Chapter 109

"No…" I murmured, my voice trembling with panic as I stared at Hadrian and Kenzo.

For what felt like an eternity, all I could hear was the frantic pounding of my heart, deafening and relentless. My gaze stayed locked on them, frozen in place by fear. I think they were arguing—no, not just arguing—fighting, their voices sharp and volatile. The tension between them was suffocating. Gareth and Ronan had to intervene, stepping between them before their anger could erupt into violence.

I couldn’t breathe. I had to leave. Right now.

My feet moved before my mind caught up, propelling me toward the door. Each breath felt like a battle as I raced into the corridor. I didn’t stop. I didn’t even glance back at Icarus, who might have been chasing after me. I wasn’t sure. All I knew was that I needed to keep running.

Before I realized it, I had burst outside, the cool air hitting my face like a slap. My legs carried me to the hedge maze, taking turn after turn as if I were desperate to lose myself in its twists and dead ends. Eventually, I came to a halt at a wall of dense greenery. A dead-end.

My back pressed against the hedge as I slid down to the ground, breathless and shaking. My entire body trembled, every nerve alive with the chaos of my thoughts.

Kenzo had said I was his mate.

The words echoed in my mind, relentless and impossible to ignore. I had always been captivated by the stories of wolves finding their destined mates—their one true love, the person they were fated to be with forever. It was beautiful, a dream of perfect, undeniable love. But if Kenzo’s claim was true, then staying with Hadrian meant defying fate itself.

And if that was true, then my happiness with Hadrian was a lie. A fragile illusion I clung to. If Kenzo was right, I was holding something far greater than my own joy in my hands.

But how could that be? I loved Hadrian. I knew I loved him. I felt it in every part of me. And yet, all I could offer Kenzo was kindness—no spark, no bond, just a hollow kindness.

I lifted my gaze to the sky, its heavy clouds mirroring the storm within me. The air was thick with the promise of rain, as though the heavens themselves mourned alongside me. Tears welled in my eyes, blurring the dreary gray above.

"Why does it have to be like this?!" I cried out, my voice breaking under the weight of my frustration. "I don’t feel any bond! This isn’t fair! I don’t want this!"

"You can’t feel it because you’re not a wolf."

The voice startled me, low and raw with emotion. Kenzo’s voice.

I looked up, finding him standing just a few feet away. His face was a canvas of pain, mirroring the turmoil in my own heart.

"Only I can feel the bond between us," he said softly, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "Isn’t that cruel?"

His words hit like a blow. I swallowed hard, my voice barely above a whisper. "Is that what you meant at the ball… when you talked about opposing my destiny?"

Tears spilled freely down my cheeks as I spoke.

Kenzo crouched beside me, his gaze locking onto mine. "I never wanted to hurt you. I hate seeing you in pain. But you can’t stay with Hadrian. You’re meant for me. For my pack."

His words tore through me. "That may be obvious to you," I said, my voice trembling, "but I don’t feel that way. I love Hadrian. He loves me."

Kenzo’s expression hardened, his voice laced with a bitterness that cut deep. "Are you sure about that?"

The question struck a nerve, and I hesitated, my certainty wavering. The words I wanted to say lodged in my throat. I pressed a hand to my chest, trying in vain to calm the ache there.

Kenzo’s hand covered mine, warm and steady. "Come with me," he said gently, his voice rich with promise. "I swear I will never hurt you."

I flinched, conflicted by the warmth in his tone. Something about his words unsettled me, stirring emotions I didn’t want to acknowledge. My heart was weary—so tired of the pain. And in its exhaustion, it betrayed me, whispering doubts I couldn’t quiet.

Destined love. The concept had always enchanted me, ever since I was a child listening to Oberon’s stories about wolves finding their mates. I’d thought it was beautiful, a dream too perfect to ever include me. But now… now it felt more like a curse.

Kenzo reached out, gently brushing away my tears. "You don’t belong here, Thalassa. Join my pack."

His words were a knife, cutting through my resolve. They were both tempting and unbearable.

Part of me wanted to run—leave the palace, leave the pain, leave everything behind. But the other part of me refused to surrender. I had fought too hard, sacrificed too much. I couldn’t give up now.

"No."

My voice was quiet but firm as I pushed his hand away.

"I’m sorry, Kenzo," I said, rising to my feet. "But going with you doesn’t feel right. We’ve only just met. I don’t feel anything for you—"

"Feelings will come in time," he interrupted, his tone pleading.

"You don’t get it!" I snapped, my frustration boiling over. "I love someone else! I belong to him—I’m his marked one!"

My voice echoed in the stillness, raw and defiant.

I shot a glare at Kenzo before brushing past him, heading back toward the Palace with determined strides.

“The vampire’s mark can be removed, Thalassa, but it won’t change the fact that you’re my mate!” Kenzo’s voice rang out, sharp and unwavering.

I halted mid-step, my back still to him. I didn’t dare turn around, too afraid to face the intensity in his eyes. Behind me, I heard the crunch of his footsteps growing closer until I could feel his presence just inches away.

“How…” My voice broke as I mumbled, “How can the mark be erased?”

“It’s simple,” Kenzo replied flatly, his tone devoid of warmth. “The marked one must make a declaration. Speak the words and break the blood bond. That’s all it takes.”

His explanation was cold and clinical, each word cutting through me like a blade. The stark emptiness of his tone sent an ache spreading through my chest, tightening around my heart.

“You say it as if what Hadrian and I share means nothing, but you’re wrong,” I hissed, turning my head just enough for my voice to carry. “If you truly don’t want to hurt me, stop speaking as though my relationship with him is some kind of joke.”

Without waiting for a response, I began walking again, anger igniting a fire in my steps.

“He’ll only hurt you again, Thalassa,” Kenzo called after me, his voice laced with chilling certainty.

“You don’t know that,” I retorted, refusing to look back.

“Yes, I do!” His words came louder, the sound of his footsteps quickening.

I spun around to face him, my frustration boiling over. “Stop! Whatever it is you’re trying to do—just stop!”

Kenzo froze, his eyes locking onto mine. Slowly, he reached out, placing a firm but gentle hand on my shoulder. “Thalassa,” he began, his voice soft yet resolute, “we’re leaving in two days. And I won’t sign the treaty unless you come with me.”

His words struck like thunder. My eyes widened as fury surged through me. “This is blackmail!” I yelled, slapping his hand away with enough force to send it recoiling.

“I’m doing this for your own good!” he roared, the raw power in his voice reverberating through the garden.

I stumbled back instinctively, fear flickering in my chest as I stared at him. For a moment, the tension between us hung heavy in the air. Then, his features softened.

“I’m sorry…” he sighed, his voice quieter now, tinged with regret. “I just don’t want to leave without you. Please, think about it.”

He turned abruptly, disappearing behind the hedges before I could say anything more.

Left alone, my heart thundered in my chest, my hands trembling uncontrollably. Fear and confusion swirled within me like a storm. On autopilot, I moved toward the east wing, barely aware of the path beneath my feet. The faces of those I passed blurred together, though I caught the worried stares they cast in my direction.

I must have looked dreadful. Pale as death. My tear-streaked face, ruined makeup—it didn’t matter. All I wanted was the solitude of my chamber, a place to let my tears fall freely.

With trembling hands, I turned the door handle, pushing it open. The door clicked shut behind me, and I found myself in the warmth of Hadrian’s arms.

He was there, waiting for me.

He pulled me close, his embrace strong and reassuring. Without a word, he lifted me into his arms and carried me to the bed. My mind reeled as I stared at him, half-convinced I was dreaming. Hesitantly, I reached up to touch his face, needing the physical confirmation that he was real.

“You’re here…” I whispered, my voice quivering. “You’re really here.”

“I never wanted to leave you for so long,” he murmured, his lips brushing against my forehead, cheeks, and finally my lips. Each kiss was gentle, full of unspoken apologies. “Forgive me.”

I wanted to forgive him. Forgiving him felt as natural as breathing. But this wasn’t about forgiveness. It was about something far more complicated.

“What if… what if I really am his mate?” I asked hesitantly, lowering my gaze.

Hadrian paused, his expression unreadable. “Do you feel like you belong to him?” he asked, his voice steady, though I could hear the faint tremor of anxiety beneath it.

“No,” I replied honestly. “I don’t feel anything for Kenzo.”

The tension in Hadrian’s shoulders eased, a small smile breaking across his face. Relief washed over him, lifting the shadow that had darkened his features.

“I won’t let you go, Thalassa,” he said, his voice firm with conviction. His arms tightened around me, holding me as if I might slip away. “You can’t leave me.”

“But… what about the peace treaty?” I asked, my voice wavering between logic and emotion.

He raised his head, his gaze locking with mine. “You are far more important to me than any treaty,” he said without hesitation.

His words sent a rush of warmth through me, igniting a flutter in my stomach that I hadn’t felt in days. My lips trembled into a smile as fresh tears spilled down my cheeks, painting them pink.

“But this is about peace…” I muttered weakly, trying to hold onto reason.

“We’ll find another way,” he assured me, pulling me closer still. “But no one—no one—is taking away the woman I love.”