Chapter 7 #3
“I know you’re staying for the wrong reasons.
You would do anything but go back to the kingdom, and you want your book.
But I know I have a lot of making up to do, so I’ll try to make you see that you can be with me because you want to be with me and not for any other reason.
I’ll take what I can for now, and I’m just happy you’re here. ”
I blinked several times. “And I can access my book anytime?”
“I would prefer if I’m next to you.”
I responded with a smile.
A light knock at the front door had Torin moving toward it, smiling. Alexander marched in. He grinned and bowed slightly.
"How about we take a stroll to the farmer’s market, Princess Breanna? I think you might enjoy it," Alexander said.
“Oh,” I managed to say, glancing at Torin.
He knew how much I enjoyed the street food market he showed me in Paris. Had he said something to his Beta about it?
Torin nodded at me, his smile broadening.
“Sounds like a wonderful idea,” I said and looked around as if searching for my purse, wallet, and phone, but then I remembered I didn’t bring much with me and strolled toward the front door.
I stood at the threshold when Torin’s low voice sounded behind me.
“And don’t let a hair fall off her head or you’re dead,” he said, and my eyes widened.
“You know I wouldn’t let anything happen to your woman,” Alexander said and chuckled, but then a loud smack echoed.
When I whipped around, I saw a grinning Torin shrug while Alexander rubbed his shoulder and grumbled something about a rude and ungrateful Alpha. Their interactions told me the men were close.
Once we were outside, I took a deep breath of fresh air, filling my nose with the scent of grass and earth.
The sun dipped low in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow over the streets.
During the short walk, we passed colorful houses and neatly maintained gardens until we arrived at a cobblestone street.
Turning the corner revealed a street that widened into a bustling marketplace.
The narrow road was closed off to cars, allowing throngs of werewolves to move freely between the many kiosks lining either side.
The air was heavy with the scents of ripe fruit, roasted nuts, and fragrant spices, tickling my senses.
"Amazing, isn't it, Princess Breanna?" Alexander remarked, glancing at me. "This is one of Torin’s favorite places in town."
"It's beautiful," I said, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the market. “And please call me Breanna from now on.”
He nodded. “It was Alpha’s idea to bring you here.”
“He can be considerate when he wants to,” I said, smiling. “But why didn’t he bring me himself?” I asked but quickly added, “Not that I’m complaining, but knowing Torin’s overprotective nature, I was surprised. That’s all.”
My smile broadened as I noted that Torin had a person he trusted.
“I’m glad you’re here, Breanna,” he said. “My Alpha thought you can use a friend around here. Soon, you’ll meet our mates and the pack members. Everyone will like you.”
As we ventured farther down the street, an elderly woman at the end of the row of booths caught my eye. The old lady reminded me of Lisa, causing a sharp pain to stab my chest.
The woman was selling small, framed paintings, each one charming.
"Alexander, look at this one," I said, pointing towards one piece that drew my attention.
The canvas held on a tripod was slightly bigger than my palms put together, but the forest trees at dawn looked alive.
"Her work is truly remarkable. She captures the essence of our town so well."
I nodded, my gaze lingering on the painting. I wished I had money to buy such a remarkable representation of Torin’s territory. I hovered my fingers above the painting, itching to touch the delicate brushstrokes that seemed to breathe life into the forest scene.
I jolted as a dark-haired man appeared beside me, his friendly eyes and shy smile immediately putting me at ease. Alexander wouldn’t have let a dangerous person approach me, not after Torin’s threat. The Beta turned to the newcomer, offering him a welcoming nod.
"Breanna, this is Jason," Alexander said. "He's one of our most trusted patrollers. Jason, this is Princess Breanna."
"Nice to meet you, Princess Breanna," Jason said, his voice tinged with just a hint of nervousness. "I was on my way to patrol when I saw you two. Alpha Torin mentioned you were coming. He's never been so excited about anything before."
I thought Torin told only his Councilmen that I was arriving at his pack, but Jason could be a close friend who Torin also trusted.
I blinked repeatedly, trying to imagine how this gentle man could be friends with Torin. I hoped the Alpha didn’t smack all his friends on the shoulders. Although Jason was a werewolf, he was a lot taller than Alexander and much slenderer.
Jason’s smile was so broad and full of life that it made my lips curve upward.
“My Alpha has been looking forward to having his fated mate next to him,” he said, and my lips twitched.
The weight of my secret pressed down on my chest, making it difficult to take a full breath. No one knew about my second mate. The thought sent a shiver down my spine. I forced myself to maintain a polite smile, hoping my anxiety wasn't visible on my face.
"The pack territory has a beautiful town and forest,” I said. “I can see why he loves it here."
Jason's eyes flicked to the painting and then to me. "In fact, I'd like to offer you this painting I saw you look at as a gift."
"Jason, you don't have to do that," I said, but the warmth in his eyes told me he wouldn't be swayed.
"Please, it would make me happy," Jason insisted.
"Thank you," I said, accepting the painting with a mixture of gratitude and guilt.
Jason paid for the painting with cash. The smiling woman wrapped it in thick brown paper and handed it to me.
I cradled the painting in my arms because it was truly precious to me—not only because it had the magnificent forest but also because a pack member who I only just met had gifted it to me.
It was nice to know not everyone here would glare at me like Veronica did.
Jason suddenly became quiet and distracted. His gaze fixated on a beautiful middle-aged woman standing at another kiosk. The heated look he gave her only reminded me of how Torin’s gaze pierced me.
Alexander glanced between Jason and the woman. Then he and I shared a knowing look, but we both remained silent, allowing Jason his moment.
"Ah," Jason breathed out, seemingly snapping out of his trance. "I should get back to my patrol duties. It was nice meeting you, Princess Breanna."
"Likewise, Jason," I said softly, watching him leave.
We said our goodbyes to the woman and resumed our walk back to Torin's apartment, the bustling sounds of the farmer's market fading behind us.
Curiosity bubbled within me, urging me to ask about Jason.
"Who is that woman Jason was looking at?"
Alexander chuckled softly. "Jason has been quite smitten with her for some time now, but he's too shy to approach her. He wants her to be his chosen mate."
"Chosen mate?" I murmured, turning the phrase over in my mind.
"Her fated mate died several years ago during a confrontation with hunters in Los Angeles," Alexander said. "He was on a mission there, and sadly, he never returned."
A pang of sympathy for the woman who had lost her mate spread through my chest.
I couldn’t shake off the disturbing thoughts about why Dad hadn’t taught me about chosen mates. Had he deliberately avoided the topic of chosen mates? But why?
"Alexander," I said, "How is such a bond formed?"
"Well, a fated or chosen mate bond is cemented by exchanging blood, mating, and marking. Same process.” He gave me a strange look and added, “The chosen mate bond will never be as strong as the fated mate bond, though."
I furrowed my eyebrows, and a growing sense of unease settled in my stomach. Why would Dad omit something so significant?
Only time would tell since I wasn’t in a hurry to return to the kingdom.
The next morning, a loud and frantic knock at the front door jerked my body wide awake.
I jumped out of bed and dashed toward the front door. Torin moved faster, got to the door, and swung it open. He stood there talking to his Beta in a muffled voice, but I could see his back muscles tense and twitch under the thin fabric of his shirt. He was already dressed.
Still holding the door open, Torin twisted his head to me. “There’s an emergency, Anna. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Then he was gone, and my body flinched at the click of the door shutting.
I wasn’t sure how long had passed since the Alpha left me, but even calligraphy couldn’t calm me down. I walked back and forth, taking long breaths. I got rid of my pajamas and put on some jeans and a T-shirt and kept on moving around the apartment.
Since he didn’t take me with him, did it mean he had to attend to a personal matter? But even if it was something personal, I was his mate. Were his words only for show?
But with every passing minute, my stomach wrenched with anxiety as I waited for him. My throat dried as I imagined all the terrible things that could have happened to him, erasing my previous anger.
When I couldn’t take it any longer, I ventured to the boardroom where Torin spent a lot of time. The office door was opened, and muffled voices came out of the room, but I didn’t recognize Torin’s voice.
I tiptoed closer and listened.
“The bitch is relentless,” a male voice said in an angry tone.
“I wonder how much longer we’ll have to endure this,” another deep male voice said, which I recognized as the Beta’s.
“She’s immortal, so does it mean she’ll never give up?”
“I hope our Alpha is okay,” the Beta said.
My chest tightened, and all kinds of what-if scenarios ran through my mind. They must have been talking about the vampire Queen.
I marched inside and looked straight into Alexander’s eyes. “Where’s Torin?”
The Beta released a tired sigh. “The hospital.”