The Vampire's werewolf mate

Chapter 14

A Crown, A Bride... and My Mate

Lucien's POV

I was already seated in the dining hall when the rest of the royal family arrived.

Father sat at the head of the table, Mother beside him, Serena happily chatting away. The werewolf royals entered shortly after.

Then...

The doors opened again.

Lyra.

For a moment, everything else disappeared.

Her silver hair flowed freely over her shoulders, framing her face perfectly. The morning sunlight spilling through the windows made it shimmer.

She looked...

Beautiful.

No.

She looked breathtaking.

I found myself staring without realizing it.

She eventually looked up at me.

Our eyes met.

My chest tightened.

"What's wrong with you, i***t?" I scolded myself.

She quickly looked away, and I forced myself to do the same.

The rest of breakfast was painfully quiet. The adults discussed politics while Aria and Marcus whispered to each other, occasionally laughing.

Then the servants brought dessert.

The moment the lid was lifted from the tray...

I saw Lyra's eyes sparkle.

Chocolate cake.

Aria laughed beside her.

"I knew you'd be happy."

I watched as Lyra happily took a bite... then another... then another.

Within minutes, she had almost finished the entire slice.

I had to bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing.

She was...

Cute.

Before I knew it, breakfast had ended.

Lyra stood and quietly left the dining hall.

This was my chance.

I excused myself and followed her.

---

The door to her room was already open.

She was standing in the middle of the room.

"Hey, Princess."

She turned immediately.

"What are you doing here?"

I stepped inside.

She quickly raised both hands.

"Stop."

I stopped.

"You know..."

"This is a lady's room."

"You could've at least knocked."

I glanced back at the door.

"It was already open."

She rolled her eyes.

"What do you want?"

I took a slow breath.

"I came to apologize."

Her expression softened just a little.

"I'm sorry for last night."

"I shouldn't have teased you."

"I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

For a few seconds, she simply looked at me.

Then she smiled faintly.

"I forgive you."

A strange feeling of relief washed over me.

Then something caught my attention.

A tiny smear of chocolate rested at the corner of her lips.

I couldn't help smiling.

I stepped closer.

"W-what are you doing?"

She tried to step back, but I gently brushed my thumb across the corner of her lips, wiping away the chocolate.

I held up my thumb.

"Chocolate."

"You really don't eat like a princess."

She looked at my thumb before bursting into laughter.

Without warning, she grabbed my hand and rubbed the chocolate onto my cheek.

"There."

"Now we're even."

I blinked.

Then...

I laughed.

A real laugh.

It was the first time I'd heard her laugh like that.

It was... beautiful.

For those few moments, there were no kingdoms.

No war.

No responsibilities.

Just the two of us.

Then reality returned.

In just a few hours...

I was supposed to marry Valeria.

The thought ruined everything.

Lyra's smile slowly faded too.

"I think... you should leave now."

I wanted to stay.

I really did.

But she was right.

She was my guest.

And I needed to respect her wishes.

"...Alright."

I turned and walked out of her room.

As I made my way back down the hallway, I realized something.

I was smiling.

I quickly wiped the smile from my face.

"Get a hold of yourself, Lucien."

Then I stopped.

Someone was standing in the middle of the hallway.

Valeria.

Her arms were crossed as she watched me carefully.

The smile disappeared from my face instantly.

"Why do you look so happy, Lucien?" she asked.

I said nothing and continued walking.

She stepped in front of me, blocking my path.

"We're getting married in a few hours."

"The least you could do is speak to me."

I slowly lowered my eyes to the hand gripping my arm.

Then I looked back at her.

My expression was cold enough to make her release me immediately.

Without saying a single word...

I walked past her.

I didn't have the patience for this.

Not today.

---

Valeria's POV

I watched from across the table as Lucien stared at Princess Lyra.

He wasn't even trying to hide it.

I quietly continued eating, though my appetite had completely disappeared.

I was the woman he was supposed to marry.

So why...

Why couldn't he look at me like that?

I leaned closer to Lilith, who was seated beside me.

"Just look at that," I whispered.

Lilith discreetly glanced toward Lucien before looking back at me.

"V... there's definitely something going on between those two."

I frowned.

"They've barely known each other."

"They only met during the alliance meeting."

"What could've happened between then and now?"

My gaze drifted back to Lyra.

The werewolf princess was happily eating her chocolate cake without the slightest concern for etiquette.

I nearly scoffed.

"Honestly..."

"Does she have no manners at all?"

Lilith chuckled softly.

"I don't think she cares."

"No," I replied coldly.

"She doesn't."

I watched Lucien again.

He wasn't looking at the cake.

He was watching...

Her.

My jaw tightened.

That werewolf doesn't know what she's's getting herself into if she thinks she can take what's mine.

---

Once breakfast ended, Lyra excused herself and left the dining hall.

Only a few moments later...

Lucien stood and followed her.

I froze.

"What?"

I immediately turned to Lilith.

"Go back to our room."

She looked confused but nodded.

"Of course."

The moment she disappeared, I quietly followed Lucien through the palace corridors.

I watched him stop outside Lyra's room.

Then...

He walked inside.

My eyes widened.

"What the..."

Carefully, I moved closer and stood beside the slightly open door.

Their voices drifted into the hallway.

Then...

I heard Lyra laugh.

A genuine, carefree laugh.

Moments later...

Lucien laughed too.

I had never heard that laugh before.

Not once.

Not with me.

My nails dug into my palms.

---

A few minutes later, Lucien stepped out of the room.

He was...

Smiling.

Actually smiling.

The moment his eyes met mine, the smile vanished.

His face became cold again.

He tried to walk past me.

I reached out and grabbed his arm.

"We're getting married in a few hours."

"The least you could do is speak to me."

His eyes slowly lowered to my hand gripping his arm.

Then he looked back at me.

That single cold stare...

Was enough.

I let go immediately.

Without saying a word...

He walked away.

I stared after him until he disappeared around the corner.

My chest burned with anger.

"Argh!"

I slammed my hand against the nearby wall.

"That werewolf girl..."

I clenched my fists.

"She needs to be put in her place."

With one final glare toward the hallway...

I turned and walked back to my room.

But one thing was certain.

Princess Lyra Nightfang had just become my greatest enemy.