Manipulate

The next day dawned bright and clear, but Selene felt nothing but exhaustion. Her eyes were still puffy from crying through the night. The mate bond throbbed painfully in her chest like a fresh wound that refused to close. Yet she dragged herself out of bed and reported for duty like always. She had no choice. Work was her only escape.

She was assigned to tend the royal gardens that morning. Kneeling beside a bed of vibrant roses, Selene carefully trimmed the dead leaves, her movements slow and mechanical. Her mind kept drifting back to Kai’s cruel words from yesterday.

*You are nothing.*

She blinked hard, trying to push the memory away. Just then, she heard footsteps approaching on the gravel path. When she looked up, her heart nearly stopped.

Prince Kai was walking straight toward her.

Selene quickly lowered her gaze and stood up, brushing dirt from her uniform. Her hands trembled slightly as he stopped a few feet away from her. She waited for more harsh words or another warning, but what came next completely stunned her.

“Selene,” Kai said, his voice unusually soft. “I… I want to apologize for the way I acted yesterday.”

Selene’s head snapped up. She stared at him in disbelief, her mouth slightly open. Did she hear him correctly?

Kai took a step closer, his stormy gray eyes looking almost sincere. “I was shocked. The mate bond… It caught me off guard. I said things I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry for hurting you.”

Selene couldn’t speak. Her throat felt tight. This was the same person who had looked at her with pure disgust just yesterday. Now he was apologizing?

“I’ve thought about it all night,” Kai continued, his tone gentle. “I’m ready to accept our bond. You are my mate, Selene. The Moon Goddess chose you for me.”

Tears welled up in Selene’s eyes. Joy, real, overwhelming joy flooded through her for the first time in years. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. After all the pain, all the rejection… he was finally accepting her?

“I… I don’t know what to say,” she whispered, her voice shaking with emotion.

Kai smiled, a small, charming smile that made her heart flutter. “You don’t have to say anything. From today onward, you will no longer work as a maid. You are special. You are my mate, and you deserve to be treated as such.”

He turned and waved over two maids who were passing by with baskets of flowers. The maids hurried over, curious.

“Take Lady Selene and prepare her properly,” Kai ordered clearly, his voice loud enough for anyone nearby to hear. “She is my mate. Make sure she looks perfect.”

The two maids froze, their eyes widening in complete shock. They looked from Kai to Selene and back again, mouths open.

“Your… mate?” one of them stammered.

“Yes,” Kai said firmly. “My destined mate. Now go.”

The maids quickly recovered and bowed. “Yes, Your Highness!”

They gently took Selene by the arms, guiding her away from the garden toward the palace. Selene glanced back at Kai, still unable to believe what was happening. A small, hopeful smile finally broke across her face as she was led away.

Kai stood still, watching them leave. Once Selene was out of sight, he slowly turned his head toward the top of the castle. His parents, Alpha Lysander and Luna Astra were standing at the large balcony window, watching everything.

Astra had a bright, relieved smile on her face. Lysander gave a slight nod of approval.

Kai smirked coldly.

He had no intention of truly accepting Selene. But he would play the perfect son for now. He would never allow his cousin Zack, that arrogant, power-hungry bastard to steal the Alpha title from him. Even if it meant pretending to want the dark-skinned girl everyone called cursed, he would do it.

His wolf growled unhappily inside him, sensing the lie, but Kai ignored it.

“Let them think I’ve accepted her,” he muttered under his breath. “For now.”

He turned and walked away from the garden, his expression hardening once more. The game had just begun.

…….

The two maids led Selene through the palace corridors with a mixture of excitement and disbelief. They kept stealing glances at her, whispering to each other when they thought she couldn’t hear. For the first time in her life, Selene was not being treated like an outcast. She was being treated like someone important.

They took her to one of the luxurious guest bathing chambers reserved for high-ranking visitors. Steam rose from the large marble tub filled with warm scented water. Rose petals floated on the surface, and the air smelled of lavender and honey.

“Today you will be treated like the prince’s mate should be,” one of the maids, Mira, said with a bright smile.

Selene stood frozen as they gently helped her out of her dirty, wine-stained maid uniform. She stepped into the warm water and let out a soft gasp. The heat soothed her aching muscles and bruised skin. The maids washed her hair with expensive hair wash that smelled like fresh flowers. They scrubbed her body carefully, removing every trace of dirt and exhaustion from years of hard labor.

Selene closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks. This was the first time anyone had cared for her like this. No one had ever drawn a bath for her or treated her with such gentleness. A small, genuine smile spread across her face as she leaned back in the tub, allowing herself to enjoy the moment.

After the bath, they wrapped her in soft towels and sat her in front of a large vanity mirror. Mira brushed through her long dark hair with care, applying fragrant oils that made it shine. The other maid, Lena, styled it into elegant waves that cascaded down her back, pinning small pearls and tiny white flowers into the strands.

“You have such beautiful hair,” Lena murmured. “It glows like midnight silk.”

Selene stared at her reflection in wonder. she didn’t see the girl everyone called cursed. She saw someone who looked… almost pretty.

They brought out a stunning gown in deep emerald green with gold embroidery along the neckline and sleeves. The fabric was soft and flowed like water. When they helped her into it, the dress hugged her figure perfectly, making her look graceful and elegant. A delicate gold necklace and matching earrings completed the look.

When they were finally done, Selene could hardly recognize herself. She touched her face lightly, her smile widening with quiet joy.

“Thank you,” she whispered to the maids, her voice thick with emotion.

Mira and Lena bowed respectfully. “It was our honor, Lady Selene.”

They led her out of the chamber and into the grand hallway. Prince Kai was already waiting there, dressed in a fine black tunic with silver accents. When his eyes landed on her, a flicker of genuine surprise crossed his face. He quickly masked it with a charming smile and stepped forward.

He took her hand gently, his touch sending sparks through the mate bond. “You look beautiful,” he said softly, loud enough for the watching servants to hear.

Selene’s heart fluttered. She couldn’t speak. She only nodded, overwhelmed with happiness.

Kai led her through the palace entrance where a luxurious carriage waited, pulled by two white horses. He opened the door for her like a true gentleman and helped her inside before climbing in and sitting beside her. The carriage door closed, and soon they were moving smoothly along the path away from the palace.

Selene sat quietly, stealing glances at him. Her heart was full of hope. Maybe yesterday had just been a moment of shock. Maybe he truly meant what he said in the garden. Maybe she could finally have the life she had always dreamed of.

Kai stared straight ahead, his expression calm. But inside, his mind was cold and calculating. He could feel his parents watching from the balcony. This performance was necessary. He would play the role of the devoted mate for now. He would never let Zack take what was rightfully his.

Even if it meant pretending to care for the girl sitting beside him.

The carriage continued down the road as Selene smiled softly to herself, completely unaware of the storm brewing behind Kai’s charming mask