Chapter 173

Chapter 178
Natalie POV


I woke to sunlight streaming through the simple curtains of Nathan's spare room. My hand instinctively reached across the bed, finding only empty space where Nathan had been. Last night rushed back to me—our conversation about being mates, the gentle kiss we'd shared, the way we'd fallen asleep holding hands. Now he was gone, and I needed to face what came next.

The pack would know by now. Nathan wouldn't keep this from them—he couldn't. An Alpha's mate was too significant to hide, even if I was a temporary, complicated arrangement.

I dressed quickly in borrowed clothes, steeling myself for the curious stares I'd inevitably face. When I stepped outside, I was right. The entire pack seemed to be gathered in the courtyard of the castle grounds, and at the center stood Nathan, his tall figure commanding attention.

His eyes found mine instantly, and a smile broke across his face—warm and reassuring. The wolves around him turned to follow his gaze, and I felt the weight of dozens of stares, some curious, others wary, a few openly hostile.

I lifted my chin slightly, embracing the royal posture that had been drilled into me since childhood. If they wanted to scrutinize me, they'd see a princess, not a frightened girl.

Nathan strode toward me, closing the distance with purpose. Without hesitation, he took my hand in his, the touch sending that familiar current of energy between us that I was still getting used to.

"Come," he said softly, tugging me gently toward the gathered wolves.

I followed, hyper-aware of every reaction around us. The silence was thick as Nathan positioned us before his pack, still holding my hand.

"Many of you have been wondering about our guest," Nathan began, his voice carrying easily across the courtyard. "I believe the Moon Goddess sent Natalie to us for a reason. Recently, I discovered she is my mate."

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. I kept my expression neutral, though my heart hammered against my ribs.

A woman near the front—tall with auburn hair and skeptical eyes—stepped forward. "That's all well and good, Alpha, but how would this work? She's a princess who lives in a castle." Her tone sharpened.

I felt Nathan's hand tighten around mine.

"I know," he acknowledged. "We haven't worked out those details yet. But we will." His voice grew more confident. "Don't worry—we'll figure this out. We'll find a solution that helps everyone. I promise."

The crowd seemed only partially satisfied, but they began to disperse, returning to their daily tasks with new gossip to chew on. I noticed their sidelong glances as they walked away, their whispered conversations.

Later that morning, I sought refuge with the animals. The farm area was peaceful, filled with chickens strutting importantly around their coop, goats bleating for attention, and rabbits twitching their noses at my unfamiliar scent.

I was tossing feed to the chickens when Doris found me. She approached cautiously, watching as I scattered grain across the dirt.

"Are you okay?" she asked. "You're awfully quiet. Usually, you talk more, but when Nathan told everyone those things, you didn't say a word."

I sighed, staring at the scrambling birds. "There's nothing I can't handle."

"I know," Doris agreed. "But right now, you don't seem to know what to say."

She was right. I'd been trained to handle diplomatic crises, supernatural threats, and royal duties—but navigating this unexpected mate bond with a pack leader who lived completely outside my world? That wasn't in any lesson plan.

"Let's feed these little creatures," Doris suggested, filling the silence.

For the next hour, we worked together—feeding the animals, collecting eggs from indignant hens, milking the goats. The simple, physical work cleared my head in a way that thinking alone never could. My hands grew sore, my borrowed shirt stained with dirt and animal feed, but I felt oddly satisfied.

When we carried the milk and eggs to the kitchens, I stayed to help with breakfast preparation. The women cooking glanced at me strangely, their expressions more complex than before.

I kept my head down, focusing on cracking eggs and stirring batter, avoiding their gazes. I had enough to sort through without adding their expectations to my mental load.

I was a wolf princess, heir to the throne. I had royal duties, a mother searching for me, and at least two other potential mates waiting back home. But I couldn't deny this connection to Nathan, or how much I admired his pack's way of life. They didn't want to change how they lived, but I couldn't escape who I was—a princess with responsibilities to the entire werewolf kingdom.

By midday, my thoughts were too tangled to concentrate. I slipped away from the compound, heading into the forest toward the water. Nathan had shown me a beautiful clear spot—a deeper section of the stream that widened into a natural pool. I knew he'd likely follow me eventually. Alphas were protective by nature, especially of their mates.

When I reached the water, I stripped down and waded in. The cool current felt divine against my skin, washing away sweat and tension. I submerged completely, pushing off the rocky bottom to swim deeper. The pool was more profound than I'd expected, and I followed its underwater channel downstream before turning to swim back.

As I approached my starting point, I spotted Nathan sitting on a flat rock by the water's edge. He watched me with those intense eyes that seemed to see straight through me.

I swam toward him, resting my arms on the edge of his rock, letting the water support the rest of my body.

"You've been avoiding me all day," he said, concern etching his features. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No," I assured him quickly. "Of course not. Your pack deserved to know."

He studied me. "Then why are you avoiding me? I'm really starting to wonder what this mate bond is all about."

The water lapped gently against my skin as I gathered my thoughts. "That's just it. I know what the mate bond means. The longer I stay here, the harder it becomes to refuse you—and you probably wouldn't accept my refusal anyway."

Nathan's eyebrows shot up. "Am I supposed to accept it?"

"Yes," I explained. "If you don't accept it, the mate bond persists. If I weren't a princess... if I were anyone else, this would all be so much simpler."

"You have to go back," he said. It wasn't a question.

I nodded, water dripping from my hair.

"Well," Nathan said firmly, "then we definitely have a lot to figure out. Because I won't reject you, and I won't accept your rejection either."

"Sometimes I think I've told you too much," I admitted. "But even for rejection to happen, I'd have to tell you to accept or reject."

I watched his expression soften.

"Do you think your mother and the royal guards are looking for you?" Nathan asked suddenly.

"I know they are," I replied. "But they won't find me."

"How do you know?" He frowned. "I'd think royalty would have the best trackers."

I hesitated before revealing a crucial piece of information. "They do. But I've placed a magical barrier around this pack. No one can find it."

"You put up a magical barrier for us?" Nathan looked genuinely surprised.

"Yes. For you and me. If you want me to take it down, tell me."

"No, don't do that. Not now, at least." He stood up, brushing off his pants. "But I should let my patrol know. Will they get hurt if they run into it?"

"They'll get a magical shock," I told him.

Nathan let out a small laugh as he turned to leave, apparently amused by the thought of his patrol encountering my barrier. I pushed away from the rock and returned to swimming, the cool water embracing me as I contemplated what the future might hold.