[Next Day: Morning]
[Ovelia's POV]
The forest surrounded me again, its towering trees casting long shadows that danced in the dim light. Five shadowy figures emerged from the mist, their forms vague but familiar. I realized I was dreaming again. This was the continuation of my previous dream, which left me with more questions than answers.
"What is the risk, Lady Firera?" Oliver's voice echoed through the trees, his tone laced with concern.
Lady Firera's voice was calm but carried an edge of warning. "If she releases me without control, her soul will be destroyed, and mine will take over her body. It means she will die if she accidentally releases me."
Viana's voice cut in, firm and unwavering. "I'm sure my daughter can control your power. I believe she will grow strong enough to handle it."
Lady Firera's form shifted, dissolving into a red, glowing orb that floated in the air, pulsating with otherworldly energy. The sight was both mesmerizing and unsettling.
I stirred awake as sunlight streamed through the window, warming my face. The dream no longer frightened me; I had grown accustomed to its recurring presence. But the sharp twinge in my left arm and the dull ache in my back brought me fully back to reality. I turned my head, my eyes falling on the bandages wrapped tightly around my left arm. Memories of the previous day flooded back—the attack, the pain, Ace and Ann saved me. Relief and anxiety warred within me as I processed it all.
Next to my bedside, Ace was fast asleep, his head resting against the edge of the bed. His usually sharp features were softened in slumber, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. For a moment, I allowed myself to admire him, his presence both comforting and confusing. He was the reason I was in pain, yet he was also the reason I was alive. My emotions tangled, a knot of gratitude and resentment.
His eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, the usual guardedness was gone, replaced by pure, unguarded relief. "You're awake," he breathed, his voice rough with sleep. He didn't move from his chair, his gaze tracing the bandages on my arm. The memory of last night's vulnerability hung between us.
I reached out, my fingers lightly brushing his hair. Part of me wanted to yank it, to demand answers for all the pain, but another part was captivated by the relief in his eyes.
He caught my hand, his grip gentle. "How... how do you feel?" The question was awkward, as if he was unaccustomed to asking. The air thickened with unspoken apologies and the confusing pull of the mate bond. His closeness wasn't a playful demand, but a magnetic, complicated need that neither of us fully understood.
"I'm alive," I whispered, my voice hoarse. "Thanks to you."
His silver eyes darkened with emotion. "I should have been there sooner." His thumb stroked my knuckles, the gesture surprisingly tender. "When I saw that monster touching you..." He trailed off, his jaw tightening.
We stayed like that for a long moment, caught in the space between what was and what might be. Then, slowly, he leaned forward, his lips brushing against mine in a kiss that was nothing like the ones before—this was gentle, questioning, filled with a reverence that made my chest ache.
"I'm sorry," he murmured against my lips. "For everything."
The door opening broke the moment. Ann entered, her eyes widening when she saw me awake. "Lady Ovelia!" she exclaimed, rushing forward. "You're awake!"
Ace pulled back, running a hand through his hair as the vulnerable moment passed, the mask of the prince settling back into place.
"Ann?" I called out, my voice laced with surprise.
She turned and smiled, her eyes lighting up as she dropped the cleaning supplies and rushed towards me, wrapping her arms around me in a warm embrace. I felt a brief sting as her body brushed against my still-healing bruise, but I chose to ignore it.
"Lady Ovelia, I'm so relieved to see you awake! I was so worried about you!" Ann exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine concern.
"I'm sorry for making you worry," I replied, feeling a mix of guilt and gratitude.
"Ehem!" Ace cleared his throat, his playful tone cutting through the tension in the room.
Ann and I turned to look at him, and she immediately released me from the hug, a hint of embarrassment coloring her cheeks.
"I almost forgot to mention, Sir Ace and Lady Ovelia, breakfast is ready. But first, I need to change your bandage, lady Ovelia, and tend to your wound," Ann said, her voice filled with a gentle urgency.
I sat on the bed as Ann began to clean my injury carefully. Ace was nearby, watching intently, his brow furrowed with concern. I bit back the urge to speak, even though the sting in my arm was relentless as she applied fresh bandages. Ann gently slipped off my shirt, avoiding jostling the bruises, and pressed an ice pack against them, her touch soothing yet clinical.
When she finished bandaging my back, I felt a wave of relief wash over me, though discomfort lingered.
We made our way to the dining area together with Ace.
•Dining area•
The aroma of freshly cooked dishes filled the air as we entered the dining area. Eliana sat at the table, her bright smile illuminated by the morning sun. My heart sank as I remembered she was Ace's girlfriend.
"Eliana?!" Ace exclaimed, surprise edging his tone.
"Oh, good morning, Ace!" Eliana replied cheerfully, her eyes sparkling.
Ace's face became carefully neutral as he walked over to sit beside her, leaving me to settle into a seat across from them. The pang of sadness that shot through me was unexpected but undeniable.
Eliana smiled warmly as she glanced at me. I forced a smile in return, though it felt hollow.
As we began to eat, Eliana turned to Ace, her voice sweet and inviting. "Ace, it's unusual for you to eat breakfast. Please try this," she said, offering him a bite from her plate.
Ace accepted the food with a polite nod, but the moment felt strained. It was as if I didn't exist, as if they were in their own little world.
I glanced at Ann, who was standing nearby. She met my gaze, her eyes sharp and unwavering. She gave a barely perceptible nod, a silent message of solidarity that felt more powerful than any word.
Summoning my courage, I turned to Eliana, my voice low but firm. "Eliana, Ace is my husband. Can you please stop that?"
Her smile faltered, and her tone turned sharp. "Why should I? Sure, he's your husband, but I'm the one he loves."
"Eliana?!" Ace's voice boomed, filled with anger.
I felt frozen, as Eliana's words sank in. It rang painfully true. I wondered why I was hurting like this.
The dining room door swung open, and Ray stepped in.
"Princess Eliana, why are you here?" Ray said, his tone impeccably polite yet devoid of warmth. "Anyway," He turned to Ace. "Alpha King Raymond wants to see you."
Ace and Eliana stood up. Ray looked at me, his expression softening. "I'm glad you're awake, Ovelia."
I offered a weak smile, and he returned it. Ace walked out without another word, his back turned to me, a chilly silence lingering in the air. Before Eliana followed, she shot me a glance, her smirk teasing, almost taunting.
I instinctively clutched my chest, feeling as if I'd been pierced through the heart. Then I smiled faintly remembering that the pain I felt now was nothing compared to what I had endured at the hands of my non-biological parents.
•Palace Hallway•
[Ace's POV]
I had a sinking feeling about why Father wanted to see me. Ray must have told him what happened with Ovelia.
As Ray and Eliana stood with me at the throne room entrance, tension filled the air.
"Princess Eliana," Ray said, his tone formal, "I must ask you to wait elsewhere. This is a private matter for the royal family."
"It's alright, Ray. I'll just wait in Ace's office," Eliana replied, her voice steady, though I could sense the disappointment behind it.
"I'll join you shortly," I told Ray, who gave a curt nod before turning away.
Eliana glanced at me, offering a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. I returned the gesture weakly as she started walking toward my office.
I still couldn't understand why Ray and Eliana never seemed to get along.
I knocked on the throne room door, and it creaked open. My father sat on his throne, the weight of kingship evident in his posture. The room felt eerily empty; the guards were nowhere to be seen.
I stepped inside and knelt before him, bowing my head.
"Why did you call for me, your Majesty?" I asked, my voice steady despite my unease.
"Raise your head. Today, I speak as your father, not your king," he replied, his voice commanding yet softening at the edges.
I looked up, meeting his gaze.
"Ace, Ray informed me that something unfortunate happened to Ovelia due to your negligence. Instead of punishing you, I want you to open your heart to Ovelia, even just a little," my father said, concern etched on his face.
A wave of guilt washed over me as my thoughts drifted to Eliana. I knew that opening my heart to Ovelia would hurt her.
"But, Father—" I began, my voice trembling with the weight of my emotions. Before I could finish, he interrupted me, his tone firm and resolute.
"I know you love Eliana, but Ovelia is your wife. Your wolf chose her as your mate. You must forget Eliana; she is not your destiny. You must set her free." My father said, his words hit me like a cold gust of wind, chilling my bones.
I couldn't argue with him. Ovelia was one of the humans who symbolized the peace between humans and werewolves. The future Alpha Kings of each werewolf kingdom needed to marry a human to maintain that peace. If one of us failed to do so, the fragile peace we held would shatter.
"Yes father," I answered, my head bowed in submission. The weight on my shoulders felt unbearable. To achieve my dream, I had to let Eliana go, even though it hurt.
"You may leave," he commanded, dismissing me with a wave of his hand.
I stood slowly, each step feeling heavier than the last. As I exited the throne room, the shadows in the hallway seemed to mirror the unresolved feelings in my heart—a constant, gnawing ache that I couldn't escape. The memory of Ovelia's hand in mine, the vulnerability in her eyes when she woke, warred with the years of history I shared with Eliana. Duty versus desire—the battle I was born to fight, and one I was terrified of losing.