Hate or Love

Out of His Nature

Estelle ran to her room, letting the tears flow down freely only after she had closed the door behind. She rested her back on the cold surface of the stone wall, wiping her lips with the back of her hands furiously, as if she would remove any trace of the kiss from there if she did so.

But she couldn't. It couldn't vanish. The feeling at least, couldn't.

She was still panting hard, and her heart was still pounding crazily inside of her. Did it always feel that nice, kissing your mate?

No, no it didn't feel nice. It had felt way more than that, it felt overwhelming. Possessive. Heart-stopping.

Angrily, she wiped on her lips again, until they started hurting. How could she leave herself get carried away? Get jealous? Let him kiss her? And even melt into his kiss like a weak pathetic little girl that couldn't resist him no matter how much she told him and herself otherwise?

She had been so, so ready to devour his mouth just like he was devouring hers. To wrap her arms around his neck and give in to him, just like every fiber of her being wanted her to. But thank God she had stopped.

She hated him. Him, his face and his mouth too.

He was so frustrating.

If this was a game to him, she was going to win. No doubt she would, she was not some kind of trophy for him to win at the end just so his arrogant nature could be satisfied.

Estelle was more than this. She was a Princess. The most loved Princess. The last thing she was going to do was disappoint her people and the last memory she had from her father.

This was not some sort of game, not for her at least.

Estelle hated him. And not only in two weeks, but Victor couldn't change this even in two centuries if he tried.

                                       ***

Victor stared at the red liquid inside his crystal glass as if he could figure the secrets of their world inside of there. When in fact all he wanted to figure were the secrets inside her heart.

He couldn't stop thinking about the kiss. Their very first kiss, which he had basically stolen for her.

But Estelle had been so close, so so close to giving into him and he had felt it. He had felt the way she had opened her mouth for just a second, as if she wanted him to possess her. And by God, he hadn't wanted something more than this before.

However, Victor knew he had been mistaken to think she would fall for him easily. And against his better judgment, he was almost happy she hadn't. She deserved better than some game of cat and mouse. She deserved for him to try and get to know her for who she was, and this was what he planning to do.

Taking the glass in his hand again, he decided to go out in the balcony and take some fresh air. He had to find a way to approach his mate again. She hadn't walked out of her room since yesterday, and every minute that passed, was against his favor.

All thoughts left his mind when his eyes caught her, down at the courtyard. And she wasn't alone. "Bloody David," he cursed under his breath when he watched one of his Privy Council members, the youngest one, keep Estelle company.

He wasn't only keeping her company though, he was clearly entertaining her. Victor didn't need to hear her voice to realize she was giggling to something David was saying.

Had Victor ever made her laugh? The realization hit him hard.

Estelle leaned on his arm, laughing with her hand on her lips, obviously in a flirty way.

He walked inside, and only when he saw the pieces of glass and the wine on the floor, he realized he had smashed the glass on the wall. "Bloody David," he cursed again, thinking of a million ways to ruin the other man.

How dared he? When he knew she was his King's mate, how dared him obviously show his interest on her?

Victor didn't think, he only walked outside, trying his very best to hide how furious he felt. She didn't even turn to look at him, although it was clear she could sense his presence by the way her shoulders tensed.

His mate was winning on his own game and Victor wanted to punch someone for it. That someone being the man in front of him.

"Your Majesty." David made a little bow, clearly not bothered to had been caught in all the drama. It was obvious he liked Estelle too much for it.

"Lord David." Victor smiled in an almost cruel way, turning his gaze on Estelle who was looking at him, upset, her lips pouted. "I don't think I'm bothering you two, am I?"

David smiled too, out of courtesy. "Of course not, my King."

Estelle didn't realize when her mate wrapped one arm around her waist, flushing her to his body almost possessively. It was so out of his nature. Victor was cold and controlled, never once he let emotions appear on his face.

Except now.

He looked angry.

Struggling to get out of his grip, she tried yet smiling awkwardly, somehow trying to make all this better.

"You look beautiful today, little wolf. I watched you from the balcony and I was... amazed."

Her eyes widened in surprise at using the stupid endearment in front of another man. If he had came here to embarrass her, he was most definitely succeeding.

However, she noticed the way he mentioned the balcony. For a fact, Estelle knew he wasn't referring to her look today; he was referring to her and Lord David together.

"Thank you," she hissed sarcastically between gritted teeth, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Excuse me, my King, I think I should go," Lord David interrupted their staring competition.

"You don't have to―"

"Yes, I think you should go." Victor didn't even hide the order tone of his voice. "But thank you for keeping my mate company when I wasn't here, of course I appreciate it."

Estelle gasped, finally getting away from his firm arm as soon as David was gone. "I hate you," she said, maybe for the millionth time already.

"Really? One of my goddamn lords?" Victor asked, his hands fisted on the sides. "David?!" He chuckled, bitterly. As if only the idea of her and David had started eating him from inside already.

Estelle wanted to smile. Something about making him lose control was beautiful, she wanted to see it more often.

"David is great," she stated, crossing her arms on her chest.

"Now, is he?" One of his brows arched upwards. "Because I think I know exactly why you were under my balcony with him."

She chewed on her lip, looking away, frustrated of being caught. "The world doesn't revolve around you, Victor."

His blue eyes darkened, and suddenly, his fingers gripped her chin, forcing her eyes on him. "Say it again," he demanded in a low, deep voice.

Shivers ran down her spine. "Say what again?" She asked, suddenly, the defiant on her voice all gone. It took just his touch and his voice for her to feel weak all over.

"My name. You had never said it before, I love it how it sounds when it comes from your lips."

Estelle gulped. "Victor, why would I do what you say―" She stopped, realizing she had already done so. Why was it becoming so natural for his name to leave her lips like that?

The triumphal grin on his face was annoying, but breathtaking. "Dinner. Come for dinner tonight; you didn't last night." It was the first time his voice was soft, almost pleading as his eyes searched for answers inside of hers.

It was the hardest of things for Estelle to shove his hand away, and not feel his thumb stroking her cheek anymore.

"No." She shook her head, convincing herself more than him, turning his back to him so she could leave as fast as she could. "No, I won't."

"Estelle." Victor sighed. "It is so damn hard with you. It's just a dinner. Your favorite food. Just one hour. Talking like civilized people and you can go on with hating me as much as you want afterwards."

She closed her eyes, cursing herself for being that weak to him. "Fine," she simply said, finally managing to walk away.