Chapter 16

I freeze. I’m not even sure why it was my instinct to compare Prince Kaine to Robert. The words had left my mouth without thinking.

I wait for the prince’s response waiting for a harsher rebuke at having used his name in such a manner, but he simply looks at me and says, “Robert is the son of an alpha noble. You’d be better off not provoking him.”

I try not to roll my eyes at this. “I have nothing to say to him,” I reply calmly. “He’s the one who started it.”

Prince Kaine looks surprised, “You two know each other?”

It would be of know use to lie so I go with the truth. “He’s my former mate.”

Prince Kaine’s expression is unreadable for a moment before he frowns, “Let’s hope that won’t interfere with your work. Though… you two clearly weren’t a good match.”

My face heats at the prince’s words. I know that I am not an ideal mate for anyone, but for the prince to say it so blatantly makes my blood boil. I fight to keep my temper in check as I respond to the prince’s words.

I take a steadying breath before replying. “Don’t worry, Your Highness. I know my place. I’m here to do my duty, nothing more.” I reply, my tone cold.

The prince’s expression shifts to something unreadable as he regards me, and I can’t help but wonder what he’s thinking. “Since you think your current assignments are not enough, I’ll give you something new.”

I don’t say anything and simply look at Prince Kaine expectantly, waiting for him to continue. “You are to accompany your sister to her luna training sessions.”

“What? Absolutely not,” I blurt out, shocked. “I am member of the guard, not a lady in waiting. Besides, I have never been good at those bridal courses.”

Prince Kaine raises an eyebrow at my outburst, but instead of chiding me simply explains. “My luna training isn’t about housework or flower arranging. It’s about real training—how to manage a pack, how to lead. Practical skills. The kind a true Luna would have.”

I can’t help but be taken aback at the prince’s words. Growing up, there had been separate schools for male and female members of the pack. I had always resented the classes on homemaking we had been forced to take, even going so far as to sneak into the boy’s school once.

The prince’s words strike a chord and hold a strange familiarity. They almost sound like something I would say. A luna should know how to lead.

Despite this, I pause. I know my sister and she is not going to take this training seriously. My presence will only make things worse.

“With a due respect, Your Highness, I don’t think Bianca will want me sitting in on her training. I think my time will be better spend elsewhere.”

“Out of all the young women I know, you’re the most capable in these areas. I want Bianca to learn from you. In addition to that, I am also thinking about introducing this training to the werewolf girls’ academies. I want you to test it out first.

I think back to my time in school being forced to suffer through those outdated trainings. I may be the only woman who was brave enough to join the royal guard, but I surely am not the only one who feels different. I would love the opportunity to prevent future generations of werewolf girls from being subjected to what I suffered through.

I feel my resolve softening as I mull over Prince Kaine’s words. I sigh, meeting his gaze. “Okay, I will attend the training sessions.”

Later, I sit in an elegant sitting room next to Bianca as an instructor lectures about the history of the kingdom. I take notes, trying to absorb everything I can, but Bianca looks bored.

“What does the past have to do with being a good luna?” she whispers under her breath. “Shouldn’t we be learning something more relevant?”

I pause from my notetaking to respond. “It is important to know the history of the kingdom in order to better understand the politics happening modern day. If you want to lead effectively lead the people, you need to understand them.”

Bianca scoffs, “The people will listen to me because I am their luna not because I spent hours being bored to death about the decisions of dead people.” She looks at the instructor not even trying to be subtle as she continues, “Can’t they just give us a timeline of the basics? Surely, we don’t need this much detail about a war that happened like two hundred years ago.”

I hold back my sigh as I continue taking notes, certain that Bianca will need to look at them later. I can’t make her take this seriously, but I can set a good example and hope that maybe she’ll follow my lead eventually.

The next day is combat basics. Prince Kaine wants to make sure that Bianca will be prepared to defend herself should there be an attack on the royal family. I lead Bianca to the inside sparring gym and begin demonstrating a few basic self defense maneuvers.

I motion for Bianca to do the same and she halfheartedly copies the moves, barely using any force or following through. I move to readjust her trying to be encouraging, “I know this is different for you, but I believe that you can do it. Try following through a bit more.”

Bianca frowns at me, “I don’t want to end up like you, so rough and graceless,” she scoffs. Heat rises to my face, but I don’t waver as I lead her through the maneuvers again.

This time, Bianca puts even less effort into the maneuvers smirking as she moves. A throat clears near the entrance of the gym, and I watch Bianca straighten as Prince Kaine strides into the room.

He looks between us for a moment, before leveling Bianca with a disapproving look. “With this attitude, you won’t be attending the banquet. You don’t even have basic self-defense skills.”

“Kaine, it’s not what you think! I saw just jo-”

“If you keep this up,” he interrupts “maybe we should reconsider the engagement altogether.”

Bianca stares at the prince but doesn’t argue further. Prince Kaine turns to me, “since Bianca won’t be attending the banquet, you will pose as my date for added security as the only female guard.” Before I can argue the prince walks smoothly out of the gym leaving Bianca and I gawking after him.

That evening, I stand in front of the full-length mirror in my room, hardly recognizing myself. My long auburn hair, usually in a bun for guard duty, now hangs in loose waves around my face. I run my hands gently down my dress, a muted green thing that flows gently across my curves.

I feel pretty, if a bit ridiculous as I step carefully into the heels I am to don for the occasion. I tear myself away from my reflection and make my way slowly out of my room to find Prince Kaine. To my surprise, the prince is waiting for me in the hallway, his expression peculiar.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d say there was a hint of admiration in his look. I push the thought aside; I could never be worthy of the prince.

As I take another step forward my ankle bends, unused to walking in heels and I stumble. Before I can fall Prince Kaine launches himself forward, catching me easily. “We have to stop meeting like this,” he murmurs a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

He carefully steadies me, taking one arm and leading me toward the banquet.