WREN
"You're an Omega," he said. It wasn't a question. Of course he could tell I was.
Right from the minute he walked by me at the front door. So I knew he only
mentioned it now because he could see the effect he was having on me.
I blinked multiple times to clear my head, and then looked up. It's because
he's unmated, I told myself. I didn't react this way to mated Alphas, the ones who
had marked their mates.
"You're an Alpha," I replied, and I may have imagined it —considering I met
his eyes for less than a second— but his lips quirked up slightly.
I stepped back, relieved to finally be away from him.
"My hair."
I looked up at the straight, long hair that slept on his shoulders. "What— what
do I do with it?"
"Anything." Then he dragged a stool and sat, facing my breasts. "Anytime
now." His hot breath danced on my skin through my thin dress.
I walked around him, and grabbed the strands. They were softer than they
looked, damp and oily at the same time. I realised with a blink that it was his hair oil
that made him smell like sandalwood.
He handed me a hair band, and for a brief second I considered packing his
hair into pigtails, if only for a good laugh. But I preferred my head on, so I settled for
a sleek, low bun.
I intentionally made it tighter than comfortable, but he did not flinch.
Instead, he stood, buttoned his cuffs, and walked to the door.
"Are you not coming?" He asked, and I broke out of my dazed, rushing to walk
behind him.
When we got to the Private Dining room, his parents were already there. King
Draven sat at the head of the table, the Luna to his left, and the Beta to his right.
Beside the Beta, was his wife, Cassandra, whose eldest daughter opposite her. Beside
his daughter and opposite the Matron, was Caius. They made a pretty picture. The
Luna shared my sentiment loudly.
His heady scent hit me, and I tried not to sway as I took my place beside Kael's
personal guard at the door. All eyes turned to Kael as he took the seat at the tail of
the table, facing his father directly.
"Sorry to keep you all waiting. My maid can be a little slow sometimes."
My eyes widened, even as they remained on the ground, and cheeks heated as
fury filled me.
What the fuck?
The Matron cleared her throat pointedly. "Would you like another one? I—"
"No, no. I quite...like this one. She'll learn," was all he said before the clink of a
fork followed.
Then I felt it...his gaze. His questioning, suspecting, blue-eyed gaze. And it
took everything for me to not meet it.
Pleasantries were exchanged throughout the dinner; with Kael mostly giving
one-word answers. Caius complemented him perfectly, doing most of the talking, the laughing.
And he succeeded in making the mood better. I was almost proud of him. He
was right earlier. We needed to talk. I couldn't run away from it. I couldn't.
When the Royals finished eating, King Draven invited his son to his office, and
the Luna and Matron shared a wince. Glad to be relieved from my duties early, I stayed giddy all through the Matron's reprimand, and when they had all left and the Kitchen maids started to clear up, I walked out with a sigh.
It had been a long day.
"Wren." It was a low call, but I knew who it was. I cut into the corner and met
his eyes. "We need to talk. But I have something to do quickly, so here. Wait for me,
please."
He put his room key inside my hand and rushed out of the corner. I waited a
few seconds before stepping out.
My heart raced as I climbed the stairs to his room. Because I was scared. I was
afraid of what he had to say.
Was he going to break up with me?
When I entered his room stealthily, I sat on his bed, getting lost in my self
depreciating thoughts. I'd gotten so used to him being mine that it was hard to picture him not.
And it was that raw fear, that visceral fear of being alone that made me take a quick shower, douse myself in his body lotion, and kneel.
Naked. Vulnerable. An offer.
I knew it would drive him crazy, and perhaps it was unfair of me, but I did not
want him to let me go. I couldn't bear it. And I would do anything, anything.
So I waited like that, in the cold, my knees starting to numb.