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15.Mate
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2025-02-17 14:12:58
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Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Gameย ย ย 16. HPPA laws
ChloeBryce and I separated as soon as we made it to the main street.โYouโre the best, Bryce,โ I said, beaming at him.He winked at me. โDonโt forget it, beautiful.โ His words were flirty, but I knew he didnโt really mean it. โNow, donโt do anything I wouldnโt do.โโSo youโre giving me free range to do whatever I like?โ I teased.โAbsolutely. Now, thereโs a stiff drink calling my name. See you later, Harper.โ He sauntered off and I sighed.I wished I liked Bryce in that way. I really did. He was funny and kind and clever, and loyal to Adrian completely. And I did like himโฆ but just, not like that. He was someone I would only ever see as a friend. What a pity.As soon as Bryce was out of view, I ducked back into the alley, pulling my backpack off as I went. I wasted no time in taking off the mask I was still wearing, followed by my sweatshirt and stuffing it into the backpack. I pulled out a baseball cap and slipped it on. It wasnโt one of my old, worn ones from back home, but I still
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-17Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Gameย ย ย 17.Ex-mate
ChloeCaden reached down and grabbed me, pulling me into a bone crushing hug. Just as I was started to see stars, he pulled back, keeping his hands firmly on my shoulders and me in place. If I wanted to run for it, Iโd have to rip myself from his grasp.โChloe!โ Relief and surprise mingled in his voice. I wanted to say it felt forced, but he was so open when his guard was down, as it was now. He was genuinely happy to have run into me.โCaden,โ I greeted, more reserved.โWhat are you doing here?โ he shook me slightly. โWhere the hell have you been?โMy mouth started falling open and I snapped it shut. โWhy do you care?โ the words came out harsher than I intended, but I didnโt bother apologizing. The old Chloe would have apologized so as not to cause issues between us. That Chloe died in the forest when I was attacked.โWhatโs wrong, Chloe?โ His concern was genuine and that upset me. Why hadnโt he cared when Leah had been lying about me? Why couldnโt he have cared when he was breaking
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-17Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Gameย ย ย 18. Half-brother
AdrianI hadnโt meant to scare her, but Chloe jumped about a foot in the air when I spoke. She searched the room, her eyes landing on me. I sat in the wing backed chair in Chloeโs sitting area, staring at her guilty face. Wherever she had gone, she thought she shouldnโt have been there. Interesting. That narrowed down potential places significantly.โSo? Where were you?โ I asked again. I wanted to see if sheโd admit to goingโฆ wherever sheโd gone.โHow long have you been sitting here?โ she asked, countering my question with one of her own. She put her hands on her hips and tried to glare at me. Unfortunately for her she couldnโt work up the ire the look really needed.Iโd gone to Chloeโs room as soon as Iโd returned from the bar and had been sitting here ever since, waiting for her. When I thought too hard about it, it seemed creepy, but I hadnโt intended it that way. I just hadnโt known where else to go. I had to know that Chloe was okay before I could continue on with my day. I staye
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-17Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Gameย ย ย 19. Do you miss him
ChloeAdrian rose from his seat and stepped slowly closer to me as if he thought I might run away. He stopped right in front of me, filling the space with his presence โ his energy. He leaned down and I stopped breathing. He was so close I could smell the mint on his breath. He was a habitual gum chewer, especially when he was thinking. I half expected him to blow a bubble.Every wolf had their own scent, and no two wolves smelled the same. Mates sometimes had their smells combine over time, as if their souls were melding. Iโd always thought it was beautiful.Iโd learned the scents of my family over the last three months. Alexander smelled like books and sunshine; King Charles smelled like pastries and green tea, two of his all-time favorite treats, and Knox smelled like fresh rainfall. I couldn't help but notice that despite living in the palace, Adrian still smelled woodsy. He smelt of pine trees and freshly fallen snow. I felt my body sway towards his as if I was connected to him.
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-17Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Gameย ย ย 20.Healer
ChloeI'd spent all night tossing and turning, trying to figure out if I wanted Adrian to go with me to the healer. I wasn't sure what the healer was going to ask, and I thought his presence might make me too nervous to answer.Instead, I sent him a note via Nancy telling him that I wanted to go alone.Nancy offered to walk me down to the clinic, but I declined. It's not like I didn't know where to go. I'd gone there several times over the last couple of months for blood work. "I know where to go. Thank you, Nancy." I gave her a smile to soften my rejection." Of course, Your Highness."I could feel her eyes on me as I exited the room.As I walked, I tried to calm my racing heart. I was nervous- what if the Healer couldn't help me and my wolf lay dormant for the rest of my life? The thought left an ache in my chest that was almost unbearable. I had to get my wolf back - she was part of who I was and being without her felt wrong.I hesitated when I got to the Healer's office. I knew Ad
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-17Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Gameย ย ย 21.Luna
CadenI turned to Leah, anger eating me up inside. โWhat the fuck do you think youโre doing?โ I growled, my wolf unable to hide its displeasure with her. As Alpha I should have a steady hold on my emotions, but as I watched Chloe walk away something snapped inside me.โI donโt know what youโre talking about,โ she huffed, not meeting my eyes. She knew exactly what sheโd done, and the worst part was I know she wasnโt remorseful even though she had absolutely been in the wrong.โYou know exactly what I am talking about. My conversation with Chloe had nothing to do with you, and you had no right to interrupt and speak the way you did. I canโt believe you.โ I could, though. Leah had always been mean and spiteful, but as her father had been the Beta in the pack everyone had turned a blind eye to her behavior. Clearly, that had been a mistake, and we were all paying the price now.Leah stuck out her lip, obviously thinking that pouting was going to make me forgive her faster. News flash: it
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-17Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Gameย ย ย 22.The Hunt
AdrianAfter her initial appointment, Chloe started going to the Healer every other day. Somehow, I always happened to be in the hallway outside the Healerโs offices when Chloe left. It was getting to the point that I had to make up more extravagant excuses about why I was down there.โAdrian?โI turned to find Chloe just outside the Healerโs door, her arms crossed. I tried not to notice what that did to her breasts, but she was wearing a low-cut shirt, and I was just a man. Tearing my eyes away from the compelling sight, I met her gaze and gave her a small smile. It delighted me when she instantly softened.โYes?โ I finally managed to say, my throat dry.โWhy are you outside the Healerโs quarters this time?โ she asked, raising her eyebrows.I swallowed and cast around for something to tell her that wasnโt the pathetic truth. โI have a headache, and I wanted some painkillers.โChloe nodded; her face carefully neutral. I had no idea if she believed me or not.Mate, my wolf whined, choo
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-17Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Gameย ย ย 23. Rockcellar Pack
ChloeโShit, shit, shit,โ I muttered to myself, desperately clinging on to the back of my horse. Iโd taken lessons over the last few days, but I still wasnโt confident in my abilities.โPrincess Harper!โ Caden called behind me.โDouble shit!โ I turned my horse to the right and dug my heels into its side, urging the horse away. It took every bit of my newfound skill not to fall off. Iโd fallen off several times over the last couple of days.โDonโt pull back so hard on the reigns!โ Alexander called out on my first day of lessons.Of course, I pulled back harder on instinct and Jolie, my horse, reared up on her hind legs. I screamed and slid right off her back and onto my ass. Jolie righted herself and turned to me with a horsy frown. She snorted at me in indignation.โYouโre doomed,โ Knox howled with laughter from the other side of the arena.I stood carefully, making sure nothing was broken. I brushed off my ass and turned to my brothers, both of whom were still giggling.โI could have
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-02-17
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Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Gameย ย ย 106. Appointment
ChloeโYouโre late,โ Father clucked from his chair by the window.I rolled my eyes. โBarely, Father. I have a country to run, after all.โFather turned to me with a big smile. โI know. You and Adrian are doing an amazing job.โI softened at this and plopped down into the seat next to his. He already had my tea poured into my cup.Weโd been meeting, just the two of us, at least once a week since Iโd moved back to the palace with my husband and children. Slowly weโd built a real father-daughter bond, and I treasured having him in my life. I loved meeting with him and sharing my days.He looked preoccupied today. โWhatโs wrong?โ I asked.He turned to me, his eyes sad. โDo you know what day it is?โI frowned, going through my mental calendar. I hadnโt missed an appointment, had I?โItโs your motherโs birthday,โ Father said gently.I reared back in surprise. How could I have possibly forgotten that?โDonโt be too hard on yourself, sweetie,โ Father said with a bittersweet smile. โYour mothe
Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Gameย ย ย 105. The Gray Pack
Caden“You really need to get over her,” my Beta, Jared, said, sitting down next to me. “It’s been years, Caden.”I ignored him and downed the rest of my beer. When I was done, I finally spoke. “I fucked up the best part of my life, Jared, allow me to mourn it as I see fit.”“I’m not arguing with you on that point,” Jared said, signaling for a beer from the bartender. “I’m just saying that you have to accept at some point that you were the one who broke the mate bond with Chloe, which means that you are responsible for no longer being with her. I get it; it sucks. But she’s married and has a couple kids. She’s never coming back.”I stared morosely into my empty mug. “I’m scared that I’m never going to find my second chance mate. I want my Luna, Jared.”
Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Gameย ย ย 104. Biological father
Adrian“You know I don’t remember being Crown Prince as this exhausting,” I sighed, tearing off my tie.Chloe lounged in bed already, half asleep. She’d been in meetings all day and I knew she was exhausted. “I think being Crown Prince and being King Alpha are two different things, Adrian.”“Well, I’m tired.”Chloe shot me a sleepy smile. “Me too. Are you ready to come to bed yet, oh great one?”I chuckled. She’d started calling me that after I’d been crowned and while I normally would have balked at someone calling me that, with Chloe it was different. I knew she meant it only with love, not mocking at all. “I am ready.”I crawled into bed and collected Chloe in my arms. She felt so right pressed against me. If I wasn’t so tired I’d be all ov
Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Gameย ย ย 103. Adventure
KnoxI came home from my travels just long enough to watch Chloe and Adrian be crowned King and Queen. Over the last couple of years, I’d traveled to 43 countries and met more shifters than I’d ever imagined. Some were werewolves like me, but I also met leopard shifters and dragon shifters, entire cultures with their own legacies and rules. It was incredible, and I felt like I’d grown so much as a person since I’d left.“I guess I have to call you Your Highness now,” I laughed, patting Adrian on the back.He shot me a bright smile. He looks happier than he has in years. Alexander and I made the right choice; Adrian should have always been on the throne. It was never our place. “You can just call me Adrian.”“Not brother?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.He rolled his eyes. “That works too, I suppose.&r
Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Gameย ย ย 102. The new Queen
Chloe"You don't usually ask to see me without the kids," I teased Alexander as I sat down next to him on the bench. We'd agreed to meet at our favorite spot in the gardens, one weโd frequented often in the years since Adrian, and I moved our family back here at Fatherโs request. He hadnโt really needed to convince us; we loved the idea of our children being raised with their grandfather and uncles."There's something I need to speak to you about," Alexander sighed, unusually serious. He seemed more and more serious as of recently and I worried about him. He seemed to be wearing thin."Is everything alright? Did Father's cancer return?" I knew he'd just had some routine scans done and no one had mentioned the outcome. Maybe theyโd been keeping them from us on purpose?"No, nothing like that. No, it's something completely different." He closed his eyes for a moment as if he was gathering himself."I'm all ears," I said, leaning back. I was nervous about what he wanted to speak about.A
Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Gameย ย ย 101. Charlieโs pregnancy
ChloeI debated for hours on whether or not I wanted to take the pregnancy test on my own or tell Adrian what I suspected. Iโd been alone the first time with Charlie, and Iโd been terrified, but things were different this time. I was married to my mate, and we lived in the Capital City near my father who doted on his grandson. In fact, both Alexander and Knox took their roles as uncles very seriously. I had a whole support system this time instead of just Caden.I almost told him I was going to take it but before I did I called Caden. Heโd been around the first pregnancy, and I knew heโd give me good advice.โWhatโs up, Chloe?โ Caden said when he answered the phone.โI think I might be pregnant,โ I said in a rush.Caden was silent for several heartbeats. โAm I supposed to be happy orโฆ supportive?โโHappy,โ I laughed. โIโm happy about the idea. But I donโt know whether I want to take the test with or without Adrian.โโOh,โ Caden said, understanding. โI see. Well, there isnโt one right a
Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Gameย ย ย 100. Beautiful sight
AdrianI had never been as nervous as I was standing at the altar waiting for Chloe to walk down the aisle.Alexander leaned over. I had chosen him as my best man, although I had been close between him and Knox. โYou look like you're about to puke,โ Alexander said.โGee, thanks,โ I said. In reality, I thought I was about to pass out.โNerves?โ Caden asked from beside Alexander. I had chosen him as one of my groomsmen as well. To my surprise, we actually got along really well, and I considered him a close friend now, not to mention an uncle to Charlie. He loved my son, and I couldn't stay mad at anyone who loved my son.โDon't worry if you pass out, I'll pour some water on you,โ Knox offered.I ignored them and focused on trying to calm my breathing.The music for the bride started and we all turned towards the giant double doors, glancing over our 500 closest friends and family members that had been invited. The door swung open, and Father stepped out with Chloe on his arm. She was abs
Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Gameย ย ย 99. Wedding dresses
ChloeI stared at the dress in the mirror, feeling absolutely helpless. โHow many wedding dresses do I really have to try on?โ I asked aloud.โUntil you feel like a Princess,โ the seamstress said. โReally, I don't remember any client being this difficult before.โโI'm sorry,โ I sighed. โIt's nothing with your design, though. It's absolutely beautiful. But ever since I gave birth to Charlie, I just don't feel comfortable in my skin anymore.โThe seamstress gave me a sympathetic smile. โI understand,โ she said. โI felt that way after the birth of all of my children. Don't get me wrong, I love them all very much, and I would do it 1000 times over if it meant I got to keep them. But it's hard adjusting to the new body you have as a mother.โโI just want my body to go back to the way it was before I gave birth,โ I admitted. In fact, I hadn't admitted this to anyone, and it was a relief to get it off my chest.The seamstress tutted. โThe sooner you get rid of that notion, the happier you'll
Rejected, Princess Mate Selection Gameย ย ย 98. Married
AdrianI really really didn't want to go see Elizabeth she had haunted my doorstep for years and the thought that I was about to enter her house was too much for me to bear.Unfortunately my wife had other ideas, and I couldn't tell her no.I didn't bother sending Elizabeth any warning that I was on my way. I didn't want her to get anything ready for me. With her, who knew what she would come up with.I knocked on her front door and when the Butler opened it his eyes widened in shock. โPrince Adrian. It's been a while.โโSo it has. Is Elizabeth home?โ I askedHe nodded slowly. โAre you sure you would like to see her?โโI would,โ I confirmed.He led me into the drawing room and motioned towards the couch to sit down. โI'll go grab the lady.โThe couches were made for style more than comfort and I was still shifting around trying to get comfortable when Elizabeth rushed into the room. It was clear that she had sprinted from whatever other part of the house she'd been in in order to get t
