Keely POV:

"Lyson!" I yelled out the moment I stopped across the threshold of my pack house..

"Keely?" I hear Lyson answer as he jogs down the stairs.

"Get me the Tiger Palace," I say sternly, ignoring my best friend's questioning gaze.

"Okay," he nods then hesitates, "May I ask why?"

"I found my mate," I breathe out in a daze as I think of my beautiful mate.

My tiger mate.

"She is a Tiger!" he exclaims, his body frozen as his blue eyes search my face.

"She was gorgeous," I sighed, running a hand through my disheveled brown hair.

'Is gorgeous,' Kyron, my wolf growls lowly at me, 'Mate is not dead. Is not was. She will always be beautiful.'

'You know what I meant,' I roll my eyes mentally at Kyron.

"Do you know what this means?" Lyson exclaims loudly, casting his arms about widely as he stares at me.

"Uh... what?" he frown at him, confused as to what he's on about.

"It means that you and your mate will be the first inter-species mate pair," he proclaims, hands tangling into his blonde looks in disbelief.

"We are?" he raise an eyebrow at him, cocking my head.

"Yes!" he shouts, "It has never been heard of."

"I'm sure shifters have had inter-breeded before," I shrug, "I mean how else do we get Hybrids?"

"None of them were born out of a mating bond," he smirks at me.

"Okay? So?" I inquire, folding my arms across my chest.

"Augh, never mind," he rolls his eyes.

"Can you get the Tiger Palace," I frown at him, losing patience.

I need to see her again.

"Why isn't she with you?" he frowns, obviously seeing my longing.

"She ran off," my brows deepen.

"Did she tell you when to meet her again," he says quietly.

"No," I snap, giving him a look, "I wouldn't be asking you to get my the Tiger Palace if I had. Now would I?"

"No," he grins sheepishly, holding his hands up in defence, "What did she say?"

"When can I see you again," I call out as she turns away to disappear back into the forest, with a sleeping fawn in her arms.

"Wouldn't you like to know," she grins mysteriously, "Keely."

She quickly disappears into the shrouded forest, her dress flowing out behind her. Leaving me behind, confused.

Her mysterious nature still confuses me and the way she purred my name still makes me shudder with pleasure. She looked like the Moon Goddess herself in that thin dress, like royalty. I didn't even know that Tigers could shift into clothing. She looked like Snow White. Her waist length black hair and glistening blue eyes. Even the billowy dress she wore could not hide her slim, but athletic body. I help but imagine ravishing her flawless skin with my lips.

Her tiger form was large, larger than my Alpha wolf and probably much larger than the average Weretiger. The stark coloring of her pelt is simply beautiful. White coat scarred by elegant black stripes. For a large animal, she's looked rather light on her feet. Nimble and agile for her gait.

"She never told me anything," I sigh in frustration, heading into the kitchen, "In fact, it was enough trouble to just get her name and she did that with great reluctance."

"Really?" he comments, trailing after me.

"Yeah," I shrug, grabbing a crisp green apple, "I don't know why she was being like that. I mean, I'm her mate."

"Well, all I know is that she's who you have to put up with for the rest of your life," he smirks, snatching my apple as I'm about to take a bite.

"Hey!" I exclaim, glaring at my supposed best friend.

"What?" he says around a mouthful of apple.

Though because of that, it sounded more like 'mmwauph'. I don't know why I ever became friends with him. He's so immature. So instead of answering him, I grumble nonsense under my breath and turn away, grabbing a new apple. After glaring once more at a triumphant looking Lyson, I storm up the stairs.

***

I feel the car come to a stop on the gravel outside the massive castle doors. The driver rushes to open my door and I step out, the ancient hunk of rock looming above me. Instead of being silent and desolate, there are actually quite a few Tigers roaming around the castle entrance.

"Ah, Alpha Fox!" a deep commanding voice boons through the entrance way.

"King Daniel," I nod my head at him, giving him the respect his presence demands.

The large man strides towards me, his blond hair glinting like burnished copper in the setting sun. His grey eyes are warm and welcoming, pairing well with his relaxed yet regal personality. He clasps my forearm in a friendly yet strong handshake and leads me through the castle doors.

"So Keely," his grey eyes gleam other curiosity as he glances at me, "What brings you here on this abrupt visit. Did something happen?"

"No, not at all, sir," I placate the older man, "I have found my mate."

"Your mate!?" he reels in surprise, "She is a Tiger?"

"Yes," I nod, following the Tiger King into a sitting room, "I was out on a run along the edge of my border when I smelt her. I'm sorry for trespassing, I was not thinking when I did it."

"Oh, it's nothing," he waves off with a jeweled hand, "I know what you mean. I was like that when I met my wife."

He turns and smiles fondly at the Queen, his eyes glowing with undiluted love. The petite woman blushes even now at the look. I can't wait for that with my own mate.

"You have found your mate, Keely?" Judith smiles kindly.

"Yes, my Queen," I grin at her, bowing my head slightly.

"Oh, Keely," she laughs, "No need for that, I am not your Queen, merely a neighbor."

"As you wish," I grin, "My Queen."

She huffs fondly at me, but ignores my teasing, "And what might this lucky young lady's name be?"

"Ah, that's the problem," I wince, "She refused to give me a name. Only a nick name."

"And what's that?" it's the King's turn to question me.

"She told me to call her-" I start, but I am interrupted by the sitting room doors slamming open and a handful of Palace guards pouring in.

"My Queen!" one guard exclaims, rushing inside the room.

"Speak, my child," the startled Queen urges.

"The Princess," he gasps out, obviously out of breath, "Princess Maurice is missing!"

"What!?" King Daniel roars, his face turning red from anger, his previously warm eyes now burn with outrage.

"My baby is gone," the Queen splutters, shocked.

"Get more men!" Daniel demands, "Find my daughter!"

"Find my Reece!" the stressed Queen wails, her voice filled with pain.

My ears prick up at the name she calls out, my wolf freezing at her words.

"Reece?" I choke out, my fists clenching.

"Yes!" the Queen cries, "My daughter, do you know where she is?"

"May I see a picture?" I quickly question.

"Yes, yes," she relents, scrabbling for a picture frame that sits on the table beside her, "Here."

I try not to snatch the gilded frame from her small hands, but I refrain myself. I do not need to be disrespectful when there is a high chance that they are my mate's parents. I slowly turn the frame over, allowing my eyes to look over a family photo trapped behind the glass. A smiling couple grin at the camera, their hands resting on the shoulders of a young girl. A girl no older than fourteen, her glossy black hair cascading over her shoulders and her ocean blue eyes full of mischief as she smiles at the camera.

My mate.

Reece.

Princess Maurice.

~•~•~

Sorry for the wait. I've been busy with exams and the fact that I write three other books here on Wattpad. Don't forget to:

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