Celine stood rigid, her hands curled into fists at her sides, trying to suppress the rage burning inside her. Lady Rose words echoing in the silence.
"She doubts me. They all do. "Even Damian had stepped away the moment Lady Rose arrived, as if their closeness had been a mistake.
"They don't see me as worthy."
Her chest burned with frustration, she had expected Damian to defend her. To say something, anything.
Instead, he had stood there, cold and distant, while Lady Rose mocked her.
She turned to him, voice sharp. "You let her humiliate me."
Her gaze flickered to Damian, who stood near the window, didn't even flinch. "I let her speak. That is all."
"That is all?" Celine's chest tightened. "I'm supposed to be your queen, yet you act like I'm nothing but a mistake."
At that, his golden eyes snapped to hers. The air shifted, something unspoken flickering in his gaze.
Then, in a tone too calm, too controlled, he said, "You are not ready for this world."
Celine's blood boiled, she had heard enough.
"Maybe I'm not ready," she said, voice trembling with frustration. "But I won't sit around waiting for the world to chew me up. If no one will train me, I'll continue training myself."
She turned sharply, ready to leave but Damian's voice stopped her cold.
"You will not."
Celine froze, then slowly turned. "Excuse me?"
Damian took a step forward, his aura darkening.
"You will not train without my permission."
The authority in his tone sent a shiver down her spine.
Her jaw clenched. "You don't control me."
His golden eyes darkened. "I do."
The words felt like chains, tightening around her. Something inside her rebelled, she wasn't a pawn. And she sure as hell wasn't going to sit still like an obedient little queen-to-be.
She lifted her chin. "Watch me."
Then she turned and walked out. Celine waited until nightfall, she had no intention of obeying Damian's orders.
"I don't need him to protect me." She whispered to her self.
Her entire life had been dictated by others. First, her adoptive family, her parents, King Alaric and Queen Helena. Then, the royal court.
Now, him.
She refused to let him become another name on that list. Slipping past the guards, she moved through the palace corridors, silent and unseen. careful to stay in the shadows she knew where she was going.
Her heart pounded with excitement as she rushed through the dense gardens, heading toward the hidden clearing beyond the eastern walls.
A shadow moved near the trees. Celine's breath hitched, until Ray Hale the rogue werewolf stepped forward.
At the sight of her, he raised a brow. "Well, well. If it isn't the runaway princess."
Celine rolled her eyes. "Are you always this irritating?"
Ray chuckled. "Only when it's entertaining."
Her expression hardened. "I want you to train me."
That got his attention.
He pushed off the tree, studying her carefully.
"You do realize," he said slowly, "that if king Damian finds out, he will murder me."
Celine lifted her chin. "Are you afraid of him?"
Ray laughed. "Everyone is afraid of him, Princess. But that's not the problem."
"Then what is?"
Ray sighed, stepping closer. "Training you means you'll be expected to fight. And fighting means you'll be expected to kill. Are you ready for that?"
Celine's heart pounded, she wasn't sure, but she couldn't afford to hesitate. She met his gaze, steady. "I don't want to be a queen who needs protecting. I want to be the one who does the protecting."
Ray chuckled. "Well, let's hope they never find out about this, then."
…
Ray studied her for a long moment. Then, with a slow smirk, he said, "Alright, Princess. Let's see what you've got."
Ray tossed her a practice sword, the moment she caught it, he attacked.
No warning, no hesitation.
Celine barely managed to block, her arms shaking from the force of his strike. He was fast, too fast. Every movement fluid, effortless. She had no time to think, she just reacted.
Dodge. Strike. Block.
she pushed harder, moving faster. Something inside her was waking up, she could feel it. A raw energy, ancient and untamed.
Ray didn't hold back, Celine's muscles burned, sweat dripping down her back, but she refused to stop. Ray moved like a ghost, silent, deadly.
She had to be faster, she dodged. Struck and missed.
"Too slow."
Ray easily countered, knocking her sword aside. "Your hesitation will get you killed."
Celine growled in frustration. "I'm trying!"
Ray stilled, his sharp eyes scanning her carefully.
"Close your eyes."
Celine frowned. "What?"
"Trust me. Close them."
She hesitated, then obeyed darkness swallowed her vision.
"Now listen," Ray instructed. "Feel everything."
The night air stirred around her the whisper of leaves. The faint rustle of grass. Then her heartbeat slowed.
She felt… something, something new. A sensation curled deep inside her…something raw, ancient and her instincts awakened.
Ray moved.
Celine didn't see him, but she felt him. She ducked before he could strike.
Ray's sword swished over her head, and her eyes snapped open.
"What the hell was that?" she breathed.
Ray grinned. "You tell me."
A shiver ran down her spine. Had she… sensed him?
Ray studied her carefully. "You're not ordinary, princess."
Celine took a breath, her pulse racing. What was happening to her? She didn't have time to ask because Ray attacked again.
Celine moved too late, Ray's next strike was fast, faster than she expected.
Then…she hesitated and Ray struck. Pain exploded across her ribs.
Ray held out a hand. "That was reckless, Princess."
She staggered back, gasping.
Ray's face shifted in alarm. "Shit. Princess, are you…"
Her legs buckled and darkness closed in. Then, the ground shook , a fierce growl split the air. Something massive crashed through the trees. Golden eyes burned in the darkness.
A beast, no, not a beast it was Damian.
Celine barely registered what happened next. Ray had already vanished into the shadows.
Damian was furious. "What the hell were you thinking?!"
His voice was a snarl, his golden eyes blazing with rage, Celine had never seen him like this.
Celine winced as he closed the distance between them.
"Training," she managed to say, forcing herself to stand. "I was training."
Damian's eyes darkened. "You call this training?" He gestured at her injury. "You were reckless. You could have been killed." …"You were disobeying me."
Heat flushed through her, she hated that her body reacted to his anger.
"I don't need your permission," she snapped. Then lifted her chin. "I won't be weak."
Damian's jaw tightened. His wolf (Alpha) was restless, furious and protective. Then, before she could react, he scooped her into his arms. Celine gasped, heat flooding her body as she suddenly found herself pressed against his chest.
"Put me down!" she hissed.
"No." Damian ignored her.
His grip tightened, his warmth seeping into her skin. Celine's breath hitched, his arms felt too strong, too solid and his scent, that damn scent. She hated how safe she felt in it.
He turned and carried her away.
…
The door slammed shut behind them as Damian carried her into her chambers. Celine struggled in his hold. "Let me go!"
Damian didn't budge. He walked to the bed, placing her down gently. Then he loomed over her, his golden eyes burned with something unreadable.
"You are reckless," he said, his voice a low growl. "You will not train without my approval."
Celine's blood boiled. "And if I do?"
His eyes burned.
"Then I will make sure you can't." his voice was a promise, a threat.
"You will not sneak out again."
Celine glared at him. "And if I do?"
His hands gripped the headboard behind her, caging her in.
"Then I will make sure you can't."
The words sent a thrill through her. She breathed deeply, suddenly too aware of how close he was. His scent, warmth and intensity. She hated how her body reacted.
Damian's breathing turned rough, his wolf was fighting him, he wanted to claim her but he wouldn't.
Not yet.
He pulled away abruptly, his fists clenched.
"Rest," he ordered. "We'll deal with this in the morning."
Then, before she could say anything else, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Celine sat there, breathless, burning and wanting. For the first time she realized he wasn't just angry, he was struggling .Fighting something he didn't want to feel.