Chapter 4

"If you used to live here, why did you leave?" Amethysta inquired, her gaze fixed on Isaias, who carried an air of solemnity.

"It's our fate, Princess," Isaias sighed heavily, as though weighed down by a dark history. This revelation left Amethysta feeling a mix of pity and unease, prompting her to create a bit of distance between them. She couldn't deny that she didn't quite trust this man, despite the captivating aura he exuded.

"Why do you keep calling me Princess? That night, you called me Angel, and now it's Princess?" Amethysta questioned, her confusion evident. Isaias chuckled, finding amusement in her innocence.

"Because you are a princess," Isaias stated, causing Amethysta's cheeks to flush. She shook her head, trying to dismiss the flattery. However, their conversation was interrupted by Isaias' phone ringing.

"Excuse me, Princess," Isaias said, excusing himself as his phone rang. Amethysta nodded in acknowledgment, and he moved a few steps away to answer the call, having a brief conversation before returning to her side.

"I'm sorry, Princess, but I have to go now. Let's meet another day," Isaias apologized, preparing to leave.

"Mr. Icarus, here's your coat," Amethysta said, taking off the coat he had lent her and returning it to him. He smiled and accepted it, casually draping it over his shoulder.

"Your pheromones smell good, Princess. See you later," Isaias commented with a sly grin, causing Amethysta to flinch. She knew that it wasn't her natural pheromones he was referring to, but the artificial ones created by her father. As Isaias walked away, she exhaled deeply, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion.

"He startled me. I was worried he'd discovered something. But why's he using different names for me? It's puzzling," she thought, gently rubbing her hands together as she walked towards the venue.

"Sweetie, where'd you disappear to? I looked everywhere for you," Patrick, her dad, said, showing his concern when he saw her.

"Just needed a breather, Dad," Amethysta replied, trying to ease his worries.

"Okay, let's head back. The party's almost over."

"What about Eira and Mateo?" Amethysta asked, scanning the area for the couple.

"They're nowhere to be seen. Probably having a private chat. Let's go; otherwise, we'll be late. You've got college tomorrow, right?" Patrick confirmed. Amethysta nodded, and both father and daughter left the venue. It was their engagement party, yet they seemed to have disappeared mysteriously. She pushed those thoughts away, following her father and forgetting the chaos that had occurred moments earlier.

Patrick drove them home, and Amethysta sat in the front passenger seat. As the confined space filled with a faint hint of attraction, Patrick furrowed his brow.

"Where did you wander off to? Did you run into any alphas?" Patrick inquired, prompting Amethysta's eyes to widen. How could she forget that her father was also a werewolf? She nervously swallowed.

"I just took a stroll by the lake for some fresh air. I came back to the venue when you found me," Amethysta replied, trying to hide her recent encounter.

"What? You went to that lake?" Patrick's voice quivered for a moment.

"Yeah, any issue with that? It's just a lake," Amethysta innocently responded.

"It's not just any lake. It's a source of nightmares for many parents in our pack. Please, don't go there again," Patrick explained, causing Amethysta to gasp.

"Why didn't you warn me earlier? I wouldn't have gone near it. Just thinking about it now gives me the creeps," she exclaimed, realizing the gravity of her actions.

"I'm telling you now, right? So, stay away from there," Patrick insisted, and Amethysta nodded repeatedly, feeling regretful for her ignorance.

"And be cautious around alphas. They mustn't find out you're human, not a werewolf. Those artificial pheromones won't fool them if they have even the slightest suspicion about your scent," Patrick cautioned.

"Alright, Dad," Amethysta stammered, keeping the truth about her encounter with the mixed-blooded alpha hidden. With a confused mind, she headed to her room once they arrived home.

The next day brought a fresh start. Patrick dropped Amethysta off at college, and she found Eira already waiting, appearing disheveled.

"What happened to you? Why are you limping?" Amethysta asked with concern as they walked towards their class.

"You traitor... how could you abandon me with him?" Eira complained, her voice tinged with irritation.

"He's your fiancé. I couldn't just stay there," Amethysta retorted as they settled into their respective seats.

"So, how was last night?" Amethysta playfully wiggled her eyebrows. Eira's face lit up, and she leaned in closer.

"Damn... it was crazy... he's an absolute beast in bed. You know, no one has satisfied me like he did. I almost fainted after four rounds," Eira raved, her eyes filled with desire.

"I never thought I'd hear you giving someone props for their bedroom skills. I've decided to keep him as my boy toy. He knows how to please," Eira exclaimed excitedly, causing their classmates to shoot disapproving glances their way. Amethysta covered her mouth with her palm, offering an awkward smile to their peers.

"Keep it down, Eira... they might get the wrong idea," Amethysta cautioned, rolling her eyes at her friend's explicit comments.

"I don't care if it's him. Honestly, I'm head over heels," Eira declared, nearly shouting, unaware of the discomfort their conversation was causing. Amethysta sighed, attempting to steer the conversation in a different direction.

"You said something else when he paid no attention to you... Scoffs..." Amethysta rolled her eyes irritably.

"Forget about that. That was in the past, and now he's completely into me. I'm more than content," Eira gushed, already lost in her daydreams about her fiancé. The class started, putting an end to their conversation.

During the lecture, Amethysta whispered, catching Eira's attention, “I saw him again.”

"Who?" Eira inquired.

"Mr. Icarus... The bar guy who was my date for dare..." Amethysta was cut off as Eira exclaimed in surprise.

"The fuck?!" She exclaimed.

"Eira!"

The professor called out her name, and Eira rose from her seat slowly.

"Out of my class," he pointed to the door. Eira awkwardly left the classroom, taking her time. Soon, her friend joined her.

"What are you doing here?" Amethysta asked.

"How on earth did you end up here? Did you do something to tick him off?" Eira countered.

"I left my phone on. Since I didn't put it on silent, I received a bunch of notifications that annoyed him. He kicked me out," Amethysta giggled.

"You're a troublemaker..." Both of them headed to the canteen. Amethysta glanced at her phone, and once again, it chimed with a message from Icarus. She swallowed nervously and walked away.

After her father's warning, she felt apprehensive about talking to any male, even if they were beta males. What if they figured out she wasn't a werewolf?

"Tell me, how did the meeting with him go? Did he do anything strange?" Eira asked.

"No, nothing like that. He just gave me his coat because it was chilly by the lake," Amethysta explained.

"Wait, you went to that lake?" Amethysta nodded, and Eira's eyes widened in shock. Since childhood, that lake had been the source of numerous nightmares due to the terrifying stories circulating in the territory.