Chapter 17 What's wrong?
CATHERINE
Kane’s presence filled the dining room before I even saw him the next morning. He was sitting at the head of the table, looking like he had been waiting. I could already feel the tension brewing as I approached him.
“Good morning,” he said, trying for a smile, though it looked strained.
I nodded, taking a seat across from him. He cleared his throat, making an awkward attempt at conversation after minutes of silence between us.
“Did you sleep well?”
I shrugged, focusing on my food, not wanting to engage. It was hard to forget the way he’d cornered me last night, demanded things of me like I had no say.
Even if part of me had reacted… well, I was determined not to let him think that gave him any sort of power over me.
He tried again. “The staff mentioned that you seem to like the roses in the garden. I had them arrange more roses if that’s what you liked.”
I raised an eyebrow but stayed silent, taking a deliberate sip of my tea. His attempt at small talk felt strange, almost forced.
The silence stretched again, and I could see the frustration building in his eyes. Finally, his hand clenched, and he leaned forward, his voice sharper than it had been moments before.
“This is ridiculous. I’m trying to make an effort here, Catherine, but you...”
“Oh, right,” I interrupted, rolling my eyes. “Make an effort by yelling at me? Very endearing.”
He stiffened as his temper flared, and for a second, I thought he would storm off, but instead, he stopped and took a deep breath.
“You think I enjoy losing my temper? Being like this?” He shook his head, the frustration giving way to something more vulnerable.
“I’m trying, Catherine. I’m trying to get you to like me, but you won’t even give me a chance. It’s as if you’ve already made up your mind about me.”
His words caught me off guard. Kane was rarely this open; he was always intense, controlled, almost intimidating, but this was different. I could see a hint of sincerity in his eyes, something he wasn’t used to giving.
I felt a pang of guilt, realizing I hadn’t exactly made things easy for him either.
“I…” I hesitated, then sighed, looking away. “Maybe I haven’t been fair either. I’m sorry if I’ve made you feel that way.”
His gaze softened, and he nodded, relaxing a little.
“Thank you. I know it’s complicated between us, but I’d like to try, if you’re willing.”
I looked back at him, feeling an unexpected warmth in my chest.
“Then maybe we should make a deal.”
“A deal?” He raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
“Yes.” I folded my hands in front of me, feeling a bit of the tension start to melt. “We’ll spend the day together. Just us. And we’ll try not to get on each other’s nerves.”
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“You think we can manage that?”
I shrugged. “We can try.”
“Fine.” He extended his hand with amusement in his eyes. “Deal.”
I shook his hand feeling his warm touch and surprisingly gently lingered a bit longer than necessary. For once, I felt like there was hope between us.
“Then it’s settled,” he said softly than before. “Today, it’s just you and me.”
Kane had chose a restaurant away from the castle for us to spend time together.
The restaurant he chose was a hidden gem, tucked away along the edge of the forest. Despite the restaurant's simplicity, it felt oddly luxurious.
Kane pulled out a chair for me, showing his gentlemanly gesture, yet somehow carrying that same controlled intensity I was beginning to associate with him. I sat down, and he took the seat across from me, while he stared at me with a faint, unreadable smile playing on his lips.
“Thank you for bringing me here,” I said, glancing around. “It’s beautiful.”
He nodded. “I thought you might like a quieter place.”
As lunch was served, I tried to ease into conversation, curious about him. There were so many things I wanted to understand about this man, the Lycan King with a reputation for ferocity, yet capable of these softer moments.
“So,” I started, deciding to keep it light. “What did you do for fun when you were younger?”
He raised an eyebrow, as if the question was unexpected.
“Fun?” He leaned back in his chair, considering. “I didn’t exactly have time for it. My father kept me busy.”
“Busy?” I echoed, noticing the change in his tone.
“Training, learning how to run the kingdom, everything I needed to prepare for my position.” He shrugged, and I could tell that even this brief answer had limits to what he wanted to reveal.
“Well,” I probed, smiling to ease him. “When you did get a moment of freedom, what did you do with it?”
He hesitated, then let out a low chuckle. “Sometimes I’d escape to the river nearby. Swim, clear my mind.”
I imagined a younger version of him, slipping away to find peace in nature. The image softened him in my mind, erasing the intimidating aura he always carried.
But every question I asked, he responded with a careful, almost measured answer. It was as if he was walking on the edge, revealing only what he felt I was to know.
I couldn’t help myself from pushing a bit further.
“And what about family? You mentioned your father. Was he strict?”
Kane’s expression hardened briefly, and he nodded.
“My father was demanding. He believed in discipline and strength above all else.” His voice was distant this time.
I held back, sensing I’d probably touched on a painful subject.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
He waved a hand, brushing it off.
“You’re curious, I understand.” He met my gaze, a slight smirk returning to his face, as though he found my persistence amusing.
“I just want to get to know you better,” I admitted.
For a brief moment, he softened, his guarded expression faltering.
“And maybe I want the same with you,” he said gently.
My heart gave a strange, treacherous tug. “Then tell me, where were you when I arrived at the castle?” I asked, trying to hide the nervousness in my voice.
He tensed for a moment, but his answer came smoothly.
“Business. Some affairs I needed to handle outside of the kingdom.”
I nodded, though I sensed there was more he wasn’t telling me. Kane’s life seemed cloaked in mystery, his past tightly guarded, like he feared it might reveal too much of the man behind the crown.
Before I could press further, his phone buzzed. He glanced at it, his jaw tightening as he answered.
“Yes?” he uttered curtly.
I could only hear his side of the conversation, but his expression grew darker with every passing second.
“What happened?” he demanded, clenching his hand. “Where is she now?”
He glanced at me, the intensity in his gaze shifting to something unreadable.
“I’ll be there soon,” he said before hanging up.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, curious and worried.
Kane’s face was stony, but he forced a calm tone.
“It’s my mother. She’s been in an accident.”
“Oh no,” I whispered, feeling a strange pang for him.
“I have to go,” he said, rising from his seat. His gaze lingered on me for a moment, almost like he wanted to say something more.
Then, just as quickly as he had brought me here, he left, disappearing through the restaurant doors, leaving me alone.