THE PROMISE

Six months later. "Emma!" The shout echoed through the Crown Prince's chambers. Emma didn't even look up from the clothes she was folding.

"No. Then footsteps approached. "How did you know what I was going to ask?"

"Because you've asked me the same question three times this morning, Your Highness."

Prince Ethan Grayson appeared in the doorway wearing half of his training uniform, one boot, and an expression of complete innocence.

"I was going to ask something entirely different." Emma finally looked at him. "Your sword is behind the chair."

Ethan stopped. Slowly, he looked toward the chair. His sword was there.

Marcus, who stood near the window reading a military report, burst into laughter.

"Six months." He shook his head. "It took her six months to know you better than you know yourself."

Ethan grabbed the sword. "I knew it was there." "Of course, Your Highness." Emma returned to folding his clothes.

"I simply wanted to make sure." Marcus laughed even harder. Ethan narrowed his eyes at her.

"Are you mocking the future Alpha King?" Emma's hands stopped. She glanced toward him, fighting the smile threatening to appear.

"I wouldn't dare." "You are." "I am not." "You definitely are." Emma lowered her head.

"My apologies, Your Highness." Ethan stared at her for several seconds. Then he smiled.

"Terrible liar." Emma couldn't help laughing. Six months ago, she would never have imagined speaking to the Crown Prince this way.

Back then, she had measured every word. Every movement. Now? She knew exactly how much honey he liked in his tea.

She knew he hated waking before sunrise despite pretending otherwise. She knew he became silent whenever something troubled him.

She knew he rubbed the scar beneath his chin whenever he was lying. And she knew that if he skipped breakfast, he became unbearable before noon.

More importantly… Ethan knew her too. He knew when she was pretending not to be tired.

He knew she sent almost every coin she earned back to her parents. He knew her mother's illness frightened her more than she admitted.

He knew she hated being called cursed. And somehow, without Emma realizing exactly when it had happened...

The Crown Prince had stopped feeling like her master. He had become her friend.

Perhaps something dangerously more. "Emma." She looked up. Ethan had stopped smiling.

"Yes?" "Did your mother's medicine arrive?" Her expression softened. "Yesterday." "And?"

"The physician says she's improving." A smile appeared on Ethan's face.

Emma hesitated. "There was something strange, though." "What?" "The medicine was more expensive this month, but the healer said everything had already been paid."

Ethan suddenly became very interested in fastening his sword belt.

Emma narrowed her eyes. "Your Highness." "Hmm?" "Did you pay for my mother's medicine?"

"No." Emma folded her arms. He rubbed the scar beneath his chin. Emma's eyes narrowed further.

"You touched the scar." Ethan's hand immediately dropped. Marcus coughed to hide his laughter.

Emma stared at the prince. "You did." "I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about."

"Ethan." The name escaped before she could stop it. The room became silent.

Emma's eyes widened. Marcus slowly lowered the report. She had just called the Crown Prince by his name.

"Oh..." Emma immediately bowed. "Forgive me, Your Highness. I didn't mean….." "Say it again."

Her head snapped up. Ethan was looking at her differently "What?" "My name."

Emma's heartbeat suddenly became louder. "I shouldn't." "Why?"

"You're the Crown Prince." "And?" "And I'm your servant." Something changed in his expression.

The playful prince disappeared. He stepped closer. "Is that all you think you are?" Emma blinked.

"I..." Ethan waited. She didn't know how to answer. Because six months ago, the answer would have been easy.

A servant. A weak wolf. The rejected daughter of a fallen Gamma. Those were the names the world had given her. But Ethan had never treated her that way.

"Emma." His voice softened. "Look at me." She did. "I don't care what uniform you're wearing."

Her breath caught. "Your Highness..." "You're Emma." "That's enough." Neither of them noticed Marcus quietly leave the room.

That afternoon, Ethan attended a gathering of young nobles in the western courtyard. Emma remained several steps behind him.

That was where she belonged during official engagements. Close enough to serve. Far enough to remain invisible.

Lady Celeste Ashford stood among the noblewomen. Beautiful. Elegant. Everything Emma wasn't supposed to be.

Celeste had been raised for court. Every movement was graceful, every word carefully chosen. Many people already assumed she would eventually become Ethan's Luna.

Emma had heard the rumors. She told herself they didn't bother her. She was lying. "Your Highness." Celeste smiled as Ethan approached.

"You missed dinner at our estate again." "My apologies. Military matters." "Your father works you too hard." "My father believes future kings shouldn't be decorative."

Several nobles laughed. Celeste smiled before her eyes shifted behind him. To Emma.

Her expression changed slightly. "You're still keeping that servant?" Emma lowered her head.

Ethan's smile disappeared. "Her name is Emma." "Of course." Celeste laughed softly.

"I simply wondered why you needed her constantly following you."

"She's my personal servant." "I know." Celeste looked Emma over. Her eyes lingered deliberately on Emma's fuller figure.

"I've just never seen a prince so attached to a mere servant." A few noblewomen exchanged amused looks.

Emma kept her expression neutral. She had survived worse. Celeste continued. "I suppose everyone needs a charity project."

The laughter stopped. Ethan stared at her. "What did you say?" Celeste's smile faltered.

"I was joking." "Then explain the joke."

"Ethan—" "Explain it." His voice remained calm. That somehow made it worse.

Celeste glanced around. "I only meant..." "You know the rumors surrounding her."

"What rumors?" Celeste hesitated. "Her wolf."Emma's stomach tightened. "And?" Celeste sighed. "It's weak."

"She's been rejected twice." "People believe there's something wrong with her." Emma stared at the ground.

There it was again. No matter how far she traveled… No matter how hard she worked… Those words followed her. Weak. Rejected. Cursed.

Ethan turned toward the other nobles. "Does anyone else here believe Emma Rowan is beneath them because her wolf is weak?"

Nobody answered. "Good." His eyes returned to Celeste. "Then perhaps you should learn something from them."

Celeste's face reddened. Emma's eyes widened. "Your Highness..." Ethan ignored her.

"If I ever hear you or anyone else humiliate someone serving my household again, you will no longer be welcome in it."

Celeste stared at him. Over a servant. He had publicly reprimanded the daughter of one of the most powerful Council families...

Over Emma. Without another word, Ethan walked away. Emma hurried after him. She waited until they reached an empty corridor. "You shouldn't have done that."

Ethan stopped. "Done what?" "Defended me." He frowned.

"Why?" "Lady Celeste is Lord Victor's daughter." "I know who she is." "Then you know how powerful her family is."

Ethan shrugged. "That doesn't give her permission to be cruel." Emma stared at him.

"You could cause problems for yourself." "Then I'll deal with them." "Because of me?"

Ethan's expression softened. "No." He stepped closer.

"Because it was right." Emma's chest tightened.

She quickly looked away. That was becoming increasingly difficult around him. Every smile.

Every act of kindness. Every moment he treated her like she mattered… Made forgetting her place harder.

Ethan studied her. "Why do you always do that?" "Do what?" "Look away whenever someone says something good about you."

Emma forced a laugh. "I'm not used to hearing it." His expression changed. "Then maybe you should start."

Before Emma could respond, a palace bell rang. Every guard in the corridor immediately straightened.

Emma froze. She knew that signal. The Alpha King. Ethan looked toward the end of the corridor.

"Father's back." Emma's heart immediately began pounding. Margaret's warning returned to her.

If His Majesty enters a room, lower your head. Do not look into his eyes. Do not speak unless he addresses you first.

Heavy footsteps approached. Servants immediately moved against the walls and bowed.

Guards lowered their heads. Emma did the same. A dark figure appeared at the end of the corridor.

Jasper Grayson had returned from war. Blood stained part of his black armor. A fresh cut crossed his temple. Commander Marcus and several warriors followed behind him.