Chapter 0432


    After my date with Julian, I was left confused, unsure if I had clearly made any of the points I had set


    out to make or not. Nichs showing up had certainly thrown a wrench into my ns. I wasn’t sure


    how I could show Julian he deserved love that came easy, when my own heart was so entangled in


    pain.


    In the end, we went our separate ways, but I wasn’t done yet. I would prove to Julian that he deserved


    better, no matter how long it took.


    When I make it to my door, Nichs is there, leaning against the wall beside my guard. When he sees


    me, he kicks off of it andes closer to me.


    “Can we talk?” he asked.


    The guards were generally discreet, but I imagined for the conversation he wanted to have, we needed


    somewhere even more secluded.


    “Where?” I asked.


    “Follow me.”


    I walked beside him back toward the royal family wing. He didn’t speak again until he opened his door,


    held it for me, and then closed it securely behind us.


    “What is going on with you and Julian?” he asked me. A hint of anger weaved through his tone, making


    it gruffer than usual. It affected me in the usual way, making me shiver in delight and anticipation.


    I tried not to let my body win this time. Yes, Nichs was sexy beyond all reason, and I


    secretly loved that he was so jealous and protective of me. But I couldn’t forget that we were fighting.


    Well, maybe fighting wasn’t the right word. I was still hurt and he was still oblivious.


    Susie’s words ran through my mind. Just talk to him.


    “Julian and I are supposed to be fake dating,” I said. “This isn’t anything new.”


    “You were touchier than before. You were leaning into him.”


    “Nick, this isn’t anything new,” I said again. “I don’t understand what the big deal is?”


    Half of me wanted to remind him how touchy he’d been with Bridget since her arrival. It felt like she was


    nearly constantly hanging off of his arm. He always smelled like her, as if she


    +15 BONUS


    was purposefully scenting him at every asion, which… I wouldn’t put it past her, honestly. 1


    I didn’t want to have this conversation again, so with I sigh, I turned back toward the door.


    Before I could take one step, Nichs hand gripped my arm, not enough to hurt, but firm enough for


    me to be unable to escape.


    “Where are you going?” he asked, and his voice had now lowered even deeper, with a growl around


    the edges. “You’ve been avoiding me.”


    “What does it matter?” I snapped.


    His growl came out even deeper. “Is this about Bridget again?”


    “No,” I said too quickly, too angrily. His fury was stoking my own, especially since I was also repressing


    my desire for him. If I couldn’t feel lust, I’d feel fury. The shift wasn’t that far apart.


    Nichs didn’t like that answer, or my tone.


    He grabbed my shoulder and at once shoved me up against the wall. His body closed in, in front of me,


    pinning me there. I felt he was all around me. I was fully swallowed by him and his presence.


    And I still smelled her.


    A tiny growl of my own escaped the back of my throat.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    “You smell like Julian,” he had the nerve to say.


    “Well, you smell like Bridget,” I growled right back.


    We looked at each other a minute. Fire burned in his gaze, mirroring what I felt in my own soul.


    Then, in a sh, our arms were around each other, and our mouths collided. His tongue licked past my


    lips and tangled with my own. He stole my breath away, just as he’d stolen my heart all those years


    ago. 1


    I was helpless but to love him. I was addicted to him. To his touch. To the smell that was truly his, under


    that damn floral of Bridget’s.


    My kiss added teeth, but he matched even that. We were both angry, but cared for one another too. I


    wed at his shoulders. He ripped the belt loops off my pants from clinging too hard. 1


    Being like this was all I ever wanted. Having him close. Owning him as he owned me, body


    +15 BONUS


    and soul.


    But then, I remembered his cruel words in our afterglow, when I’d wanted to let him im. me in a way


    no other man ever had, and he’d rejected me so thoroughly, it was a hurt I felt all the way down to my


    bones. 1


    Instead of wing to get him closer, I began to push him away. He was an Alpha, and much stronger


    than me. He could have kept on if he wished, I might have even gone along with it, but Nichs was


    not that kind of man.


    When he felt me pushing, he backed up a full inch, enough for me to breathe and to speak.


    “You hurt me,” I said. Tears rose in my eyes. “You don’t want a family with me and that kills me


    instead.”


    Some of the heat and fury faded from Nichs’s eyes. Confusion reced it. He was still hot for


    me, his hands never left my hips, and his dick pressed into my thigh. But that confusion made him very


    still.


    “Why would you think that?” he asked.


    I shook my head a little. I didn’t want to voice it, but… maybe Susie was right. He truly didn’t


    understand. I would have to tell him. “The other night… When I offered you my virginity and you said


    you wouldn’t risk making me pregnant…”


    The confusion in his face ebbed at once, and a touch of sadness reced it. “I’m only worried for you,


    Piper, and what might happen to you if you became pregnant.”


    “Why should I have to worry?” I asked. “Would you leave me out on the street?” 1


    I’d wanted an apology. A denial. Anything. To hear him double down, only cut me up further. I felt like I


    was going insane. I had to get away. I pushed at him harder.


    He stepped back a full foot this time, giving me more space.


    “Don’t pretend to care about me,” I snapped, so full of hurt, it had nowhere to go except into my words.


    “You only care about yourself. You only care about the crown!”


    If he wasn’t a prince, we would be together. The crown had always stood in our way. Now, I knew,


    without question, that the only reason he didn’t to risk me bing pregnant is because then he would


    have unnecessary challenges in his path to the throne.


    “Piper “There was a change in his face, something like hurt, but I didn’t care. I shoved away from him


    and stormed to the door. In the hallway, I ran until I couldn’t run anymore. 1


    But I couldn’t go back to my room. I didn’t want Elva to see me crying.


    +16 BONUS


    My wolf whispered in my mind, begging me to run, but I shoved those whispers away. We’d promised


    Elva we wouldn’t lose ourselves.


    I had to be strong. I had to… do something!


    I stopped at a closet door, opened it, and buried myself inside.


    Then I fell to my knees and cried.


    Eventually, I would return to my room and be strong again, for Elva and for myself.


    But for now, I just wanted to hold myself.


    And mourn the possible future that never had a chance.