POV: Claudia

"Day dreaming?" A familiar voice whispers in my ear, forcing me to open my eyes.

"You know me to well Nikolai." Smiling, I punch him softly in the arm. I wonder how long he searched for me this time. Apparently I have no true scent.

"I do, that's why it only took me a mere twenty minutes to hunt you down. Not having a damn scent to fallow drives me to quicken my time." It's true. Since the night I gave him my blood, he's had a pull towards me. Not romantic, more brotherly. "I can remember the first time we played hide and seek. It took me nearly four hours to find you and that's only because your brother stepped in out of pity." Shaking his head he leans against the wall next to me.

"How did the date go last night?" The night I gave him my blood he lost his soul mate. Apparently a female wolf had her eyes and paws set on having Nikolai as her mate no matter what. He had no clue who she was until after he murdered her for taking Anna's life. He says he is ready to move on after ten years, though I know deep down he will always love Anna, as she was his soul mate. No matter who he ends up with, she will be in the back of his mind and own a piece of his heart.

"A bust. All she wants is the status I will bring her. I believe I will take you up on a blind date next time." Sighing he turns to the crowd, watching the couples laugh and dance.

"Once my heat is over we will get down to business on lining up a few dates. Find the perfect name to hide your identity." Being one of the military's top leaders tends to bring woman crawling to your feet. Single females know Nikolai's mate is dead and take advantage of it. Crawling into his bed at night, crying rape unless he mates with her. Stupid females don't realize he has cameras in his house for that reason. "We can't have a twenty-five year old handsome male running around single can we?"

"No...no we can't." Giving me a smirk he brings his hand up to my cheek, giving it a small rub. "To bad you're taken, otherwise I wouldn't be single."

Breaking contact with his hand, I roll my eyes. We have joked about being together for the past year. It would be idiotic to go through with it. Once I go into heat Caden should be able to find me through the birth book. It holds all werewolf births unless you're a rogue that is. They tend to forsake rules.

"You're in trouble as is for helping me hide. I do not want you to die for being with me sexually." Over the years Caden has mellowed down from his youthful ways. Flogging went out the window days after feeling the loss of me. Apparently Jason remembered seeing my dress through the tree branches. When he put two and two together they realized the reason for me running away. Hiding in the wall behind the battle room, I heard the screaming, crying and unforgiveable words between all three royals. His parents couldn't believe he stupidly contemplated flogging his own mate. I left before they finished their discussion as the words were getting to me.

"Don't remind me. Once he finds out, I have no doubt he will strip me of my title and banish me to the dungeons. We both know it will take him months to get over my betrayal, if ever."

"I will work my magic, Nik. Technically you protected your future princess. You're loyal beyond reason. If anything he should be thankful you were by my side, defending me." Snorting, this time he rolls his eyes. If anything, Caden will beat the living day lights out of him for knowing who I am. He knew I was Caden's mate from the ball, but didn't give me away. He figured I had to run for a reason, which I did. "I'll do everything in my power to make sure he doesn't kill you Nik. I'm the one who forced you to my side. If anything I should be the one who is punished, not you."

"We both know what your punishment will in tale, sweetheart." Blushing, I push him out into the open. Stupid man knows how to make me blush and I hate it. "It's the truth, might as well get used to it. You have one week before your body will crave his rough touch."

"Be quiet will you. We are at his birthday party, I do not want them to find out who I am yet." The only way to get out of being Caden's mate is to kill myself and I'm not the desperate. Over the years, I've watched him grow into a strong young man who makes mistakes and learns from them. "Isn't it time for you to join your comrades on the dance floor?" If a female saw him speaking to me, all hell would break lose and the both of us did not need that.

"Fine. You own me a dance after the ball. You hear me?" Nodding, I watch him walk off into the crowed room.

Breathing deeply, I try and catch his intoxicating scent. Receiving a tiny morsel, I sigh with a hint of satisfaction. I've loved his musky scent since the moment I saw him at the age of five. It didn't turn me on of course. A since of sense of security covered me when I would smell it at a young age. Until my sixteenth birthday, I felt no sexual intentions towards him. Now I crave his rough touch.

Do I still have doubts? Oh yes I do. The reason is standing in Caden's solid arms. One of his many mistresses. She believes he will pick her for his mate. After all he is twenty-two today and mate less. If his mate doesn't show up by his twenty-fifth birthday he has the choice of choosing his own female to mate with. Until then, by law he has to wait to mate unless he finds his mate first.

I've given him multiple chances to meet me, leaving love notes on his bed for the past four years is one of them. Knowing he didn't bring his mistresses into his own room, I knew the letters wouldn't be opened by anyone other than him.

Each night I would sneak into the secret tunnels and walk my way towards his bedroom. The master of the tunnels created peep holes and secret entrances to each room. Caden's happened to be over his king size bed. Placing a kiss on the seal, I would toss the letter on his pillow. Praying he would respond to one of them.

For four solid years, I've waited silently for a reply. To my hearts horror, I haven't received one.

Nik has tried to explain it way, saying he never received them or the letters he leaves behind are being stolen.

I know the truth. On the outside he appears to have changed into a strong and caring man. In private he cares not a damn about my feelings. He has received and read several letters, I have no doubt. After the first few months he probably stopped reading them and threw the in the trash.

Over the years I've noticed his type of female, big chest a nice round bottom and the face of a goddess. Not one of those can I claim. It's one more check to the board of reasons I stay away. I'm not the beauty he wants for a mate. He probably plans on keeping his mistresses on the side after he finds me. Who knows if his evil side has dimmed down? And finally no response to the letters.

It all adds up to him wanting to choose his own mate not the one the fates gave him. The kicker will be the day I go into heat. The truth about my status will be the final straw. I'm no princess, far from it actually. A mere servant will not be accepted as a princess and future Queen in our kingdom. Definitely not an ugly servant. Queen are pure perfection, which I am absolutely not.

"Ladies and gentlemen, if I may have your attention." Rang the voice of the one and only King. "It is time for the royal run. First off has the Prince selected his partner for the run?" All eyes turn to Caden and the female in his arms. Nodding his head with a seductive smile, I try to hold in the distress in my heart." Excellent. If the females would please head out to the forest to change, the males will follow behind. The run will begin once Prince Caden and his partner reach the front line. Enjoy!" Ending his speech the females head off to undress in the privacy of the trees.

One stays behind to give Caden a rub down with her hands and a heated kiss. Sending her off with a love tap to her rear, he joins his friends for a chat before its time to leave. Nik being one of them.

Out of the corner of his eye, I notice Nik eyeing me up. He knows what seeing Caden kissing anther female does to me. It's my own hell. Giving me a soft smile he turns his attention back to Caden. Without the females present the male's voices wafted over to my small ears.

"She will be a nice bang tonight Caden. I bet she has a little something planned for you in her bed," Jason smirks while punching Caden in the arm. "This night need to be over. I'm already missing my mate underneath me."

"You know the reason she occupies my bed Jason. Not one of us is thick enough to not see through her lies. Jessica wants a crown on her head in three years." His musical laugh slashes my heart. Is he going to give it to her?

"The only reason she believes that is because you've kept her the longest. Normally your mistresses last a few months, not a year. It's not like I blame you." Raising his eyebrows up and down Jason laughs before walking to the refreshment table to grab a drink.

Catching Nicolai's eyes, I shake my head sadly. I knew it was too good to be true. The search for a servant mate lasted two years until he gave up the fact that no servant would stay hidden from a Prince.

Wiping the lone tear away I force myself to walk away yet again. If he wants a whore as his mate he damn well can. I will not step in his path to have a beautiful woman on his arm and in his bed.

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Authors Note: Hope you enjoyed reading this chapter.

Question of the day: Would Caden actually give Jessica the crown?

Don't forget to show some lovin if you liked this chapter. It makes me smile. :)