Her Chosen Love

Layla's pov

"Come on, Layla. Get dressed. One of the kings will be coming through town in a few minutes," my best friend, Charlotte, said pulling the covers off me.

"Why?" I grumbled trying to take the covers back, but she threw them across the room.

"He is looking for a bride!" Char squealed in my ear as she pounced on my stomach and I groaned under her weight which was a bit exaggerated since she was really small. Rubbing my ears I sat up and she fell to the floor with a thump causing her to glare up at me. I laughed and got up from the bed.

"Why here?" I said looking for an outfit for today.

"Apparently this will be the tenth town that he has visited. He has already visited nine. He sure is looking for someone special." she said in thought still lying on the floor.

"Well who would want to spend forever with someone they don't like?" I picked out a lace white crop top and a pair of high waisted light denim pants and went to the bathroom to get changed.

"Yeah, I suppose you're right." I heard her get of the floor and start walking out the room. "Hurry up, we are going to the place across the street."

"Ok," I yelled so she could hear me.

When I was done getting dressed, I put on light perfume and walked to the kitchen where Charlotte would most likely be. As soon as I walked in she froze like a deer with headlights. In her hand she had a box of cookies and she even had one halfway to her mouth.

"Want a cookie? They are really good." She quickly stuffed a cookie in her mouth and smiled innocently at me. I shook my head and grabbed a water from the fridge. I was able to take a few sips before my hand was grabbed and I was hauled out the door. She pulled me to our favorite café, and that is where we met our other friend, Will.

We have all been friends since we were really young. Will is the oldest out of our group and I am the youngest. Char is exactly in the middle. I love them very much and I am glad they have been with me through my tough times, especially when my brother disappeared two years ago when I was fifteen. He was older than me by five years and I miss his over protectiveness, but I know I will never get to experience that again.

"L, you okay?" Will asked.

"Yeah, I just woke up, so I am still a little out of it." I lied, covering it up with smile. Both of them looked unconvinced, but they fortunately dropped it.

"So do you think he is going to find his special someone here? I mean it could be anybody." Charlotte said, still thinking about the king and the bride he is trying to find.

"Anybody except you." Will wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Oh, I forgot to mention one tiny thing about my friends. Will and Char have been dating for a year and they are honestly the cutest couple ever.

"Awwwww." I smirked as they pulled apart both with blushes across their faces and glared at me. I shrugged and ordered a strawberry banana smoothie as I waited for the king's limo to come through town.

As humans we have to listen to the two kings. The only thing that we know is that one was a vampire and the other was a werewolf and everyone worshiped them because they stopped the huge war between the two species. Now as gratitude us humans serve them in any way.

I have heard that over the past few months there has been a resistance building against the kings, but I don't think they could do much. I mean what are they thinking going against vampires and werewolves? They must have a death wish. I personally am not scared of them, but I still wouldn't want to go against one. If they don't bother me, I won't bother them.

Suddenly I was brought out of my thoughts as my phone started ringing. I looked at the name and sighed. I told Char and Will I will be outside and headed to the alley outside the little café.

"Hey, mom," I said when I answered.

"Hey sweetie. I heard the king is going to your town for a bride." She sure doesn't waste time I couldn't help thinking. "You're dressed nice, right?"

"Mom, for the last time I am not going to have a guy anytime soon. You know I am trying to focus on school." I tried to keep my irritation from showing, but I knew I didn't succeed when I heard her sigh from across the line. It is just that she has been wanting me to get in a relationship for a while now and I am getting tired of it, especially when she tries to set me up with random people.

"I know, but you need to think of the future. Who is going to help you?" I felt bad for snapping at her when I heard the concern in her voice.

"I understand your fears, but that is why I an getting an education. I want a good job, so I don't have to depend on anybody." This time I was able to keep my voice lighter than it had been earlier.

"Okay," she said sounding skeptical.

"If you need help call me or your father. We will always be here for you."

"I know, mom, and I love you both for that."

"I love you too, sweetie." From the background I hear a crash and then my mom curse. "Layla, I have to go. I am babysitting again."

"Ok, tell dad I love him." I said slightly disappointed. I only get to speak to her on very few occasions, and even then it is only for a few minutes. After Liam (my brother) went missing, our family was practically torn apart. When I was still living with my parents, I knew it hurt looking at me because I reminded them too much of him, so as soon as I had a steady job and enough money, I left.

"I will and I love you."

"I love you too, mom," I said before hanging up. I tucked my phone into my back pocket but before I made it to the corner, I was slammed against the wall. I looked up to see a pair of red eyes staring down at me. I tried to push the man off, but he would not budge.

He didn't say a word as he pinned my arms to my side and lowered his face to mine. With a wide grin he licked the side of my face and when he pulled back I caught a sight of his fangs. I doubled my attempt to escape, but I knew I could not escape a vampire. A tear escaped my eye as he lowered his head to my neck.

Adrian's pov

Today has already been a horrible day. It is almost noon and I have already visited two towns before this one since six this morning. I am just ready to find her. I looked through the vampire covens already, but when I didn't find her there, I gave up.

I really did want to find her, but if she was human, how would she feel about me? Even now I am dealing with rebels trying to take the throne for themselves, and I didn't know what I would do if she was one of them.

So far each town I have girls have basically thrown themselves at me, and to be honest, it turned my stomach. They had makeup caked on their faces and they looked absolutely horrific. The girls that wanted to look tan appeared orange and the girls that wanted to look pale looked like clowns. Even now I shivered thinking about them. I really need to stop getting out the car.

I was now riding in the town next on my list. It looked like a good place. Fortunately, it was small so going down just a few roads would give me my answer of if she was here or not. I had my sun roof open so if any indication that my mate was here, I would know immediately.

Just when I was was about to give up on ever finding her in this town, I smelt the most amazing scent in the world. It was a mixture of citrus, strawberries, and chocolate. As my heart started racing, I knew what the smell was, and even just by the smell of her, I was nervous.

I ordered the driver to stop and I immediately stepped out. I was near a café, so I looked in the window. The place looked cozy, but I was not interested in that right now. I could tell she went in, but to my disappointment I could also tell she walked out, so I followed her scent. I was hoping she didn't go to far. I didn't want to lose her.

I followed the scent to an alley beside the building and when I turned go enter it, I noticed two things. The first was that she was beautiful. She had golden hair that shined despite being in the dark alley, and her small frame made me already very protective of her. The second thing I noticed was that there was a man pinning her to the wall, and I automatically knew he was a vampire.

Anger surged through me as I saw a tear leave her eye. No makes my mate cry. Without thinking I rushed at the man and saved my world, just as he brought his head to her neck.