Chapter 202

Chapter 202 As sacred as a mate Immediately William was pulled away by lords in the kingdom. He sought her out with his eyes over the crowd. He towered over everyone around him and it wasn’t hard to keep track as he moved through the room. He, of course, drew attention from the some of most beautiful women Doris had ever seen and she had to swallow every ounce of jealousy that bubbled as a result. It wasn’t the time to focus on that –

especially when he didn’t even seem to notice them all around him. m He looked at her as if he was helpless to those that demanded his attention. She smiled and waved him away, it was his time to shine.

It was his time to prove he was the right choice, she didn’t need to take him away from that, The crowd had broken off into the ballroom that connected to the main room. There was wine and food flowing while people watched William even more intently than she did. Doris disappeared into the crowd and went straight for the buffet with two guards on her heels. She didn’t have to guess who sent them to look after her for the night-and she didn’t blame him in the slightest. “Doris,” A familiar voice called. Doris blushed a little as she turned to face Enzo. She held a plate piled high with all sorts of food but he only smiled at her as if the sight of her was merely charming. “Do you have a moment to talk? There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.” “Of course.” Doris glanced to where William was across the room.

He seemed deep in conversation with a group of men that looked at him as if he was a diamond. Doris smiled a little and followed Enzo away from the buffet. He led her through the wide doors and outside where many had ventured. She assumed they needed air with how stuffy it became in there. Doris seated herself on a wooden bench and moved her skirts for Enzo before she started to dig into her food.

“What did you need to talk about? Are you thinking about going back to the north?” Enzo smoothed out his fancy jacket before he seated himself. He looked utterly elegant today, much different from his normal attire that screamed rogue. Somehow, this attire seemed to suit him better. It looked more like something he would wear on a regular basis. “No, it’s not that. Though if you want me out of your hair, all you have to do is ask.” Enzo said half heartedly as he bumped his shoulder against her own. “You know that’s not what I meant. You’re welcome here as long as you want.”

Doris bumped him back. “Tell me what’s on your mind. I’m always dying to know.” “Ah, you never want to see what’s in this mind. It would scare you off.” Enzo said as he gazed at the people around them. None of them were close enough to hear them. “Tell me! You know I’m not very patient.” “I believe that your best friend is my mate.” Enzo blurted. He took a deep breath and turned to face Doris. • Enzo put his fingers under her chin and closed her mouth for her. “My mother used to tell me that I would catch bugs if I held my mouth open like that.” “I’m sorry… what did you just say? Are you talking about Beth?” Doris set her half eaten plate aside and turned her full attention to Enzo. “How… what? She doesn’t have a wolf!” “Neither did you before you met William. He brought it out of you, didn’t he?” Enzo kept his voice calm and low, she tired to do the same. “How… how do you know that she’s your mate? I thought it was rare for a wolf not to show itself like mine did.” “It is rare, but not impossible. Usually it occurs when people suppress a lot of themselves into something else. When you two became slaves to the palace at such a young age, you were forced to be someone you weren’t and suppress all of your feelings to the palace. It’s possible that it caused both of you to suppress your wolves.” “I just… I don’t understand.”

Doris glanced around for Beth, but clearly she wasn’t in this crowd. “I feel her… my wolf feels her when she’s near. It’s like a distant hum in my bones that calls to her. She doesn’t answer yet, but my wolf can feel her own deep inside her.” “How long have you known?” “Since we met in the cells. I felt it instantly the moment I touched her.” Enzo wiped his hand across his face. “I haven’t been able to sleep since I met her. She is… she is all I can think about. My wolf wants to claim her as my own already, but I know I can’t do that.” “Oh no, you definitely can’t try that. You’re going to have to have her warm up to you on her own terms. She’s been terrified of rogues since she was a child—but I can see that she’s already started to warm up to you.” Doris bumped him lightly. The thought of her best friend having a mate was wild to Doris. It wasn’t that long ago that both of them were just normal maids trying to make it through the day. Now… now it felt as if they were in another universe that was no where near the one they belonged in. “What are you going to do?” Doris asked. “How did William get you to come around?” Enzo asked. He leaned back against the seat as if he was exhausted. “Oh…well… It didn’t happen overnight.

It took quite a long time for me to see him for who he is. I resisted it for a long, long time. I didn’t want to have any feelings for him. I didn’t want to have a mate or a wolf. And it didn’t help that he was so grumpy and mean all the time. One minute, he would be kind—the next he would tell me he didn’t need me.”

Enzo stared at her as if she was crazy. He glanced at the door. “What on earth are you still doing here then? I can sneak you out of here before he comes around for you.” Doris laughed. “He said those things to protect himself, as awful as that sounds. I resisted him as much as I could and he tried to do the same to me, but we always came back around. I used to promise myself every night that I wouldn’t have a single feeling for him. Somehow, all the prep talk to myself didn’t work. I fell right into him and I can’t even remember it happening. All of our fights and our resentment made us pull into each other more.”

“You both are quite mad, aren’t you? Perhaps I’ve been going at this flirting thing all wrong. I should shove her down hills and insult her dress and see where that takes me.” 1 Doris laughed and shook her head. “No. She wants someone nice, she doesn’t want anyone like William.” “Well… I suppose I didn’t know what exactly I wanted. I never saw myself as someone who would be in love, I just… thought I would find something normal once I left the palace.” “Normal is quite boring, isn’t it?” Enzo smiled. “It is. I didn’t think I would ever admit that.” Doris sighed. “I think you’re on the right track with Beth. I wouldn’t tell her you’re mates just yet, I would wait a bit before that conversation.” “I imagine she would run as far away from me as she could get if I told her that.” “I definitely think it will scare her, yes. She’s never been in love before. She’s never had a man show her interest, the last thing she wants is some rogue telling her he’s her mate when she had no idea she even had a wolf. When William marked me, I resented him and didn’t believe anything he said. I think if he went about it differently, I wouldn’t have resisted as much as I did.” “Ah, I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t want to be marked against your will and forced around him.” Enzo rolled his eyes to the sky. “As handsome as William is, he doesn’t know a thing about romance.” “My advice is to let things grow naturally. If she ends up falling for you, let all your thoughts loose when the time is right.” “And if she ends up thinking I’m a complete fool?” Enzo asked. “What if she never sees me as anything but a rogue?” “She will. I know Beth better than anyone. She will see you as so much more than a rogue, and I believe she has already started.”