My Fated Mate Can Have Her-Chapter 158: Sleepyhead

Violet

Rowan’s voice cut through my daze. I looked up to find him watching me with worried eyes.

"No," I said immediately and continued walking, leaving him behind.

Some minutes later, he brought it up again.

"We can take a break. Somewhere close would be ideal to—"

"I’m fine."

The lie tasted bitter, but I forced it out anyway.

I didn’t want to stop or show any weakness. But more especially, I needed to know how long it would take for him to actually collapse from hunger and lack of sleep.

And maybe, if I kept pushing, he would finally break first.

But he didn’t.

What seemed like another hour passed. Then another. The sun began its descent toward the horizon.

The fourth day was ending.

"Violet."

This time, his voice was firmer. I stopped walking and turned to face him, swaying slightly.

’Don’t say my name...’

"What is it?"

"You need to rest."

"I said I am fine," I gritted out, frowning.

"You’re not." His eyes held mine. He looked concerned."When was the last time you slept? Or even ate properly?"

My frown deepened.

He had already asked me to stop and eat multiple times the other day. He had offered breaks, suggested rest, and I had refused every time, driven by anger and stubborn pride... along with the desperate hope that exhaustion would affect him the way it was affecting me.

But it hadn’t.

And now I was the one barely able to stand while he looked as steady as he had this morning.

I hated it.

"I don’t trust you," I said. "I sleep off and who knows, next thing, you’re tampering with my head."

His brows furrowed and his forehead wrinkled as a tortured look consumed his face. He looked so hurt and I hated that it almost made me feel guilty.

I looked away, only for him to say a soft, "I understand."

But he didn’t stop there.

"I cannot do that to you. I am even incapable of doing such a thing—not that I would even want to do so, I just—"

"Thank you for your concern," I dryly mumbled. "But it’s just because of the bond, you don’t need to—"

He flinched like I had struck him and I immediately turned around, not wanting to keep looking at him. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

’Why should I be the one feeling bad here?’

I briefly closed my eyes, drawing even more energy from the setting sun. Enough to get rid of the drowsiness and have him stop pestering me like this.

I was so grateful when it worked.

"So it is true that Lycans can draw energy from the sun and moon..."

My eyes snapped open and I turned to stare at him, stunned.

How did he know that?

The detail was specific. Too specific.

Rowan met my gaze.

"I am not just trying to help you because of the bond," he said quietly, his voice carrying a weight that made my chest tighten uncomfortably. "I got to know more about you as a person, particularly during that trial. And after learning... what you are, I wanted to help. As much as I could."

"Also," he continued, his tone shifting to something almost hesitant, "if you learned something about your lineage, likely from Kael, I need you to know that I have far more knowledge about Lycans than he does. Without a doubt."

The admission hung between us.

My mind immediately went to Kael’s study. The handful of books and texts I had barely skimmed, along with just how much information I hadn’t gone through at the time.

But I had been so focused on surviving and dealing with the pack’s discrimination that I’d never made the time.

And now...

I tried to push the thoughts away, to dismiss what Rowan had just said as meaningless.

Of course he would have information about Lycans. He was a Supreme Alpha. At this point, they all did. And how would he even know the knowledge he had was more than Kael’s?

He must likely be only trying to convince me.

But what if he wasn’t lying...?

I was suddenly at odds with myself.

My mouth opened slightly before I immediately closed it. I was just about to ask him if he had documents about Lycans in his nation.

’No.’

"I... How do you know you have more information than Kael? Have you even gone through what he personally has?" I asked.

His face fell for some reason and for the first time, he averted his eyes. "I... just know."

I couldn’t believe I was actually believing him. What did he mean he just knew?!

I turned away from him, gripping the strap of my bag so tightly my knuckles went white.

"Vio—"

"I am thinking," I gritted out and continued to walk.

His words disturbingly echoed in my mind.

And underneath all that, a dangerous thought crept into my head.

Maybe I shouldn’t leave him behind after all.

The thought made my stomach twist with a complicated mix of anger, resentment, and something that felt uncomfortably close to hope.

I hated it.

Hated him for putting that doubt in my mind. Hated myself for even considering that he might be useful beyond just getting me to Orpal’s capital.

The thoughts circled in my mind as I continued walking, one foot in front of the other, barely registering the path ahead.

Before long, the forest seemed to be shifting in and out of focus. The trees started melting into shadows that pressed in from all sides.

My pulse quickened.

What was happening?

The bag slipped from my shoulder and I heard it hit the ground with a dull thud that seemed very far away as the world tilted sharply.

’Am I...?’

I was falling?!

I tried to catch myself but my body didn’t seem to respond. Someone held me just before I hit the ground and I heard Rowan’s voice, but it sounded muffled, like I was hearing it from underwater.

I tried to tell him to not touch me, but my mouth wouldn’t form the words.

The darkness rushed up to meet me, and I finally stopped fighting it.