The Desert Wolf and His Princess

Chapter 8: The Library

Zara

The room felt like it was holding its breath. The tension between us was thick, almost suffocating. I had just offered myself up—like a lamb to the s*******r—to a man who had every reason to hate my family. But weirdly, he looked like he was the one being trapped.

Silence stretched, heavy and uncertain, like something delicate that could snap any second. I waited, heart pounding, for Eric’s response.

“No,” he said at last, his voice steady but uneasy. “I don’t need or want a wife.”

His words hit harder than I expected. His tone... it didn’t sound like anger, more like discomfort. Like the idea genuinely unsettled him.

“I’m not asking you to love me,” I replied, trying to sound unaffected, even though his refusal stung more than I wanted to admit. “Chosen mates aren’t exactly unheard of in our world. This would be just that—an alliance. A strategic move. A marriage of convenience.”

His eyes narrowed a touch, a flicker of interest breaking through his guarded expression. “And why exactly would I agree to something like that?” he asked, voice laced with quiet skepticism.

“Because Ajax’s position is shaky,” I said, steadying my tone. “Marrying me is his only shot at securing the throne. He has no real support in Amethyst Hills. The people don’t trust him, and he’s never made an effort to earn their loyalty. To him, power is about taking, not leading—and they know it.”

Eric gave a dry, sharp laugh. “And you think I care about people who’ve spent the last two generations bowing to a thief’s bloodline?” His words cut, aimed to wound.

“What?” I asked, still trying to process what I’d just heard.

“I don’t care,” he said flatly. “And even if I did, marrying you would be a ridiculous way of proving it.”

I sucked in a breath, frustration flaring beneath my ribs. “This isn’t about whether you care,” I snapped, trying to keep my voice even. “It’s about protecting your claim—just like Ajax is trying to do with his. This isn’t a love match, Eric. It's a strategic one. It’s leverage. For both of us.”

The silence between us stretched, thick and tense.

“I get it,” I continued, softer now. “Trust isn’t exactly something we’re swimming in, and with everything our families have done to each other, it’d be naive to expect otherwise. But this marriage—it gives us something solid to stand on. It buys us time. Influence. A shot at fixing things, maybe. We don’t have to like each other. We just have to agree that the alternative is worse.”

I paused, my voice low but urgent. “Eric, we don’t have time. The longer we wait, the worse this gets—for both of us. This marriage might not be ideal, but it gives you a clear path forward. A chance to reclaim your place. To protect the people who still believe in you.”

I held his gaze, trying not to let my desperation show. “I didn’t come all this way just to be dismissed. The people are counting on someone to stand up for them. Ajax—he can’t be allowed to take everything.”

“I don’t care about Ajax,” he said sharply. “And I don’t care about you. I’ll reclaim my throne when I’m ready.”

That broke something in me. “And when will that be, Eric? When there’s no one left to rule? When the land is barren and the people have nothing but fear and ashes?”

His eyes flared with anger. “And whose fault is that?” he fired back.

I flinched, his words landing like a slap. “I’ve already apologized for my family,” I said, my voice tight. “I won’t do it again.”

“Get out,” he snapped, his tone cold and final. He looked down at me like I was nothing. It didn’t help that I had to tilt my head just to meet his glare. Rude, arrogant, beautiful monster.

“Excuse me?” I asked, stunned by the sudden dismissal.

“You heard me. This library is my sanctuary. You've just tainted it with politics and desperation. I have nothing more to say to you.”

And then, from behind me, came that grating, nasal voice. “Are you hard of hearing?”

I turned slowly, already knowing who it was. Lana. Of course.

“Are you talking to me?” I asked, forcing calm into my voice.

“Oh, she is hard of hearing,” she said with a smirk. “How tragic.”

“This was a private conversation,” I said, cutting her off and turning back to Eric. “Does everyone in the desert tribe lack basic manners, or is it just your inner circle?”

Lana cut in again, clearly pleased with herself. “Just so we’re clear, I wasn’t eavesdropping. I just happened to walk by and heard Eric telling you to leave. A phrase you clearly don’t understand.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, relieved she hadn’t caught the entirety of our exchange. Or at least, she pretended she hadn’t. Somehow, I doubted she’d pass up the chance to gloat if she had.

Before I could fire back, Eric’s voice cut through the room like a blade. “That’s enough. Out. Both of you.”

Lana whined, “But Eric—”

“Not now, Lana,” he snapped without looking at her.

“What did I do?” she pouted, sounding like a spoiled child. “She’s the one you’re mad at, not me.”

Eric ignored her, already moving toward the bookshelves. He replaced the volumes he had pulled, calm and collected, before heading to the door. His tone was cold when he spoke again. “Since you won’t leave, I will.”

Lana froze mid-smirk, clearly not expecting to be dismissed so abruptly. I couldn’t help the small smirk that crept onto my own face.

“I’m sorry, Eric. Wait!” she called after him, scrambling to follow.

I stared after them, a little stunned. Were they… a thing? That insufferable, arrogant werewolf actually had a fan?

“Oh, Goddess,” I muttered, smacking my forehead in frustration as I turned and made my way back to my room. Just what I needed—feelings I didn’t ask for and a potential rival I hadn’t anticipated.