JESSICA

I could feel the silence of the room press down on me, like it was eating up the remaining oxygen left. If I said I had healed from Kaelen's reaction, then call me a liar.

I forced myself to sleep. Despite the cold night breeze and the air from the air conditioner, nature decided to be cruel to me. I had been staring at the ceiling for the past... I don't know. Hours?

Meanwhile, the bond was screaming at me. It didn't seem to care about that crazy attitude Kaelen had displayed, it only cared that he was hurting. The fact that he was silently bleeding while trying to act professional was what bothered me.

"Not on my watch," I whispered.

I grabbed a basin of warm water, some clean linen strips, and a jar of healing salve my mother kept for emergencies. My heart was hammering against my ribs as I walked to the door and pulled it open.

Kaelen snapped to attention instantly. He looked exhausted no matter how active he tried to appear. "Lady Jessica? It is late. Do you need something?"

"Inside. Now," I said, my voice leaving no room for argument.

"I am on duty, My Lady. I cannot—"

"That wasn't a request, Kaelen. It was an order from your Princess. Get in here before I make a scene that brings my father down this hallway."

He hesitated, but he stepped into the room. As soon as he was inside, I kicked the door shut. I had to pull myself together so as not to feel tiny in his presence.

"Sit," I said, pointing to the stool by my vanity.

"My Lady, what are you doing?" he asked, giving me that curious look.

"You're bleeding through your uniform, you idiot," I snapped. "Do you think I’m just going to let you stand out there and rot while I sleep? Take the jacket off."

He hesitated, his eyes searching mine. For a second, the soldier mask was gone, and I saw the broken man underneath. He slowly unbuttoned his dark jacket and let it slide off his shoulders. When he pulled his shirt over his head, I had to cover my mouth to keep from gasping.

His back was a map of scars from hits. I couldn't tell if he was beaten with sticks or rods, but the sight wasn't a good one.

"He did this because of me," I whispered, dipping a cloth into the warm water.

"He did this because he’s an Alpha and I’m a threat," Kaelen gritted out, his body flinching as I pressed the damp cloth to his skin. "Don't blame yourself for his cruelty."

I worked in silence for a while, carefully cleaning the wounds. Every time he hissed in pain, a part of me died. I reached for the salve, my fingers brushing against the heat of his skin. The spark was there, and I saw Kaelen’s hands grip his knees until his knuckles turned white.

"I wasn't pained, Kaelen," I said quietly, leaning closer to his ear. "When the Moon rejected Nathan... I felt like I could finally breathe. I’ve never been happier in my life."

Kaelen spun around so fast the basin almost tipped over. He grabbed my wrists, his grip firm but careful not to hurt me.

"Don't say that," he hissed. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that is? If anyone hears you say you're happy about a Divine Rejection, they won't just call you a heretic. They’ll look for someone to blame. They’ll look at me."

"Who cares?" I challenged, pulling my hands from his grip only to rest them on his bare chest. I could feel his heart thundering against my palms. "The Moon said he isn't mine, that means I’m free."

"You aren't free, Jess," he groaned, his forehead dropping to rest against mine. "You're just a different kind of prisoner now. You and I know Nathan won't stop. He’s humiliated. An Alpha who loses his mate at the altar is a laughingstock. He will hunt the man the Moon chose for you until there’s nothing left but bone."

"Then let him try," I whispered, my lips inches from his.

The air between us seemed to stand still. Kaelen’s hand moved to the back of my neck, his thumb grazing my jawline.

Suddenly, there was the sound of footsteps approaching my room.

"Princess Jessica? Are you awake?" a voice called out. It was one of the senior pack guards. "The Alpha requested a status check."

I felt fear grip me. If they found a half-naked, bleeding guard in my room at midnight, Kaelen wouldn't make it to sunrise.

"I'm fine!" I called out. "I was just sleeping!"

"Alright, then," said the guard. "Have a nice night, my Lady."

"You too."

Hearing his footsteps retreating, I let out a heavy sigh. That was nearly close.

Then I looked at Kaelen who was already pulling on his shirt. He looked at me one last time, his eyes full of a longing that broke my heart.

"The Moon might have said no to him," he whispered, his hand on the door latch. "But that doesn't mean she said yes to us. Get some rest, my Lady.”