My Fated Mate Can Have Her-Chapter 168: A New Man

Violet

The woman’s expression immediately shifted. She looked uncomfortable now, taking a small step back as if she’d accidentally stumbled into a private conversation.

The brief discomfort vanished from her face, but her tone was stern, even though it nearly sounded a bit more flustered than angry. "You could have some tact. If it is that private a matter, you may have expressed that or at least pulled me aside to tell me privately instead of announcing it."

She directed a faint apologetic glance my way.

I covered my face with both hands, groaning softly.

This couldn’t be happening.

"My apologies," Rowan said, though his gruff tone carried no real remorse. "I only wanted to clear the air. And any other suspicions you might have had."

The woman shook her head quickly, clearly eager to end the conversation now.

"Safe travels, and be careful on the road," she said quickly, already beginning to shift back into her wolf form.

The four wolves disappeared into the trees behind us just as quickly as they had appeared.

We walked in silence for a very long time.

I didn’t speak partly because the patrol might still be able to hear us within that range, but my mind was also a chaotic mess.

His entire demeanour had changed. It was like watching someone step into a completely different skin. The way he had stood, the way he’d spoken, even the way his face had looked... The similarities were there, but the slight changes had transformed him so much that he had become somewhat unrecognizable.

How had he even done that?

I finally risked a glance at him.

He looked normal again. The hunched posture was gone, replaced by his usual confident stride. The severe lines in his face had smoothed out, and those tired, lifeless eyes were warm again.

He looked himself.

Or was this even himself?

"What..." I started, my voice barely above a whisper. "What was that?"

Rowan glanced at me, and I saw the faintest hint of guilt cross his face.

"Sorry about the concubine comment," he said quietly. "It was the first thing I could think of to explain your scent."

"That’s not—" I stopped, shaking my head. "How did you do that? You looked completely different. You even sounded different."

He was quiet for a moment, as if considering how much to tell me.

"It’s simply a skill," he said finally. "Something I’ve practiced for years."

I stared at him, struggling to process that.

"You can just... act like that? Make yourself look older, different?"

He laughed gently. "That isn’t necessarily impossible, but yes, you can give that impression... You can be different, less threatening, more forgettable. It depends on what the situation needs. But of course, it’s not foolproof, but it helps."

"That’s..." I didn’t know how to finish the sentence.

It was impressive and terrifying.

He glanced at me, his expression softening slightly. "There is a certain safety in being underestimated. The subtle changes in how you carry yourself does wonders, and I have had a lot of practice. Diplomatic missions. Border negotiations. Sometimes it’s better if people don’t know exactly who you are."

He was looking forward as his lips curved upwards in a somewhat sad smile. "Though, I am sure Kael can see through that in a way. Must be why he doesn’t like me all that much."

My thoughts were spinning.

"So I do not know who the real you is."

He stopped walking and turned to me with wide eyes, alarmed.

I stiffened, nearly jumping out of my skin from how fast he had spun.

"Please, no. Nothing at all like that, I promise you. This is the real me. I even swear—I—"

In the midst of his rushed words, he had grabbed my hands in his, tight.

My breath caught at the sudden contact.

His hands were warm. Large enough to engulf mine completely, and the touch sent a jolt through me that had nothing to do with surprise.

His eyes dropped to our joined hands, and I watched as something shifted in his expression.

He went completely still as he stared down at where his hands held mine like he was only just now realizing what he had done.

He had grabbed me without thinking and was now stunned by his own action.

His face flushed slightly, and I saw his throat work as he swallowed.

"I—" he started, his voice rougher now. "I am sorry, I didn’t mean to..."

But he didn’t let go.

My heart nearly slammed against my ribcage with panic and something else.

What was he doing?!

I yanked my hands out of his grip and clutched them to my chest.

Rowan’s eyes widened, his expression shifting to match the immense panic that I felt.

"Violet, I—"

"It’s fine. It’s fine," I said quickly, walking ahead of him while I still cradled my hands to my chest.

I could feel his gaze on my back, could sense his hesitation as he walked behind me.

"I shouldn’t have—"

"It’s alright." I sighed. "I understand, I’ll accept this is the real you, but please, don’t just grab me like that again."

We did not talk for the rest of the day.

The silence was even more awkward than it had been before, and I kept my hands tucked close to my body, hyper-aware of the lingering warmth where his had been.

Every so often, I would catch him glancing at me from the corner of my eye, but he never said anything. And I was grateful for that.

I didn’t know what to say either way.

By evening, I started to hear it.

Sounds. Laughter. Voices carrying through the trees.

My steps quickened instinctively, and Rowan matched my pace without a word, falling into step beside me.

We walked for quite a long time before the forest began to thin, and then, suddenly, we emerged from the tree line.

I stopped to catch my breath.

The capital of Orpal spread out before us.

We were finally here.