Mate I never wanted

Identity of Vivian's puppy I

Vivian

I stared at him, barely able to breath as my chest got tighter and tighter as panic started to set in my chest.

He knew… he knew Lucien's identity. I was right when I guessed that he recognized him back at the last mission.

What do I do now?

How do I stop him from spreading this information to the rest of the world?

“Umm… who? I have…”

With an unpressed and maybe even annoyed look on his face he stopped me.

“Stop, we both know that your little puppy is the Ninth prince, the Emperor's only son. Even if I did not see how he looked, I checked the recordings and power reading from the first mission. The trainer wrote of the instability in his power reading as just some technical issues, but we both know that it's not some system glitch. There is no reader that can capture his real power levels."

I averted my eyes and said nothing, refusing to agree with him, even if he was completely correct.

"Come on, Vivian, tell me how the hell you managed to snatch him up? No one in the capital has seen him since he was a baby. Other than the few military officials he was working with, no one else had the permission to set eyes on him."

No longer could I avoid this, I had to make a quick decision. I just hope that I will make the right ones.

"What do you want so you would keep this quiet?"

A wicked smile slipped into his face as he realized that he was right. Now I knew that he was playing me and I fell for his trap, he guesses and I gave him the answer he needed.

His eyes slowly traveled down my body and I realized what he was implying, and a sickening feeling rose in my chest.

"NO... no... no s****l favors. I can't... he would know, and you had seen how protective he is of me."

He released the breath he was holding as he rolled his eyes.

"Fine, if s*x is off the table, I will take the second-best thing."

"And that would be?"

"Money."

Okay... money I can do...

"How much?'

"Five million."

I choked on my own spit. Was he for real? Five million... that is way too much... but I can't just let him uncover Lucien's real identity.

Panick filled me as I tried to force myself to breathe. This is so bad.

If anyone figured out the truth about us, both of our lives would be over.

There is only one real choice here.

Quickly in my mind I ran over the number and I have around that amount on my account at the moment, but it would leave me without a coin to my name. I will have to sell more of my sketches to make ends meet, but will have to wait until I return to the academy.

I straightened my back and met his eyes.

"Fine. The money will reach your account on the day that we return to the academy."

Mathew looked me over once again. I could feel his eyes lingering on my body as he was clearly disappointed a bit about the missed chance of s****l favors, but he nodded at the end.

"Okay, but if you don't deliver, I will post the truth on all the social media accounts I have and we both know how fast news like that would travel."

My stomach turned and I nodded.

"Don't worry, I will make sure that you get your money. Now do not dare to tell anyone any of this. If I hear anyone talking about it, or even mentioning the prince's name in my presence, I will hold you accountable."

To make my point stick, I took one more step in his direction.

"And I will make you pay for it. I'm sure you know that it is a bad idea to make me an enemy, especially because then I won't have anything to lose, and I will make you regret even looking in my direction."

My last words sounded like a real threat, and it was more like a growl than anything else. The idea of him hurting my silver-haired fox made my inside turn in ways that scared me a bit, but I ignored it for now.

It was clear that he got what I meant because he swallowed heavily as he stepped aside with a scared look on his face. He gave me a small nod and walked out of the room, leaving me alone in this random dorm room.

The second the doors closed after him, I felt a wave of exhaustion hit me...

I was so tired and done with all of this.

The test, trailing, working so close with Lucien and now this.

I was so done with all this s**t. It feels like I had been unable to breathe for what felt like ages... hell I think this all has been going on since Margaret returned.

Standing there, I gave myself a moment to just breathe and gather my thoughts. At this point, I had no idea what else could go wrong.

After a few moments of standing with my eyes closed, I knew that I had to leave the room before whoever lived here returned.

Slowly I walked out of the room and the moment I stepped out I ran straight into a familiar chest.

"Vivian, what were you doing in my room?"

James's voice forced me to look up, and I met with the confused look on his face.

Great... really great... just what I need today.

The confused look on his face changed as he added.

"If you are here to bed for me to take you back, I already told you that I am with Margaret now, and I could never take you back after you cheated on me with that puppy."

Frustrated, I brushed my hand-over myself to contain the rage that was brewing deep inside of me.

"James, under no circumstances I would beg you for anything. Not even if I was dying of thirst, and you had the last cup of water, not for help and definitely not to take me back. I would better float myself into outer space then be with you ever again. Now move out of my way before I remove you."

Shocked by the harshness of my words, he stepped away and let me walk.

Frustration was building up in my chest with every step I took. My mind was turning on angry thoughts and I could barely hold them in. My sour tired mood became darker and darker with every step I took.

To make this even worse, I saw that by the door of my room stood Lucien. His eyes still dark, but his scent a lot lighter than before, which meant that he only had a few more hours of his heat left probably. Which was an advantage and a curse at the same time. Because of sure I would not have to deal with heat brain Lucien, but it meant that the ninth prince would be back and that was not a promise of a good experience.

"DARLING."

He shouted the moment I stepped into the corridor and he saw me. Instantly he came running in my direction. Before I could stop him, he had his hands wrapped around me with his face buried in my neck.

"Darling, I missed you so much. Where have you been for so long? I have been waiting for you here for an eternity."

He leaned in and sniffed my hair and I felt his body change next to mine.

"Why the hell do you smell like that wolf and someone else?"

He took another deep breath and his nose lingered on my throat.

"Is that the ape? What the hell have you been doing with the ape?... and is that the other wolf pup that I smell on you?"

Feeling even more tired and defeated, I did not have the energy for this s**t. Instead, I just stepped back and walked into my room, only dreaming of showers and bed.

To no surprise, he followed me back into the room.

Frustrated, sad and so exhausted, I just started getting unready to go to bed.