CHAPTER 6: JEALOUSY

The four rogues circle me, snarling with their eyes gleaming with hunger.

With a deep breath, I shift and growl fiercely, ready to defend myself.

But,...

Just as I bend my legs to leap, a strong gust of wind blows behind me. A shadow leaps past me in a blur and lands in front of me with grace and power. It’s a massive wolf, a lycan!

“Did they hurt you?” the lycan asks in a low growl.

My eyes widen at the recognition. That voice, it’s Orvyn’s!

Why is he here, leaving the ball? Did he follow me? But why? To confuse my feelings again? 

One rogue smirks. “Well, well, look who we got here tonight.”

Another sneers. “A piercing left hazel eye and a cold blue one on the right. No doubt, this is gonna be our most expensive and delicious meal ever!”

Before I can even blink, the four rogues lunge at once. Orvyn meets them head-on with a thunderous roar, shaking the forest.

Blood splatters the ground. Bodies flow through the air. Loud thuds and howls echo.

Orvyn is fast, strong, and sharp, obviously well-trained for combat. Even so, the rogues have the numbers. They claw at his sides, wounding and weakening him.

I can’t just watch and do nothing! 

I growl and leap to help Orvyn.

But he turns and shouts, “Don’t! I will not let you get hurt! Not under my watch!”

I freeze, as if his words have some spell that makes me obey them. 

All my life, I’ve only ever have myself to rely on—no one ever shielded me and fought for me. But now, someone… a king is willing to bleed for me. And that terrifies me more than being alone ever does.

In the spur of the moment, loud pawsteps echo, going in our direction. 

When the royal guards appear, the rogues frenziedly limp away. Some of the royal guards chase them through the trees. Others rush to Orvyn’s side as he falls to his knees, panting, and shifting back into his human form. 

Orvyn smiles at me, his gaze soft. “Happy to see you’re unhurt.” He then orders the royal guards, “Bring Thalissia inside the palace and make sure she’s safe.”

As we all walk back, Orvyn adds, “Don’t go anywhere again and make me worry like that. I’ll see the royal doctors first then return to finish the ball. So wait for me there.”

I... worry him? Is that a subtle confession that I matter to him? But what about his fated mate? Monique can’t be lying. My wolf was hurt when it felt their mate bond. 

If he already has a fated mate, whom he’s in love with, what am I to him?

I step back into the grand hall, transitioning to my human form, with my dress muddy at the hem and my eyes fixed on the floor.

“Thalissia!” Alpha Nympha calls in a sharp voice, her arms crossed, her face tight with annoyance. 

Other she-wolves from our pack stand behind her, sneering.

“King Orvyn ran after you half an hour ago. You’re back, but he’s not. What did you do out there alone with him?” she asks.

“I’m sure nothing romantic happened. I mean, how could the king stomach romancing a fat girl like you?” another she-wolf adds, awkwardly convincing herself more than anyone else.

I hate entertaining them and making the situation worse. So I keep my silence.

Just then, the MC’s voice echoes across the hall. “King Orvyn had an encounter with rogues while protecting one of his guests. But don’t worry. He is safe now and will be joining us shortly. Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.”

Gasps fill the air. Then comes whispers, glares, and judgment. All eyes turn to me.

Monique storms toward me and hisses, “Because of your childish drama, you endangered my brother and almost ruined this sacred ceremony!”

She grabs my dress by the shoulder and accidentally rips it. Her eyes widen in shock—but she doesn’t apologize. She turns away coldly, pretending that nothing happens.

The others laugh, join in, and tear more of my dress. 

“No! Please!” I beg.

But they don’t stop.

There’s an urge for me to fight back, and rip their dresses and grab their neatly embellished hairs too, but I stop myself. 

“You deserve it,” Alpha Nympha smirks.

Once they’re satisfied, I’m in rags, crying and hiding my body as much as I can.

I can’t look at anyone out of humiliation. I wanna run away again, but then remember the consequences of doing it earlier. 

In the end, I remain stuck at the corner, my gaze on the floor, my arms covering my body.

Unexpectedly,...

Victoria, Orvyn’s fated mate, approaches me with a blank expression. “I’m sorry this has to happen to you. Orvyn would protect and risk his life for anyone, including them. It’s his duty as our king. So they have no reason to be jealous and cruel to you like this.”

Her voice is soft, but the message is clear: You’re not special. You’re protected out of duty, nothing more.

When Orvyn finally returns, his eyes find me at once, as if he’s really searching for me.

“What happened? Who did that to you?” he asks, voice sharp with rage.

Instead of answering him that’ll surely escalate the tension, I just reply, “Thank you so much for giving me the chance to experience this one-of-a-kind event. But, if you’d excuse me, I’d like to go home now.”

As I turn to leave, Orvyn reaches out and gently holds my arm. 

“You’re not going,” he says. “The ball is about to end, and I want you to stay until then.”

“Please, I—”

Orvyn pulls me with him, forcing me to walk up the stairs and putting me under the excruciating spotlight once again.

He’d probably shame or punish the ones who humiliated me. But I doubt he’ll include his sister.

“You don’t have to do this. I’ll just leave… so the rest of you can enjoy the night,” I whisper, tugging on his hand. 

Orvyn slides his hand from my arm to my hand. He holds it tight without any sign of letting it go anytime soon. Then, in front of the entire crowd, his voice rings out clear and bold.

“I, King Orvyn of Karyndor, will take Thalissia of the Frostveil Pack as my chosen mate— and your future queen!”