The Lycan Prince's Forbidden Omega

Chapter 5

Ash

Kael and Luca were still talking by the time we made it back to the chambers. Mostly, it was Luca talking while Kael ignored him.

My wolf had gotten louder.

The heat suppressants must have dulled everything else, because now I could finally hear him clearly. Not just feelings. Not just instincts. Words.

Mate. Mate. Mate.

I walked faster, trying to outrun the voice in my own head.

How was that even possible? Why would the Moon Goddess play such a cruel joke on me? She'd given me the one thing I'd always wanted—the one thing that was supposed to be mine—only for him to get betrothed right in front of my eyes.

He's a prince. What are you?

No. Please, not now.

That's why he hasn't said anything yet. He will reject you.

The room came into view and I quickly got inside, making my way to the bed. The fur blanket was still rumpled from this morning. Did I even deserve to sleep in the prince's chambers? Maybe he'd send me to the servant quarters before disposing of me, like his father had said.

I climbed onto the mattress and pulled the blanket up until it covered half my face.

Luca and Kael stood at the door, staring at me like I'd grown a second head. But Kael's gaze was different. Worry, maybe. I couldn't quite place it.

"Oh, looks like the little wolf got frightened," Luca said, grinning. "Look, he's even shaking. Guess your father still got it, huh?"

"Get out." Kael's voice came through clenched teeth.

"Aw, why? I wanna play with the wolf a little longer."

"Luca."

"Ooh, getting possessive already, are we?" Luca nudged Kael, who responded by kicking him toward the door. Luca ran out laughing, his cackle echoing down the corridor.

Kael smiled as he watched him go.

I stared.

This was the first time I'd seen him smile. A real smile. Not the cold curve of his mouth in the throne room. Not the tight press of his lips when his father spoke. Just... a smile. Like he was human. Like he was capable of joy.

And the more I looked at him, the more I realized he was breathtaking. I'd never seen beauty like this. All the wolves in my pack couldn't hold a candle to this man. Even the few Lycans I'd seen in the palace couldn't compare.

His smile shifted.

Into a smirk.

My face flamed. He'd caught me. Ogling him like some kind of—

He walked toward me. Slow. Deliberate. Like a predator approaching prey. Which, in this situation, fit.

"I'm sorry," I blurted out.

His steps faltered. The smirk vanished. When he continued toward me, his walk was different. Less predatory. Careful.

He sat down on the edge of the bed. Right next to me. And my body didn't flinch. Didn't tense. Didn't brace for a blow.

Instead, I wanted him closer. I wanted to push my face into his neck and inhale that intoxicating pine and sandalwood scent until I couldn't smell anything else.

I bit my lower lip. Hard.

What is wrong with me?

"Why are you apologizing?" he asked. "You haven't done anything wrong."

"Well, saving me seems to have brought you trouble." I looked down at my hands, now fidgeting with the fur blanket. Still abusing my lip. "Your father wants to execute me. You're being forced to marry someone you don't want. The court thinks you've lost your mind. All because you found me at the border."

His hand touched my cheek.

I froze.

His thumb brushed across my lower lip, gently tugging it free from my teeth. My eyes lifted—and found his. They were shining. A hint of red flickering in those grey depths. His gaze dropped to my mouth and stayed there.

"Don't do that," he said.

It wasn't a request. It was a growl.

Then he shot up like he'd been electrocuted, putting distance between us.

I should have stayed quiet. I should have let him walk away. But the words were already climbing up my throat.

"Yo-you feel it too, r-right?" I blurted. "I'm n-not crazy. I'm not losing my mind."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Why had I said that? Why couldn't I just keep my mouth shut? So what if he didn't want me? No one had ever wanted me, and I'd always been fine. Always survived. Always—

So why did the thought of this stranger—this prince I barely knew—not wanting me hurt more than all the abuse I'd suffered over eighteen years?

My face burned with shame. For the first time in my life, I wished I could cry. But crying wasn't something I knew how to do. Maybe that was for the best. Tears wouldn't change anything. They never had.

The bed dipped.

Then arms wrapped around me.

His scent hit me all at once—pine and sandalwood, suffocating and drowning and pulling me under all at the same time. I hadn't even realized I'd been shaking until he pressed his palm flat against my back, steadying me.

My body relaxed against my will.

"I feel it too," he said quietly.

I went still.

"I feel it too," he repeated. "You're not crazy. You're not losing your mind."

"But—"

"Everything is going to be okay."

"A-are you going to reject me?"

The question slipped out before I could stop it. Small. Terrified. Pathetic.

Kael pulled back just enough to look at me. His hand came up to cup my jaw, tilting my face toward his.

"I would never do anything to hurt you," he said. "Do you understand? Never."

"But you just got betrothed—"

"That wasn't my choice. And it's not going to happen."

"How do you know?"

"Because I won't let it." His thumb stroked across my cheekbone. "I don't want Lady Roxanne. I don't want a political marriage. I want—"

He stopped himself. Swallowed. His eyes flickered red again.

"I want you safe," he finished. "That's enough for now."

It wasn't a declaration. It wasn't I want you. But it was something. Something I didn't know how to hold.

He pressed his lips to my forehead. Soft. Brief. So gentle I almost didn't feel it.

When he pulled back, my face was on fire.

The door banged open.

"Food delivery for the little wolf—" Luca stopped mid-sentence. His eyes darted from Kael's hands on my face to my expression to the way we were sitting on the bed together. His grin spread slowly. "—although it looks like he wants to eat something else."

I blushed from my neck to the tips of my ears.

"Get out," Kael said.

"I just got here!"

"Luca."

"Fine, fine." Luca set a tray down on the table. "But before I go—this arrived at the border gate."

He pulled a folded letter from his pocket and tossed it to Kael.

Kael caught it one-handed. His expression darkened as he read.

"What?" I asked.

He didn't answer. His jaw was tight.

"Kael?"

He handed me the letter.

My eyes scanned the words. The formal script. The seal of my old pack pressed into wax at the bottom.

A wolf matching the description of a fugitive from our territory crossed into Lycan lands three days ago. We request permission to enter and search for this individual, as he is wanted for crimes against the future Alpha of the Silverpine Pack.

My hands started shaking.

They're here. They've come for me.