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POV: Caden

"It's her, are you sure?" I can't let hope blossom. This day has been a roller coaster of news. If this is a lie I don't know how well this room will survive.

"Yes. Today is her eighteen birthday. She is going into heat. The intoxicating feeling you're sensing is the heat licking at her flesh. Her wolf is calling out to me. I can finally hear her Caden. She is actually telling me to find them." Marcus howls within my mind.

Jumping up I swivel towards my father. "Call the librarian. We need the birthday book for today."

"Finally?"

"Yes mother. Marcus says he can finally hear her wolf calling to him." Hands shaking I try to calm my rapid pulse. It seems surreal to be experiencing these feelings. We all have been awaiting this special days for years and it's finally here.

"Is her wolf saying where they are located or what her humans name is?" An adrenaline rush forces me to pace back and forth waiting for the librarian.

Whimpering surprises me. Marcus never whimpers, not even when she left us at my birthday ball. "I feel them through the bond. Tiny glimpse of a man and window. No definite location. No words spoken."

"She is with a male? Do we know him?" My joy quickly turns sour. Has she already found my replacement?

Sitting down, the smile is wiped clean off my face. Am I too late to fix my wrong doings? Won't she give me a chance to find her and beg on bended knee?

"Caden what's wrong?" My mother's warm finger tilts my chin up. "Darling what dropped your mood? You were ecstatic mere moments ago."

"Marcus is getting peeks of her surrounds."

"What's wrong with that? Shouldn't that brighten your mood more?"

"There is a male with her, mother. Do you think her last letter to me is true?"

"No Caden I do not believe he would actually reject you for another. She has stayed single for eight years my son. Do you honestly believe she would stay alone to hook up with a male days before she turned eighteen?"

"No, I don't." It doesn't brighten my mood in the least bit.

"As a matter of option I believe she sent that last message to kick your butt into gear. She might have guessed you weren't getting the letters. Maybe the last one was a hopeful attempt to reach inside your heart one more time. Quite fooling around or truly lose the love of your life."

Knocking at the door interrupts our heart to heart.

"Enter Richard," father commands.

Bowing Richard places a thick book on the table. Flipping through it he come to stop on a single page.

"This is the year 1996's birth records. On this date there were over one hundred she-wolves born. All but twenty-five are mated or died."

"Twenty-five? How are we supposed to check them all out? She is in heat now dammit. What if another male marks and mates with her?" No...that can't happen. She will wait. She has to wait.

Without stopping Richard continues on. "Only three of them live in the castle as servants. One with black hair a brunette, and one blonde."

"Brunette. She has long brown curly hair." Nodding I await her beautiful name.

"Her name is Crystal Danielle Anderson. She lives with her two parents and older brother Matthew."

"Is that her Marcus?"

"I'm not sure. Her name doesn't do anything for me."

"Where does she live?" I have to see for myself. She had brown hair as a child, would she have colored it to keep hidden?"

"In the servant's courters. I can take you there or have a guard show you."

"First tell me the other two female names and what family members they have."

"Caden I thought she had brown hair?" My mother calmly asks.

"She did as a child. Eight years in hiding might have forced her to change her hair color. I won't take a chance." Nothing would be over looked tonight. Every detail will be taken into account.

"I agree, he is right. Hair color is easily changed. Richard who are the other two females?"

"Claudia Bell O'Shea has black hair and Casey Elizabeth Rose is the blonde. Both females have both parents and an older brother." Scribbling down on a pad of paper he hands them to us. Each room number is listened. Who would like which one?"

"Jason you take Claudia, my wife and I will take Casey. Caden once you visit Crystal inform us if she is the one. If not contact us. We will give you details on each one." Nodding to my father, I head towards the door.

"Richard show me to Crystal's room." Stepping out the door I notice my six bodyguards standing by. My father called them I bet. "Edward, you're with me. The rest of you split up and cover Your King and Queen and Jason. No one goes into a room alone do you hear me?"

"Wrong son. We have our own guards. Jason will take two and the rest are with you." This isn't the time to argue with him. Nodding my head I agree to his terms. "Marcus said she is near a male. If that is true he might try to keep you away from her if in fact she has tried to mate with him. You will need extra men to restrain him."

Swinging my hand out in front of me, Richard leads the way. "You are right as always father." We all headed down towards the servants courters.

"I didn't become King by my looks dear boy. There are a few idea's still bouncing around in my head."

Slightly smiling I try to ease my mind off the fact my own mate could be in bed with another male. It would do me no good to being hysterical before meeting her. It might frighten her away.

"Richard do you know details about any of the three?" I inquire.

"Actually I do. Crystal is a shy beauty. She tends to keep to herself. I believe she might have two friends. Her older brother is overly protective of her. Both parents work in the kitchen."

Sounds alright. Not enough information to go off of.

"Casey is loud and vibrant. She speaks her mind. Demands attention and gets it. Beauty is definitely on her side. Her older brother gives her anything and everything. As well as her parents. They are hopping to snag a wealthy man for her."

"What about her soul mate?" My father growls. "Do they not care that they would be stealing a female away from her mate by pushing her on another?"

"I've only heard bits and pieces your highness. I couldn't tell you."

"It's alright Richard. I shouldn't have growled at you. Now what about Claudia?"

"Oh she is a gem. She has the rare beauty, inside and out. I've known her family for years now. An open and friendly group. Always welcoming others with open arms. Claudia is known for assisting servants who are in need of help. If a female finds her mate, pregnant or just in need of an extra hand she is by her side in the blink of an eye."

"She sounds amazing."

"She is. Though her brothers and two best friends do get her into a load of trouble. Not with servants mind you. She wouldn't harm a hair on a person."

"Then who?"

Instantly Richards forwardness shuts down.

"Richard? Tell me who she goes after?" If searching these three women weren't important I would stop and demand answers. Instead I quickened my pace. Why am I not running?

"I do not wish to cause her trouble, my Prince." Keeping his eyes to the floor he hurries his steps up before opening the door to the servant's courters.

"Richard you have five seconds to inform me who she targets and why. I wouldn't disobey this if I were you." Pushing a command through the words gives him no choice to ignore me.

Signing he stops at a door. "This is Casey's door." Turning he continues on. "They go after anyone not a servant who has disrespected a servant in any way."

"What does she do?" I've heard a few noble couples nagging about worms in their cups or snakes crawling around the bed sheets.

"Nothing too harsh unless they deserve it." Peek over his shoulder at me he gauges my reaction. Not giving anything away he continues on. "Last week a noble female smacked a child for accidently spilling water on her blouse. When in turn it was the noble woman's fault."

"What?" Bellowing I snatch Richard arm, glowering at him intensely. "You can't be serious."

"I am my Prince. The child sported a black eye for two weeks," he whispers grimly.

"Shit."

"This is Claudius's door." Leaving Jason knocking we speedily head towards Crystal's room.

"Claudia snuck into her room during the night and filled her bed with bugs, shampoo with food coloring, sparkles on the top of the ceiling fan and oil on the bathroom floor. It wasn't a pretty sight the next morning." Chuckling I try to imagine the noble women in all her glory.

"Did she find out it was Claudia who pranked her?"

"Oh no, my Prince. No one one's it's her but a select few, including me. She leaves letters attached to the prankys door explaining why they were pranks if what would happen if they continued to disrespect servants. Needless to say they don't do it again."

"That's good. If I had known what was happening those men and women wouldn't be staying inside the castle."

"This is Crystal's door."

Without waiting I barge in. Richard and Edward following me.

Lights instantaneously turn on. "Who the hell is...your highness?" Snarling, I stand my ground waiting for the four people in the room to bow their heads. "Please forgive me. I did not know it was you who entered. I meant no disrespect."

Not bothering to reassure his frightened heart I march over to Crystal. "You're Crystal? And today is your eighteen birthday today correct?"

"Yes to both your questions your highness." Bowing awkwardly in her pajamas he can't keep her hazel eyes off me.

"I need you to look into my eyes Crystal." Reaching for her hands, I try not to shake. This is it. The moment of truth. I can't believe this beautiful woman in front of me might be mine.

Firmly holding onto them, I feel nothing. Not a damn thing.

Taking a deep breathe I wait for her eyes to focus on me. The moment they do, I suck in a deep breathe.

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Chapter question: Does Crystal have a bond to Caden that he doesn't know about?

Also, don't forget to comment and vote. Even if you're a silent reader you can post a little heart saying you loved the chapter. So far no one has commented in a while and I feel as if no one actually likes the book.