My Fated Mate Can Have Her-Chapter 247: Stay

Violet

"You..." He paused, as though struggling to find words. "You’re not angry?"

This was odd.

"Why would I be angry with you because of this?" I shook my head slowly. "You didn’t do it. You weren’t even alive. Why would I hold you responsible for the actions of people who died long before you were born?"

He stared at me like I had said something very strange.

"I thought..." He trailed off, his brow furrowing. "I was certain you would..."

"Why would you think I would—" I leaned back and let out a breath.

I couldn’t believe he thought I would have such a silly outlook.

"Rowan, if I hated every wolf whose ancestors participated in the hunts, I would have to hate the entire world. Every Supreme Alpha’s bloodline was involved, including other wolves too." I frowned, considering the possibility history might repeat itself. "Times have changed and I hope..." I frowned, remembering how the order had been sent in Ascalone to catch me.

Things really needed to change.

A whole lot.

I looked up to see Rowan still watching me, stunned. I sighed. "Let’s just not talk about it, please. I don’t hate you and I won’t when you had no hand in it."

He smiled faintly and flopped against me. I nearly jumped out of my skin as his head hit my lap.

He then wrapped his arms around my waist.

My pulse raced.

"What are you doing?!"

He didn’t answer. He just laid there, his face pressed against my stomach, and his arms tight around me like I might disappear if he let go.

I stared down at him, my heart hammering.

"Rowan."

"Can I sleep here tonight?"

The question caught me completely off guard.

"What? No!"

He tilted his head to look up at me, and to my utter disbelief, he pouted.

My mouth hung open.

What was this grown man doing???

"Please?"

"No!"

He nuzzled his head against my stomach, and I felt my face burn.

"I won’t touch you indecently," he murmured, his cheek on my lap. "I promise. I just want to sleep."

"Rowan—"

"Please," he said again, quieter this time.

He had stopped rubbing his head against me, and a sigh had escaped his lips. When I looked down at him, the playfulness had faded and the sadness had crept back into his face.

My heart jumped.

He wore the same look he had when facing his mother.

He was likely thinking of her. Was that why he didn’t want to sleep alone?

I swallowed hard, my resolve crumbling.

"Fine," I said reluctantly. "But stay on your side of the bed."

He lifted his head, and the smile that spread across his face was almost boyish.

"Thank you."

He kicked off his shoes and climbed onto the bed, settling onto the other side. True to his word, he kept his hands to himself, lying on his back with his arms folded loosely over his chest.

I lay down stiffly, staring up at the ceiling.

Could I even sleep like this? With him right there?

The silence stretched between us, filled only with the soft sounds of our breathing.

I closed my eyes and tried to relax.

It didn’t work.

I was acutely aware of every small movement he made. The shift of the mattress when he adjusted his position. The quiet rhythm of his breath, and strangely, his piercing eyes watching me.

Then, out of nowhere, he spoke.

"I can leave if my presence is disturbing you."

My eyes snapped open.

He was already moving, pushing himself up to sit on the edge of the bed.

Before I could think, my hand shot out and grabbed his arm.

"Stop."

He paused, looking back at me.

I immediately lowered mine, not wanting to hold eye contact with him.

"I can sleep," I muttered. "Just... close your eyes. Cover them. Don’t stare at me. Don’t even look at me."

A soft chuckle escaped him.

He lay back down, and I felt him turn away, his back facing me.

I turned too, putting my back to him.

For some strange reason, memories from that night under the willow trees tried to surface, and I shoved them back down firmly.

Not now.

I squeezed my eyes shut and focused on breathing, before falling asleep again.

[ - ]

I woke to find daylight streaming through the windows and the other side of the bed empty.

Rowan was gone, and I hadn’t even noticed when he had left.

The servants arrived shortly after, insisting on preparing my bath despite my protest. They had said Rowan had instructed them to do so, claiming he wanted me to rest and not stress myself. It worried me a bit, all of this would start giving people the exact idea I didn’t want them to have, but the thoughtfulness still warmed me.

They prepared the water, and returned later with food after I had bathed and dressed up.

After eating, I made my way through the castle corridors, intending to find Bei, Ana, and Corin. I wanted to let them know I planned to spend my time looking through Rowan’s Lycan archives to learn everything I could.

But the castle was different today.

There were far more wolves than yesterday. And by the look of the similarly dressed men and women, I could tell they were warriors and guards.

Several of them had turned to stare at me when I stepped out of Rowan’s wing.

They quickly shifted their attention away, but I still felt the brief glances when they thought I wasn’t looking. I could see the surprise in their faces, along with their curiosity, but I tried very hard not to dwell on it.

I spread my syzygy outward and let it drift through the castle. Rowan was in a large room somewhere on one of the lower floors, along with other powerful wolves.

He was likely having a meeting with his council.

I continued on my way, and when I met up with the three, my visit to them was nice.

I had told them my plans, and they understood. Bei was a bit sad she couldn’t come along with me. They were literally from another nation and it would make no sense for them to just have access to confidential information like that.

I left their room and made my way back through the castle, my path taking me near the area where I had sensed Rowan’s meeting.

I was close when I sensed a separate small waiting hall right in front of the meeting room, and there were seven wolves in that hall.

I turned to leave.

"Wait."