Royal Outcast

Chapter 9

Seri's POV

He had a deep frown etched onto his face, his brows furrowing tightly together as he stared at me intently.

The expression he wore conveyed a sense of displeasure rather than outright anger, yet that did little to alleviate my anxiety. If anything, it intensified my unease—making me feel even smaller and more intimidated under his penetrating gaze.

For reasons I couldn’t fully explain, he exuded an overwhelmingly powerful aura, something nearly suffocating in its intensity. It was as if his very presence commanded submission, making me feel diminutive in comparison, even smaller than I already was.

His hair was jet black, thick, and slightly tousled, which only added to his fierce and untamed appearance. His golden-amber eyes gleamed under the dim light, sharp and unyielding as they scrutinized me. His facial features were strikingly defined—featuring a sharp jawline, high cheekbones, and a strong physique that bespoke immense strength and power.

Just based on his appearance alone, he seemed like the kind of man whom no one would dare to cross.

“I see that you’ve finally decided to wake up,” he stated, his voice sharp and laced with an undertone of restrained frustration. “You wouldn’t dare pull another stunt similar to what you did earlier, would you?” His teeth were clenched as he spoke, adding to the tension in the room.

I swallowed hard, my throat feeling parched and dry.

He was angry.

I could see it in the tightness around his jaw and hear it in the low growl that had crept into his tone. And frankly, I couldn't blame him—my earlier actions must have been quite upsetting.

Especially considering the circumstances.

Especially considering the fact that I was supposed to be his mate.

Me, of all people.

“Your Highness, I’m sure it was just a misunderstanding. I don’t believe our Seri would ever do such a thing on purpose,” Mr. Adams interjected, his voice steady and calm as he attempted to defend me.

Wait… Your Highness?

My breath hitched in my throat.

Did Mr. Adams just refer to this man as ‘Your Highness’? As in… His Highness the Prince?

This man… is the prince?

Before I could fully wrap my mind around that revelation, the prince’s gaze snapped over to Mr. Adams, his golden eyes darkening with displeasure.

“What did you just call her?” he asked, his voice dangerously low. A low, warning growl rumbled deep within his chest as he took a deliberate step forward, causing Mr. Adams to instinctively step back, clearly unnerved.

Just when it seemed the prince was poised to advance further, another man quickly intervened, gripping his shoulder from behind.

“Your Highness.” The man’s voice was firm, stern, and unwavering, cutting through the tension in the air.

Immediately, the prince directed his heated gaze toward him, irritation evident in his expression. His fierce glare could have pierced stone, yet the other man stood his ground, seemingly unfazed by the fury of his ruler.

Seconds of palpable tension passed in silence.

Then, with a sharp exhale, the prince retracted his arm and cast one last intense glance at Mr. Adams before shifting his focus back to me.

“Leave. All of you,” he commanded, his voice resolute and laced with finality. “I will speak with this woman alone.”

A heavy silence enveloped the room, thick with unspoken words.

“But—” Annie attempted to object, but the prince’s piercing glare silenced her before she could even finish her sentence.

Her lips trembled, and her grip on my arm tightened with concern. She looked at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, hesitation etched all over her face.

“Go. I will be fine,” I told her, forcing a small smile in a desperate attempt to reassure her somehow.

“Seri…” she muttered, her voice shaky and filled with worry.

I then turned my gaze to Mr. Adams, who also wore a troubled expression, doubt clouding his features.

“Mr. Adams, please.” I took a deep breath, gathering my composure before continuing, my voice as steady as I could possibly manage. “I do not wish to upset our visitor any further. Please, do as he says. I will be fine. We shall talk again later.”

Mr. Adams hesitated for a moment, clearly wrestling with his thoughts, but ultimately sighed, nodding reluctantly. Gently, he took Annie’s arm and led her away.

As they departed, several uniformed men escorted them out, leaving me alone with the prince and the other man in uniform.

“I said get out, Dillon,” the prince suddenly exclaimed, his tone colder than before, filled with an unmistakable authority.

“With all due respect, Your Highness, I need to stay,” Dillon replied, his voice calm yet firm. “I am required to remain at your side.”

The prince raised one eyebrow, his displeasure clear.

“Do you think I’m joking? That was an order, not a request,” he snapped.

“Yes, I fully understand that, Your Highness,” Dillon responded evenly, not flinching under the prince’s icy glare. “Unfortunately, I have also received higher orders.”

Higher orders?

What type of order could possibly override that of the prince?

The prince’s brows furrowed slightly, confusion flickering across his features as he processed Dillon’s words.

“What order?” he asked, his voice dropping another notch lower. “And on whose authority?”

Dillon remained resolute, his expression unreadable amidst the tension.

“I was instructed to never leave your side under any circumstances, Your Highness,” he explained. “Especially if you are with…” His words trailed off momentarily as he glanced at me before looking back at the prince.

“Especially if you are with your mate.”

My breath caught in my throat at the unexpected declaration.

“This order was made explicitly clear to me by Her Majesty, Queen Liviana herself. She personally contacted me earlier to ensure I would oversee the situation here.”

At the mention of the queen, the prince's jaw tightened, and I could see his teeth grinding slightly. Though he remained silent in response, the tension in his posture spoke volumes.

A few more seconds of silence passed before his piercing, golden eyes met mine once more.

I instinctively moved, slipping out of the bed and kneeling on the floor beside it, my heart racing.

Lowering my head in an act of submission, I spoke with as much sincerity as I could summon.

“I sincerely apologize, Your Highness.” My voice wavered slightly, but I forced myself to continue. “I did not mean to offend or upset you in any way. I have no excuse for the incident that occurred earlier, and I take full responsibility for my actions. Please… do not let the others be affected by this. It was purely my fault, and if punishment is deemed necessary, I should be the only one to face it.”

My heart pounded furiously in my chest, the intensity of the moment causing my breath to come in quick bursts.

Suddenly, I was yanked up by the arm, a gasp escaping my lips as I found myself face-to-face with the prince.

His golden-amber eyes bore into mine, unyielding and sharp, holding me captive in their intensity.

I gulped, quickly lowering my gaze again to avoid further offending him.

“I-I’m s-sorry,” I stuttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

His grip on my arm tightened, causing me to wince slightly under his firm hold.

“Is that all you have to say for yourself, woman?” His voice was a deep growl, low and menacing, reverberating in the charged atmosphere.

I opened my mouth to respond, but words eluded me. I couldn’t find my voice amid my rising panic.

The silence in the room seemed to only fuel his anger further, and his fingers curled around my arm tighter.

“Ow… I am so very sorry, Your Highness,” I whimpered, the discomfort causing my voice to tremble.

“Lucas! That’s enough.” Dillon stepped forward, swiftly gripping the prince’s wrist in a bid to stop him from applying any more pressure.

The prince growled, his eyes flashing with fury as he turned to his subordinate.

“Your Highness, you must calm down,” Dillon urged, keeping his tone steady despite the palpable tension. “This is precisely why Her Majesty ordered me to stand by your side. You are allowing your wolf’s emotions to get the best of you.”

The prince’s jaw clenched tight, but he remained silent, wrestling with his feelings.

Dillon sighed, shooting me a concerned glance before speaking again.

“Lucas.” His voice was quieter this time, imploring. “Look at her.”

The prince’s gaze flickered toward me, and when he did, all I could feel was the weight of his stare pressing down on me like a heavy blanket.

“Look at what you’re doing to her,” Dillon added, his voice firm but compassionate.

I swallowed hard, feeling every inch of my body trembling under his intense scrutiny.

A brief moment of silence passed, stretching out like an eternity.

Finally, at long last, he released me.

My legs betrayed me, giving out beneath me as I collapsed onto the ground, breathless and overwhelmed.

Dillon turned his attention to me, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder in a comforting gesture.

“Ms. Seri…” he said softly.

I couldn't bring myself to look at him, the weight of the moments I’d just experienced resting heavily on my chest.

I just couldn’t seem to face him or anyone else at that moment.

Tears welled in my eyes, threatening to spill over as my body just trembled uncontrollably.

This was an absolute nightmare—one that I knew deep down I couldn't truly wake up from.