Chapter 46

Soren

“If I were to even think about this,” Celia states, “I will need time to think. It’s my life too. I deserve to have a say.”

My mouth goes dry at her words. I blink and am unable to do anything else, my body frozen in time, my response nothing but confusion and disappointment. I bring myself to nod and swipe my tongue over my teeth, the bitter taste of her rejection hitting me harder than it should have.

“Is that what you want? What you need?” I ask the question with supreme caution, not wanting my words to be mixed up or framed differently than what I intend them to represent.

If Celia needs time, I will give her time. If Celia requires space, I will give her all of the space she needs.

I know the error of my ways, the mistakes that I have made when it has come to my fated mate, but I will make sure that she knows that I am here now, even if the points she made earlier are completely valid and true.

“Yes, Soren,” Celia tilts her head to the side. I watch as she swallows a yawn, forcing it away even though it wanted so desperately to escape. “I need time to think.”

“Okay,” I nod my head and stand from the chair.

Her eyes follow mine, hanging onto every move I make as if she is afraid I will turn on her like Bianca and other Lycan nobles are sure to do. The thought of this hurts, yes, but I can understand where she is coming from with her concerns and paranoia.

“Take all of the time you need, Celia, I will be here waiting for you,” my eyes flicker to her.

She slowly nods and pulls the blanket closer to her body. It acts like a shield to protect herself from me, the world, and anyone who wishes to harm her now that she has been identified as the missing Lycan princess.

I sigh and slightly bow my head at her, wanting to show my respects for her new title as the leader of another notable and established pack. Turning on my heel, I swivel around and exit the lakeside villa.

To my right stands Lily, who immediately moves to the door. I stop her once she tries to pass, resting a hand on her shoulder. She looks up at me and gulps.

“She’s in pain. Take care of her,” I calmly say.

Without another word, I continue my departure from the lakeside villa and walk towards the dock where the Lycan Duke awaits me. He sits inside the boat, arms crossed over his chest with two Lycan soldiers standing beside him. I guess one can never be too sure about who and who not to trust.

As soon as he recognizes me from the distance, he stands and bows, watching me with a close eye as I effortlessly walk onto the boat. It tips and dips under my weight, small ripples bringing a small amount of chaos to the calm water.

“Your Majesty,” he greets as if we did not just speak with each other five minutes ago.

“Your Highness,” I bow my head and turn to the driver, giving him a quick nod as the boat comes to life, the engine humming from the back of the boat. “You wish to speak to me some more?”

“Of course,” the Duke smiles. I do not know if it is one of pure amusement by our situation or if there are any ulterior motives behind his actions and words. “I wanted to ask you about your engagement to Bianca.”

“That is over,” I sharply say, my eyes snapping onto his with a narrow glare. “It has been severed the moment she humiliated Celia and then tried to kill her.”

I look away from him. Silence fills in the space between us. The sun hangs halfway in the dusk sky, dark blues and purples beginning to flood the pinks and oranges from the bright sunset.

One could say that it is symbolic of my time with Bianca, our relationship coming to an end just as the day dies down. She has broken so many people’s trust, including my own, and I cannot wait to see her be shipped off and out of my pack. Maybe with her exit from the pack, Celia will be more open to talking with me about our future together, if there is one.

“Bianca and I never were officially married. She never said her vows, so I will be sending her back into Lycan care. You can punish her however you see fit, I do not care for her anymore nor do I wish to see her face ever again,” I spit the words out of my mouth and to the sunset, glaring at the vibrant colors that paint the sky.

The Duke chuckles next to me. It’s one of a smoker’s, crackly and wheezy. I can’t help but smile at the sound, finding the humor in my anger alongside with him.

“A spiteful king is never a good one,” the Duke comments, “I know that from experience. But we will take her from your hands, that will be no problem.”

Silence befalls us once again.

I know what he is about to say next and it pains me to have to reject his words so soon and so cold. Although Celia claims she needs time to think about the possibility of us coming together as fated mates, I know that she will be more inclined to run away due to our past. It is an ugly truth that only I wish to share with her, no one else.

“The marriage. The alliance,’ the Duke’s words ring inside my ears. I hold back a grimace, a shudder, and close my eyes as he speaks. “What will come of the alliance between the Lycans and Werewolves?”

“I wish to remain peaceful with your pack, if that is what you are asking,” I respond. The boat hits a few waves, gently rocking back and forth as the spray from the lake spreads out from the boat, causing gentle ripples in the distance.

“Celia is an option for marriage,” he continues, “she is a Lycan woman of nobility.”

“She just got her title,” I turn to look at him, a frown spreading across my face, “are you already so willing to let go of the princess you just got back, my Lord? Were you not just rejoining of her return?”

“We were, yes,” the Duke lets out a quiet sigh and turns away from me, staring into the sunset. “She will be in danger no matter what if she returns home with us. She knows nothing about our life and culture like she knows with yours. It may be best for her to stay in a familiar place instead of being forced into the lions den.”

His concerns make sense. Celia would be out of place with the Lycan pack, repeating the life she lived as a nobody from inside the Werewolf pack, my pack. This may be the best option for her…

“I respect the princess and I want her to be able to make the choice for herself,” I place my hand on the Duke’s shoulder. “She has to be the one to make the choice, not me. I will accept her if she says yes but I will not force her to stay if she chooses to leave.”

“I understand, Your Grace,” the Duke nods.

The boat comes to a slow stop and the men are quick to tie it to the dock. I let the Duke leave first, hanging behind as I turn around, looking into the direction of the lake house, wondering what must be going through Celia’s mind right now.