Forced To Have The Royal Baby

EXCERPT

"I am not Sophie. Listen to me. I am not Sophie. I am Nine. Nine, you hear me!" She screamed but it did not seem like he was hearing.

He grabbed her and pulled her to himself and she pounded on his arms, on his shoulders but it felt like she was hitting stone.

He held her waist and ripped her skirt with one forceful tug. She scratched at his face but the more she scratched, the quicker it healed.

He pulled her to himself, his eyes half open, like he was there but not there. She tried to kick away but his grip was iron and she felt his hand snake across her thighs.

Her breath caught in her throat and she tried to pry his hands away but he moved it aside like he was batting a fly then he pressed her onto the bed with his free hand and with the other, unzipped his trousers, pinning her to the bed with his weight.

Terror paralyzed her. Her eyes were wide as she stared unseeing at the ceiling, her voice hoarse from screaming then she felt the pain as he shoved into her. His cock was big, she was not aroused and she had never done this before. She felt a searing pain as he pushed deep into her and she heard him growl deep in his throat. There was nothing else to do, nothing that she could do than to lay down helplessly as he started thrusting into her.

His thrusts came deep and hard and he soon lifted her, her legs splayed out in the air as he thrusted her from beneath. She felt his hands squeezing her breasts hard, his tongue in her neck and his cock in her, filling her up so much that she felt she would burst.

The tears streamed down her eyes as his thrusts increased in urgency and need. He nibbled at her neck lightly then, with one final, deep thrust, came inside her, filling her up with his seed then she heard him mutter the name, Sophie.

3 DAYS EARLIER

"Guess who finally decided to show up?"

Lior decided not to give an answer. His eyes stayed on the tiny kitten in his hand. It was so little, and yet, someone had dared to hurt it. He could scarcely understand why anyone would want to hurt something so pure, and innocent.

"Hey," The voice of one of his best friends, Ora, made him look up. She stood in front of him now, a gentle smile on her face with her hands out. "Let me see what's wrong."

"Ora, I can't find Lior, have you-" The voice of his second best friend, Kenji, was cut short as he appeared in the palace veterinary clinic, spotting the male that still held the little thing in his hand protectively. "By the Moon Goddess, Lior, I have been searching everywhere for you."

"Could you make sure she's okay?" Lior's voice, to anyone who heard it sounded as soft as the wind. Some even had to strain to hear him well, not that the Royals had any problem with it. Their hearings were top notch. Only the commoners did.

Ora gave him a chuckle. "Of course, it's my job." This time, his hold on the cat lessened, allowing her to take it away from him. "And you, dear friend, need to take a shower."

"I will,"

Kenji now stood beside Ora now, a tired look on his face. "Another stray, Lior? We can barely find a place for the others already here."

"We wouldn't unless you stop treating them like yours," Ora rolled her eyes. "He knows how animals are but he doesn't listen. How's the cat supposed to want someone else when he keeps feeding and cuddling them?"

Kenji let out a small cough, hands behind his back now. "Men don't cuddle."

"I like cuddles," Lior said.

Kenji only snorted. "I said men."

Ora laughed out now. "Okay, I need to go find somewhere to keep the little kitty. Can you guys hold out without me?"

"I'm sure Lior can but I can't," Then he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "We'd be here waiting."

As the lady walked away, Lior looked at his friend again. He was a red head with stormy dark blue eyes that made people think he was unapproachable, considering he was not just any Noble but the son of the General and next in line but the day he had seen Kenji cry over the death of a pet of his, he had known that he was softer than most people thought. "I'm sure you know my job is to make sure I'm around you, 24/7. Or your Mother would have my behind."

"I like my space," Lior answered, which was true. He had spent most of his life alone, watching his elder brother being surrounded by people who wanted to be friends with the Future King of Raester. No one cared about the second prince who barely spoke and liked to go missing from time to time.

"We all know that, but today is different." Kenji said, trying to keep his voice even. "You remember that once every month, your family has dinner with an Elder and today is one of this days. This family being one I'm sure you would not want to miss."

The next second, Lior turned to his friend with an intensity in his eyes that wasn't there before. "Sophie?"

Kenji couldn't help the grin that came to his face. "The one and only,"

"Oh, dear, I could practically feel Lior beaming from the door," Ora had returned now and she stood beside Kenji who wrapped an arm around her waist to pull her closer to him. "Are we talking about a certain Whitaker, perhaps?"

Sophia Whittaker, the only thing that could cause emotions to fly through his face as easily as breathing. When Lior had been very little, making friends had proved to be hard for him. He wasn't as outgoing as his brother and he didn't exactly have the Crown Prince title backing up so he could never easily make friends, but there had been one time his Mother, the Queen, had forced him into trying with a boy from a Noble family which had started disastrously.

Lior stood while Ethan told him all about how his Family liked to shoot down animals for sport, and for a boy like him that loved them to a fault, he had been completely horrified and told him. This led to Lior being called 'weak' and it had hurt, but someone had stood up for him.

Sophie.

She told Ethan that he was weak for wanting to hurt harmless things that couldn't defend themselves and then turned to Lior and promised to be his friend forever.

They had only been so little then but Lior knew, right there and then, that she was destined to be with him. That he would love and cherish every single second they spent together, and he had been doing it for so long with zero regrets. "Stop talking about her,"

Ora turned to Kenji. "I don't think I mentioned a name, did I? Lior must be feeling a little guilty about something."

"Guilty about loving someone and never having the courage to tell the person how they felt? Ora, you have incredible perception."

"I think I also percept a certain virgin male who's not even had a real kiss because he's too busy practicing with his pillows for this same someone."

"His poor hands, Ora. His poor hands,",

Lior felt his cheeks heat up as he stared at both of them. "S-Stop it. It's not like I don't want to tell her. I just think it's nice that we're friends-"

They both burst out laughing.

Lior felt his face redden more. "What's funny?"

"You want to be just friends?" Kenji asked, a mischievous look in his eyes. "While she has another Mate?"

Lior found himself snapping before he could stop himself. "I'm her Mate."

"We don't know that yet," Ora quickly added. "Not that it's not a good idea, Lior, don't look at me like that, but we'd find out tomorrow, won't we? Besides, even if she isn't-"

"She is,"

He had tried, once, to imagine how life would be if Sophie didn't end up being his Mate. It didn't feel real. He couldn't even imagine it. He had lived his whole life worshipping her that there was no place for anyone else. The Moon Goddess knew that. She knew he loved her with all of his being.

"I'm sorry," Lior let out a small sigh. "I didn't mean to-"

"It's alright." Ora understood. Anyone who knew Lior could tell he was madly in love with the Whittaker, and though she did not feel completely trusting of her, even though everyone seemed to love the female, she would see her as family. "I understand."

"Yes, ignore her, you know how women are competitive with their fellow gender and all of that. Ora's just jealous she can't come close to Sophie in certain aspects." As Kenji felt the glare coming from his Mate, he quickly added, "Not that I find such things attractive. My type of women are the ones that care for animals, like my Wolf, for example."

"Nice try, no cuddling for you."

"But-""

Ora turned to Lior, a smile on her face. "I think you should be on your way now, Lior. The dinner has already begun."

He never told them, but there were times when he felt lost when he was around them. Once upon a time, they did everything together, but ever since they found out they were Mates, they had secret jokes and eye signs that Lior could never understand. Still, whenever he had that feeling, he imagined having the same thing with Sophie and he would feel happy again. "Alright. See you tomorrow?"

"You bet on it,"

When Lior got to the Palace, he freshened up and changed into his princely attire before heading down to the dinner table. Already, they had begun eating, King Leonard Byron seated at the head with his wife, Queen Elizabeth Byron at his left, and Elder John Whittaker at his right. Not saying a word, Lior slipped into the seat beside his brother, Lucas, who gave him a subtle nod and continued in the conversation they were having.

No one else noticed him.

Not that he cared. He was already used to being ignored. Instead, his eyes went to the girl in front of him. Sophie sat beside her mother. As always, she shone radiantly, her blonde hair glowing under the chandelier lights with her blue eyes glowing. God, she was so beautiful.

"Oh, Prince Lior, I didn't see you come in," John said.

Lior turned to him. "My apologies for being late,"

"It is alright," The man said, "A man's allowed some moments of freedom before he finds his Mate, right? Tomorrow, you'd be twenty three and the Moon Goddess shall show you yours, how do you feel?"

Anxious, but Lior didn't say it. Instead, he just looked at Sophie and said softly, under his breath. "I can't wait."

A mate. Someone the Moon Goddess had deemed perfect enough for you to spend the rest of your life with. Someone you met when you reached the age of twenty three and watched your life become better with every second that passed. This someone, being Sophie.

It was his birthday, and nothing new had happened, but it didn't surprise him. Lior knew who his Mate was, the Goddess had been nice enough to show him her early, so he wasn't too bothered.

There were certain cases where most people did not meet their mates on their twenty third, like his brother, Lucas, but that didn't matter. He knew he was different. He knew the Goddess had seen how lonely he had been all his life and created Sophie just for him.

As he dressed, a fleeting thought passed through his head. What if Sophie wasn't his? But as soon as it came, it went away. That was, also impossible, and even if, the tiniest of ifs, she wasn't, he'd reject his Mate and ask her to be His.

Rejection of Mates were rare, but it happened and when it did, all bonds connecting that person to his Mate was cut off. From what Lior had heard, it was a painful experience, and anyone who had been unlucky enough to go through it, rarely survived the emotional damage.

Monsters. Lior thought people who did such a thing, disrespecting the Moon Goddess and hurting someone so deliberately, was a Monster.

Thank the heavens that his Sophie was nothing like that.

In minutes, he had his raven dark hair slicked back, while he wore a white double breasted suit and trousers, a gold chain hanging from the breast pocket to his collar and the family royal crest on the other left. Lior stared at his reflection. His hazel coloured eyes shone as he looked, his chest now heaving.

He felt like redoing his whole look. He could care less about his birthday, he never enjoyed being with people so much. All that mattered was making himself worthy enough in Sophie's sight. He knew he could never compare to the beauty, of course. Even John Whittaker had said it himself, when he found out Lily had been his Mate, he swore she'd reject him since he was hardly as attractive as she was but she thankfully didn't.

Lior spent another hour fidgeting when the door to his room opened and Lucas walked in, "Lior? Are you not done?"

The Crown Prince walked in now and Lior moved his eyes over his brother. In the ways that Lior wasn't, Lucas was. The thick muscles and chiselled jaws. The dark eyes and hair that seemed to give a dark aura to him, even though Lucas was someone everybody loved. Women couldn't help but stick to him.

Yet, he hadn't found his Mate.

"Nervous?" Lucas asked.

They weren't close, due to the fact that Lucas spent most of his time working and being his Father's pet, but whenever they were together, his older brother showed more care to him than their parents did. "I want everything to be perfect,"

"Perfection is overrated,"

"You'd say that, but you're already perfect."

Lucas said nothing about that. Instead, he walked to his little brother and ruffled his hair. Lior frowned at it. He had spent so long making it rest back, causing Lucas to chuckle and say softly, "No one is perfect, Lior, and I know I don't count, but whoever your Mate is, would love you for who you are. Flaws and all. So don't worry, everything would be fine."

He was right. Sophie loved him. Even though he was boring and uninteresting, she still stayed his friend. "Thank you,"

"You're welcome."

They headed down to the ballroom now. The Palace that already shone due to the bright lights and glass now glowed as he walked into the place. Everything had been polished to perfection, and everything was already set and in order. People had already begun chatting with one another, dressed in their finest and Lucas had been taken away immediately they got in.

Once again, the appearance of so many people made him uneasy but when he spotted his best friends, he relaxed. "Hey,"

Ora had on a dark blue mermaid tail off shoulder dress with her hair in a chignon while Kenji complimented her as well in a same coloured suit. "You look handsome, your Highness."

Lior made a face. "Please, don't call me that."

"Have you found your Mate?" Kenji asked, not bothering with the pleasantries.

Ora placed a hand on her Mate's arm and smiled softly at Lior. "He's been anticipating this as much as you have. I suspect he didn't even sleep."

"I didn't sleep because you made me sleep on the floor," Kenji grumbled.

Ora turned to him. "Do I hear a complaint?"

Kenji's face suddenly brightened. "No, Ma'am."

Again, watching them made his heart sting again. They always managed to look so happy together, no matter what. It made him suddenly crave his Mate more than anything. "I think you have to excuse me, I-"

Then he paused.

Lior smelled it first. Honey. Something to milk and honey, with a touch of mint as well. His Wolf growled loudly at it, whining a second later as it begged Lior to let him grovel in the smell. He had always smelled things better than most, but this was new. It seemed like it was taking over his senses. Telling him that the only important thing to do, was find where it came from.

And he did.

Without telling his friends, he walked off, following the smell. Wordlessly, he pushed through the crowd of people, his heart pounding as he got closer. For the first time in his life, a flash of happiness hit him. Someone was finally going to want him. See him as important. Spend the rest of their life with him.

He was closer now, and eventually, he reached where the smell came from. Just six feet away, stood the most beautiful woman he knew. Her blonde hair were in waves that cascaded over he face, a pink tulle ballgown that accented the dainty colour of her skin and her blue eyes sparkling more than he had ever seen it.

Lior stared at Sophie like it was the first time he was seeing her. If he had thought she was beautiful, he thought she was gorgeous now, and though he didn't say anything, Sophie turned to him. At first, she looked like she wanted to wave but when she saw the look in his eyes, he watched the smile on her face die to one of terror.

His Wolf whimpered at the thought. Why was she looking at him like that?

He watched her storm through the people, getting to him faster than he had ever see her move and pull him along with her through the crowd. The contact hurt, because she was squeezing his wrist tightly, but he didn't mind. He was too happy at the time. She was His. She was his Mate.

They reached an empty hallway now and Sophie finally let go of his hand. Lior instinctively rubbed at his wrist. "Soph-"

"Fuck!"

Lior's eyebrow rose at the word. She never cussed, no matter how angry she was. Why was she even angry? Did someone hurt her? By the Moon Goddess, if someone dared to-

"I'm -" She turned to him, eyes frantic. "I'm your Mate?"

Why was she acting like this? "Y-Yes. And I'm happy about it. I've loved you for so long-"

Then she scoffed. The frantic look was gone now, replaced with something close to disgust. "That's all you ever think about. Your heads always up in the fucking clouds. Waiting for someone to love you. You're so fucking pathetic, Lior."

Lior felt his heart crack at the words. He couldn't have heard right. His Sophie wouldn't talk to him like that. Say something like that. She was nice, and wonderful. She was the best thing in his life. "If- If this is too early-"

"It's not too early," She said, sarcasm lacing her tone. "It's never happening. Goddess, I've spent half my life, having to tolerate you with your stupid child-like behavior, saviour complex, and fucking horrible sense of direction. Spending all of it with you, would kill me faster than a silver bullet would."

No. No, she couldn't. His heart was hurting now, like someone was twisting it expertly with every word that left her lips. "Why- Why would you say something like that?"

"Because look at yourself, Lior!" She exclaimed. "You just... Exist. With no fucking ambition. Just moving around the palace like some... God, waiting for your Mate? Do you ever even wonder about what your future would like? Do you have any idea what the world out there is? Because I can assure you, it's not all cats and roses. It's not rainbows either. It's just- Pain, and darkness until you fight for what you want."

"And that's what I'm doing," She said, coming closer. "I will fight for what I want, and you, you will be the good FRIEND, that you are, and not say a word about this to anyone, do you understand?"

Lior didn't. How could he? He had so many things to say and nothing all at once. "Love is good, love is-"

"But I don't love you!" She suddenly snapped. Lior felt his feet move back, his head shouting the word no all over and over. "There's nothing good about you! You're practically useless! I'm in love with Lucas. I always have been. I mean, think about it. He has potential, he knows what he wants, and he's the Crown Prince. I've always wanted to be a Queen as long as I can remember. If you truly care about me, want what's good for me, you'd let me be happy."

"Me," Lior felt tears brim to his eyes. "You're supposed to be happy with me-"

"I reject you,"

A small gasp left his lips before he could stop himself. "Sophie. No, think on it. Please-"

"Stop begging! How desperate can anyone be?! Just accept the rejection!"

"I-" He swallowed. Lior wanted to beg, crawl on her feet and beg till she took pity on him. "I can't, Sophie. I-"

"You're selfish," Sophie snapped now. Her blue eyes reminded him of diamonds. Ready to cut him into pieces the more he looked at her. "Do not, tell anyone about this. If you have one working brain cell in that stupid head of yours, you'd do as I say. Everyone would happier this way."

And she walked away.

Lior wasn't sure how he was breathing, or thinking, but he hated the fact he was still awake. That he could still hear her voice in his head. He knew he must have been the one at fault. He must have done something wrong. He just couldn't do anything right. He couldn't even... make his Mate love him.

His hands gripped the steering wheel tighter. Pain racked through every bone in his body. A part of him screamed at the fact that she was right, she had been the only one to tell him to his face. He was truly useless, worthless, without a true purpose, but Goddess, he would have loved her. He would have been anything she wanted.

If she had just given him a chance-

More tears fell. Another part thought back on how she had looked at him. Was that truly how she had seen him all this time? Or was it just how he had seen her? Lior had been so in love with her that he had managed to ignore any wrong side, but now that he thought of it, he could see her for her true self.

There had been a time when he had found a cat, after the loss of his dog some years ago, and he, in his love dazed state, tried to show her his feline, but Sophie had kicked it so hard, without any single remorse that it died and she never even cared to ask about how he felt when that happened.

More instances came up to his head, when she had showed him her true self, but he had ignored it. Fuck, he still loved her. Even though she did this, he loved her. Love didn't go away so easily. Did she truly expect him to just let go of her? Of all he had known?

He had already driven his car to the farthest part of Raester, deep down to a place he knew no one would find him, or guess he would ever be, and switched off his phone so he wouldn't be tracked, but of course, there was also the problems of the paparazzi outing him so he had to change into a more concealing appearance. Plus, there was no need to overthink on his decision anymore. He couldn't possibly care now, could he? If the one person destined to spend the rest of her life with him didn't want him, then nothing else nothing mattered.

He'd do what he wanted. Damn the consequences.

‡*************

Nine stared at the counter. Finally, she had managed to get the stain off, and in the next hour, her shift would finally be over. Thankfully, the pub was already empty, leaving her with her boss and some other chores she had to do, but asides that, she was grateful.

Just one more day, she though, one more day, and I'd be a free person.

It was mantra that kept her sane, because for someone like her that had nothing else holding her down to Earth, freedom managed to keep her happy.

Though her happiness died out when she saw a customer walk into the Pub.

It was already so late and she could barely stand on her feet as it was. Plus, she wasn't sure she could stand one more person for the night. Nine had to spend most of her time ignoring people jeering at the way she looked, or grabbing her roughly. Even though she hated it, there was nothing she could do. No one ever did anything to Mom's girls, unless they wanted her wrath, but since Mom saw her as more of a liability than an asset, other people liked to toy with her for it.

Nine watched her Boss walk to the male who was now seated on a bar stool. He had on a black hoodie and pants, the hood up, and sunglasses, she wasn't sure, with his head bent down. They seemed to talk for a few minutes before the hooded male brought out a huge wad of money and set it on the counter.

Her eyes widened at the sight, her hands now gripping the handle of the broom she was holding tighter. She had worked in this pub for years and she hadn't seen that much Yudats in this place before.

Her Boss stared at it too, but only for a few seconds before he quickly pocketed it. As he began walking to her, Nine quickly went back to her cleaning. Heavens knew how many lashings she would have gotten if he had caught her staring instead of being useful

"You,"

She had a name, yet no one ever called that. "Yes, sir?"

Her Boss was a thin looking, mouse faced man that always had a sneer on his face for her. "That customer has paid for a whole night of drinks so make sure you keep topping him till he's ready to go. You hear me?"

Till he was ready? "But it's already late and if I'm not home in an hour-"

"Are you trying to tell me what to do?"

Nine's mouth stayed open for a second, but she shut it and quickly shook her head.

"Good," She watched him take his coat off the rack and wear it. "Make sure you close up." Then as he walked away, muttered under his breath. "Ugly faced bitch,"

Years ago, those words would have cut deep into her but she had grown immune to it. Nine had jet black hair that she kept long since she was too busy to cut it and the last time she did, had made a horrible mistake that got her bullied for a very long time. Still, that hadn't been the problem. Nine was pale skinned, and had barely any meat on her body which gave her a plain scarecrow look but the one thing that got people freaked out were her eyes.

They were round and completely onyx black. Like two void holes that promised to suck everything in it's sight.

Nine sometimes wished they could.

She did as she was told anyway. Refilling the man's glass while she glared at him with her eyes, hoping he'd get disgusted and leave, but he seemed to stuck on his misery to give a care about an urchin like her.

Great, the one time she wanted attention, none was being given.

As she topped his fiftieth glass and proceeded to walk away, he held her hand and mumbled something under his breath that made her freeze in her steps. "S-Sophie. D-Don't go,"

His voice sounded completely ethereal, like the wind tickling her ears. It made her want to stay and hear him talk again, but the moment she thought it, she knew to step away. "Sir, I think you've had too many to-"

"My head hurts," Oh Goddess, that voice.

The male looked up at her now, the shades he had on dropping a bit so she could now see his face. He had eyes that reminded her of the sun when it was rising. Making her want to stay and see how beautiful it'd look when it was finally all out in it's gloriousness. "Can you- Can you take me somewhere?"

"I-" Don't look into his eyes. And ignore the voice! "Sir, it's late and-"

"Here,"

Nine watched him bring out another wad of money. Equivalent to whatever he gave her boss. She swallowed. Her brain quickly thought on how much of her debt she could pay if she presented this to Mom. It meant less pub days and grabby hands. It meant closer freedom. Plus, she could drive exceedingly well, since she had done something along the lines to get more money for Mom.

But men weren't to be trusted. She knew that first hand, and if she was more late-

"More?" He sounded completely ready to please now. "I'd give- More," He tried standing, nearly falling over until she held him. "I don't- I don't wanna go home. Nothing's- There... For me. So- So hotel, but can't- Drive-"

What was it in his voice that made her want to stay? Was it the fact he made her ears want to lean in more or her ears recognized the same sadness her heart felt every single day she woke? "What hotel?"

"G-Golden Lily,"

That five star hotel? Not that it surprised her the more she thought about it. He looked rich enough to afford a friend even, but she shook the thought away. Nothing about him was her business. All she had to do was get him in his hotel room, and take the money he gave. Easy peasy.

Goddess. She hoped it'd go that way.