Chapter 10
Chapter
Ten
Hayden, despite the protests of the pack doctor, discharged himself.
He looked healthy—the color had returned to his face, and his eyes were bright again. Hayden’s huge body took the entire passenger seat, and he pushed buttons at the side to adjust the seat backward for more leg space.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. My body is achy, but I feel strong,” he said and finally stopped messing with his seat.
His captivating blue eyes pierced me, and I turned my gaze back to the road, gripping the wheel tightly.
“I’m not letting you face Cordelia alone.”
“But I wouldn’t be alone. Dad and Torin would be there…”
“Do I have to remind you what happened three days ago when we all nearly died? Now she’s bringing an army to the kingdom.”
I took a turn, and the royal manor appeared before us. I hoped Torin was at the training grounds or anywhere else but near my bedroom.
“Sweetheart, there’s something I want to tell you,” Hayden said. “I heard you when you made your choice and wished for your death to Cordelia.”
He’d heard just as Torin did.
I glanced at Hayden, nodding.
“Your choice should have been easy, sweetheart. I’m your mate. But I must admit it hurt when you couldn’t decide between me and Torin.”
I kept driving until I pulled up to the manor’s front doors and then turned off the engine.
“Well, how can I decide for the death of one of my mates? If one of you died, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself,” I said and sighed.
Hayden grasped my shoulder gently. “I could help you get over the grief.”
What? I blinked, but before I could ask him to clarify, he twisted his body, opened the door, and exited the car.
I scrambled out of the car and dashed after Hayden, who took big strides toward my bedroom. Dad must have told him about his new room. Once we climbed the stairs and walked the long hallway, we stood before the bedroom door next to mine.
“I guess this is your room,” I said, taking a few deep breaths, and opened the door.
I stood to the side and gestured for him to go inside to rest. It dawned on me that with Hayden resting in his room and Torin and my parents out of the building, I could sneak into the safety room now instead of waiting for the morning. I had to open the book immediately.
“Sweetheart, you’re very distracted,” Hayden said and stepped before me.
Startled at our proximity, I took a step back involuntarily, but my back hit the door.
“Do you want to come in to rest with me?”
“It’s not a good idea, Hayden. There’s somewhere I have to go.”
“I’m your future King. You can always lean on me.” He reached for my hair, wrapped a strand around his finger, and played with it as if marveling at its texture.
“Hayden, at the all-Alpha meeting, we postponed the mating and marking ritual until later.”
His hand froze midair, and his eyes snapped to mine as if he were searching for answers. He then exhaled loudly, and his hot breath tickled my face. His tangy scent hit my nostrils and spread through every cell of my body. Our mate bond, partial or fated, snapped into place, tightening my core.
“It’s hard to stay on the sidelines, Princess, watching you give the Alpha a chance while I can only fight for your time.” Hayden’s voice was filled with wariness, sadness, and hurt.
I bit my lip hard. Hayden had been patient with me, sacrificed for me, and supported me long before Torin decided to give me a chance. He was there for me when Torin wasn’t. Hayden had saved me from Layla while Torin had put her on his lap.
Dad’s words rang in my mind. He believed I could learn to love Hayden with time.
Hayden’s determination in his eyes glimmered so brightly that I was sure he’d never give up on me as his mate.
He leaned on the doorframe, only inches away from me.
“I want to kiss you, sweetheart. I want to show you that you can trust me,” he whispered, leaning closer.
He was right—I had given a lot more attention and a lot more of myself to Torin. And yet, the man before me was still here, fighting for me.
Hayden didn’t crush his lips over mine. He didn’t take without asking. He only watched me with expectant bright eyes, reminding me of that little boy I’d saved years ago. There was gratefulness and respect and something else there that made me breathless.
Hayden had everyone’s favor and could make me the next Queen, not that I was in a rush to take the throne.
My head throbbed as I tried to make sense of the situation.
Time slowed as I gazed into his sky-blue eyes, brimming with shy longing. His desire rolled off him like electricity. He seemed intent and willing to tear down any walls between us, unlike my other mate, who kept on building the fortress between us higher.
At that moment, I knew a kiss with Hayden would ignite something new in us both. My heart raced as I thought about kissing him after all these years. What would it be like? Would I be the same person I was when we last shared lips?
His eyes darkened into two sapphires filled with yearning, and something deep in my soul broke free. Was I scared of what would happen if I let myself get close to him?
No, the pull of the mate bond clouded my senses. I pressed my hands against his hard chest and pushed a little. Enough for Hayden to understand.
He took a small step back and frowned.
Suddenly, Hayden was yanked away from me, and my human eyes tried to catch up to the blur of a moving figure.
Torin.
He’d shoved Hayden against the wall, and with one swift swing, his fist connected with Hayden’s jaw and cheek. Torin swung again while Hayden didn’t even block his advances. Why wasn’t he protecting himself? Hayden was just as good of a fighter as Torin.
“Torin, stop,” I yelled.
At the last moment, Torin’s fist slammed next to Hayden’s head, making a hole in the wall.
Torin dropped his hand to his side, but his breath still came out as quick pants. The tips of Torin’s ears were pointy, and his crimson eyes aimed at Hayden with so much hatred that my pulse sped up.
He’d partially shifted into his vampire.
“How could you? Hayden just came out of the hospital,” I said and lowered my voice, remembering we were in the middle of the manor hallway.
The last thing I wanted was for a pack member to see Torin’s vampire eyes and face. At the moment, Torin was violating the King’s order not to shift into his vampire in our territory.
Hayden wiped the blood drops off his cut bottom lip.
I darted my gaze between my two mates. By the way Torin looked at my bodyguard, it didn’t appear as if he was done with him.
Torin finally looked at me, anger and hurt etched on his face.
“He almost guilted you into kissing him, Anna,” he said with a clenched jaw.
“I didn’t kiss him because I didn’t want to,” I said in a low voice, and my shoulders drooped with the weight of my actions.
I had let Hayden get that close to me, and it was my fault.
Torin’s gaze snapped to mine, and he sucked in a sharp breath. His fangs protruded, hitting his bottom lip.
“Torin, shift into your human now. Someone can come in.”
Hayden licked any remaining blood off his lips. “Sweetheart, calm down. I wouldn’t report him to the King.”
“But I would,” a deep male voice said, and we all looked at Alpha Mark standing at the bottom of the dim hallway.
I stifled the groan that wanted to escape my throat.
Mark closed the distance with confident strides and a mischievous smirk that only promised more trouble.
“Alpha Torin has to be held responsible for his offenses,” Mark said and looked at Torin, who was slowly shifting back into his human form.
At least his fangs were hidden. Otherwise, Mark wouldn’t approach him.
Hayden took a step closer to me. “No need to worry. I’m not hurt.”
I was sure Mark wouldn’t let this go so easily.
“Alpha Torin hit the future King, who is in recovery. But why did he do that to begin with?” Mark’s gaze traveled to Torin. “After all, Hayden has the right to kiss his mate.”
Just great.
Did Mark know the truth about me having two mates? But how did he hear about it?
I only wanted Torin to be more accepted in this place so he could heal his brokenness. Instead, Torin had exploded, getting himself into more trouble.
Mark made a gesture with his head to follow him, and Alpha Mark headed to Dad’s study downstairs.
We followed.
Dad’s office was located close to the boardroom. My chance of stealing the book was as small as the chance of Torin leaving the King’s office unpunished.
Dad’s study room was one of my favorites in the kingdom because of its warm brown colors. Mom decorated it with a matching wooden desk and bookshelves, a golden chandelier with bulbs that looked like small flames, and heavy curtains now drawn to the sides of the floor-to-ceiling window.
Dad sat behind his laptop and lifted his gaze as soon as we walked inside his space. His eyebrows lifted, and he blinked with understanding. Then he sighed and looked at Mark as if he knew the whining was about to start.
Mark gave Dad the long version of how Hayden and I had an intimate moment when Torin interrupted us with punches. Mark stood with his back toward us while I was sandwiched between my mates.
“That’s why I brought them here. With all due respect, my King, we need to bring this matter up at the next meeting to vote on stripping Torin of his Alpha title,” Mark said.
A cold chill ran down my spine, and I imagined kicking Mark in the backs of his knees. Hard. What Torin did wasn’t right, but it wasn’t enough to fire him from being an Alpha.
“I’ll think about it, Alpha Mark. You are excused now.”
Mark’s body tensed. “But my King—”
“I said you may go now.” Dad used his authoritative voice and stood.
For a moment, I thought Mark was going to argue with Dad because he froze in his spot, but then Mark gave a small bow and left without a glance.
But the storm in Dad’s eyes told me it wasn’t over.
He walked in front of his desk and leaned back on it, hands gripping the edges. His gaze traveled to each one of us.