Claimed by the Alpha, Desired by His Warrior

5: Someone Innocent

CALISTO

“Mmm.” I groaned, reaching across the bed in search of the familiar warmth beside me. The moment my hand met nothing but empty sheets, my eyes snapped open. “Mirea?”

Silence answered me, and a knot immediately formed in my stomach. After all, the sheets were cool beneath my fingertips, which meant she had been gone for quite some time.

Realizing it, I quickly sat up and rubbed a hand over my face, trying to push away the unease creeping into my chest. But the more I thought about it, the more restless I became.

What if she ran away?

The possibility alone was enough to make me throw the blanket aside. Then, I got out of bed, grabbed my coat, and strode out of the room.

“Mirea!” My voice echoed through the corridor as I searched every corner I passed.

“Find the Crown Princess,” I ordered through the mind link without slowing down. “Search the castle grounds.”

“Did you see Mirea?” I asked as soon as I reached downstairs, causing the maids to exchange uneasy glances.

“W-we saw her go outside, Your Highnes—”

The words barely left their mouths before I was outside, only to hear Nathalia screaming. As a result, my head snapped toward the pond, and I rushed in that direction with the warriors falling in behind me.

“What happened?” I demanded, my eyes darting from the commotion to Nathalia, and I froze. She was soaked to the bone, her hair plastered to her face, tears streaming down her cheeks, and she was shaking so hard I could see it from several feet away.

Without thinking, I shrugged off my coat and wrapped it around her shoulders, trying to shield her from the night air.

“What’s wrong? Why are you drenched?” My hands found her cheeks before I even realized, and I tried to steady her, to warm her, desperate for an answer.

I even barely noticed my wife, standing there. After all, my attention was entirely on Nathalia’s distress.

“She fell on her own,” Mirea spoke, her voice flat, causing me to turn to her. “I don’t know what’s wrong with her. She approached me and—”

“That’s not true.” Nathalia’s voice was small and shaking, barely a whisper, but it cut through everything. It pained my heart that she looked like she might collapse. “I mean, I indeed approached Her Highness, b-but that was because I wanted to apologize.”

Her breaths came in short, ragged gasps. “I… didn’t mean harm, I swear. Still, I think I offended her. So, I don’t blame her for p-pushing me. I deserved it.”

The words spilled out with her tears. She then clung to my shirt, as if it was the only thing keeping her upright, and for a moment I just held her, stunned by how fragile she seemed.

Slowly, I glanced at Mirea, searching her face for something—anger, hurt, or the will to explain her side, anything that would tell me what she was truly thinking. However, she just stood there like the elegant princess she was, her expression calm and unreadable.

Honestly, she had been like this ever since I took Nathalia as my mistress. And I hated it.

I hated how she told me she was fine with it, that she supported me, yet her actions constantly suggested otherwise. One moment, she claimed she held no resentment, and the next, she would act as though I were someone she could barely tolerate.

And now this... She was starting to harass a close friend of mine. Someone innocent.

“How could you do that? I thought we’d moved past this,” I managed, my voice thick with frustration. “She hadn’t done anything wrong, so why do you have to take your anger out on her and do something so cruel?”

“I have already explained everything, haven’t I? I even apologized,” I added as I let out a breath, looking at Nathalia when she tugged at my shirt. With that, I scooped her into my arms since it was clear she couldn’t stand much longer.

“We’ll talk about this tomorrow. Go back to our room and sleep. I’ll stay with her tonight,” I said, looking at Mirea.

Just then, her lips parted, like she wanted to say something, but I was already turning away, focusing on Arkin as he waited near the warriors and servants.

“Escort my wife, and guard outside. Don’t let her go anywhere,” I ordered, and he nodded sharply, understanding the weight behind my words.

And just like that, the tension snapped. I dismissed everyone and instructed them to return to their duties. The crowd then slowly dispersed, though not before casting uneasy glances in our direction.

Meanwhile, Nathalia continued trembling in my arms, her tears soaking into my shirt as she buried her face against my chest.

As I carried her toward the manor, I never once looked back.

The entire walk passed in silence except for the occasional shaky breath escaping Nathalia’s lips. By the time we reached inside, her trembling had lessened, but she still looked pale.

“Prepare a warm tub in the guest room, where she was staying the night,” I ordered the servants, and they quickly followed.

“I’m sorry, Cali,” Nathalia whispered brokenly. “I didn’t mean to cause trouble.”

A fresh wave of guilt washed over me, causing me to tighten my hold on her and gently stroke her damp hair.

“Don’t apologize,” I said quietly. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“If anything, it’s me who should apologize,” I added as I went upstairs. “I upset my wife, and I was the reason why she decided to take out her frustration on you.”

“No, it’s not your fault,” she muttered while sniffling. “Since you already slept with me, maybe I should distance myself… So, the crown princess won’t be upset agai—”

“Don’t say that.” I interrupted, opening the door of the guest room and placing her on the sofa. Not long after, the maids entered and prepared the bath for her.

“I’ve known you since we were kids, and I promised that I would protect you when I asked you to be my mistress.” I crouched down in front of her and touched her cheek, hoping that I could warm them at least.

If only Mirea weren’t having such a difficult time conceiving, none of this would have happened.

The thought surfaced before I could stop it.

When the council first suggested that I take a mistress, I had rejected the idea immediately because the mere thought of another woman occupying a place in my life felt wrong.

After all, I loved Mirea, I truly did. From the instant I laid eyes on her, she had captured my heart. And I knew I won her heart, too.

At that time, I couldn’t imagine sharing my bed, my attention, or my future with anyone else. So, for months, I argued with the council. I ignored their concerns, their warnings, and endless reminders about duty, succession, and the stability of the kingdom.

As long as I had her, I didn’t care. But the years continued to pass; one year became two, and two became three. And still, there was no heir.

The pressure only grew heavier until they suggested that I take Nathalia as my mistress. A woman I had known since childhood, someone whose family had served the crown loyally for generations, and someone who understood the responsibilities that came with the throne.

If I absolutely had to choose another woman, there was no one I would have trusted more than Nathalia. So, in the end, I agreed.

“Cali?” I snapped out of my thoughts when Nathalia called me. I blinked, not realizing that I had been lost in thought.

“Yes?” I asked, my voice soft.

“I’m cold,” she whispered, her cheek pressed into my palm, seeking warmth. When her hazel eyes lifted to meet mine, something inside me snagged.

I was suddenly reminded of how beautiful she looked beneath me earlier. The way she looked at me, like my touch was the only thing in the world she wanted, as if it brought her the greatest pleasure.

It was a warmth so at odds with Mirea’s reactions. After all, the past few weeks, she was always wincing, eyelids pinched as if my hands were instruments of torture, not affection.

But Nathalia? Just one night with her and it was like she stitched my ego back together. For the first time in a while, I stopped wondering if I was the problem.

“Come here,” I said, settling beside her and pulling her close.

At that moment, the thought of wanting to mate with her crossed my mind, persistent and impossible to ignore.