Chapter 4.

Kael POV 

"Marry me, Alpha Kael."

Kael watched as the woman who had once rejected him said it like it was the most natural thing in the world. She seems to be joking, doesn't she? He studied her expression critically and it gave nothing away. She was serious.

He couldn't help but smirk at her sheer audacity. She has run in the past when he wanted to marry her. But now, she is the one proposing it?

Why? What does she stand to gain? It seems things had gone south with her Rogue prince, the one she claimed to love and even gave up everything for, and now she wants to crawl back to him. 

As much as he was curious about what happened, he decided not to ask. It was none of his business.

"This woman, you never cease to amaze me, don't you," he mused, his tone light yet cold. "Don't you think this is too audacious coming from a woman who ran away from me three years ago?"

Ravenna didn't say anything. Kael could see her biting her lower lip as if she regretted saying the words.

"You must think you're the price, huh?" He sneered, his eyes scanning her. 

She still looks as beautiful as ever, even though she looks a little disheveled, but that doesn't give her the right to think he would want her back.

"You think I would really be jumping for joy because the spoiled princess of the Lunarcrest Pack wants to marry me now?" He clenched his jaw, every one of his words cut through Ravenna like a blade.

"I had no choice then," Ravenna said slowly, defending her past actions but it was useless because Kael didn't really care about that. All he wanted was for her to leave his palace.

"Well, you have a choice now. Leave," he snapped, gesturing towards the door. "Go back to your Rogue mate. Or I can call your father to come get you here."

She didn't say a word. She just stood there with her head lowered to the ground. 

Then he turned back towards the door.

"I will let you stay here for one more day and that is because of the respect I have for your parents." 

Slamming the door shut, he walked out of the room. Like he never came but the weight of his words lingered.

As he walked down the hallway towards his study, he mind link his Beta. 'Come to the study now.'

Inside the study, he stood tall by the window facing the pack house, his mind spiralled into chaos. 

She didn't even bother to deny it when he said she wouldn't have saved him, if she knew he was the one. 

She left without a word, didn't even give him a chance to prove himself and now she returns without an answer explanation or apologies. Even though he was desperate for a woman as powerful as her by his side, he wouldn't just accept her like that.

The door creaked open, Damon stepped inside and stood behind him. Kael felt his presence but he didn't say anything immediately. 

"Alpha.... are you okay?" Damon asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.

"Sure." He turned towards him, masking his expression carefully like he always does. 

Damon forced a smile at him, wishing his Alpha would trust him enough to be able to share even his deepest worries with him.

But he can't blame Kael though. He had his own share of betrayal in the past that he couldn't help but keep his guard up every time.

Kael was ten years old when his father passed away. And instead of him to be crowned Alpha, his father's Beta who was like a family to him accused him of being a bastard, said he was a result of his mother's affairs and the late king knew about it but he was too blinded by his love for her.

His mother was executed, while he was beaten and left to die in the cold forest. But he survived anyways, and became someone they all feared. Fifteen years later, he came back for the man who killed his mother. He tore him apart with his bare hands in front of everyone. 

Kael became king, although they were still controversies surrounding his true paternity and that was how he earned the name the bastard Alpha. He doesn't care. Didn't even bother to correct the rumours. In fact, he wears it like an armour. it was befitting and better. Let them talk. Let them be afraid. That way they would know never to mess with him.

"Did you find any woman from the Royal family who is willing to marry me?" He asked, turning to face Damon.

"No one, Alpha." Then Damon hesitated before he added, "They are all afraid of the curse."

Kael nodded, clenching his jaw. The rumours about the curse was another thing. So, it's no surprise that no woman to be bond to him. And he wouldn't have any need for them too, if not for the throne.

He settled by his desk, his mind went back to the quick-witted Ravenna. She knew about the curse, and yet he still offered herself to him. What did she stand to gain?

"I guess she would have to do then," he says, making up his mind.

"Princess Ravenna?" Damon asked. 

"Yes. Bring her here. And find out who the hell sent those assassins after me yesterday," he commanded through gritted teeth, slamming his fists on the armrests.

Damon bowed and turned away. Before he could exit, Kael's voice stopped him in his tracks. "Get every information on what happened to Ravenna in the past three years."

"Yes, Alpha."

_________

Minutes later, the door creaked open again. Damon ushered Ravenna in.

Kael watched as Ravenna stepped inside the room. He stood up from his desk and settled on a couch at the center of the room. He gestured to her to take a seat, which she did.

The tension in the room was palpable as Ravenna avoided his gaze like they burned her. He smirked.

Without beating around the bush, he asked, "Why did you want to marry me, now?"

Ravenna didn't hold back either. She looked straight into his cold eyes. "Because I need you."

"Need me?" He repeated, his eyes narrowing with curiosity. 

"Yes," she affirmed. "I need you to help me destroy him—the man who betrayed me."

"Hmmm? The Rogue prince betrayed you?"

She nodded.

Tense silence fell over the room. He had betrayed her? That explains why she is back. 

He leaned forward. "What happened three years ago though? Why did you run away from the Lunarcrest pack?"

"It's a long story," she simply answered in a dismissive tone wanting to avoid the topic.

"And I have the time," he replied sharply, his voice brooking no room for argument. 

She inhaled sharply, steadying her breath before she began.

"Three years ago—"