News traveled faster than the wind itself in the West Wood Pack. Naturally, the fact that Kael had been discussing his terms of his mateship with the alpha princess of the Night Ridge Pack quickly spread like wildfire. Eventually, it reached the houses of the other alpha princes.
Lorenzo, for one, was having breakfast when he heard the news from Rui. He stood up quickly from his seat.
“What? He’s taking another mate?” he asked, aghast.
Rui, Lorenzo’s beta, patiently explained what he gathered.
“Alpha Prince, there’s nothing we can do about this,” Rui insisted. “And about the rogue, nothing has been confirmed about their mateship either.”
Lorenzo spun to look at him. “Are you saying he still hasn’t marked Naya?”
“Well… About that, everyone believes they have already bonded,” Rui said. “But it’s unsure whether she’s been marked.”
Before he could continue, Lorenzo had already grabbed his clothes, preparing to leave.
“What are you planning to do, Alpha Prince?” Rui asked worriedly.
“I will confirm it with my own eyes,” Lorenzo stated. “I need to see if she’s been marked or not.”
Rui wanted to stop the prince but before he could even speak, Lorenzo already opened the door. Yet, as he did, they were both stunned to see another person there.
A fair woman stood with her long black hair and soft blue eyes that seemed to twinkle with coldness. She stared at Lorenzo coldly before saying, “I was asked to come and have breakfast with you. Were you actually heading out at this time?”
She peeked behind, spotting the table where Lorenzo had just been earlier.
Lorenzo gulped down. Although the mateship rite had been postponed, the bride candidates for their mate positions were still requested to stay in the pack. He totally forgot that he would meet this person – Alpha Princess Jewel – who came from the Lotus Maiden Pack.
She was younger than Lorenzo by a few years, but she appeared to be more mature and a lot calmer in terms of personality. There was also that aura of coldness and authority around her that made people think twice before trying to offend her.
Despite all of this, Lorenzo had already decided.
“Princess Jewel, I’m really sorry but this isn’t really the right time for us to have breakfast together,” he said with sincerity. “I will arrange another meal for us.”
If Princess Jewel felt offended, she didn’t show it on her face. Calmly, she sighed, “I see. Then, I will head back to my quarters.”
Lorenzo and Rui exchanged glances. There was a silent protest in Rui’s eyes, as if to tell Lorenzo that he was making a mistake. But then again, Lorenzo wouldn’t want to sit back and enjoy his morning while another person suffered.
He had to see Naya no matter what.
Later, he and Rui reached Kael’s house. As expected, Kael had left earlier and still hadn’t come home.
Two guards immediately greeted them.
“I’m sorry but Prince Kael said we can’t allow anyone to enter. I hope Alpha Prince Lorenzo understands,” the head servant assigned to watch over Kael’s pack house stated. He kept bowing down in apology to Lorenzo.
Lorenzo didn’t want to scold people who were innocent. In fact, as far as he knew, the people who followed Kael were all being mistreated and manipulated by him only. In other words, all of them were abused by Kael and deserved to be free.
“Can you at least tell me if Naya is inside?” Lorenzo asked.
Rui looked at the two guards then at the head servant, coldly saying, “Tell us the truth. You are facing Alpha Prince Lorenzo. Lie and we can give you punishment anytime.”
“Rui,” Lorenzo scolded lightly.
Very patiently, he faced the servant and the guards. “I’m asking because I want to give her something.”
As he said so, he pulled out a pouch containing different nuts.
Rui was stunned. When did Lorenzo go out and took those things?
Unbothered and with a mission, Lorenzo further insisted, “I will also give all of you the same.”
Nuts were precious things in this world after all. When the servant and two guards heard the offer, they couldn’t help but feel delighted.
“If it’s Alpha Prince’s wish, then maybe we can deliver it to Alpha Prince Kael’s mate,” the servant said.
Lorenzo gave them a smile. This confirmed his thoughts. Naya was being locked up inside Kael’s house. The uneasiness in his heart grew further while handing the pouch. But as he was about to leave, the door opened, revealing none other than Naya herself.
“Naya…”
Standing with a new set of clean clothes and her hair braided, Naya stood with no expression. She spotted Lorenzo then slowly looked down at the pouch.
Meanwhile, Lorenzo couldn’t help but feel mesmerized. For a long while, he stood with his eyes slightly opened, his heart beating fast while staring at Naya.
Naya cleared her throat, “What brought you here, Alpha Prince?”
Snapping out of his daze, Lorenzo answered, “I came to see you. I knew you’re being kept—I mean, you’re here.” He took the pouch and extended his hand, “Here. I brought this for you.”
Sensing everyone’s eyes were on them that made Naya somewhat uneasy, Lorenzo asked everyone to leave them alone.
Rui bribed the rest of the servants, leaving Naya and Lorenzo.
They walked together in the garden. Compared to Lorenzo’s garden, Kael’s garden was smaller. It was clear that he didn’t spend much time in this area. It would even be questionable if he spent even a minute at this place in a day.
On the other hand, Lorenzo had moments when he wanted to relax with nature. It was why he particularly took care of his garden well.
Lorenzo hated anything about Kael but for the sake of Naya, he was willing to walk to the almost dead garden.
“Thank you for the tree nuts,” Naya said as they walked.
Lorenzo took another step closer. It had been a long time since they faced each other like this. There was a small eagerness in his heart that told him to touch her, hold her hand. Yet, when he saw her beautiful face and neck, he retracted his hand, the most important matter immediately entering his head.
“Did he mark you?” Lorenzo asked.
Naya knew exactly what Lorenzo meant.
“We have bonded,” Naya stated, eyes glancing down at the plants.
A sigh escaped out of Lorenzo’s lips. He paced forward, facing Naya. “I don’t understand. I thought you were running away from him. He hurt you, he humiliated you. He’s not treating you right.”
Naya looked further down, her expression hidden. “It’s unavoidable. We are mates.”
Lorenzo shook his head, his eagerness to save Naya out of Kael’s world pushing him to move faster, closer to Naya.
He stood before her and pointed out with a deep, serious gaze, “Not all mates need to bond. They can reject each other.”
Deep inside, Lorenzo knew what he said actually didn’t hold much power. In reality, between mates in this world, only the person who was higher in blood and status could reject their mate.
Kael was a full-blooded alpha, the highest blood rank after the pack Alpha himself. Naturally, between him and Naya, he was the one who could reject her.
He had the power to destroy their bond as mates.
Naya looked up, seeing the depth of Lorenzo’s eyes. It was clear to see – what Lorenzo thought, she also did.
Lorenzo released a helpless breath, moving even closer. He looked at Naya in the eyes, thought about how Kael was now busily arranging his mateship with another woman, and felt more determined.
He swallowed all his fears and told Naya straightly, “Choose me.”
Naya was stunned.
“Choose me as your arranged mate. That way, I can help you break your bond with him.”