I Rejected My Mate, The Prince

Chapter 7

**Cone’s POV**

“I can't handle these damn expectations," I mutter under my breath, my frustration palpable.

A prince isn't supposed to love or marry anyone but his true mate. A prince isn't supposed to cheat. A prince has to be loyal to his mate. A prince has to... damn it! I mentally pause, struggling to articulate the overwhelming pressure I feel. It's so effing tiring to put up with all these expectations. The rules in this damn Kingdom can make anyone go batshit berserk.

I take a moment to gather my thoughts, reflecting on my situation. I should be happy that I found my mate, even though she turned out to be a lowly omega in her pack. I should be glad that I've gotten married; I'm one step ahead of my brother Corrigan, the crown prince who is still unmated and unmarried.

Sapphire is the love of my life, but she's not my mate.

That's the problem.

The council now respects me for being complete, for finding my other half who completes me, and for respecting the rules by marrying my mate immediately after I found her. However, my true feelings have emerge, revealing my dissatisfaction with her. I am neither happy nor satisfied. I was disappointed with her, and I still am. She's beautiful but weak and too naive, too timid and unsophisticated. A complete opposite of Sapphire, the kind of woman I want. The kind of woman I expected.

I let out a sigh, my frustration evident. I could've dumped Sapphire if my mate had turned out to be someone of my taste, not a naive eighteen-year-old who doesn't even know how to please a man. Her home training sucks! A pity that no one taught her well. That's why I don't romance her. I just take what I need, put my seed in her to quickly get her pregnant. I need her to give me an heir—only then will I feel assured that I stand a chance against Corrigan. I have to become the crown prince.

Sapphire lies on her bed, her curly blonde hair strewn across the pillow, framing her hot lips. I'm tempted to kiss her, but our strained relationship holds me back.

"Sapphire, love, we need to talk," I call out to her, trying to mend our damaged connection.

However, her anger flares, and she remains silent. Finally, she lashes out, "Go away, Cone! Don't f***ing touch me!"

I can't help but find her irresistible when she's angry. "Love, please listen to me."

"Don't call me that!" She throws a punch, which I narrowly dodge. "After you f***ed with another woman, you don't f***ing come here calling me your lover. I'm no more your lover."

I feign innocence, trying to defend myself. "Who told you I did?"

"I'm not stupid, Cone!"

She's right. She's far from stupid, as opposed to my mate. Sapphire is well-informed, thanks to her sources within the palace. I should have been more discreet during our first night together.

"Look, it wasn't what you imagined," I explain hastily. "I did what I had to do to get her pregnant because I desperately need an heir to challenge Corrigan. Besides, she was so clumsy and naive. I didn't even enjoy it."

Sapphire responds with a glare. "Oh?" She arches an eyebrow, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "So is that why you're here? Because you need the fire, and you need me to finish what you started with her?"

I attempt to ease the tension. "No, listen, love. I came because I have a plan in mind. There might be a way for us to be together."

Sapphire, still wary, continues. "I don't want to hear it," she snaps.

I insist, "Before you make judgments, just f***ing listen to me, damn it!" My frustration is evident; Sapphire may be special, but I have a low tolerance for nonsense.

She relents, her tone becoming calmer. "How does your plan go? You're right; I should at least listen to the plan."

"Good for her," I think to myself. "I'm going to make her leave the palace on her own immediately after she gives birth. She's too weak to bear the psychological torture I'm putting her through. You know what that means, don't you?"

Sapphire nods, her voice quieter. "If she leaves the palace, it means the council will no longer consider her the princess. She'll become history, and you'll have a chance to choose another mate."

I smirk, admiring her intelligence. "You're such a smart woman. That's why I can never let go of you, Sapphire. We're going to be together. Just have faith in me and trust me. Give me time to plan and make this happen."

She contemplates my proposal for a moment. "I'll wait for you," she agrees, and my heart leaps at her words. "But on one condition."

I raise an eyebrow, curious. "Which is?"

"You will not f*** the girl once she gets pregnant," she asserts. "And you'll come here to see me every other day."

"That's two conditions," I point out, just in case she hasn't realized it yet. "It's not easy for me to come here all the time now that I’m married. The palace guards are everywhere, and the council has eyes and ears everywhere."

"Are you saying you won't be able to do that for me?" She challenges.

"I can't. It's too unrealistic," I admit. "Unless you want me to fill you up with empty promises."

"Fine, just forget it then. How about the second condition? Your silence doesn't mean you'll continue to f*** the girl even after she gets pregnant, does it?"

"Of course not!" I retort, surprised by her new, stern tone. "I'm not—I'm... oh f*** it, Sapphire," I laugh, my irritation momentarily giving way to amusement. "You make me speechless. I can't believe you have the power to turn me into a bumbling mess."

Sapphire glares at me with a harsh, feral intensity that sends shivers down my spine. She's not one to be trifled with, especially when she's angry.

"I promise you I won't do anything beyond what I need to do to get her pregnant. I'll control my heat for you," I confidently assure her, a smirk playing on my lips.

Inside my head, my Lycan wolf, Rick, snarls vehemently. 'Well, I won't!' he declares fiercely. 'I will make you feel the scorching heat until you lose control for our Mate! I warned you not to continue cheating on our Mate and treating her badly! I warned you that you'd come to love her when her bitchy she-wolf starts talking to her! You're hurting a sacred bond, you dimwit pea brain!'

I mentally roll my eyes. 'Shut the fvck up, Rick!' I snap back at my inner wolf. He's seriously irritating me with all this loyalty charade. I can't believe he seriously likes our weak mate, Clarissa, and has been angry with me for punishing her stupidity.

'Shut the fvck up, i***t! Get me out, and I'll tear off the neck of that your Sapphire bit.ch!'

I choose to ignore him. Just because he hates Sapphire doesn't give him the right to dictate my actions. I move my hand to playfully stroke Sapphire's cheek, but she smacks my hand away. My trousers grow uncomfortably tight.

"Please, I need you, love," I smirk, my voice low and seductive.

"Just go away, Cone!" she retorts sharply.

"I'm going nowhere." With deliberate ease, I remove my shirt and quickly straddle her on the bed, catching her off guard. A soft chuckle escapes her lips as I do so. "See that? Listen to yourself," I tease. "I know you want me. You missed me too, don't you?"

"Oh, I fvcking do," she admits, her frustration and desire mingling in her words. "Come here, give me those lips, I need a bite." She curses, and the way she talks sends a surge of desire through me.

Without further ado, I lean down to kiss her, and she eagerly meets my lips. As we kiss passionately, I feel my heart race, and my breathing grows ragged. I'm about to lose control. My Sapphire is the only one who can do this kind of thing to me. I still don't fully understand why the moon goddess didn't want us to be together, but I'm determined to change that soon.

'You're cheating on our Mate! Hurting a sacred bond!' Rick's relentless snarling continues inside my head, but I stubbornly ignore the voice of my inner wolf. He needs to swallow his pride and grow up. The so-called sacred bond means nothing to me; I only need an heir from Clarissa to defeat Corrigan and secure my claim to the throne.