Chapter 17
Matte
Freya raised a valid point that managed to pacify my inner turmoil. I must admit feeling hurt upon learning that she hadn’t disclosed our relationship to her parents yet. Considering the earlier surprise from the pack, her decision to take things slow between us seemed reasonable. The memory of her being bullied lingered, and despite her resilient nature, I had to acknowledge her initial hesitation, likely rooted in the fact that she lacked a distinct scent discernible to our kind.
Calvin revealed that Freya was adopted when he inquired within the pack. This could explain the lack of attention from others, coupled with her scentlessness. I pondered why she couldn’t simply inform them about her wolf. Although she indirectly shared this with Jack during her altercation with Britney, the gravity of her revelation seemed to escape him, and possibly the rest of the pack.
“Calvin said she left. I instructed Kevin to tail her,” he informed me, seeking details. I sighed, settling back on the bed, recounting the events.
“Don’t blame her,” Calvin advised. “She discovered your true nature the moment we arrived. Figuring out how to reveal it to you was challenging, considering your inability to detect her scent. You, of all people, should know that when she claimed you as hers in front of Eunice, you wouldn’t have believed her without looking into her eyes.”
“But I can sense the truth by looking into her eyes,” I argued.
“That’s something she wasn’t aware of, and probably no one else here knew either,” he pointed out. I fell into contemplative silence, acknowledging his perspective. Yet, the pain persisted, as it seemed I was the sole advocate for our connection.
“She was willing to let me go and even considered choosing Clay as her mate,” I confided. “I witnessed them kissing, only to discover later that she was meant to be mine. Do you understand the agony? I overheard her telling him about having a mate but showed no intention of acknowledging it.”Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
“Think about the happiness that awaits when things settle between you two,” Calvin reminded me, attempting to lift my spirits. I nodded, visualizing the future when we would mark and mate, experiencing an intimate connection like no other.
“Now, let’s focus on the matter at hand,” he redirected. With the investigation nearing its conclusion, I couldn’t fathom why a fellow lycan would harm the pack.
“What did you discover?”
“It’s confirmed. Lycans were responsible for the attack.”Who?”
Here’s a proofread and slightly rephrased version of the text:
“No idea, but I’m certain. I had already apprehended the rogue, and I was fortunate to encounter someone well-versed in the matter.”
“And?”
“They were attempting to prevent you from meeting your mate.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“I suspect Her Highness was from that pack. I once saw her and her parents in the territory, but they explained it away, saying it was merely a demonstration of their fighting skills.”
“Freya mentioned that her parents might not want to leave the pack because they had something to accomplish. Discovering details about that incident might be their motivation, right?”
“I wonder how Lycan knew about Her Highness being your mate. I mean, she was just a child back then,” Calvin remarked, and I concurred. Freya wouldn’t have been able to know I was hers, and I wasn’t sure if I would, but somehow, they were aware of us.
“What about the scent I detected in the palace?” I asked, puzzled.
“Perhaps Her Highness is your second chance, mate?” It was conceivable. Maybe the member from the Howlers Pack who went to the palace perished in the attack, making Freya my second chance mate. But was it plausible for a Lycan like me to find a second chance? The likelihood of discovering my first mate was already close to zero, yet I found the second.
“Let’s not dwell on that. Now that we’ve uncovered some clues, when do you plan to bring Her Highness to the palace and introduce her to the King?”
“We will depart two days from now,” I replied, and he nodded. I was certain he also desired to return to the palace, especially if he hadn’t found his mate here. He agreed to accompany me in case she was in the pack as well.”
“I believe the king will provide answers to all of these questions, and that aligns with my own perspective. I am hopeful that Dad possesses information about the second chance mates. Additionally, I mustn’t overlook the potential danger Freya may be facing.
“I mentioned, ‘I have to go see Freya and discuss with her parents the possibility of her joining us back at the palace,’ and we both rose from our seats. I am confident that he stands by my side and is willing to do anything for my mate, as she is destined to be his future queen.
“As the Lycan Prince and the future King, I shouldn’t feel nervous about any situation. However, due to my understanding of Freya’s character, I couldn’t shake off the feeling. She has never invited me to her house, and even though she accompanied me to the villa after the tournament, our relationship has yet to progress intimately.
“Given her wolf’s transformation stage and the fact that the last full moon was the fifth one since my arrival, she only needs one more to fully transform into a Lycan. I’ve chosen to wait until then before claiming her, hoping to minimize the discomfort. Until that time comes, I must exert control over myself and my beast, hoping it won’t pose significant challenges.”