His Selected Mate

Chapter 4

Early update, enjoy :)

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After breakfast the remaining twenty-seven of us gathered in the Women's room. Apparently the prince had eliminated eight of us. Breakfast was delicious and I discovered the most exquisite thing I have ever tasted. Strawberry tarts. Maxon seemed to witness my delicious discovery and decided to make a wager with me, if May cried upon tasting the tarts, I would get to wear pants for a week. If I lost, I would have to take a walk with him in the gardens. Everyone, including myself, seemed to realize that if I lost, I would be having the first date with the prince. Tempest had been smug and overjoyed.

I sat across from Marlee as we played with a deck of cards. I had met her yesterday at the airport and could tell we were going to be close friends. I had also met another girl at the airport. Celeste Newsome. As if she wasn't enough of a bitch, I could smell that she was a werewolf as well. She had smelled it on me too. And snarled at me. Apparently, I was competition in her eyes. Tempest had taken over briefly at the time and gave off a quiet warning growl in her direction.

Looking around the room I saw Celeste stationed in front of the T.V. slamming the remote on the arm of the couch, trying to get it to work. I rolled my eyes as I brought my attention from her back to the game. Marlee spoke up, drawing my attention from my cards.

"I can't imagine what those girls must have done to displease him so early," she commented. "Me neither," I replied. I placed down my winning hand, smiling. There was no way she could beat that. Smirking, she looked at the cards on the table then at me. "Sorry honey, I know you tried your best." She laid down her hand. Damnit. This is the fifth time she's beaten me. I crossed my arms in front of my chest and pouted. "This isn't fair. You must be cheating," I complained. Her eyes had mischief in them and a spark of something else. Tempest had commented earlier when we first came to the Women's Room that there was something different about Marlee. Not quite human. It's possible she couldn't be human. If I exist, who's to say other magical species don't exist. She certainly didn't have that human smell.

Can we please go outside? asked Tempest out of nowhere. I don't know if I can go outside without some form of escort I said. There's only one way to find out. Go to the doors that lead out to the garden and go from there.

Turning my attention back to Marlee I said, "Would you excuse me for a moment? I wanted to see if I could go to the gardens." She started to clean up the cards. "Go ahead, I was just going to head up to my room." Exiting the Women's Room, I did my best to find the doors to the garden but I got lost. Eventually I had to stop a passing maid who directed me down the right hallway. As I made my way to the door, there was a guard there. He was tall, with broad shoulders, brown hair, and brown eyes. Taking a deep breath, I smelt the hint of nature that was distinct for werewolves. Another werewolf? I never thought I would meet more, I mean, it was expected I guess but it never crossed my mind. He also took a deep breath and seemed to relax a bit, comfortable to be in the company of his own kind. As I stopped in front of him, he spoke, "Lady America," he bowed. I read his name tag. "Officer West," I said bowing my head slightly. "Just America please." He nodded. I motioned outside, "I was wondering if I could see the gardens."

"Yes, but," his voice lowered significantly, "Make sure your wolf doesn't get too excited. If you have to shift, make your way to the stables, like you're going for a ride, then make your way for the woods beyond that." "I wasn't planning on shifting," I whispered back. "I didn't even think about that." I stared outside. "I've never even been outside for a shift." He had an understanding look in his eyes. "Yeah, me neither before I came to the palace. Once you do, you'll never want to leave, never want to stop being in your wolf form." He said all this with a nostalgic look on his face. "I hope I get to experience it soon."