Lycan Prince Matteo

Matte

“I’m in a tough spot; Freya hasn’t spoken to me since that incident, no matter how hard I’ve tried. She’s been with Camila constantly, and when I invited her to eat, she claimed she had already eaten. Perhaps my surprising patience stems from the realization that the fault lies with me. What more can I do to earn her forgiveness?

“Is Princess still avoiding you?” Calvin inquired upon entering our office, our usual gathering spot for discussions or idleness. We’re not indolent; it’s just that Dad preferred handling everything himself to stay occupied and distract himself from thoughts of Mom. Nonetheless, the three of us were always ready to assist him when needed.

“Yes,” I admitted with a deep sigh.

“How many days has it been now? Almost a week, right?” Calvin asked, and I nodded as he took a seat.

“Don’t hit me with the ‘I told you so’ look, Calv.”

“You can’t blame her, you know. You should’ve consulted her first, considering her past in the Midnight Pack.”

“Yeah, I realize that now. But dwelling on regrets won’t change anything; I just have to spend the rest of our lives making it up to her,” I replied.

“As long as you understand. By the way, I doubt she’ll be able to keep up the silent treatment for much longer. She’s your mate, so her heat is imminent.” Yes, that. I refrained from touching her, fearing I might lose control and cause harm. I needed to be patient until her wolf transformed.

“Where’s James?” Ia asked.

“Watching over the princess. You know him; he’s already smitten with his future queen. Maybe it’s because he was your future gamma that he sensed their bond early,” Calvin explained. Yes, she’s undeniably my mate. If not, James wouldn’t have felt a connection. As the gamma, he watched over my mate, forming a bond that compelled him to sacrifice for her sake.

“Anyway, the rogue we captured is in the dungeon, and only you, me, James, and the dungeon warden know why. The one behind the attack shouldn’t suspect anything.”

“What reason did you record for his imprisonment?” I asked. While we never incarcerated rogues without cause, some lone wolves rejected the idea of a pack but didn’t violate laws.

“He’s charged with rape; that’s what I put in his record,” Calvin replied before we heard a knock on the door, and an omega entered.

“Your Highness, King Marco wishes to meet with everyone,” she announced. “Everyone?” I inquired.

“Yes, Your Highness, including the princess,” she confirmed before departing. What could it be this time? Dad attempted to talk to Freya, but it didn’t go well. I glanced at Calvin, signaling him to stand up and follow me. I mind-linked James, instructing him to inform my mate to come to the King’s office.

Upon our arrival, everyone was already seated, waiting for Freya and James. Ronaldo, Eunice, and even Rapha were present. Why was he here too? Had something occurred that I wasn’t aware of? We took our seats and awaited Freya, who arrived with James after a brief delay. She sat opposite me, and I couldn’t help but feel a growl building within me. She should be sitting beside me.

“Now that everyone is here, let me begin. Why have I called you all here?” Dad spoke before focusing on my mate, whose expression remained stoic. “Eunice and Ronaldo have proposed that Princess Freya should undergo training like everyone else,” he added, keeping his gaze on my mate. Both Eunice and her father amazed me with their audacity.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“Why the sudden suggestion?” I inquired, attempting to maintain a neutral demeanor.

“She’s destined to be the future queen, so she needs to learn to defend herself and rely on James and others in the future,” Eunice explained. “It’s not a bad idea, right? Besides, she’s already perceived as weak due to lacking a wolf. She should at least be able to defend herself,” she added. Freya remained silent, merely listening.

“If Her Highness is already strong, what use am I?” James questioned. He had never liked Eunice, regardless of my assurances that she was different and would never be his future queen. He didn’t want me associating with her, and it seemed he had a valid reason for it.

“Come on, Prince Matteo not marking her means she has to prove herself worthy,” Ronaldo said, smirking.

“I don’t think I need to prove myself to either of you. The fact that I am his mate should be sufficient for you to show respect. So bow,” she declared, and the two complied, shocking us.

“This isn’t about submission; you could at least train, my princess, so the prince can accept and mark you,” Ronaldo suggested, angering me.

“Who said I didn’t want to mark her?” I retorted. “You better shut your mouth if you know nothing. That’s between us, and the King is aware of it as well. Don’t sow doubt in my mate’s mind.” I added.

“Ehem,” Rapha cleared his throat, capturing our attention. “I believe in Princess Freya. However, I agree with Eunice and Ronaldo. This isn’t about submission. We can never be certain. What if someone wants the princess out of the palace? Those coveting her position might plot something, and she has no means to protect herself,” he concluded.

“Since you’ve already mentioned that,” Dad remarked, “Rapha, I’m appointing you as her trainer. Ensure she goes beyond the basics.” He continued, “Freya, dear, I hope you understand my decision. I’ve discussed a few things with you, right?”

“Yes, Your Highness,” she replied, bowing.

“Then I’ll be with her during her training,” James stated.

“Of course,” Dad replied. “Now that we’re clear on this, is there anything else you’d like to discuss? Speak now.”

“Your Highness,” Eunice said, raising her hand, so Dad looked at her. “I would like to train with the princess if you permit me.” I sensed she only aimed to harm my mate, which was why she sought this opportunity.

“If you wish,” Dad said. Though I wanted to object, he continued, denying me a chance. “But you must be responsible. If the princess is harmed in a suspicious way, you’ll answer to me,” he added, causing widened eyes from Eunice and Ronaldo. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but you are one of the female Lycans who aspired to be Matteo’s chosen mate, right?” I smirked, realizing Dad had already issued a warning to them.

“Your Highness, even if my daughter desired that, she knew better than to do anything foolish. Finding one’s fated mate is exceedingly rare for us and may take hundreds of years if we wait. It’s crucial for the palace and the entire kingdom,” Ronaldo defended his daughter.

“It’s good that you understand,” Dad replied before dismissing us. Freya left the office without acknowledging me, so I halted James from following her. I caught up to her, and she screamed when I carried her back to our bedroom like a bag of potatoes. We needed to have a conversation.