Rowan
My father included. The only reasons Ogas weren’t tornted during his reign was he loved to surround himself with the weak, ogas or not.
I sighed and thought of Violet and the shadows her eyes carried. Including the way she flinched sotis, instinctively, before catching herself. And then there were the deep emotional wounds that had reopened during that trial.
"I doubt her life there was pleasant," I continued, voicing sothing I never wanted to admit till now. "While he does care about her, he makes such terrible decisions..."
The whole trial could have been avoided if...
I took a deep breath. I would never have t her if he had made certain decisions. Would the bond even have been there if they had marked each other?
’What a useless thought...’
The room was quiet.
"I want to soothe that ache in her," I said softly. "If she will let ."
I caught Telsid shifting in his seat from my peripheral vision. He looked conflicted.
"I understand," he said carefully. "But Rowan... if she rejects you, it will affect you deeply. All the more because she is a Lycan." He hesitated. "I also don’t rember anything in the records describing how lycans could have more than one mate..."
I said nothing.
The discomfort stirring in my chest had nothing to do with the records.
It had everything to do with what those records contained.
My family’s role in the Lycan extinction was well docunted in our archives. We had not been the only ones, of course. Every Supre Alpha of that era had participated in the hunts. But my bloodline had led the charge. We had killed more than most. We had kept records, aside from what we stole from them, detailing what we learned from the Lycans we captured.
My stomach twisted.
How would she react when she discovered the truth?
How wonderful that I have another thing to worry about now.
I might have to tell her tonight before she stumbled upon the information herself. She deserved to hear it from .
But the thought of seeing her face when she learned what my ancestors had done...
Would she bla for it?
Would she even want to bear children with such blood?
My wolf stirred, a low snarl rumbling through my mind.
"Every Supre Alpha hunted them," he growled. "Your bloodline killed more, yes. But all of them took part. She cannot bla you for the sins of wolves long dead."
I was not so certain.
Ezra’s voice broke through my thoughts.
"Rowan..." He stepped closer. "You and Fresna’s ruler were both mated to her for a reason. The bond does not choose carelessly. You are not unworthy of her, Rowan, simply because another Alpha shares her fate."
I turned to look at him.
"I believe everything could be resolved between you," Ezra continued gently. "If you were both honest with each other. Without barriers or secrets."
I let out a dry laugh.
I could only hope she would be open with .
[ - ]
She had said yes.
I still could not quite believe it.
I had finished for the night and had gone looking for her to discover she had moved to where the other three were staying to continue their jolly conversations. I had returned to my room after and when Violet was just returning, I had approached her, half expecting her to decline. To ntion that her companions could show her around, or that she preferred to explore on her own. I had braced myself for another wall going up between us.
But she had agreed.
And now here we were, walking along the wide riverbank that cut through the heart of my capital, the water glittering beneath the city lights and stars of the dark sky.
I had lowered my energy the mont we left the castle, suppressing the signature that would have marked as Supre Alpha to anyone who passed. At least this way we wouldn’t draw unnecessary attention.
We were just two people walking by the river.
Boats drifted lazily on the water, so carrying families returning ho for the evening, others simply enjoying the evening. Laughter echoed faintly from sowhere downstream, and the soft splash of oars against water created a gentle rhythm beneath the hum of the city.
It should have been a peaceful and calm night, but Violet had been quiet since we left.
And I wasn’t sure what exactly to say to make her talk.
The realization unsettled more than I wanted to admit. I had never struggled for words before, and the silence around us seed a lot different than the other ones. It was a bit conflicting.
And walking beside her now, made feel strangely anxious.
It baffled .
I glanced at her as we walked.
She looked beautiful in the clothes the servants had provided for her. The lightweight fabric suited her, draping softly over her fra in a way that made her look almost ethereal beneath the lamplight. The loose sleeves fluttered slightly with each step, and the fitted waist accentuated the curve of her body in ways I was trying very hard not to notice.
I failed.
My gaze traced the line of her neck, the delicate slope of her shoulder where the fabric had slipped slightly. I rembered pressing my lips to her cheek earlier, how I had to reign myself in when every part of had wanted more.
The softness of her cheek had only reminded of her lips.
I wanted to kiss her again.
The urge rose sharply, almost overwhelming, and I had to look away before I did sothing foolish.
Now was not the ti.
I briefly closed my eyes, forcing the thoughts back down.
When I opened them again, I focused on sothing safer.
Her hair.
It had grown longer since we had cut it. It hung past her ears now, the reddish-brown strands catching the street lights as we walked. But I could see the dark roots coming through, her natural colour slowly starting to reclaim what the dye had covered.
I hoped it would grow out completely soon. While the reddish-brown hair fit her pleasantly, it would be nice to see that black mane again.
It brought out her eyes more.
The silence stretched on and it got to a point I could not take it anymore.
I stopped walking.
Violet took another step before realizing I was no longer beside her. She turned, her grey eyes finding mine with a questioning look.
"Violet," I said quietly. "Do I make you uncomfortable?"
She blinked, clearly taken aback.
"What?"
"Being here. With ." I held her gaze, though part of dreaded the answer. "If my presence makes you uncomfortable, I need to know. I do not wish to force my company on you."
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