Chapter 179

Chapter 184
Natalie POV


I took a deep breath, steeling myself for his reaction, my hand coming to rest on his chest where I could feel his heart beating steadily beneath my palm. "You know I can't stay here long term. I have royal duties"

His expression faltered, a flash of pain crossing his features before he masked it with understanding, but he nodded. "I know you have your responsibilities. But I can't deny what I feel for you." He covered my hand with his, pressing it more firmly against his chest.

"I know that too. Because I feel it for you as well." I reached out with my other hand to touch his face, tracing the strong line of his cheekbone. "But Jackson is my guard now, and he's worried sick about me. I can't just abandon my responsibilities. I really hope you understand." The words felt inadequate, unable to convey the complexity of emotions swirling within me—desire, duty, regret, and a deep, inexplicable connection to this man I'd known for such a short time.

Nathan captured my hand with his, turning it to press a kiss to my palm, his lips warm against my skin. "I'm not expecting you to abandon your duties. I guess I just want to be with you for as long as possible." The raw honesty in his voice made my chest tighten painfully.

I felt my heart constrict at his words, knowing they came from a place of genuine emotion rather than manipulation. "I understand. I really am sorry. But we do need to make some difficult decisions now." I swallowed hard, forcing myself to continue meeting his gaze even as tears threatened to form.

I watched his face, noticing the indecision in his eyes as they flicked between me and the door that led to his wolf village, the weight of responsibility visible in the slight furrow of his brow. He was struggling, torn between what he wanted and what might be best for everyone involved, including his pack who needed their Alpha focused and present.

"Can we talk more about this tomorrow?" he finally asked, his thumb gently stroking the inside of my wrist where my pulse beat rapidly. "Just... let me think about it overnight?"

"Of course," I agreed, relief and sadness mingling in my chest, creating a hollow ache that I suspected would not soon fade.

Nathan leaned forward and kissed me gently, a softness in the gesture that hadn't been there before, then wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close against his side. I rested my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat slow as sleep gradually claimed him, his breathing deepening into the steady rhythm of slumber.

I lay awake long after Nathan's breathing had deepened and steadied, staring at the ceiling in the darkness, watching the shadows cast by moonlight shift and dance across the log walls. Beside me, he slept peacefully, his face relaxed and vulnerable in sleep, unaware of the decision forming in my mind like a cold, hard crystal.

Looking at his sleeping form—so sweet, so handsome, so innocent in repose—I knew what I had to do, what he couldn't bring himself to do. I carefully extracted myself from his embrace, moving with the stealth that came naturally to my wolf nature, wincing when he stirred but relaxing when he settled back into sleep, one arm reaching unconsciously for where I had been.

I dressed silently, retrieving my scattered clothing from around the cabin, each movement deliberate and controlled to avoid making noise. Once dressed, I searched for paper and a pen, finding them on a small desk by the window where moonlight spilled in, providing just enough illumination to write by. I sat down and began to write, the pen scratching softly against the paper.

[Nathan]

[I know you can't make this decision, and I can't force a rejection from you yet. I know that eventually, you would want to reject me, and you have every right to do so. I'll know when you're ready, and I'll come back to receive that rejection.]

[I'm sorry for leaving like this, but I think it's easier for both of us—especially for me. I can't stay any longer. I need to get back to the castle. There are other people waiting for me, and I have royal responsibilities to attend to.]

[I'm sorry again. You'll always hold a special place in my heart. I'll never forget you or stop loving you.]

[Natalie]

A tear splashed onto the paper, smudging the ink slightly. I quickly wiped my eyes, folded the note, and placed it prominently on the pillow where my head had rested, where he would see it immediately upon waking. Then I crept to the door, my hand hesitating on the latch for just a moment before I pulled it open as quietly as possible and slipped outside into the cold night air.

The village was dark and silent, every home buttoned up against the winter chill, everyone asleep. The only sounds were the soft whisper of wind through the trees and the occasional creak of a settling building. I moved like a shadow through the settlement, my footsteps silent in the fresh snow, making my way to the forest at the edge of the territory. Moonlight bathed everything in silver, making the snow-covered landscape glow with an ethereal light that seemed to mark my path.

At the tree line, I paused, looking back one last time at the place that had become a temporary haven, at the small cluster of cabins that represented a life I might have had in another reality, another time. The simplicity and community I'd found here had touched something deep within me, something I hadn't realized I was missing.

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and felt the familiar rush of heat and pain as my body transformed. Bones shifted, muscles stretched, and skin gave way to the silver fur that marked me as unique even among werewolves.

My senses sharpened dramatically, the night suddenly alive with scents and sounds my human form could never detect. In my wolf form—the rare silver coat gleaming in the moonlight like liquid mercury—I stood tall, my breath clouding the cold air before me.

With one last glance back at Nathan's cabin, barely visible in the distance, I turned and disappeared into the trees, my powerful legs carrying me swiftly through the snow-laden forest, racing toward the royal castle and the responsibilities that awaited me there.

The wind carried my scent away from the village, ensuring I would be gone without a trace by morning.