Exiled

Chapter 3 ~ No Choice

Prince Alpha Kaleb was a strong young man. He was dashing, cunning, and brave. But, the one thing Kaleb was as of the moment was... sick. He was laying in bed, having a terrible headache. He swept his light brown hair out of his face and rubbed his tired, bed-filled brown eyes. 

"Jasper..." He croaked hoarsely. Normally, Kaleb's voice was deep and alluring. But, this sickness had robbed him of his natural speaking tone and replaced it with that of a sickly, near-death sound. Jasper, Kaleb's personal Wizard, stepped into the young Prince's bedroom, almost silently. 

"How are you feeling, Prince Alpha? Any better than yesterday?" Jasper asked as he made his way over to Kaleb. Jasper had long dark green hair, on the verge on being mistaken for black hair. He had bright red eyes and a sharp nose. His outfit was one that someone would expect a wizard of the old fairy tales to wear, but it kept him warm in the winter.

"Just get over here and cure me." Kaleb didn't feel like going through the motions with Jasper right now. Jasper nodded and set to work, chanting in strange languages and merging light and magic into the Prince's body. Nothing seemed to help.

Suddenly, Jasper stopped with his work and gazed at the young Alpha-to-be. He had all the symptoms and signs. Could it be..? "Kaleb... do you know where your mate is?"

Kaleb, having closed his eyes for a moment, immediatly opened them. He glared at the young Wizard next to his bed. No. He would never accept a mate from... there. "I won't fo it. I know what you're thinking, Jasper, and I'm not going. She's not there."

"Where else could she be, Kaleb?! You've been sick like this for weeks! No matter what you feel about going to the Enchanted Grounds, your mate is there," Jasper screamed, thouroughly annoyed with the Prince Alpha. Judgement could make people so stubborn and difficult. "Now, I'm going to tell the Alpha about this and you are going to go and get your mate. She's 17 now, so don't expect her to be forgiving of you being a year late."

As Jasper the Wizard left, Kaleb sighed heavily before going into a coughing fit. Once it settled, he glanced at the ceiling. He would never take a Witch for his mate. Everyone had said that there were no other werewolf girls left there. There was only the Witch who was supposed to take care of them. If she was his mate, he would have to Blood Mate with her. 

Blood Mating would mean taking blood out of him and putting it into her, and vise versa. He would never resort to such a thing. What if he suddenly became magically equiped due to the transfer? What if she suddenly accquired a wolf form? There were so many complications to Blood Mating, so many risks...

"Son, what's Jasper gong on about? What's this about going to the Enchanted Grounds?!" Kaleb heard his father's booming voice echo throughout the large bedroom. Jasper followed quickly behind Alpha Oland as they approached Kaleb's bed.

"Father, Jasper says that the Witch at the Enchatned Grounds is my mate," Kaleb took a moment to cough and steady his breathing. "but, it isn't the truth... right, Father? Please... don't make me Blood Mate with a Witch." Kaleb was never one to beg, so when he did, Oland knew it was something the boy either really wanted or really wanted to avoid.

The Alpha turned to the Wizard next to him. "Use your Magic to see if she's really his mate." It was a simple command, but it made Jasper feel like the weight of the world was rested on his shoulders.

After a long, almost eerie silence, Jasper opened his eyes and nodded. "Yes, Alpha. She is there." Kaleb groaned and turned onto his side. Oland let out a small breath and looked at his son.

"Kaleb. Get dressed. We're going to the Enchanted Grounds."

"But, Father, I don't-"

"Right now, Kaleb!" Oland shouted, snapping his son into action. Even though he was weakened by his sickness, Kaleb knew that he'd better move fast. As he pulled on an old t-shirt, Kaleb sighed. He'd have no choice but to Blood Mate with a Witch and just wait for the results.