Chapter 148: Chosen in Private

(ALICE)

I look up at Darian. “Is it true? Your father told you to reject me?”

Darian’s lips press into a thin line. “Don’t worry about it. I’m dealing with him.”

“How can I not worry about it? The king of the Wolf Kingdom doesn’t want us to be mates. Be honest with me, Darian. I won’t blame you if you have to obey him.”

“I don’t have to obey anybody,” Darian says fiercely. “And stay away from Jason. He’s trouble.”

“He was just helping me—”

“Because he’s interested in you!” Darian explodes before lowering his head and running his fingers through his hair, frustrated. “I can’t be with you at all times, Alice. There’s a lot I have to deal with right now. I assigned Jimmy to stay with you, but my father keeps interfering. Make sure you don’t go off with anybody other than me or that friend of yours.”

We both glance over at Mary, who has subtly drifted away in order to give us some privacy. “You are not safe in the royal palace as long as my father wants you out of the way. I know I won’t be around a lot, but don’t get close to anybody else, Alice.”

I’ve never seen him look so insecure and tense. “I don’t think Jason meant what he said, Darian.” I try to make him feel better, but I fail.

“He did mean it,” Darian replies. “Promise me. Don’t dance with anybody. Don’t accept anything from anybody. Only look at me. Focus on me. That’s all you need to do.”

My hands lift to touch his face, a strange ache in my heart at the desperate emotion in his eyes. “How can I look at anybody else when all I can think about is you?”

His eyes soften. “You mean it? You think about me?” “More than I want to,” I chuckle.

He closes his eyes and leans into my touch. “I hate that I can’t be with you right now, but I’ll make up for it. I promise.”

“It’s fine. Really. To be honest, I’m not a fan of this whole gathering. I don’t know what to do with myself.”

Darian laughs lightly. “I figured you wouldn’t be, but once you and I are mated, you will be hosting such things every year, so you best get used to them now.”

Seeing him talk about our future together makes me feel warm inside. Even though I am not somebody who likes being in the limelight, for Darian, I might just bear it.

“There is something I wanted to tell you.” He’s no longer smiling now. “Jimmy will come for you just before the hunt ends. I want you to return to your suite with him.”

I blink, confused. “Why?”

“Just trust me. My father and I are facing some conflict, and I’m trying to protect you. I just want you to leave before the hunt ends.”

I feel uneasy, and remembering what Mary told me about this event, I ask hesitantly, “What about the prey you catch?”

Darian presses his lips together. “Don’t think about it, Alice. All these events are meaningless to me. I don’t want my father to insult you, and he fully plans on doing so. Go with Jimmy. And tonight, after dinner, send your little friend away. I want to spend some time with you.”

I watch him leave, but my heart doesn’t settle. His back gets smaller as he walks away from me, and I feel a sense of unease. He wasn’t with me this morning, and what little time he has right now, he’s still not choosing to spend with me, in public. My body feels cold.

“I’m overthinking things,” I whisper to myself, rubbing my arms. “He cares for me. I can tell. I should trust him.”

As the hunting event begins, all of the males with fated mates approach their partners, who tie ribbons around their wrists. However, Darian does not approach me. He’s by the king’s side, and not once does he look at me. Mary casts me a concerned glance from the seat next to mine, and I give her a tense smile.

A voice in my head is warning me to be careful, but I feel that I am in too deep. I want to trust him. I have to. As the males shift into their wolf forms, I watch in awe as Darian follows suit, revealing a stunning gray coat with amber eyes that turn in my direction.

My mouth feels dry.

“He can hurt me,” I whisper to no one, my heart squeezing in my chest. “I gave him the ability to hurt me.”

“Are you alright?” Mary asks, looking a little upset. I see the question in her eyes and give her a reassuring look.

“I knew he wasn’t going to come to me. His father isn’t happy with the idea of me entering the royal family.”

My friend bristles. “What’s his problem?”

I slap my hand over her mouth, glaring at her. “There is a time and place to speak. This is not it. Let’s go somewhere else.”

I can see Willow approaching us, and the last thing I need is to be taunted once again. Her father isn’t far behind. I get to my feet, realizing they must have been waiting for the opportunity to corner me.

To my surprise, Jimmy casually steps in front of us. I don’t know where he appeared from, but he must have been lurking nearby.

“I think it’s time to leave, Miss Lane,” he says quietly.

I look in Willow and her father’s direction before saying carefully, “Darian told me to leave just before the event ends.”

“It would be best if you leave now and avoid a confrontation that will give His Majesty a reason to force Prince Darian’s hand.”

It would be nice to get out of this ridiculous dress. “Alright. Thanks.”

We start to go, and as Thomas and his daughter pick up their pace, I see a few guards blocking their path.

Jimmy takes Mary and me all the way back to our suite. “You can rest now. I’ll be keeping guard outside to make sure nobody disturbs you.”

As the door closes behind him, I don’t know why I feel so defeated. “My life is not going to be easy, is it, Mary?” I sigh heavily.

Mary loops her arm through mine. “Even the hardest of lives becomes easier with the right partner. Your life is going to be as hard as Darian lets it be, which I don’t think is going to be very hard. Don’t worry too much.

This is just a moment of hardship in what will be a wonderful life together with Darian.”

I laugh lightly. “What would I do without you?”

After an hour, Jimmy delivers lunch and also brings us some board games to help pass the time. I ask him if we can go outside to the grounds just to stretch our legs and am met with a stern “no.” Being cooped up like this makes me feel like a prisoner. But it seems I have no say in the matter.

What a surprise.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep