Third Person’s POV
Adide’s voice carried a rare, lingering resentment, “I’ve heard those exact words once before. We all know how that ended.”
She wasn’t sure why she said it–it was such a downer.
She wasn’t one to be <b>so </b>sentimental, yettely, around him, she felt unusually fragile, like a tearful little girl.
Lance looked at her steadily. “Don’tpare me to him. For me, there’s death, but no rejection–not ever. And abandonment? Impossible. My promises weigh more than gold. If you don’t believe me, I’ll spend my whole life proving it.”
Her eyes widened at his mention of “death.”
He met her gaze, unflinching. “I could die first, you know. Then you won’t have to take care of an old, injured man in yourter years.”
Adide snorted augh. She couldn’t picture him old.
Probably like the old Lycan King? Though even he wasn’t that ancient when he passed.
She sniffed, feeling uncharacteristically emotional. “I’ll remember every word you said. If you break today’s promises, I won’t let you off the hook.”
He mock–gasped. “So you do want me to die first and return to the Moon Goddess’s arms before you?”
Adide pondered. “How about we go together?”
He thought for a moment. “Deal.”
Beata, eavesdropping, was initially touched but gradually unnerved <i>by </i>their conversation’s turn.
She blurted out, “Why are you two talking so weirdly? Life and death stuff–nning to follow each other to the grave?”
At her words, the pair exchanged a nce. Adide’s cheeks flushed, and she shot Beata a re. “Don’t be. ridiculous.”
Lance lifted his coffee cup to hide his rising smirk.
The idea of following each other to the grave was exactly his wish–they were mates, after all, inseparable in life and death.
This was the same wish he’d cherished when he proposed to Aire before heading to the southern border.
He’d nned to swiftly resolve the conflict and return to mate with the girl he loved.
He fought fiercely on the battlefield, securing victory after victory<b>, </b>eager to expel the enemy from the south.
After capturing thirteen cities, news from the capital shattered him–Adide had mated with Ulrik.
It felt like a bucket of ice water doused from head to toe, chilling his heart.
He couldn’t fathom why Aire had reneged on her promise.
Was she unaware of his triumphs?
He had regarded Alpha Bentley as a father figure, determined to fulfill his unfinished legacy.
But why?
The thought of that bright girl bing another wolf’s mate caused him agonizing heartache.
Yet war pressed on, allowing little time for sorrow.
Daily, he persuaded himself to let go, to wish her happiness now that she was another’s.
It was difficult, but he knew her joy mattered above all.
When they met again on the southern border, his emotions were a tangled mess.
He’d drop subtle hints about her mate, and her evasions spoke volumes.
His fists clenched repeatedly at the implication that Ulrik might mistreat her.
Later, he discovered she’d dissolved the mating bond- the man didn’t deserve her. Absurd.
Ulrik’s name burned in his memory–the man wasn’t fit to have her.
Fury consumed him at the thought of her suffering such indignity.
Yet after his anger subsided, an selfish joy crept in. Of course, he hid it well, ensuring no one detected his secret delight.
During their days fighting side by side on the border, he had to constantly mask his feelings, reminding himself not to let a hint of personal emotion slip into his gaze.
After three years on the southern border, he experienced huge ups and downs and ups again.
Despite being seen through by Lycan Erasmus upon returning to the capital, it didn’t matter.
He wanted no part inmanding the army in peacetime–only her.
He was aware of Erasmus’s suspicions, but royal brotherhood was never pure. With its mix of barriers and camaraderie, maintaining a surface harmony sufficed.
Should suspicions and barriers dominate, he’d take Adide and Cedric far from the capital–they’d carve
out a good life <b>together</b>.
Lost in these thoughts, he nced at <b>her</b><b>. </b>Their <b>eyes </b>met. His heart skipped.
Adide’s <b>face </b>burned, yet her spirits sank. She was falling for him, yet his heart belonged elsewhere.
<b>How </b>could this mismatch happen to her?
She’d contemted a mating bond with him solely forpanionship.
Never had she imagined, after a failed mating bond, she’d develop feelings for Alpha Lance <b>so </b>swiftly.
Beata, noticing Adide’s suddenly flushed face, asked curiously, “Why are you so red?”
Adide quickly grabbed her coffee cup, hiding her heated cheeks behind it.
Beata, oblivious to social cues, pressed on.
Lance sipped his coffee, but his telltale smirk gave him away.