The Prince’s Unwilling mate

178 Griffin

What was supposed to be a wonderful day, our last hurrah before needing to go back to business as usual was cut short. Deep down I knew it was just a minor inconvenience that both of us were aware might happen. Still, it annoyed me, I was having such a good time meeting my gamer friends. Or well some of them with Ayla. I loved how she was able to charm every important wolf at royal events. And now she was just as charming with my human friends. So to leave early, just because we still needed to deal with all the sh it David and Hannah caused for us.

I understand why Ayla wants to see her now before, the trial. The Council of Elders already was a little agitated that Ayla went into heat before the trial. They realized it was not something we could control. And they understood the emotional toll and risks in, proceeding with the trial when Ayla was in heat. So they begrudgingly told us to contact them when the heat was over. We did, so that all worked in our favor, Ayla being prepared, and having her statement ready. Having a clear idea about her punishment, and even having it written

out.

Still, most of Hannah’s statements and explanations anger me. Especially the one about pack leaders needing to be happy first in order to lead the pack. I was biting my tongue because I was afraid I would not be able to control myself. Luckily I didn’t need to because my wonderful, witty, poised mate handled it. Holding my hand in silent support.

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Last night Ayla seemed so on top of it, telling me she wouldn’t be nervous if I was there with her. But when she woke up she was a ball

of nerves, so I did everything I could do to make her feel less nervous. Luckily pack breakfast helped too and I loved discussing the future and talking about our pups with our pack members. To the extent that we almost forgot to pick up Ayla’s parents and the Council of Elders would be arriving. The timing of them both arriving at the exact same time wasn’t ideal either. But we found a solution and I wasn’t about to give Ayla more stress by freaking out over little things like that.

Not long after I walked the council to the meeting room, Ayla joined us. It made sense that her parents wouldn’t keep her occupied for too long. They knew the importance of impressing the Council of Elders. Ayla taking too long to come out to meet the Council of Elders would be seen as a sign of disrespect.

The Council of Elders is fair and just but they just hold a lot of importance to traditions and being respected. Especially by members of the royal family, because while we rule the country. Their job is equally as important, they are the ones who execute punishments that transcend more than one pack. If we as members of the royal family do not show the Council enough respect it could very well affect their standing with all the other packs.

Ayla did not have a lot of interaction with them yet. With everything that happened my parents and I did most of the communication with them. A lot of the contact started in the moment when she was still kidnapped and was unable to contact them at that time. When she walks in I see she has slipped on a blazer over her outfit. She told me she would if the Council would want to go to trial right away. Something made her reconsider, knowing my beautiful mate it must have been her nerves and wanting to make a good impression.

She does not show it to, her back is straight when she walks in with a soft smile on her face. She keeps her eyes trained on me, I know it is because it helps her feel less nervous so I shoot her a quick wink. It is all I can do now to make sure she knows I am here to support her.

“Please, excuse me for not being able to greet you upon arrival. I had other guests I needed to welcome. My parents to be exact so I hope for your understanding of the importance of greeting my

parents” Ayla explains her short absence without being asked curtsying to the Council members as she does.

Mom looks like she is as proud and as amazed by how poised she is, by how much she knows with the little training she has as I am. Dad almost looks smug, like he wants to tell the Elders, see that is my daughter-in-law.

“Your absence is excused Princess Ayla, now let’s proceed with this meeting so we can set things into motion” One of the Elders acknowledges Ayla.

Now we all sit down, I take her hand in mine. The good thing about being in a meeting with only other wolves is that they understand the importance of mates. And the comfort physical touch brings us. I have been in meetings with the human rulers where they would raise an eyebrow every time my parents would share a small touch.

***

By the time we have gone over all the plans and how we are going to arrange the trial it’s not so it is closer to lunchtime than we expected. Taking that into consideration and the fact that Hannah still hadn’t found anyone to represent her in this trial. We decided on just having the welcome-to-the-pack lunch my mom and Ayla had planned. After the Council of Elders will meet up with Hannah to give her one last chance to find representation if she is unable to. The council will provide her with one.

It’s important to always have representation, like what a lawyer would be to the humans. If you are unable to find one on your own the council always helps. But finding your own is always the better option. Secretly I hope Hannah is unable to find her own representation. I

know there is no way she is going to get away with everything she has done without consequences. And the Crown Prince in me realizes how critical it is for this trial to be fair. The victim in this, the wolf

whose mate was kidnapped and tortured I wanted her to get the most severe punishment possible.

Whatever would happen the trial would start tomorrow at 10 AM exactly 24 hours after the Council of Elders arrived. Giving us a little more time to prepare, now all I need is an excuse to slip away from Ayla. So I can set things up without her knowing what I am about to do. As much as she tries to be strong I can see she is nervous about all of this. And I feel that if I can do this one thing for her. It will make her so much more prepared to go into trial, maybe it’s not totally appropriate but caring for my mate will always be my number one priority. All I need is for the others to go along with the plan no matter what the Council members might think about it.

“Ayla, can you come to my office with me for a second?” Mom asks unknowingly giving me the perfect excuse to slip away as I offer to bring the council members to their rooms.