?Chapter 885:


    “nning to stay at the mayor’s residence permanently? Or do you intend to leave Marehelm after treating the mayor?”


    His questions came one after another, relentless and precise, each one pressing deeper than thest. I could barely keep up.


    Lowering my gaze to mask my turmoil, I forced a calm demeanor and countered, “Your Highness, that’s a private matter. Even with your esteemed status, prying into others’ affairs so insistently doesn’t seem quite proper, does it?”


    Makenna’s POV:


    Anxiety gnawed at my insides as I realized that lingering any longer might expose secrets best kept hidden.


    Gathering what little courage remained, I spoke with feignedposure. “Your Highness, since you have no other pressing matters, I should take my leave. Alden must be worried sick about my whereabouts.”


    With that deration, I turned to make my escape.


    In one fluid motion, Dominic extended his arm and captured my wrist, his voice rich with authority that brooked no opposition. “You promised to walk with me around here mere moments ago. Would you so easily break your word?”


    “When did I ever agree to walk with you?” I protested, my voice a mixture of indignation and barely concealed panic.


    Dominic paid no heed to my objections, his grip unyielding as he strode forward with purpose.


    Powerless against his determination, I had no choice but to match his pace alongside him.


    Against my better judgment, my gaze drifted to his profile—the sharp, aristocratic lines of his face and the proud arch of his nose bridge left me momentarily breathless.


    Ever since my identity as a white wolf had been exposed, I’d been living as a fugitive, constantly shrouded in fear and hiding in shadows. It had been an eternity since I’d allowed myself a proper look at any of the three princes.


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    Sleep had be a luxury I could ill afford, my nights spent in vignt anticipation of danger. As I looked back on this endless chase, exhaustion had seeped into every fiber of my being, weighing down both body and spirit.


    Lost in this somber reflection, I failed to notice a passerby until our shoulders collided.


    Thrown off bnce, I stumbled forward, only to be caught in Dominic’s arms.


    His familiar scent enveloped me like a forgotten memory, and I looked up in rm, my eyes locking with his intense gaze.


    For a heartbeat, the world around us ceased to exist, and my pulse thundered like war drums in my ears.


    I didn’t know how long we remained frozen in that moment before reality came crashing back. With sudden awareness, I pushed against Dominic’s chest, breaking free from his hold.


    “I’m sorry, Your Highness,” I stammered, heat blooming across my cheeks like wildfire.


    Dominic appeared equally startled by our exchange, slowly rubbing his fingertips together as though trying to preserve the ghost of my touch.


    I couldn’t help but recall our very first encounter, my face burning even hotter at the memory.


    Desperate to diffuse the tension, I gestured toward a nearby vendor, the aroma of freshly cooked food wafting through the air. “Your Highness, look at those hot dogs. They look absolutely mouthwatering. Would you care to sample one?”


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