4: An encounter with the Prince

Devontae Kingdom

Heather's POV

Everyone in the hallway watched us quietly with their head bowed. Ella was sweating buckets. Was the prince that scary? I willed myself to speak up. I needed to clear up whatever misunderstanding this was.

"That wasn't what happened. This woman suddenly walked up to me and started to..."

"Nyles. My name is Nyles. I already introduced myself," she said cutting me off.

"That doesn't matter," I retorted dismissively.

"Can you hear that Prince Keith? Not only did she insult you and slander your name in front of everyone, but she was also very rude. The level of her insolence is baffling," she said to him.

"Why are you lying and acting all pitiful? You started it," I replied pointing my finger at her accusingly.

"Can you see that? She's trying to pin the blame on me for what she did," she muttered sadly like she had been terribly wronged. I was the one who was being wronged here.

"I know it's not your fault Nyles. It's obvious it's all hers," he replied with a glare in my direction. This was just unbelievable. I knew we hadn't met yet but how could he take a stranger's side over his bride's? Did he not recognize me or was she really his woman like she claimed?

"I'm telling you that wasn't what happened..."

"And I told you I don't want to hear it," he said cutting me off. Nyles sent a smug smile my way.

"Come with me right now," he ordered and turned his wheelchair around. I glanced between the both of them wondering if he was speaking with me or her.

"Didn't you hear me?" he asked, the wheels of his chair screeching to a halt and snapping me out of my trance.

"The prince is referring to you my lady," Lucinda said to me.

"Really? I thought otherwise," I muttered walking towards him. Nyles glared at me but I ignored her. "Are you leading the way or..," I trailed. He pushed his chair forward away from the hallway. Every maid we met on the way bowed and greeted him politely but he didn't glance towards their direction. He finally stopped in front of a door and pushed it open. He got in and I walked in after him. The room was beautifully decorated but what caught my attention was the painting...

"What are you gawking at?" his gruff voice made me turn towards him with a frown.

"You have no idea..," the words died down in my throat when I paid close attention to his facial features for the first time. His dark brown hair was perfectly styled and brushed to the side, his eyebrows were full and neatly trimmed, and his eyelashes were long and curled as they framed his face. He had no facial hair on his chiseled jaw. He had plump pink lips but what made my breath hitch were his eyes. His hazel eyes that seemed to pierce through me. The rumors about his looks were clearly not true. He was breathtakingly handsome.

"I have no idea what?" he asked harshly in his deep voice. He might be handsome but he was certainly rude.

"Do you know who I am?" I asked curiously.

"You are the girl from Veeryl pack," he stated firmly. Just a girl? Didn't he know my name?

"Heather, that's my name. We got married today," I replied with furrowed brows.

He scoffed. "Did we?"

"Yes, we did. Although you weren't present for the wedding, it took place," I responded ignoring his rude remarks.

"Well, I couldn't come for the wedding because of a reason you clearly stated back there," he said. I didn't know if he was angry about the fact that I called him crippled in front of everyone on the first day we met. I felt remorseful. All this wouldn't have happened, if Nyles hadn't pushed me to the extreme edge.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean..."

"What exactly are you apologizing for? Calling me crippled?" he asked cutting me off. Okay, he was definitely angry. I tried to speak up but he held up his hand to stop me.

"I don't care what you think. I only asked you to follow me because I want to make things clear. I never wanted whatever this is," he said gesturing between the both of us.

I frowned trying to comprehend what he meant. "By this, you mean you didn't want to get married to me?" Well, this was supposed to be his wedding with Debra but somehow I got caught in the middle.

"Absolutely. Glad you could comprehend that since you looked a bit slow," he muttered.

"What?" I asked through gritted teeth. Is he calling me dumb now?

"I have a woman I want to spend the rest of my life with and it is certainly not the likes of you," he replied not caring that he insulted me. I wasn't that shocked listening to him after what transpired out in the hall.

"By having a woman, you mean Nyles? The same person I met outside? Was that why you took her side without listening to me?" I asked for the sake of clarity.

"This marriage can't work. I don't want you," he replied ignoring my question. I took a deep breath to stop myself from blowing up on him. Every second I spent in his presence made me so pissed off than I had ever been. The rumors about his looks might be false but he was cruel, rude, and selfish. I had confirmed for myself that those were true. He made me feel sorry and apologize before showing his true colors.

"That's a relief. Good riddance if I must say," I muttered to myself. This was great. If he didn't want this marriage then it must be a sign from the moon goddess because I didn't want it either. I was forced here after all. But how about the deal between our families? If it falls through, Father will never accept me into Veeryl's pack ever again.

"What's a relief?" he inquired.

"The fact that you love another woman. I didn't want this marriage either. I never wanted to be married to you. I should have known this was going to happen when you didn't show up for the wedding..."

"You..," he started trying to cut me off but I wasn't having it.

"I let you speak, didn't I? It's my turn now. The both of you suit each other perfectly," I retorted.

"Do you have any idea who you are talking to? I can get rid of you with a snap of my fingers," he growled in a threatening tone.

"I won't let you disrespect me because you are the prince of Devontae. Can you even be considered a prince? You aren't even being given the same treatments as your brothers instead you were outcasted because you..,"

"Because I'm crippled? Useless? Is that what you wanted to say?" he asked calmly. I was boiling and panting from anger. He suddenly dropped his legs that were on the wheelchair. I furrowed my brows wondering what he was up to. He wasn't going to fall on the floor and pin the blame on me right? He suddenly stood up and pushed the chair backward. My knees felt weak and I stumbled in shock. He clasped his hand behind him slowly walking towards me.

I gasped placing my hand on my mouth with wide eyes. With each step he took, I took a step further backward.

"Y...you..," I stuttered unable to form any coherent words. My mind was in overdrive, I couldn't believe my eyes. He was crippled, everyone knew that but have they all been wrong all along? I felt the sudden impact of my back against the wall snapping me out of my trance. In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of me, his hazel orbs gazing right into mine. I could feel his breath fanning my face.

"What reaction is this? Are you surprised or shocked?" he asked as he cocked his head to the side sounding unfazed.