As the night fell, we made our way back to the palace, the stars twinkling above us. The palace's grand entrance loomed before us, its gates opening with a soft creak as we approached. We entered the palace, our footsteps echoing through the halls as we made our way to the quarter assigned to us.

I entered the sitting room of the werewolf quarter, I spotted my grandpa standing there, a warm smile on his face. My eyes welled up with tears, and I rushed to him, sobbing gently in his arms.

"I missed you, Grandpa," I whispered, my voice shaking with emotion. All the problems, worries, troubles, and grievances I'd hidden deep in my heart came flooding out as I saw him. Tears streamed down my face, and I couldn't stop them, no matter how hard I tried.

"Hey, pup, why are you crying? Were you bullied when I wasn't around?" Grandpa asked, his voice filled with concern. "No, no one bullied me. I just missed you," I said, trying to compose myself. "Tell me, did that little pup of mine and mate make you do anything against your will? Did they force you to obey them or bully you?" he asked, gently wiping away my tears.

“They didn't, Grandfather, stop blaming them. Nothing's wrong with me; like I said earlier, I just miss you,” I replied, smiling slightly.

Amelia chimed in, “Hey, Gramps, you've forgotten about your second grandchild the moment you saw the first. I'm heartbroken; no one loves me,” she said jokingly, trying to make me laugh . Grandpa playfully rolled his eyes and said, “Oh, Amelia, you're always dramatic.” Amelia grinned mischievously and said, “Hey, someone's got to keep things interesting around here.”

“Okay, let's go and check what I got for you two. Follow me,” Grandpa said, leading us to his room . “This jewelry is yours, Amelia,” Grandpa said, handing her a stunning piece adorned with sparkling gemstones.

The intricate design and craftsmanship of the jewelry were breathtaking, and Amelia's eyes widened with delight. “And this is yours,” he said, giving me a simple yet elegant piece with a subtle shine. My jewelry sparkled in the light, and Amelia's jewelry shone brightly, complementing her style perfectly.

The jewelry was exquisitely crafted, with attention to detail that made it truly special. Amelia's piece featured a beautiful centerpiece, surrounded by delicate filigree and sparkling diamonds.

My piece, on the other hand, was an elegant necklace with a small, shimmering pendant that caught the light. We both gasped in amazement, thrilled with our gifts.

“Grandpa, thank you so much! I love this jewelry,” I said, feeling a surge of gratitude and love . Grandpa smiled, his eyes shining with warmth and affection. “I'm glad you like it, pup. I wanted to get you something special for the celebration.” Amelia nodded in agreement, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “We love it, Grandpa. You're the best.”

“How did you know we'd like this?” I asked, surprised by his thoughtfulness . “How can I not know what you both like?” he replied with a smile, his eyes twinkling with affection.

“As if you knew we'd need jewelry today. We bought clothes, but we didn't see anything that could complement it. This jewelry comes at the right time,” Amelia said, her eyes shining with excitement .

As we admired our jewelry, Grandpa asked, “So, tell me about your day. What did you do while you were out?” I smiled, excited to share my stories and adventures with him. “It was amazing, Grandpa.

We saw so many incredible things. Grandpa's eyes lit up with interest, and I told him about our tour of the Empire, the museum, and the shopping mall . We spent the evening chatting and laughing together, enjoying each other's company and creating warm memories.

After discussing our day, Amelia stood up to leave, excusing herself graciously. “Good night, I'm tired from the tour and really need to lie down on the comfort of my bed,” Amelia said, knowing we needed some private time.

“Davina, can we talk now? What happened?” Grandpa asked, his expression concerned. “Grandpa, I just felt emotional seeing you,” I said, trying to brush it off. “Okay, let's leave that for now. Why did you agree to be that little boy's mate?” he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“Nothing, who wouldn't want to be the queen?” I said with a laugh, trying to downplay the situation. Grandpa's expression remained serious, and he said, “I wouldn't have believed it if someone else said that, but I know you, my child. You've always wanted your destined mate. Did your parents force you? Don't worry about them; I'm always here for you,” he said, his voice filled with warmth and support.

“I know, but maybe it's because I never felt loved or cared for by them that makes me want to do what pleases them and gain their approval,” I said, my voice filled with emotion. “I know, child. I couldn't replace your parents' love, but see it as if your parents were dead,” he said.

“You know, Grandpa, today I feel so much happier than ever. As we explored the empire, I enjoyed every moment. Maybe it's because I've never explored or felt free like this before in the kingdom,” I said. I looked down, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. “I've always felt like I'm not good enough for them, like I'm a disappointment,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. Grandpa's expression softened, and he reached out to gently pat my hand.

“Don't say that, child. You are worthy of love and happiness, no matter what others say.” Grandpa's words brought tears to my eyes, and I felt a sense of gratitude towards him. “I will support you no matter what, and we'll figure this out together,” he said, his voice filled with reassurance. “We have to cancel the mating ritual and let you find your happiness,” Grandpa said, his voice filled with determination.

“I will try. Let's forget about that for now and enjoy our time in the Lycan Empire. When we reach the kingdom, we'll find a solution,” I said, trying to stay positive. “And if I really find my true mate, I should be able to find him at this celebration, since all the races were invited. If I don't see him, then we'll proceed with the mating ritual, and I'll accept it as my fate,” I said, unaware that tomorrow would be the day my life changed forever.

With that, I stood up, ready to leave for my room. “Good night, sweet dreams,” Grandpa said, smiling warmly. I nodded and headed to my room. Tomorrow's celebration might bring unknown challenges and opportunities. I pushed aside my doubts and smiled, feeling a mix of emotions as I drifted off to sleep.