Chapter 45 45
Venessa’s POV
I truly believed Denzel had brought me along to settle his debt with the bears.
When Alpha Keon demanded me outright, it felt as though I had been stripped of my humanity and reduced to a bargaining chip. An object. Something that could be traded to balance scales and soothe wounded pride. The pain of that realization cut deep and what hurt just as much was Denzel’s hesitation, his attempts to maneuver around the situation instead of addressing it head-on.
In that moment, all I could think was why bring me here at all if he never intended to give me to them?
I convinced myself that this had always been his plan to see if he could avoid sacrificing me, and if not, to hand me over to appease the bears.
My vision blurred, tears gathering despite my efforts to stop them. Nyla felt it too the betrayal, sharp and aching. I had believed he wanted me there for something important, something meaningful. Instead, I was nothing more than currency.
My heart was still breaking when he dropped to his knees.
No Alpha does that.
No king-to-be humiliates himself in front of other rulers.
But he did.
And when he confessed when he said I was his fated and begged them not to take me from him something inside me shattered completely. The tears spilled freely, unstoppable.
He wants us, Nyla whispered, awed.
Denzel was degrading himself to prevent a war. To keep me. He was doing this for me.
I didn’t know how to feel. The emotions crashed together hurt, relief, disbelief, longing. I wiped at my face, trying to steady myself. For a fleeting moment, I wanted to give myself up willingly so he wouldn’t have to sacrifice his honor.
But I knew he would never allow it.
“Venessa,” Tonya linked softly, her voice tinged with something like hurt. “Why didn’t you tell me you and the Alpha were fated?”
“We rejected each other,” I admitted. “And he’s married. There was no point.”
She didn’t reply, and I felt the weight of her silence.
When the king accepted Denzel’s plea and invited us to stay for dinner, relief washed through me so strongly I nearly sagged. It meant I was going home with him. That I wasn’t being left behind.
Alpha Keon, however, was clearly displeased. His expression told me everything if it had been his choice, the outcome would have been very different. But his king had spoken, and that was final.
Tonya and I were assigned the same room for the night. She remained quiet until the door closed behind us.
“The Alpha cares about you, Venessa,” she said gently.
I didn’t need her to tell me that.
“I know.”
“Do you think he’ll reject Luna Jalisa for you?” she asked.
I shook my head immediately. “Don’t say that, Tonya. And you need to pretend you don’t know anything. I don’t want you getting into trouble.”
She smiled and nodded.
“So many things make sense now,” she continued. “The way you two look at each other when you think no one’s watching. How fast he comes to your defense. How he shields you. I wouldn’t be surprised if Luna Jalisa knows that’s probably why she hates you.”
“She knows,” I said quietly. “But it doesn’t matter. He rejected me in front of her.”
Tonya smiled knowingly.
“I doubt that rejection worked. He was desperate back there, Venessa. Truly desperate. I think the bond is still very much alive.”
She sat on the bed, bounced slightly, and laughed.
“I hope I find my mate someday. This… this gives me hope.”
That was one of the things I loved most about Tonya her joy was sincere.
What are you doing? Denzel’s voice suddenly brushed against my mind.
Butterflies erupted instantly.
After everything he’d done, I couldn’t doubt him anymore.
“Nothing, Alpha,” I replied, and Nyla purred mischievously.
We need to talk. Meet me in the corridor.
The connection closed.
Tonya had already curled into the bed, drifting toward sleep. I told her I’d be stepping out, and she nodded without question.
Denzel was waiting for me in the passage.
He looked… devastating. Stronger somehow. More alive.
The knowledge that he had humbled himself for me filled me with a quiet, dangerous joy. I allowed myself to bask in it just for a moment. In the feeling of being wanted.
I smiled at him.
He opened his arms.
I stepped into his space without thinking, and he led me toward his room. The door closed behind us with a soft click, the lock sliding into place.
My heart began to race.
And suddenly, I was very aware that we were alone.