Chapter 4
Krystal’s POV
Silence hung in the air for a moment, thick and heavy. Then, his reply came, simple yet earth-shattering.
"She’s my mate.”
I felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. My chest tightened, and I had to clamp down on a gasp threatening to escape. “Mate?” The word echoed in my mind. I’d felt something strange when he’d saved me, a connection I couldn’t explain. But I never, in my wildest dreams, thought he would turn out to be my mate.
My hands clenched into fists under the thin blanket, my pulse racing. What did this mean for me? For us? The uncertainty clawed at my insides, and yet, a flicker of hope ignited within me, fragile and terrifying.
But I remained still, my eyes tightly shut, too scared to face the reality that awaited me if I opened them.
“Your mate? ‘Her?’” The doctor's voice was laced with disbelief, his confusion palpable. He didn’t hold back as he continued, “But Prince John, she’s wolfless. She would be a burden to you—especially now.”
His words were like a dagger to my heart, each one a painful reminder of my cursed fate. I wasn’t strong enough to be of any use, not even to myself. The truth of his words weighed heavily on me, squeezing my chest.
The doctor pressed on, “I know you need a mate to secure your position as the next Alpha King, but it’s going to be difficult with her by your side, Prince John. This could weaken your claim.”
There was a brief silence, a tension-filled pause before Prince John spoke. His voice was firm, unyielding. “I’ll solve this problem. I don’t care what it takes. Krystal is my mate, and I’ll protect her. I have to.”
I felt a strange mix of gratitude and guilt hearing his determination. He was willing to fight for me, yet I was the last person he should be defending. As his footsteps echoed, fading away as he left the room, my thoughts swirled in turmoil.
Things were more complicated than I ever imagined. I was grateful—deeply grateful—to Prince John for saving me, but my heart had always belonged to someone else. My first love, Daniel. I can never forget him. He was the only passionate one to me all my life. He was my shield - protecting me and helping me to avoid facing harm from Annie and Rose. He's outgoing and enthusiastic. The kindest person in my heart.
My heart was a ship lost in a stormy sea, and Daniel was the lighthouse on a distant shore, guiding me home with a light I could never forget.
He was my everything because if my world was a canvas painted in shades of grey, he was the vibrant stroke of color that brings it to life, a masterpiece etched in my memory for all time.
We had grown up together, sharing countless moments that I cherished. When I hadn't found my wolf, like everyone else at age 15, he even promised to marry me.
Though he moved away with no word and we lost contact, I still clung to the hope that one day, he might return. I know he will.
Slowly, I opened my eyes, finding the doctor by my side, his hand gently checking my pulse. His gaze met mine, filled with understanding.
“I overheard everything,” I confessed, my voice barely a whisper. “I understand what you said.”
The doctor’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. He sighed deeply and explained, “You don’t understand the pressure Prince John is under. The current Luna is the second prince’s mother, and she has a lot of influence. If Prince John doesn’t secure his position, it could be disastrous for the entire pack.”
“I’m aware,” I replied, my voice trembling with emotion. “But I can’t give him what he needs. I’ll repay him for saving my life, but I won’t ask for more than that.”
Before the doctor could respond, Rose’s shrill voice echoed from outside the room, filled with feigned distress. “I didn’t push her! I swear!”
My heart sank, dread pooling in my stomach as the tension thickened. I tilted my head toward the window, my breath catching in my throat as I saw them—Rose, my father, and her mother—standing at the clinic entrance. They were putting on an act, their voices dripping with false concern.
“Krystal... she tried to drown herself,” Rose sobbed dramatically, her eyes wide with feigned horror. “We were too late to stop her.”
My father nodded solemnly, adding, “It’s a tragedy. Krystal has always been troubled. We’ve done everything we could for her, but she’s just so... lost.”
Annie’s voice dripped with false sympathy. “We love her as one of our own, but she’s been struggling. We hope you’ll understand the situation, Prince John.”
“She told me she didn't want to live again because her childhood sweetheart disappeared,’’ Rose added, her face twisted in a mockery of concern.
“She's characterless and shameful, Prince John," Annie said, and my father nodded, agreeing with her every word.
I felt my chest tighten as their words sliced through me, twisting the truth of their cruelty into something vile and distorted. I glanced at the doctor, who returned my look with sympathy, his brows furrowed in concern. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks, a mix of rage and disgust.
Prince John raised an eyebrow, his voice calm but firm. “If all you're saying is true, then why did you claim she was your maid?”
I watched as Rose’s expression faltered. She shot a quick look at her mother, and Annie's eyes narrowed. Then, Rose crumbled, bursting into crocodile tears. “She doesn’t regard me as her sister. She thinks we’re evil,” she sobbed.
My father chimed in, effortlessly supporting their charade. “Yes. It's upsetting and disappointing. Sometimes… Krystal will even harm herself just to accuse Rose and Annie, to make me despise them.”
Annie sniffed dramatically, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "She hates me so much, acts like we don’t treat her well when in reality, she’s the one causing herself pain to make us seem like the bad ones.”
They went on, spinning more lies, painting me as the villain who looked innocent but was actually wicked. Each word twisted deeper into my soul, and my stomach churned. I glanced at Prince John’s face, desperately trying to gauge his reaction.
His expression was unreadable, his face blank as he listened to their venomous claims. My heart sank. Were they succeeding? Were their cruel performances enough to convince him? Doubt gnawed at me, tightening around my chest like a vice.
I felt the room closing in, their words blending into a chaotic hum around me, my pulse drumming loudly in my ears. If he believed them, I was lost.
“I apologize on behalf of my family for offending you in any way earlier or causing you trouble. I humbly request to take Krystal back to our packhouse,” my father said, his tone falsely conciliatory.
Anger surged through me as I recalled the suffocating sensation of being submerged, wishing I could charge out there and confront them.
But to my surprise, Prince John didn’t seem to believe their lies. “Are you all done lying?" His tone was menacing, and I noticed him staring at each of them.
“Prince John, w… what do you mean?” My father asked, stuttering.
“I have evidence,” he declared, his voice cutting through the tension. He handed over some papers to Rose and her parents, his gaze unwavering.
“My Beta did a quick thorough investigation, and the truth is clear. Krystal did not attempt suicide. She was attacked. And you all have been mistreating her!”
Rose’s face blanched, her eyes wide with shock. “What... what are you saying?”
“I'm telling the truth." His brows creased, his expression twisting to that of disgust.
“My prince, I … I, I think there's a mix-up somewhere. No one tried to kill Krystal. She faked it,” Rose cried.
Annie nodded vehemently. “Krystal is such a horrible person. It's so unfortunate but…”
"Don't you dare demean her!" Prince John thundered, making them froze.
“I’m taking Krystal with me today,” he continued firmly. “She will be under my protection.”
I stared at him, my heart racing as I caught the baffled expression on Rose’s face. She certainly couldn’t understand why he was so insistent and serious. Certainly a shocker to them.
Rose dared to step forward, her eyes narrowed, a smirk playing on her lips. “Why so serious, Prince John? I’m sure you wouldn’t want to associate yourself with someone like Krystal,” she sneered, her voice dripping with mockery.
Prince John’s response was sarcastic, his tone laced with contempt. “Oh, absolutely. I always find myself in the company of liars and schemers. Very appealing.”
Annie’s face paled, but she quickly recovered, her voice shaky. “We only speak the truth, Prince John. We’ve always done what’s best for Krystal, but she… she refuses to be helped!”
Rose glanced nervously at her mother and continued, more frantically, “She’s been like this since childhood. Troubled, always causing chaos wherever she goes. You wouldn’t want her in your life, Prince.”
Prince John’s voice cut through their lies like a blade. “You sound like vultures circling a wounded animal. I won’t let her live with you anymore. I’m going to protect what’s mine from the likes of you.”
I saw their expressions change immediately — confusion spreading across their faces as they looked at each other, utterly puzzled.
“What’s yours? I don’t understand, Prince John,” my father stammered.
“Krystal belongs to me,” Prince John declared, his words unyielding.
“No. You can’t say that with certainty unless she’s your…” Annie began, faltering.
“Your mate,” Rose completed, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Rose gulped. “Is Krystal your mate?”