Honestly, it was disrespectful to these women. He was leading them on, making them believe that they stood a chance but he always kept them at arms length but this year his time was up. The Council had spoken. He needed a Queen and the ball at the end of the year would be the perfect opportunity. All I had to do was convince Cate to attend and push her in Nick's path. I knew she would be able to hold his attention. That was if he didn't find his true mate in the mean time. If that didn't work, I could always throw my hat in the ring for Cate.

"What do you mean the Trackers didn't find anything? Are you telling me that our best men couldn't sniff out a single scent?" My ears perked – he wasn't planning something, he was looking for something.

"Keep searching! I need to locate that wolf immediately" He slammed his phone down on his desk, probably destroying another one. His wolf was becoming increasingly agitated lately.

"Lose a girlfriend bro? What's up?" Not acknowledging my presence he turned to the window.

"Do you remember the stories my Aunt Sarah use to tell us? The Necros and their wolves." I racked my brain trying to vaguely piece together the stories. It was so long ago and I always thought they were pointless – no one had seen a Necro in years.

"Barely." No clue where he was going with this.

"I saw one this morning. Out on the ridge. Clear as day. At first I thought the forest was on fire but it was a wolf, a wolf made of flames. Just like the stories." He turned to gauge my reaction, his deep blue eyes ablaze. I knew that Ashur was on the surface, ready to rise and hunt down this wolf.

"You had to have been dreaming! Did you drink too much booster last night when you were with Bridgette?" I refused to believe what he saying.

"You know what this means Caleb. War is coming. We have to find that wolf." His aura was radiating with power and something else, I could sense his wolf wanted to find this person for other reasons.

"Bruh. Are you sure you want to do this? You open this door and there's no going back. We start hunting down Necros and you could be starting the war." This idea was making my wolf Hermes and I anxious. It wasn't a good idea.

"Then the Necro should have stayed in hiding." I knew there was no convincing him otherwise. I had known him long enough to know that I wouldn't be able to change his mind on this.

We're fucked.

"Want to tell me what happened last night?" I laughed remembering how Cate handled herself. She was something else for sure.

"Not really." I didn't want to expose her just yet. I needed to get her to trust me first.

"Well....we need to head into town. We have a meeting with a match maker." Nick stood adorning his navy blue suit coat.

"A fucking what now?" Not making a move for the door.

"How else am I suppose to find a Luna Queen? I need help and you're useless." I watched him adjust his black curls in the mirror by the door.

You'll see how useless I am when I present my candidate. He wouldn't know what hit him.

Cate's POV

Olivia was screaming with excitement as she ran around the indoor playground, climbing over plastic mushrooms and crawling through a maze of fake logs. The entire play area was set up like a forest, complete with tall trees and a plastic glazed pond with giant lily pads to jump on. Fairy lights were strung up from tree to tree, the ceiling made to appear as if it were nighttime. It was rather peaceful if you took out the screaming kids. I watched as Olivia climbed the "stone" steps to the slides, giggling as she went. She was in her own little world, no worries or cares other than if Mommy was watching her accomplishments. My heart swelled that this could be her new normal, that she could be the wild child I knew she was and not see Mommy sad or hurt because of her father. It made everything worth it.

Last nights run had helped me clear my head. I refused to dwell on the past and was solely focused on the future that I could provide for my daughter. Her happiness and safety were all that mattered now. She would be able to grow up in a healthy environment, find her mate and fall in love. I planned on giving her everything that I missed out on. She never want for anything. I was lost in my daydream when my phone started ringing, my mother.

She must have woken up from her nap. When I came in from my run she was still awake, wanting to make sure that I made it home safe. I let her sleep and had taken Olivia out for breakfast and playtime to give her some alone time. She deserved it.

"Hey! Uncle Kenny called. He set us up with an account at a local furniture store. He said to buy whatever we needed since we had to leave most everything behind. We should go get some new beds and maybe a couch." She sounded excited, she loved a good shopping trip.

"Alright. Let me get the Princess and we'll be up soon. Can you pack her backpack?"

Good luck trying to get her to leave. Amara gave a wolfish chuckle.

You should already know the easiest way to get her attention.

"Olivia! Wanna go see Mimi and go bye-bye?" Her head snapped up immediately as her little legs started making their way towards me. Her little cheeks were flushed from all the running she had already done, her dark curls bouncing with each step, her feet refusing to stay in place when she reached me making her Minnie Mouse shoes light up.

"Let's go Mommy, let's go! You ready? Where Mimi?" Olivia had come such a long way with her vocabulary. She was incredibly smart for a two year old and I couldn't have been more proud.

We drove through town to the store that Uncle Kenny indicated. He selected a higher end furniture store, much nicer than the second hand furniture that I had found at a resale shop.

"Hi! You must be Cate and Ann! Kenneth said you were coming. I'm Meredith. I'll be assisting you today. Kenneth said that I am required to make sure you purchase furniture for every room and not to take for no for an answer." Meredith was dressed in an impeccable pale pink suit with large gold buttons. Her platinum blonde hair pulled back into a tight bun. She was stunning. I felt self conscious in my torn and faded black jeans and flannel but I held my head high refusing to compare myself to another strong woman. She was beautiful in her own right and so was I.

We spent the rest of the morning picking out a living room set, dining room table and a bedroom suite for each of us. I tried my best to keep the cost down but some of the items in the store were outrageous. Olivia loved jumping on the furniture, something I tried desperately to stop but Meredith just laughed it off. I had to admit that it was a wonderful feeling getting to pick out brand new furniture – a fresh start that we desperately needed. Meredith was incredibly helpful, taking the hint that I was trying to be on the safe side of my selections and doing what she could to relieve my stress that I was going overboard.

After what seemed like hours of retail therapy we headed over to Kenny's office for a late lunch to thank him for his kindness. We headed downtown to a tall office building situated right on the bank of a river that ran through the downtown area. The skyline a mix of steel, glass, and the rocky formation of the mountains. The castle of the King could been seen off in the distance, the mountains offering an impressive backdrop to the imposing structure, the afternoon sun offering a new perspective compared to the moonless night.

"How was I so blessed to have lunch with three beautiful ladies?" Uncle Kenny's voice boomed as he made his way out the front of the building. He was an imposing figure, well over six feet, a closely shaved head and gray beard, his bushy gray eyebrows almost hiding what I knew were vibrant green eyes – a thin mouth that was now pulled back revealing his perfectly straight teeth. His charcoal gray suit tailored perfectly to fight his bulky frame.

We took a quick stroll around the corner to a small café, having missed the lunch rush, we were the only table the room beside one another – a table that looked entirely too small for the two looming figures. Both dressed in all black and inspecting us as we walked in. I offered my best smile and the two seemed to perk up a little, one inspection me a little closer than I felt comfortable with. Their eyes were hidden by dark sunglasses but I could feel them burning a hole in my back until they finished their coffee and made their way out of the café.

That was strange. No one else seemed bothered by them. Maybe I looked suspicious.

Lunch was a pleasant affair – Uncle Kenny making silly faces at Olivia who only wanted French fries and ice cream. Her screaming giggles filling the little space, the employees turning and watching, not seeming to be bothered by her outbursts. Uncle Kenny didn't have children of his own with his mate, Aunt Lilly, who had been lost to us a few years back to cancer. Despite all our supernatural abilities and gifts we were still human. We walked back to the building with Olivia riding on Uncle Kenny's shoulders, screaming "weeeeee" as we went along, her little dimples showing and her eyes glittering with the excitement. My heart felt light and open to the new possibilities that were coming our way.

A familiar scent hit me as we rounded the corner, I saw a mop of golden curls and the strong back of Beta Caleb. He turned our way after speaking to the two men from the café. They both gave him a quick nod before walking into the building but not before I could feel their eyes on me again.

"Cate! I thought I smelt you but thought it was a dream. Councilman Mercer, pleasure as always. Cate, this must be your sister? And who is this tiny princess?" Caleb was a mask of business but I could see a hint of laughter in his eyes as he examined Olivia still riding Kenny's shoulders.

"Royal Beta Caleb, allow me to introduce Cate's mother Ann Mercer and my great, great niece, Olivia Mercer." Kenny gently set Olivia on her feet, she was leery of strangers and I was unsure of how she would react with Caleb but she surprised us all. He dropped down to her level, not saying a word but allowing her to examine him closely before he slowly bowed his head, dropping his eyes to the ground before looking back at her.

"Hold me! Up! Let's go!" Olivia was lifted into Caleb's arms as if she had known him all her short life, pointing her way to the car expectantly waiting for Caleb to join us. He gave a light chuckle at her response seeming to be ready to oblige to anything she wanted.

"Looks like you are being kidnapped Beta Royal Caleb." My Mother just as surprised by Olivia's reaction as I was. Caleb turned to look back at a black SUV parked in front of the building, the driver standing by waiting for it's occupant.

"If that is what the little Princess requires of me then I guess I'm being kidnapped." He smiled turning back to the our little group.

And just like that, Caleb spent everyday with us for a week straight until it was time to move into our new home.