All Chapters of Became His Mate By Accident : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

ELENA I walked.Not fast. Not slow.Just steady, one foot in front of the other, past the first massive iron gate that marked the inner palace grounds.My heart hammered with every step, a mix of defiance and fear twisting in my gut like a knot I couldn’t untie.Guards nodded as I passed—no questions. Maybe Kael’s orders, maybe they just saw the storm in my eyes and knew better than to stop me.The gravel path crunched under my boots, each sound sharp, grounding, reminding me I was really doing this.Trees lined the way, old and heavy, branches blocking most of the morning sun, casting long shadows that felt like fingers trying to pull me back.I kept walking, past the second gate—the outer one that finally opened to the real world.The city sounds grew louder: cars honking, voices chattering, life that didn’t revolve around kings and monsters and bonds that hurt.Relief flooded me, warm and shaky, but so did a sudden, sharp pang of loneliness.Only then did I stop.Hands shoved dee

KAELThe meeting with Alpha Renren was rather boring stuff.We sat in the private booth of the restaurant, security discreet at the doors, and talked numbers.Corporation deals between our companies: his pack’s tech firms partnering with my royal-backed labs for better lunar encryption software.Border resource shares.Joint patrols against the vampire push.All necessary.All dull.I nodded at the right times, signed where Liam slid the tablet toward me, but my mind wandered.Restless.The food tasted like nothing.Renren’s voice droned on, steady and confident, but every word felt distant.My chest ached with a constant, low throb—the bond pulling, reminding me she was out there.Away.Healing.Or running.When the deal was sealed with a firm handshake, relief washed over me, thin and fleeting.At least this was done.I stood, buttoned my jacket, and left the restaurant without lingering goodbyes.Liam followed, ever so cold, face blank as always, tablet tucked under his arm.We sli

ELENA Kael? What? How did he get my number? My heart did a stupid little flip, surprise mixing with a flutter I didn’t want to name. {Duh, he’s the king.} Roundy’s voice popped up, dry as ever. I rolled my eyes, cheeks warming. “Oh, oh, but why’s he texting me?” {You’re his mate. You’re getting dumber as days pass. It’s alarming.} The sarcasm stung, but it also made me huff a laugh. “Listen, Roundy, I’m like a mother to you, so respect me, okay?” {Yes, mother.} He said it dripping with sarcasm, and I could practically see him rolling his digital eyes. I snorted, shaking my head, the tension from downstairs easing just a bit. Then I opened the chat. Three messages. Simple. Direct. My chest tightened with something soft and unexpected. It felt… cute. Almost shy, coming from him. I answered the third one first, fingers hovering before typing. Yes I did just now. Hit send. Then the second. I’m recovering. Send. A pause, my pulse picking up with nervous exciteme

KAELI couldn’t fall asleep last night.The phone sat on my nightstand, screen dark, but her messages burned bright in my mind.Yes.Yes.Simple words.But they lit me up like nothing had in years.She agreed to go out with me.Excitement buzzed under my skin, warm and restless, keeping me awake until dawn crept through the windows.I wish we could go to the movies today.Right now.But I needed to prepare.The movie date had to be perfect.No guards too close.No interruptions.No reminders of crowns or monsters or assassins.Just us.For once.I rolled out of bed early, showered, dressed in something simple—dark shirt, jeans, nothing that screamed king.Liam was already waiting outside the door with coffee and the day’s schedule.I took the cup, couldn’t hide the smile tugging at my lips.He glanced at me once.Then stared, expression flat but eyes screaming disbelief.Exasperated.As expected.I sipped the coffee, still smiling.Such a rude assistant, I thought, amusement flickerin

ELENAThe day before the date, I basically became a hermit.After that disaster of a breakfast and my brother’s table-slamming meltdown, I bolted to my room and didn’t come out. Not once. Not even for lunch or dinner. The maids brought trays, I mumbled thanks, and went straight back to hiding.Most of the day I spent sprawled on the chaise, phone in hand, doom-scrolling Reddit like my life depended on it. Memes, drama, people arguing about pineapple on pizza. Anything to keep my brain from replaying the way Father had stared at me from the balcony or the way my heart had stupidly fluttered when the guard said “date tomorrow.”At some point I opened the box again. Couldn’t help it.The red gown was still perfect. Sleek, dangerous, exactly the kind of dress that says “I know what I’m doing” even if the person wearing it absolutely does not. I touched the fabric one more time and felt that same twist in my gut.Oh God. Was I actually starting to fall for this guy?{Yes. One hundred perce