Chapter 4 The Prince

ROWAN'S POV

Could this day get any worse. sigh in frustration as I avert my eyes from the young who was just being dragged in front of the stage and look at the guards waiting for an explanation.

The four guards step back to allow an older woman to step forward on the stage. I recognize her immediately. She is the mother of my mate.

I don't actually know why I call the girl my mate, because she is not. We have no mate bond, but everyone including my parents think she is since she is the only other angel in the land and I'm just being ignorant and unloving.

It has been years since I phased and I haven't found my true mate. My father always wanted to hand over the kingdom to me but I insisted I had to find my true mate first, but she never came. Or she probably doesn't exist.

I know the girl I'm about marry in a few months deserves better. She deserves a loving mate. She is beautiful, kind and has all virtues any man would desire. But why does she claim that she can feel the mate's can't? Can it be that I'm the one who can't feel it?

"Your majesty, we are sorry for interrupting but we have a very crucial matter at hand that needs your attention." The woman goes ahead to speak.

"That doesn't explain why you had the guards drag a young girl in front of the whole hall." I state impatiently. I have never liked the woman, she might be the mother of the girl I will marry but I think she is a self-centered woman with crazy craving for power and wealth.

"The girl tried to kill a. . .a seven year old kid! She attacked a poor little orphan and hurt her so bad that she might not survive!" She stutters her words and suddenly starts to sob uncomfortably.

"What! You mean my little Talia got hurt?!"

My mate exclaimed in shock as she rushes to comfort her mother.

I don't know who the little girl is or how bad she has been attacked. The only thing that seems clear is that she is important or very close to my mate. Another thing I have learned about her mother is that she likes to exaggerate things.

"Where is the girl you are talking about?" I ask.

"Getting treatment, sir." One of the guards answers. "I have seen her and she is badly hurt." He affirms.

I can believe the words of a soldier. At least he may have an idea of what "badly hurt" should look like.

"And how do you know that it's this girl that attacked her?" I question.

LAYLA'S POV

Looking up at the price is like seeing human perfection standing tall right in front of you. Each one of his unique features seems the most stunning of all others I have ever seen.

His pitch black hair is so glossy that appears like it's reflecting light. There isn't a singe mark or spot on his flawless skin and I can tell it's sitting right on top of his massive muscles that have the thin fabric on his shirt stretched to it's limits.

His grey eyes still the most dazzling of his features. They have a bright brown ring around the pupils. They actually look unrealistic, especially now that they are growing with rage.

I knew my step family can make up things but I never knew they could be this good at acting it.

There has never been a day that my step sister ever refered to Talia as her sister, leave alone "her little Talia." She has always been just as selfish as her mother.

Now she confidently pretends how much she is hurt. I know exactly what they are trying to do. To gain the prince's mercy and show him and the crowd how bad of a person I am and so far they are doing quite a good job because I can already see the anger and wrath growing in the prince's eyes while the crowd behind us gasps in shock.

"Today was her eighteenth birthday and she was going to phase for her first time. That's why she wasn't here with everyone else. We thought she had left the house to go shift safely in the forest. But when I later went looking for her in her room, I found her looking down at little Talia's bloodied body." My stepmother answers the Prince's question with all sorts of lies.

He seems to believe her as I see his jaws clench with

My stepmother continues to inform him and the crowd of Talia's state and how I have always been the cause of trouble in the family because of my jealous towards my angel stepsister.

"You attacked a little girl?!" The price asks angrily as he steps closer and glares down at me.

"I didn't!" I defend. "I found her in my room injured and breeding." What else can I say?

My family has already convinced everyone that I am a terrible person who is jealous of her own sister. And admitting that I haven't phased on my eighteenth birthday would be too shameful, especially in front of the powerful price. It will give them more reasons to hate me and make them believe that it's the reason I'm jealous of my sister. I'm so glad that my father is not in the room or this would have been worse. I still don't know that it's just a matter of time before he hears about it and completely disowns me.

"Is the injured girl in a state that she can talk?" The price asks one of the guards.

"No sir. She is unconscious due to loss of blood." He answers.

"Lock this one up in your pack cells and get me anyone who may have witnessed this." The price orders, motioning to the guards to take me away.

Oh no! Not those cells! I have always heard that they have not lights, no bed, lidded by rats and

the guards are not friendly at all. I really hope Talia will get well soon and save me. But even if she does where will I go? My family hates me and my father wouldn't want to be associated with the who is wolfless.

"You are letting her free?" My stepsister wails as she rushes to where the price stands. "After what she has done to a little girl?" She questions.

Does she want me hanged? I wouldn't be surprised.

"I am not letting her free. I just want to make sure we don't execute the wrong person. If she is found guilty then she will suffer the consequences." He promises as he holds her against his chest in a comforting gesture. I hope he doesn't have me executed just to pleas her.

Two guards focefully take hold of each of my arms and force me to stand and not so gently leads me towards the exit, halfway dragging me