CHAPTER 5: DOES HE LIKE ME TOO?

Orvyn looks more breathtaking than before. He wears a royal blue cloak trimmed with gold, and a golden crown rested on his head, which makes the colors of his eyes glow brighter. His posture is sharp and strong, and his presence fills the hall.

All the she-wolves giggle, as if becoming more desperate to be chosen by him.

“He’s even more handsome in person than in photos,” one whispers.

Another adds, “And he’s tall and has a great physique too!”

I should be more determined to be Orvyn’s chosen mate. But as I start piecing the puzzle together, I realize that he already hinted that his choice will be politically driven, which means that his queen must be someone powerful and whose bloodline could help him rule. 

It’s not me. It can never be me.

My shoulders drop as doubt fills my heart once again.

Orvyn steps down the stairs, prompting the other she-wolves to rush forward. They smile sweetly, bat their lashes, and try to draw him in. Orvyn is polite to each of them, but his eyes are distant.

Then, all at once, his gaze flickers… to my direction.

He smiles with all genuineness.

I freeze as he strides past the other she-wolves, ignoring their shocked gasps.

“I’m glad you accepted my invitation.” He bows slightly and reaches out his gloved hand. “May I have the honor to dance with you?”

My heart thuds. Why me? What is he seeing in me that’s making him act the way he does?

Still, my fingers slowly reach out, slipping into his. 

As we walk toward the center of the hall, all eyes are on me. She-wolves glare and arch their brows, some mouths hung open in disbelief. But I don’t care. 

Orvyn places a gentle hand on my waist, while I rest mine on his shoulder. As we dance, the world blurs.

My chest aches with hope: Maybe it’s not about power for him. Maybe he just wants something real. Maybe he likes me too.

“You look beautiful tonight. That pink dress suits you perfectly,” Orvyn says, his voice has a hint of seduction. 

My cheeks burn, provoking me to lower my eyes and give a shy smile.

“Thank you for being so nice to me. But compared to the other she-wolves… I’m not beautiful. I don’t have makeup on. My hair isn’t even professionally styled.”

Orvyn gently tilts my chin up. “But you’re the one who caught my eyes. That’s why I headed directly to you.”

Slowly, his long fingers brush lightly across my neck and slide down to my collarbone, making my skin tingle.

He leans closer, voice just a whisper. “How would it feel if I mark you here?” 

Mark?

I feel dizzy when my heart thuds even harder. 

Does that mean he’s feeling it too? The pull—the bond?

My gaze drops to his lips, expecting a kiss as he leans down further. 

But then,...

The moment shatters.

A she-wolf steps forward, wearing a smile full of confidence.

She’s stunning. Not just because of her beauty, but because of her dress, which isn’t meant for a royal ball but for the red carpet.

Her metallic gold gown hugs her perfect shape. The back is low, and one side has a high slit that shows her long, flawless leg.

Based on her fiery red hair and eyes, she must be from the Bloodbane Pack—my pack’s rival in wealth and power.

Orvyn looks mesmerized too. They stare at each other with longing, and something more. 

Then, without a word, Orvyn turns his back on me. He offers his hand to her. She accepts it in a heartbeat. And they dance, completely lost in the music.

Just like that… I’m alone, my heart slowly cracking.

The she-wolves who once envied me now look at me with grins of victory and mockery.

I blink fast, trying to stop the tears. But one escapes, sliding down my cheek.

Just moments ago, I felt seen. Chosen. Now… I’m forgotten. Abandoned.

Monique appears beside me and whispers like a secret, “She’s Victoria of the Bloodbane Pack. A Beta by birthright. And King Orvyn’s fated mate. If she’s not chosen to be queen, she’ll still be his royal concubine.”

Fated mate - The words echo in my mind, slicing through my heart like sharp glass. 

Monique smirks at me just like what the other she-wolves did. “I hope you now know your place. King Orvyn will never fall in love with someone like you. So stop being desperate.”

I flicker my gaze back to Orvyn and Victoria. They’re still smiling at each other, their foreheads nearly touching. They look… in love and inseparable, complete.

So why make me feel special if it’s not for politics or love? 

Is it pity because I’m out of place? Or worse… is he toying with my vulnerability?

My chest continues to heave with pain I can’t hide anymore.

I turn away. Without looking back, I push through the crowd and run out of the palace and through its colossal gates.

It’s clear! Orvyn won’t give me the freedom and love I’ve longed for. He warned me about it in the shop, but I’m too stubborn and delusional to listen.

I keep sprinting without a particular destination, until I find myself in the woods. 

I sit on an old log with the moonlight slipping through the trees and casting soft silver on the ground. Crickets chirp, and the wind rustles the leaves. 

I hug my knees and close my eyes, trying to forget Orvyn, and everything that breaks my heart.

However,...

A sharp noise echoes from behind the thick bushes, distracting me.

My body tenses, ready to shift if needed. 

Then, all at once, four figures burst through the bushes.

Rogues!

Dirty. Wild. Bloodlust in their eyes as they circle me slowly, grinning. 

One licks his lips. “Well, look what we found, a meaty and fatty she-wolf, all alone.”