Page 53 of Monster Daddies

I internally gasp when he tilts his head to the side, exposing his throat to me. My wolf leans in and takes a deep breath. The scent of cinnamon and honey fills my lungs, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this Alpha is my mate and that my mother sent me to him.

Somehow, she knew.

My wolf doesn't hesitate to rub her face along his neck and over his cheek, scent-marking him so that everyone will know he's claimed. He lets out a pleased laugh before doing the same. She lets out a contented sound and lies down with her body draped over his lap. He slowly runs his fingers through my fur, soothing me into a deep sleep.

Chapter Four

Kael

My wolf is purring in my mind at our mate being vulnerable enough to sleep in my lap. I can't help but wonder what happened to bring her here. Why would she hide in the forest in a dark cave instead of coming to the palace? She must be aware of the rules regarding crossing the royal border. Not to mention that we are a safe haven for any wolf. Especially Omegas. They are precious and rare, and as the gentlest of our species, they deserve to always feel safe and be catered to.

As an Alpha, the greatest honor is for the Moon Goddess to grant an Omega mate. For our union to be blessed by her is rare, and I swear here and now that I will never take it for granted. My little wolf will be the most loved and cherished Omega in the kingdom.

My mate whines in her sleep, drawing me out of my musings. Instinctively, I purr for her, my Alpha instincts kicking in without thought. She wriggles closer to me, falling into a peaceful sleep once again.

A sigh comes from the mouth of the cave. "So I guess we're camping?" Saint asks.

"She's exhausted. I can't make her walk for hours through the dark to the palace. We'll leave in the morning once she's had time to rest."

"What is she even doing out here?" he muses.

"No idea. She obviously isn't a threat since the wards didn't sound the alarm, but whatever sent her to the royal packlands can't be good. Especially if she felt like she had to hide," I say lowly, as to not wake up my sleeping mate.

"She's your Goddess-given mate, isn't she?" Saint asks with an undertone of jealousy.

Not that I can blame him, he's been praying to the Goddess for his mate for as long as I have. Some wolves live their entire lives without finding a compatible mate let alone a gift from the Goddess. Saint and I both knew we wouldn't settle for someone who was simply compatible. As the Alpha King, a Goddess-given mate will make me stronger and will help me control my wolf when he's in a rage. She will be the calm in my storms and the queen and mother to the entire wolf kingdom.

"Yes, she is."

"I'm happy for you, Kael. This is a blessing for not only you, but the whole kingdom."

I feel the sincerity of his words, and it means a lot that even though he has every right to be upset that he doesn't have his mate, he's still able to be happy for me and our kingdom.

"I'm going to shift and run the perimeter."

"Thanks."

"It's my duty to protect the future of the kingdom."

"You're just hoping whatever she's running from gives you a good fight."

He chuckles darkly. "That too. No Omega should be scared enough to hide in a fucking cave in the middle of the woods. Something tells me she had zero intentions of coming to the palace for help."

"Me too."

Fear floods my system at the thought of what would have happened if I hadn't listened to my instincts to come out here. She could have hidden for the night and been long gone without me ever knowing my mate was so close. I say a quiet thank you to the Moon Goddess for not letting me ignore the pull. I know it was her who tugged at my spirit, leading me to my mate.

I don't stop stroking my mate's beautiful fur all night. Offering her comfort in her sleep. Anytime she whines or makes a sign of distress, I purr for her. It's a rough and unpracticed sound that I wasn't even sure I could produce, but it seems to come naturally; it soothes her distress, and that's all that really matters to me.

I hear Saint return just before sunrise. He shifts and dresses. "That was disappointing. There are no signs of anyone following the future queen to the border, and the wards are still in place and strong. It's like she just appeared out of nowhere. Surely someone is searching for her. No one would let an Omega run unaccompanied like this. Maybe she's lost?"

She stirs in my lap and stands before shaking out her fur. She sits on her haunches and looks at Saint, who is leaning against the wall of the cave. A low growl rumbles in her chest, and I can't help but chuckle at her show of dominance. What she hasn't realized yet is that Saint is now her subordinate in the kingdom's hierarchy. It doesn't matter that she's an Omega and the weaker of the two; she's second only to me.

Saint tilts his head to the side in a show of submission. Her growl falters, and if a wolf could look confused, she does. It's adorable. I reach up and scratch behind her ear.

"It's okay, sweetheart. Saint is safe. He's my second. He will protect you to his dying breath, the same as me."

She doesn't respond, just looks between us like we're a puzzle she can't figure out.