The Prince’s Unwilling mate

Chapter 24

Griffin 24 I didn’t even know what I did, I wasn’t even sure if she would accept the cookies as my last gift. When she opened her mouth I expected her to rejectbefore I could even finish the cookies. Not that she would givea timeline to convince her. Sitting at her kitchen table chatting, and seeing her enjoying the cookies I made her was amazing. It was enough, but I noticed her eyes drifting to the boxes full of books every few seconds. And I realized I could do something to make her happen. More so when she toldshe didn’t have the means yet to buy herself bookshelves. On my way here I saw an IKEA and I was so happy she finally agreed. As she was putting away sstuff I quickly mindlink Gerald offering him a month-long vacation. So that he can take Jessa on a mate-moon with the royal jet. If he gets Jessa to tell him what bookcases Ayla likes, he can letknow. Minutes later I get a few TikToks with a message stating that is what she wants. They’re all the sIKEA bookcases and ssmall cabinets. Made to look like built-in bookcases with scrown molding and sadditional wood. Gerald definitely deserved his holiday. While driving to IKEA I can not hide the groovy smile from my face. Ayla seems happy too, maybe I can even get her to go out for dinner with me. We arrive at the Ikea and I can’t help hoping that the people looking at us see us as a couple. It’s a stu pid thing to hope but to me, this feels like a date. If only I could I would hold her hand, k*ss her, and wrap my arms around her waist. But I know that would be too much, too soon. Instead, I just walk next to her, she clearly enjoys just walking around looking at all the displays. Everything she picks up and smiles at before putting it down with a wistful sigh. I get it and put it in my cart. It takes her a little while to notice. Griffin 24 288 Vouchers “Griffin what are you doing?” she hisses at me. Dillion was right she is a firecracker and I love it. I would never want a meek and docile mate. We need to be equal partners like my parents are. Like my grandparents are and it is the only way to be good rulers. You can’t be equal partners if one does not have an opinion or doesn’t dare to give it.

“It’s the sas the bookcases, Ayla, just letspoil you. Letmake you happy!” I carefully say, not to give anything away to all the humans surrounding us. “You should be happy your boyfriend, is so loving Sweetheart. You can be independent, and still, let the man who loves you spoil you every once in a while” An elderly woman who walks past us with her husband tells us. I could k*ss that woman, both for thinking I am Ayla’s boyfriend. And for convincing my stubborn mate to accept my gifts. She smiles and nods, telling the woman I am trying to make up for making a huge mistake. The elderly man now tellsto be prepared to drain my account. I could never do so in the IKEA, but I won’t tell him that. There is no need forto brag, instead, I wrap my arm around her waist and k*ss her cheek. After telling the man she is worth it. Reveling in the fact that she didn’t pull away. She just smells and tells the couple she will makepay before we go our separate ways. “You enjoyed that didn’t you?” She askschuckling. So I’m honest and agree I did. I enjoy everything about this outing. She does not stop looking at things, and I don’t stop putting everything I think she might like or enjoy into my cart. “Okay Big Spender, letbuy you a snack then. I am dying for sSwedish meatballs, If it was up toI would buy her lunch too. With Ayla, I already know she wouldn’t want that. And with me still Griffin 24 288 iVouchers wanting to buy her so much stuff. I cannot risk offending her or making her unhappy. I need to keep in mind that she is already putting so much trust in me. I went from being seconds away from being rejected. To being able to get her a bunch of gifts and buy her bookcases. That is enough forto muster a genuine smile as place the cart in the waiting area and tell her to lead the way. It feels oddly satisfying, to have my mate buyfood. It feels like she cares too. Or at least enjoy all of this enough to do something kind for me. During eating we’re chatting again and it just feels good. We’re already able to talk like we have known each other for years. Then it is tto finally get the bookcases. She seems surprised at the amount of bookcases I am getting. Or the fact I

know exactly which ones to get. Swith the smaller cabinets. I don’t want to ruin the surprise yet. On one hand, I wish I could tell her just to see her smile. Because even with the very few times I had seen it. I was already addicted to it. Still, I figured surprising her would be even better. And it was, all from the confused look on her face when I drove us to a nearby hardware store, to the look of disbelief on her face when I asked her to pick out scrown molding and a can of paint. To her whispered? “How did you figure out exactly what bookshelves I wanted” To the genuine chuckle, shaking her head when I told her all about Gerald and Jessa’s mate-moon. But the best of it all was how she jumped in my arms thankingfor everything when she realized what I was getting her. Sure she immediately stiffened, like jumping into my arms was a mistake. I could see the regret of letting her guard down so soon etched into her beautiful face as she took a shy step back. For me, it had been worth it though, for the obvious reason of how good it felt to have her in my arms. Of feeling the sparks of the matebond warming my heart b*dy and soul. And for the hope it gave me. It had been only one afternoon and she had already warmed up to me. Griffin 24 288 ¡Vouchers At spoint today it had looked utterly hopeless. To the point where she had already started to reject me. As happy as I was with the 13th chance. I knew it was a small one and she hadn’t sounded very happy to givesaid chance. So her opening up toso much now made my day. This must have been the most money I have ever spent on anything other than I car or anything for our kingdom ever. It was simultaneously the best money I had ever spent. When I was younger I hated it when Dad toldI should be able to cook and clean. And do woodwork and himprovement. As I pup I figured we had staff so tothey were unnecessary skills. Adding more workload to my already overflowing schedule. When I got back hI needed to thank him. Because at spoint after carrying all the newly bought stuff inside her home, I noticed Ayla was about to mindlink someone just as we sat down with the coffee her Grandmother made us. Feeling brave, feeling sure of the day we just had I asked her if something was wrong. She toldthere wasn’t. the firecracker was gone as she toldshe was about to mindlink her

Great Uncle Nicolas. He had almost promised her he would help build the bookcases. There was no way I would try and cbetween Ayla and any relative. Neither was I going to assas she-wolf she would not be able to do swoodwork. All I considered was what a great opportunity this was to spend more twith her. “If he needs a hand, I can stay a little longer to help build the bookcases,” I told her. She was about to agree but stopped herself wondering if a Crown Prince likecould even build anything. I reassured her that I did telling her about the ther dad hadfix the door I ripped off its hinges. Which meant I had to tell her who had pi ssedoff that badly and how she did it. “Griffin, last chance are you sure she isn’t a better fit for you?” She askedin a pained voice. And I knew the only way to stop her from Griffin 24 overthinking was telling her the truth. ហ