Chapter 13: Chapter 12

Chris stormed through the small woods, circling the packland, aware Adam was tailing him at a distance. He was thankful Jaxson wasn’t there too. He knew he’d messed up, knew he was being reckless and stupid. He just didn’t know what else to do!

He was so lost, he was alone, he had no one to talk to. He had no one to offload. He couldn’t tell anyone! Even Trey. There was nowhere he could turn.

He was away from home, his reputation was surely in tatters. It was only a matter of time before it all got back to the palace… then he’d be F.U.C.K.E.D.

Letting out an audible cry he sank to his knees.

His mate hated him. Despised him. And he couldn’t blame him for it; how had he been treating him? He’d been flaunting himself in front of him. Proving he didn’t need him. Proving he didn’t want him.

But was it he didn’t want him… or couldn’t want him?

It was hard enough having the looks of sympathy, a level of walking on eggshells around him ever since he got back. It had never changed. They’d coddled him, wrapped him in cotton wool.

Suffocated him.

He couldn’t deal with the look of disgust too. He couldn’t cope with the only people that spoke to him… not speaking to him.

What if Klara couldn’t be in the same room as him?

What if Adelaide shied away?

What if his father blanked him?

What if his mother could no longer touch him?

What if Marc sneered at him when he saw him?

What if Trey couldn’t stand the sight of him?

He couldn’t… he couldn’t deal with that… he couldn’t bear to see any of that. He needed his family, he needed their love. If he lost that? A sob ripped from his chest. His shame, his fear, his despair smashed him in waves against the rocks.

Why would the Moon Goddess do this to him?

He felt abandoned.

He stiffly got back to his feet, knowing kneeling in the dirt would get him nowhere. Granted, walking seemed to get him nowhere too. Everything he did seemed to put him several paces back. He roughly wiped his eyes with his forearm before trudging towards the town. Part of him wanted to be alone, but for whatever reason, his feet were leading him in that direction. Maybe he could grab a sweet sticky bun. Would that help his mood?

He realised it must have been around ten when Matilda and Callum fell in behind him. At least Jaxson won’t come back now. Callum passed him a t-shirt and shoes which Chris quickly donned in the street realising the guards didn’t speak to each other, merely switched places for Adam to walk away. They didn’t query why he was alone, and didn’t ask how the night had gone…

Chris realised they’d probably linked each other and quite possibly told them everything…

Shame tinged his neck, although the guards would never outwardly judge… internally he could only imagine the thoughts flying. He straightened himself despite wanting to hunch his shoulders. He was the Prince, their thoughts shouldn’t matter to him.

They did.

The smell of freshly baked bread and sugar flooded his senses the closer he got to the bakery. The bell dinged as he entered, it was quiet which didn’t surprise him, most seemed to get their baked goods in this pack early in the morning. “Ah, your Highness!” the baker greeted enthusiastically.

Chris gave a nod in greeting, his eyes grazing over the sweet breads and pastries. He felt movement and saw Matilda stepping in the way of a small female pup, something in her hands.

“Tillie, it’s fine,” Chris grumbled at her, stepping around her to the pup.

“Your Highmess, I-I bakeded this for you.”

Chris knelt down, a soft, indulgent smile on his face, “Thank you, what did you put in it?”

“Sloe bewies and sugar and dandee-wion and apple!” she stated proudly, holding it up to him.

“I’m so sorry your Highness I’ll-” the baker began in embarrassment.

He smiled, holding up his hand to halt the apology while hiding a chuckle at the combination. “Did you do that all yourself?”

“Yep! Daddy was busy!”

“I bet he was,” Chris replied warmly, “Why don’t you share it with me?” He took the uneven pastry from her small hands and broke it in half, careful to not drip the juice that had exploded out of the pastry. He handed her her half before taking a small nibble. It was sickly sweet, but apart from that, not the worst. For one so young he could see her easily following in her father’s footsteps. Apparently, the combination didn’t taste all that bad. “It’s delicious,” he praised.

She squealed, launching into his chest in a quick hug before running off.

“I’m so sorry, Your Highness, she said they were berry flavoured!” The baker grabbed a tray of similar-looking pastries, although those were neat, and placed them behind him.

“Wasn’t terrible. I’ll grab a chestnut slice and iced bun.” He glanced to the two guards, wordlessly asking what they wanted.

They left the shop with their treats, Chris ahead as he again… just mindlessly walked. “What did Adam tell you?” he grunted to the two behind.

“Just that you had a bad night, My Prince.”

“Anything else?”

“No, my Prince.”

Liars.

He didn’t press the matter, whatever it was they knew they wouldn’t breathe a word, so what did it matter what Adam had said?

A figure ran towards them, he felt his guards bristle and as the female got closer they moved in front. “My Prince!” She stopped before the guards, “We met yesterday, do you remember?” She flipped her flaxen hair over her shoulder, a flirtatious smile on her face.

He narrowed his eyes, “Did we go back to my room?”

“No, My Prince, we were going to meet for breakfast this morning, discuss our mateship?”

His forehead crinkled together, he would state the night before was hazy at best, he didn’t remember the woman before him.

“Your Highness?” Matilda asked over her shoulder.

He shrugged, she was no harm to him. The guards moved to the side, but still close enough to intervene, he noticed Matilda was looking at the woman, studying her with suspicion in her eyes.

“Hi,” Chris mumbled.

“It’s Lauren, do you remember?”

“Last night was quite wild.” She looked somewhat familiar... he wasn't sure it was from the previous night, however.

“Oh, it was! Was the best! Walk with me.” She flounced up to him, hooking her arm into his before leading him towards the town centre. “I’ll jog your memory,” she whispered seductively in his ear. “We were kissing, and you were telling us all about your terrible ordeal. I thought you were so brave!”

“Thank you.” He shifted slightly in discomfort, she was an attractive woman, curves in all the right places, strong. He couldn’t gauge her age, maybe late twenties.

“You’re a very good kisser,” she whispered.

He nibbled his lip, “Thank you,” was all he could get out again. He wished he could remember the night before.

She guided him to a bench by a willow tree, she was talkative but he was wondering what she meant about their mateship… like… she wasn’t his mate. What had he said to her? Did he truly want to take a forced mate?

It would break the mate bond…

“So you haven’t found your mate?” he asked after she’d been chewing his ear off for ten minutes.

“I thought I had… turned out I was wrong.”

“What about your true mate?”

“A load of nonsense. The Goddess doesn’t decide who we belong with. We do. I mean… Who’s actually found their true mate in the last five years?”

“Quite a few people.”

“They say that. I think it’s a load of rubbish. I want to find who I’ll fall in love with. As long as me and my wolf are both in agreement.”

He nodded thoughtfully. Unfortunately, his wolf was not in agreement. ‘Snake.’

He didn’t think she was a snake, she seemed perfectly wonderful.

“Sorry, I’m talking too much aren’t I? I always do this. I’m so sorry, please tell me to shut up.” She smiled with just a touch of embarrassment.

“I don’t mind,” was all he could say back. He could even say he was enjoying her chatter. She seemed so genuine and relaxed in his presence which was a far cry from most.

“Have you been to Royal Packland?” he asked, wanting to be polite.

“Oh a few years ago.”

“What did you think?”

“I liked it, but had no reason to stay. Do you like being away?”

“Sort of. Looking forward to going back though.”

“You’ll take your mate back?” she asked, a glitter of excitement in her eye.

“Course.”

Her hand slipped to his thigh, squeezing gently, “I think I could be that mate.”

“I’ve been forbidden to accept a forced mate.”

“I won’t tell anyone,” she whispered.

“I don’t really want to break a direct order from the King.”

“He’s your brother, what will he do? Give you a stern telling off?”

“I-well… They’d be disappointed.”

She cocked an eyebrow at him in amusement and disbelief. “How about you meet me tomorrow for dinner? Nothing dodgy… just get to know each other more.”

“Yeah alright.” There was no harm in getting to know her.

“Brilliant, I look forward to it. I’ll let you go, meet here? Seven?”

“Not a problem. See you then.” He watched her walk away, hips swaying a little too suggestively. Could she be someone he could mate with for the rest of his time on this plane?

He supposed he’d find out tomorrow night.

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