Rejected, Now An Untouchable Lycan Princess

All I Need

Samantha’s pov

He held my hand the whole two-hour ride to the airport. I looked at him as he guided me towards the private jet my parents had sent. His calculating eyes peered through the crowd while partly shielding me with his body. Despite the guards doing a marvelous job, he acted like a personal guard.

While gazing deeply into my face, he extended his hand for me as he boarded the jet. My heart skipped a beat. His large brown eyes sparkled like two studs of gold. Was that adoration I noticed on his face? A gentle smile was curled on his lips. He was often kind and gentle with me, but that was the first time I noticed that look on his face.

His apparent excitement and the sweet gestures reminded me of what Ana told me roughly around a year ago. She thought he had a thing for me. I denied it back then. I was wrong. Maybe we were meant to be together, despite not being soulmates.

I let him hold my hand and lead me to my seat. I always loved the attention I got whenever he was around, and I had been taking it for granted the whole time. Even after taking our seats, I couldn’t stop glancing at him. I tried being careful not to be too obvious.

He leaned towards me, his forehead wrinkled slightly. “Would you like a drink?”

Smiling politely, I shook my head. He relaxed and leaned against his seat.

I sucked in a breath. How could I have been so blind? Axel surely cared about me, and perhaps he had feelings for me too. Why else would he be so excited about the news of us getting married? As the flight progressed, I kept checking his features. I never denied he was handsome. His dirty blond waves, unblemished skin and chiseled face had always kept the girls talking about him. Regardless, he was a royal and hence unapproachable. So the girls dared not flirt, although some girls tried to catch his interest in the most respectful way possible.

Nothing worked. He stayed single until he got into a relationship with me in high school and remained single after we broke up. I thought he was looking for his soulmate, but after seeing his reaction, I feel he was just waiting for me.

“Are you sure you need nothing? I see you keep peering this way,” Axel said.

I offered a smile and reached out to hold his hand. His eyes widened with obvious astonishment at first, but soon his face lit up with pure delight.

“I have everything I need right here.”

***

Mom and dad were ecstatic to see me. They had so many questions about my experience in the Black Hunters. They even wanted to speak with Luna, and I allowed her to take over my body momentarily.

I didn’t mind. Luna had been confined for quite some time, and she deserved to get out. She blocked me out of their conversation, which, thankfully, didn’t last too long. By the time I regained the control of my body, mom, dad and Axel were staring at me with strange expressions on their faces.

“What? Did Luna complain about being unable to stretch her legs for a long time?” I asked them, chuckling. Not being able to go for runs was the only complaint she had whenever I returned home during the college holidays. I couldn’t let her out and keep my identity hidden. My golden Lycan was kept a secret for several reasons. I wasn’t just a royal princess. A golden Lycan emerged once every century. We could become exceptional leaders or be usurped. Each time the miscreants tried to misuse our powers, their families took special measures to ensure we were safe until we reached adulthood. I just didn’t want to be used for the wrong reasons.

Mom pursed her lips, and my dad cleared his throat. “Yes, she did. You should go for a run, but remember, don’t wander off too far away from the palace.”

“Axel should go with her,” mom said, her eyes darting towards him. “You can go, right?”

He nodded his head. “Accompanying her would be my pleasure.”

I always loved playing tag with him during childhood. However, after he shifted when he turned eighteen, we didn’t get to do that.

“Tag! You’re it!” I screamed and dashed into the woods. Giggling like a schoolgirl, I skillfully weaved through the trees. I knew he was hot on my heels, but I didn’t realise he had shifted to his Lycan until I glimpsed his large black Lycan from the corner of my eye. A squeal escaped my throat as I barely dodged him. Laughing, I quickly morphed into my golden Lycan.

Our beasts also seemed to enjoy it as much as we did. The game we played that day was different from the usual game of tag. This time his beast would pin Luna against tree trunks whenever he caught up, and each time she would create an illusion–perks of being a golden Lycan–forcing him to let go.

I enjoyed it.

“Let’s shift back.”

I heard Axel’s mind link as we reached the base of a waterfall.

“Okay,” I said, and morphed back to my human form.

He panted and leaned against a rock. “Next time, you may not use your powers against me, Missy.”

I chuckled and rested my body against the large boulder. “You couldn’t catch me,” I teased him.

He snickered. “We will see about that. You can’t escape once you are my wife.”

My lips parted as I glanced at him. His wife. That sounded… strange… in a good way. I quickly pressed my lips together to hide the smile curling on my lips.

“We can always create an illusion… eeee!” A squeal escaped my lips when he grabbed my hand and caged me between him and the boulder.

My chest heaved as I looked into his face. My heart raced. His face was mere inches away from mine. We shared a couple of kisses when we got into a relationship back in high school, but we were so young back then. Being this close to him was making me feel weird things.

“Now you wouldn’t do that, would you, pretty lady? If you do, how are we going to create pups?”

I blinked. For once, I was speechless. I mean… what was I supposed to say to that?

He chuckled. When I didn’t move or respond, he tilted his head, slowly tracing my cheek with his knuckles. His smirk slowly faded as he studied my face. Was he trying to memorise my features? What was he doing?

My heart pounded in my chest. His fresh musky scent seemed alluring for the first time, and there was so much love in his eyes. My lips parted, and a breath escaped my lips. Despite feeling so many things all at once, I couldn’t utter a word.

“You are so pretty,” he said, as he made eye contact with me. “You always were.”

My head seemed to spin, and I soon realised that his scent was pulling me into a trance. But I didn’t want to step away. I liked whatever was happening… or about to happen. My chest heaved.

“Axel…” I breathed out.

I thought he would do something, but he stepped back and offered an archaic smile. My heart thumped in my chest like crazy.

“Let’s go back. We have had nothing to eat yet.”

With my mouth hanging open, I stared at him. This man… despite not being my soulmate, created a storm of emotions for me.

His smile changed into a smirk as he used his index finger to close my mouth. “Aren’t you hungry, princess?”

I inhaled a deep breath. “Axel…”

He raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”

“What…” I had to take another deep breath before continuing. “You don’t get to call me your wife, talk about pups, and then address me formally.”

His smirk widened. “So what would you prefer I call you?”

I studied his face. There was something about him that made my heart race. Maybe it was the new gestures. Or maybe that naughty little smirk that complemented his facial features so well. Whatever it was, it was really messing with my head.

I shook my head. If only shaking my head would help clear my head. “Anything… just not princess. We are getting married, right? And you are the prince of the North. Would you like me to call you prince?”

He chuckled and shook his head, his gaze still lingering on me.

“Well, let’s just go back. I am hungry.”

***

Lunch was rather uneventful. Other than my heart racing each time our gazes met, nothing happened. I went to my room. The maids had already filled the tub with warm water and added all the essential oils I loved in the water. After stripping my clothes, I stepped into the lukewarm bath and relaxed.

“You should have asked him if he was in love with you.” Luna spoke. I winced.

“That isn’t appropriate,” I said.

“Why not? Don’t you remember the way he was looking at you? He seems to be totally in love,” she said.

I bit my bottom lip. “But… we can’t ask him that… he will tell when he is ready.”

“I guess. You are to get married soon, anyway. I bet your wedding will be announced within this year. And you also seem to be falling for him.”

I laughed. “Nope, I'm not.”

My Lycan was speaking nonsense.

“Uh huh,” she said.

I raised a brow. “He's nice… I don't mind falling for him, especially since we're getting married.”

“Yeah… but you are falling. I just know it.”

Luna retracted to the back of my head, leaving me pondering over her words.

As the days went by, discussions about our formal engagement began. Our parents wanted it to be big, involving all the packs of both kingdoms. I, on the other hand, didn't want to make a fuss over it. But our marriage ceremony could be as big as they wanted it to be.

Axel seemed to agree with me. In the end we invited our family members and close friends. That included Lina, of course.

I didn't know how she would react to the news of my engagement to Axel. It would be a huge thing. I was getting engaged to their crown Prince and this invitation would reveal my true identity.