POV: Claudia

"Oh Claudia!" Running into the room, my mother crushes me into a heart wrenching hug.

"I'm alright mother. I promise." Patting her on the back I go to sit on my bed. "Nik is on his way here. Caden ran out of the room with Jason hot on his heels."

This is turning into a complete disaster.

  "Claudia, I'm worried about you. This situation is taking a toll not only on your heart, but your health. You've lost weight these past few weeks and the light in your eyes has dimmed. I know you're scared about your birthday and going into heat, it's normal. I on the other hand can't wait until he finds you and brings back the daughter we've been missing." Brushing a strand of hair out of my face, I take a deep breath.

"She is right Claudia. I've noticed it and we haven't spent nearly enough time together these few weeks."

Groaning I fall back on the bed, staring up at the boring white ceiling. "To tell you the truth, I'm freaking out inside. I'm scared he will reject me once he realizes I'm not of high status. No full-size bottom or an extensive chest, which we all know he craves." Holding in my snarl, I try not to picture Jessica in his arms. She is exactly what he craves, not I. "Will he see me as the ugly duckling? I don't think I could deal with it, if he rejected me."

"Claudia, it doesn't matter if you were an ugly duckling, as you so put it, which you aren't by the way. Caden's an idiot in his actions. I believe he has come to his senses, not that his past or yours for that matter can be erased." Sitting down next to me, Nik taps my hand in a friendly manner. "The two of you will need to sit down and speak on personal details of your past. His words will crush you, though I know for a fact yours will destroy his heart as well."

"In the end, you two will need each other to build a true loving relationship. If you skip the talk, I doubt you two will be able to move past your emotional fears. He will constantly worry about you disappearing on him for good and you'll fear he will no longer desire you, instead moving on to other females to warm his bed and heart." Of course my mother is correct. She always is.

"What should I do now? Wait until my birthday or do something about him and Jessica?" I question the two.

"I believe Jessica is out of the picture. He hasn't slept in her room since his birthday." Sitting up at Nik's words, I try to see if he is lying to make me feel better. "I'm not lying, I promise you Claudia. I wouldn't like to you about this. Never have, never will." Sighing I fall back against my hard mattress.

"What should we do now? You can't stay here as Caden knows you're going on a date." Would he actually take me on a date or find another female? If Caden were to find out Nik lied to him today, I doubt he would be free to roam around the castle.

"I believe you have twenty minutes to get dressed up." Laughing I jump up and run towards my closet. "You were stupid to think I would pick another over you, Claudia. Plus you haven't set up a blind date for me."

Rolling my eyes at his booming laugh I quickly change into jeans and a tank top. Our 'dates' aren't fancy in the least bit. More along the lines of pizza and a movie. I asked him once before why he's never taken me to a fancy restaurant, he told me it's because that type of date is for my mate to spoil me with. It made sense.

"Ready!" walking out, I hug my mom goodbye and follow Nik out of the castle. We had to avoid the popular routs as to not give the higher ups gossip. I know it's pointless because once Caden finds me, they will have juicy gossip to spread throughout the kingdom anyways.

The drive to our favorite pizza joint takes a matter of minutes to arrive. Nik jumps out and runs inside to pay. Again we try to avoid the public's eye, meaning we take our pizza to a local park and sit in a corner away from prying eyes.

The moment he brought the two pizzas and huge bag of sides into the car, my stomach growls loudly. "Someone's hungry."

"I woke up late this morning. Haven't eaten anything since last night."

"I'm taking that as your mind has been too preoccupied on a certain male."

"I can't get him out of my mind Nik. Am I doing the right thing by hiding from him until my birthday or should I confront him now?" It's all I can think about.

"Honestly it doesn't matter anymore. You have four days until your birthday. He will be furious once he finds you at my house." We have decided for me to stay at Nik's house. It will limit the gossip if Caden were to find me inside the castle. Yes, Caden will be furious beyond belief finding me in an unmated wolfs house. I'll have to calm him down, not that I will have a problem with that. Being in heat has a certain effect on males, or so my mother has told me. I haven't seen it happen in person yet.

Pulling up to the park, we walk to our spot and dig in.

We sit peacefully watching children playing with each other while their loving parents sit and chat. I wonder what it would feel like to have Caden's children. Will we be amazing parents, or will our children despise us?

"We are going to lay down and you need to place your face against my chest, hiding it from the four men walking towards us. They are royal guards." Doing as he says, I slowly position myself against his hard chest. I know not to question his words as we've done this a few times before. Females tend to recognize Nik. They know he is single and try to take advantage of his time.

"Commander." A male voice acknowledges. Evening out my breathing, I snuggle further into Nik's chest. One arm behind his head as the other is wrapped around my body in a loving embrace.

"I'm surprised to see the four of you out here. I thought you four had the east village to patrol this week?" What is Nik getting at?

"Commander Chris changed our shift to nights."

"What are you doing here then?" Nik doesn't beat around the bush, if he wants information he will get straight to it.

"We heard a rumor about our commander." A second voice probes.

A slight tense in Nik's body informs me he is worried Caden has indeed found out about me. "What would that rumor be Josh?"

"That he has found his future mate."

What!

"That's an interesting rumor Josh. Where did you hear it from?" This isn't good. If Caden were to find out that rumor before he finds me...I can't even think of the repercussion for Nik.

"Around the training field. Half the men were speaking of it. Not sure who started it. We heard you were eating here with a beautiful female and had to find out for ourselves." Oh lord, half the men? That's over five hundred! Nik is dead! There is no way Caden will let him live if he thinks, Nik is stealing me away from him.

"Ah. So you've come to see if the beauty is my new mate?" Silence rained down upon us. To find out their commander found a new mate would be big news. These four men would be at the center of the gossip if they came back to the training field with Nik's words. "I'm sorry to say that no, she isn't my future mate." Sighing, I thank the goddess he didn't say I was. "...as of yet." No! Stupid male!

Holding back the punch I'm craving to give him. I wait to see what the men have to say for themselves.

"That's good news commander. I'm sure Prince Caden will be excited to except her into the family." And I'm sure he won't. Stupid Nikolai.

"I would appreciate it if you would keep this a secret. We want it to stay a rumor until I have spoken with her family." Authority rang through his words, I believe a hint of a command even. They wouldn't be able to inform a soul, unless another commander or royal questioned them.

"We won't. You have our word." That can't be all they wanted. "Would we be able to meet her?" Of course it wasn't. They want to know who I am to find out information on me. As royal guards it's their duty to know certain details about top ranking wolves including their mates. If Nik actually mated with me, I would have protectors. They would need to know if I'm allergic to foods, my habits and hobbies. Where I go if I'm furious at my mate and need time to myself. It's their duty to keep me safe in case an enemy tries to hurt Nik through me. We have all seen it happen, a mate will do practically anything to get the one he loves back, including attempted murder of the Prince.

"Not today fella's. We want to keep her identity secret. Now if you don't mind, I want to spend the rest of the day with my beauty alone." Ending the conversation, I slowly relax against his chest. I hadn't realized how uptight my body became.

"You may life you head up now." Bring my chin to rest on his chest, I glare into his eyes.

 "Why are you placing yourself in extreme danger Nik?" Slapping his chest, I go to elbow him in the ribs, instead he flips me over, staring into my eyes.

"I know what I'm doing Claudia. Do you honestly believe that our date has traveled around the men within the past two hours? Caden and Jason are the only two who knew of me taking you out."

"Do you think he was behind them confronting us?" I hope not.

"Yes, I do. I noticed after his birthday I've had a follower at all times. Different people of course, not the same one person for more than five minutes if I'm inside the castle. I notice as their eyes pretend not to notice my movement."

This is not good at all. "What do you think they will inform Caden of?"

"I have no doubt they will update to him how I've picked you out as a future mate." Rolling back over, we both lay against the hard ground. "He was furious over the fact that I'm thinking of claiming you as mine. He believes you should give your mate a second chance. I think he is afraid that if you wouldn't give your own mate a second chance that his own wouldn't either."

"What does that mean for you when we return to the castle?" Will Caden confront him once more or leave it be?

"I'm not sure. He might have me followed until he has more evidence, of what, I'm not sure as of yet." I feel as if we are digging ourselves deeper into the ground. Pulling the gravel over our own heads. "Staying away from you until your heat might actually be a safe way to go. Who knows if they have placed microphones in my car or around my house? If they have, it wouldn't be smart for you to show your face near me until an hour before midnight."

"Then that's what I will do. I'll sneak out of the castle and head on over to your house. Should I enter through the front or back door?"

"The front door will be fine. We will have an hour before your heat kicks in and Caden's wolf feels the pull to yours. It will take him at least another hour to figure out you're his mate and hunt you down to my house. It depends on if he remembers me speaking of you staying at my house during your heat or not."

"I know I say this often Nik, but I am scared for your life. I do not want him to harm or worse kill you. If something were to happen to you because of me, I don't know what I would do. You're my best friend, the one person I could confide to that isn't blood related. I honestly believe I will hate him if he beats the living hell out of you." Sobbing softly, I curl against his body once again. His strong arms circling my tiny body in warmth and comfort.

"I knew what I was doing Claudia when I first lied to him. Yes, the reasons have shifted these past years, though I wouldn't change what I've done. It's your choice to stay away and I knew if I informed him, there would be a chance you would despise me for life and I couldn't bear the thought of losing you."

Wiping my eyes, I stare at his handsome face. "I could never hate you Nik. Yes, I would have been furious you took the decision out of my hands, but after a while I would have forgiven you." Noticing he didn't reply to him getting hurt, worried me. Would Caden kill him out of rage? I hope not. I'll do anything to keep him from harm.

"Do not burden yourself further Claudia. You have enough on your plate."

Nodding my head, we cuddle late into the night. Not saying a word. Relaxing and enjoying the peace and quiet.

The four men vanished after their little chat with Nik, but we both noticed the silver pickup truck across the street. It hasn't moved since we arrived. We were being watching.

 Once night has fallen, I feel Nik picking me up bridal style and carrying me back towards his car before we head home.

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Authors Note: Hope you liked it. Don't forget to show some loving if you did. :)

Question of the day: How do you think Caden will react to Josh's news?