The journey continued, but this ti, Althea rode with Gavriel on his horse all day. She sat in front of him, tense and uncomfortable, while his strong arms stayed wrapped around her. His hold was firm, almost too firm, and she could feel the warmth of his body through her back.
Every ti the horse moved, she felt him behind her, silent and steady. The closeness made it hard to breathe, and her heart wouldn’t stop racing.
He hadn’t spoken to her since their kiss inside the carriage. Not a word. Not even a glance.
They stopped a few tis to rest and eat, but Gavriel still said nothing. The silence between them felt heavier with each passing hour.
But it wasn’t quiet in her mind.
‘The Alpha King is bewitched by this whore.’
‘He’s growing too soft because of her...’
‘He’ll kill her the mont he captures Alpha Cain...’
Althea lowered her gaze, pretending not to notice the stares. But she heard their thoughts loud and clear. Every ti soone looked at her too long, their true feelings slipped through and most of them wanted her gone.
She had told Gavriel about her special ability but he hadn’t brought it up again. He seed not interested in what it was even. ‘Maybe he didn’t believe ,’ she thought. ‘Why would he? I’m just a weak human in their eyes.’
Then, her eyes t Gamma Simon’s. He was looking at her as well, but not with hate. His gaze was sharper... curious, watching.
And then his thoughts ca... calm, but heavy. ‘The Queen Mother won’t be pleased with how obsessed Gavriel is becoming with this girl. It’s not fair to Riela. She lost her mind after Cain betrayed her...’
Althea quickly looked away, her stomach sinking. ‘So... Princess Riela lost her sanity?’
She closed her eyes, already bracing for the storm waiting for her in the capital, especially at the royal estate.
Princess Riela Kingsley. Gavriel’s sister.
Althea had heard so much about her, and everything she’d heard was full of praise. Riela was older than Gavriel and deeply loved by the people. Known for her kindness, grace, and generosity, she had once been the pride of the royal family.
Nevertheless, Althea couldn’t hear Riela’s na without feeling a tight knot in her chest, especially now that she had so understanding of what had happened.
Her own father had staged a rebellion. A calculated, deliberate move to seize the throne. And Riela had been part of his plan. A key piece.
Althea rembered glimpses of it. Back then, she often read her father’s thoughts. She thought she was helping. She believed she could guide him if things ever went too far. But the mont she realized his true intention, to use Riela, to hurt the royal family, she stopped.
She didn’t want to see more. She didn’t want to believe it...
She didn’t know exactly how far he went. She didn’t want to know. But the whispers she’d heard lately... about Riela losing her mind after her father’s betrayal... they chilled her to the bone. And her father had played a part in that. She was sure of it.
She was torn between the truth and the love she still held for the man who raised her. Her father had always cherished her. He treated her with care, even though she was born from a woman considered less. He never let her feel unwanted. And for a long ti, that was enough.
She rembered trying to speak to him, carefully, vaguely, never fully revealing what she knew. She was scared he’d be suspicious of her. No one else knew the depth of his plot. Only his most trusted sons, a few loyal warriors, and Luna ena were part of it.
So she kept her silence. And now... she was on her way to the very heart of the kingdom her father had tried to destroy, sitting in front of the brother of the woman he’d used.
The horse ca to a stop, and Gavriel dismounted first before turning to help her down. His grip was steady but brief.
“Prepare a tent for the night,” he commanded his servants, his voice sharp and final. Then he walked off, leaving her in the company of lva and a few warriors positioned around her in a tight circle. Clearly, he wasn’t taking any chances with her safety, not after what happened before.
Althea watched as he moved a short distance away, speaking seriously with several of his n. His posture was tense, and though she couldn’t hear their conversation, she could tell it wasn’t casual.
Curious and cautious, her eyes drifted to the warriors nearby. She t the gaze of one, just long enough to catch his thoughts.
‘We should’ve reached the Capital City by now. Why stop and rest again? If we all shifted into wolf form, we’d be there already. Why is the Alpha wasting ti? Just tie the traitor’s daughter to one of us in our beast form and move on.’
Althea swallowed hard and quickly looked away. So that’s what they truly thought of her.
Her eyes returned to Gavriel. He stood with his back to her, broad shoulders stiff as he spoke with his commanders. Cold. Distant. Reserved. And yet... He made sure she wasn’t alone. He kept her protected. He didn’t chain her. He hadn’t dragged her through the dirt like they clearly expected him to.
She used to think the idea of fated mates was just sothing werewolves told themselves to feel special, sothing she’d never understand, being wolfless. But now... maybe it was real. Maybe it was that strong. Strong enough for the Alpha King to show her even the smallest kindness.
He didn’t show affection. He rarely spoke to her unless necessary. And still, he had stopped the journey early for her. That ant sothing. Even if no one else saw it, she did.
Althea drew in a slow breath, grounding herself in that thought.
‘You’re his fated mate, and that’s it... consider yourself lucky,’ she reminded herself silently.
Maybe the heavens haven’t completely abandoned her after all. Maybe this was the only rcy she would ever get. For now, it had to be enough.
And just as that thought settled in her mind, it happened... A sharp, unnatural thud echoed in her chest, like a drum slamming against her ribcage. Her heart skipped, then pounded so hard it felt like it would burst through her.
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