Chapter Three: Finally, A Solution

DAMIEN

Taking her into my room was the only way I could think of to make her feel somewhat safe. I could see the wariness in her eyes, the way she stiffened with every step we took through the palace halls. I gestured for her to sit once we arrived, but she stayed standing, her arms wrapped tightly around herself like she was wary of me.

That wouldn’t be a first. Considering how my reputation has gotten to places I haven’t, this has become a normal thing to me. And I liked it, it stroked my ego, knowing that whenever men older than me stand before me, they sometimes quake in fear since they’ve heard all that I’m capable of.

Right now, I was curious of what she has heard about me.

“Would you like something to drink?” I decided to ask, keeping my voice soft. I didn’t want to frighten her any more than she already seemed.

She shook her head, jaw squared. “No, thank you.”

There was tension in the air between us. I could see it in the way her eyes darted around the room, as if she were looking for an escape, even though she wasn’t trying to run anymore. It was... endearing, in a way. Cute, even.  

She shifted uncomfortably under my gaze and finally spoke, her voice laced with unease. “Are you going to reject me now?”

The question took me by surprise. I blinked, my brow furrowing as I looked at her. “Why are you so fixated on that? You think I’m going to reject you?” I asked, taking a step closer, though I kept my distance.

“Aren’t you?” she shot back, meeting my eyes with a defiance that almost masked the fear beneath. “Everyone else has.”

I shook my head slowly, taking in her words. “I’m not everyone else.”

She laughed, a dry, humourless sound. “Sure. Right.”

I crossed my arms, watching her as she began pacing the room, her hands running through her hair in agitation. “I’m serious,” I told her. “I’m not going to reject you.”

She stopped pacing, turning to look at me with wide, sceptical eyes. 

I tilted my head, curious. “What you are? Why were you trying to flee?”

She hesitated, then started pacing again. “I’m a freak. Wolfless. You’re a prince. You shouldn’t be with someone like me.”

Her words hit me hard, and then I tilted my head sideways.

“How are you even wolfless though?” I asked, watching her pace. “You have a scent. Wolfless people just like rogues aren’t supposed to have scents.”

She stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes widening in surprise. “What?”

I took a step closer, careful not to crowd her. “I can smell you. It’s faint, but it’s there and it’s flowery and citrus.”

Her awe was evident. “I’ve never heard that before. No one’s ever said I had a scent.”

“I don’t even know what to think. My initial plan was to escape from this cruel pack where rogues were treated like animals.” She admitted and I shrugged a little.

She wasn’t wrong. My father ruled with an iron fist, one which I plan to correct as soon as I get made king. I was certain that wasn’t gonna please my elder brothers, since they had the same mindset as our father.

Too bad I ended up being the one who’d inherit the throne.  

“You don’t have to run anymore,” I finally breathe out, my voice firm. “You’re my fated mate now.”

She looked away, biting her lip. “I don’t know if I can believe that.”

“I’m serious,” I said, stepping closer until I was standing right in front of her. “You’re mine. I’m not going to reject you, and I’m not going to let you go.”

She seemed to take that in, though I could still see the doubt in her eyes. “But why? There has to be a reason.”

Her question took me by surprise, but I didn’t hesitate in my answer. “Because you’re not a freak. You’re my mate.”

She stared at me, her eyes searching mine again, as if trying to find the lie. But there wasn’t one. I meant every word.

I watched her, her face filled with confusion and doubt. She was waiting for me to explain, to give her a reason why I wasn’t turning her away like everyone else had. But the truth? The truth was far more complicated than she could imagine. I wasn’t rejecting her because I couldn’t afford to. And not just because of some sense of duty or fate—but because of the curse.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “You’re not a freak,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “I don’t have a reason to reject you.”

It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the full truth either. The real reason was something I hadn’t shared with anyone—not even my brothers. How could I? My father had made the mistake of crossing a powerful witch, and I was the one who paid the price. I’d been cursed. Not just any curse, either. I was a hybrid, a creature caught between wolf and something darker. And the only way to survive was to find my fated mate before my twenty-first birthday.

Weeks. I had weeks left. I’d searched for her for years, believing at times that she didn’t even exist. I’d grown numb to the idea that I might actually live past this cursed deadline. But here she was.

And I wasn’t about to lose her now.

“Anyways I can’t stay here though. I have to return home for something important.” She has once again resumed pacing.

“Home? Where are you from anyway?” I asked but she waved me off. 

“That doesn’t matter, but I can’t stay here. Seriously, I feel floored that you’re willing to accept me as your mate, and I’d have stayed back on a normal day. But now I have to return home. Urgently.” 

The desperation was clear in her voice and I instantly wanted to ask her what was wrong because the worried and bleak look in her eyes right now was strangely doing weird things in my chest.

Before either of us could say anything else, there was a loud knock on the door, interrupting the tense moment. I cursed under my breath. 

“Stay here,” I muttered as I turned toward the door.

When I opened it, Rylan, my older cousin, stood there with his usual smirk. Before I could even greet him, he shoved past me like he always did, acting like he owned the place. I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my temper in check. Now wasn’t the time for his antics.

“Rylan, what do you want?” I asked, irritation creeping into my voice.

He ignored me, his eyes already on the girl standing behind me. I watched as his expression shifted from amusement to confusion, and then to something else. His eyes widened, darting between me and her like he was trying to piece something together.

“Who’s this?” he asked, his usual teasing tone gone. He sounded genuinely confused.

“This is my mate,” I said simply, waiting for the inevitable reaction.

His jaw dropped, eyes snapping back to her as if he hadn’t heard me right. “Your mate?” He sounded incredulous. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

I stepped forward, standing between him and her, already tired of his reaction. “I’m not kidding,” I said, keeping my voice calm despite the anger bubbling beneath the surface. “I’ve been searching for her for years.”

Rylan looked at her again.

“Do you know her?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

He didn’t answer right away, his mouth opening and closing like he was trying to find the right words. Finally, after a long, awkward pause, he spoke. “This... This is the girl I told you about.”

I frowned, confused. “What do you mean?”

“Damien,” he started, his voice low, “this is the freak I told you about, which we had a laugh over, remember? The one who came to me a few days ago, proposing marriage like she thought I’d ever say yes to a freak like her.”