Pushing the Prince away, I positioned myself between him and Marcus.Seeing the turn in events, my dad took matters into his hands:“My Prince, I believe it is only right that we listen to Summer. After all, she is the one with a choice to make.”The Prince didn’t answer, but he didn’t try to stop me or order his henchmen to hurt Marcus, so I took that as a positive sign and started pleading with him. I had to convince him not to kill Marcus, otherwise war would surely break between the kingdom and my pack, and everyone I loved would be in danger. Even though the Prince had more authority than my father, ours was a proud pack. I knew having his beta killed would make my dad retaliate, despite all reason.“Marcus is the beta here, he is a member of my pack. I will not watch you kill him like you would a rogue”, I told the Prince.His eyes were studying my face. I could tell he was annoyed.“If you want me to be your mate, you have to respect my opinions. It’s true, Marcus was my mate u
*Lucian’s POV: After deciding to lead a joint attack on the rogues, finally, it was time to prepare both armies. I quickly took the lead, as it was my duty before all else to ensure this operation would go smoothly. Thankfully, Alpha Storm saw no inconvenience in this, and he didn’t mind me commanding his troops as well as mine. “Though if he did, he would have more problems with me than the rogues…” I thought to myself. “He is our mate’s father, we could never harm him”, Ghost tried to scold me. I didn’t answer, and merely frowned at the thought of Summer having more difficulties accepting our bond. I couldn’t believe that after all this time looking for my mate, just when I had found her, she was already mated to someone else! And not someone of royal caliber, but a mere beta, who had the audacity to reject her. I pretended to go along with his stupid challenge just to please my mate and soothe her temporarily, but there was no way in hell I would let her mate with him over me. I
*Summer’s POV:I was floating around, in this black fog. My body felt weightless, and my mind felt free. Distant voices reached me through the fog. “...know who did this, I will have their heads.” It was a familiar voice, but more filled with emotion than I had ever heard it. “I agree with Prince Lucian. Whoever attacked Summer wasn’t a rogue. We made sure to keep them busy, and none of them escaped unharmed. I don’t think an injured rogue would have been able to attack Summer.” Chris was here too… “Samantha found her. Maybe she was the one who…” “No, my sister would never harm her.” Marcus interrupted Rose. “Not physically anyway, she knows she’s my mate.” “She is not your mate, beta. I forbid you to call her that.” They were arguing, again. The fog surrounding me was getting thinner and thinner, and I could finally see something other than the pitch black void I was floating in. “She’s waking up!” I heard my father’s anxious voice, and movements around me like people were r
I was still deciding whether or not I should follow the Prince. On one hand, I knew everything he said was true. The way my pack looked at me when I shifted, the way they always looked at me, ever since I could remember… Being weak was not allowed, when you were the Alpha’s daughter. Every single training session was agony, despite Chris and Rose always having my back. In fact, even Marcus would occasionally step in to remind warriors and other pack members that I was their superior: they weren’t allowed to make fun of me in my face, but I knew they didn’t refrain from it in my back.Like being weak wasn’t enough, apparently now I was wolfless! Who knew how long Alexandria would need to recover? Our pack doctors may be qualified, but the palace doctors were surely more so. I looked over hesitantly, to my parents and sister. They were the reason I couldn’t bring myself to accept this offer. Maybe it was just time I accepted my weakness and just stepped aside. I could reject the Prince,
*Marcus’ POV:I left the hospital ward and headed straight to the pack house. I needed time to think, and of course time to cool off. Brutus was so angry, I could barely restrain him. Even though we knew it was the Prince and we needed to respect him, the way he attacked me and humiliated me in front of Summer was just too much. I started pacing back and forth in my room, when the person I wanted to avoid the most barged in. She stood right in front of me and started screaming:“WHAT WERE YOU DOING IN THE HOSPITAL? WHY DID YOU HAVE TO GO VISIT THAT SKANK?”“You better leave me be, Samantha. I’m not in the mood.”My patience was already worn out. I wasn’t going to take it from her either. She scoffed.“If only you were mated to her sister, that would make more sense. But that weak b**ch! I don’t understand what you all see in her, you, even the Prince! She doesn’t deserve him! And now he’s taking her with him? She should have just died in those woods when she lost control!”I could fee
Summer’s POV:I was still stunned by Lucian’s kindness and his generous gift. He showed such vulnerability and opened up to me truly. All I could think about was how this was the exact opposite of how Marcus treated me: he shut me out when all I wanted was for him to accept me, he rejected me cruelly, without any second thought. I looked at both men, and it hit me how different they were. Marcus was always the playboy, but he had this funny, bubbly way about him. He's also got the power and the spirit. Yet inside, he wasn't all that determined and decisive, nor was he secure, let alone trusting others. I knew all too well the demons that haunted him. Prince Lucian was the contrary: he looked very cruel and dark on the outside, but the more I got to know him, I learned he was actually sweet and fiercely loyal to those he loved.“Prince Lucian… I feel so honored that you would give me this dagger. I don’t know what to say…”I looked up at him, and he came closer. I could feel his sincer
*Summer’s POV:I accepted. I was leaving the pack, leaving to go with the Prince. Marcus looked so sad, and I couldn’t help but ask myself: was this the end for us? For good? He looked up at me, and I didn’t know whether I was feeling pity or sadness, but knowing him like I did, it was obvious he didn’t want my pity, nor anyone else’s for that matter. I tried my best to keep my calm as he spoke to the Prince:“If Summer wishes to leave with you, it is my duty to accompany her. As the beta of her father, I am best suited after the alpha to protect her. With your permission, I would like to leave with you both.”Thankfully, he was not provocative this time or defensive. The hard and cold tone he used surprised me: it reminded me of the cruelty with which he rejected me. For once, Prince Lucian wasn’t aggressive or assertive with him either. He just nodded. Marcus looked at me and continued:“You are the alpha’s daughter. Where you go, I go, and I will make sure no one from the other pac
*Summer’s POV:My last day in the pack was a really hectic one! After leaving the hospital room, I went back to my room and tried to be as helpful as possible, but since I was still in recovery, everyone insisted on not letting me do any chores.“Do you have the golden dress packed?”“Yes, Luna.”“Don’t forget all her accessories… We want her to be dressed to match the royal protocol!”I rolled my eyes in the back of my head. They were all overdoing it. In all truth, I was terrified to leave the pack and join the palace. That’s why I tried to lighten up the mood with some jokes. Rose was not very helpful, as I could tell how devastated she was that I was leaving.That night, she slept in my room, though we didn’t get any sleep. We spent the night reminiscing about some good childhood memories and laughing, crying, dancing together like we hadn’t in a very long time. As it was almost dawn and time for me to meet with the Prince and leave, I laid my head on my sister’s lap. She caressed