My Fated Mate Can Have Her-Chapter 91: The Other Woman

Violet

I woke in the room, and for a disorienting second, I wondered how I had gotten there when I had literally been in the park and cradled against Kael’s chest. Only for me to realise he might have brought me back.

My stomach fluttered strangely at the thought. How long had I even been asleep before he moved me? And how could I have fallen asleep when I had literally rested during the day.

I sat up slowly, pushing the hair back from my face, and noticed my feet were bare. The block-heeled sandals Astrid had given me were set neatly beside the bed.

He had even removed my shoes.

The flutter in my stomach intensified into something warmer, something that made my chest feel too tight.

Such a small gesture shouldn’t affect me so much.

But it did.

I immediately noticed the tray sitting on the bedside table. Food. Three covered plates, a jar and an empty cup. I smelled a warm meal and the fresh scent of fruits. My stomach growled in response, and the ice cream I was eating last night flashed in my mind.

I frowned slightly. I never got to finish it, especially when he had pulled me close.

I hoped he’d gotten some rest at least. He looked so exhausted yesterday, that I could clearly see the dark circles under his eyes.

I caught myself mid-thought and stiffened.

Why was I so concerned about whether he had rested well? It wasn’t my responsibility to worry about him. He was the Supreme Alpha. He had an entire nation’s worth of people to ensure he took care of himself.

Why was I even bothered about this?

I tried to get rid of the strange feeling and got down from the bed to eat. The food was still warm and I had finished everything on the tray when I noticed a small silver card underneath it. It was attached to a delicate silver metallic string, and the same wolf emblem I had seen on Kael’s card last night was stamped on its surface.

There was a folded piece of paper underneath it too. I slipped these two items off the table and settled the tray back down.

I unfolded the paper to see a neat, beautiful handwriting.

"This will allow you to move freely throughout the castle and its grounds. Use this if anyone tries to pester you. You are not confined to these quarters."

It was short. Direct. Very him.

But the gesture itself made my throat tightened unexpectedly. Was he doing this because he felt bad after everything? Especially after what we talked about?

I ran my thumb over the embossed wolf symbol, feeling the slight texture of the metal beneath my fingertips.

This was... considerate. Thoughtful in a way I hadn’t expected.

And it made that warm feeling in my chest spread further, made it harder to maintain the careful distance I thought I wanted keep.

I immediately went to wash myself and changed into the comfortable clothes I had brought with me. Simple pants and a loose shirt that allowed easy movement. Much better than those dresses, even if they were beautiful.

Once I was done, I thought about what I would do with this newfound freedom. I could explore the castle. See what this place truly looked like beyond the entry hall and these quarters. Maybe find a library area, or gardens, or...

I could just go see Turin. It would be nice to see a familiar face in here.

He had been kind to me, in his own gruff way.

I slipped the silver card into the pocket of my pants and headed out of Kael’s quarters.

The corridors were busier this morning, there were more wolves, and I wasn’t sure how, but I knew a lot were from other packs and a few dressed in luxurious attire. And they were all strong. Some glanced my way as I passed, their expressions ranging from curiosity to confusion.

I could understand their confusion, their inability to quite categorize what I was. My scent was something they had never sensed before... especially since they had never met Lycans likely.

The stares didn’t bother me much, even though some followed me as I navigated my way back to the entry hall.

It was even more crowded than the corridors had been, filled with wolves coming and going. Voices echoed off the crystalline floors and I quickened my pace as I made my way outside, overwhelmed by the sheer number of people there.

I stood in the courtyard and focused, heightening my senses to find Turin. The world sharpened. Individual scents separated, and beneath it all, the distinct scents of individual wolves.

I sorted through them, searching for the one I recognized.

I found him and made my way towards it before I eventually arrived at one of the smaller buildings near the edge of the courtyard.

The wide doors were open and there were other wolves moving in and out of them. Turin stood beside the entrance, talking to Darnel.

My mood soured immediately.

If I had paid enough attention, I would have known. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Both of them looked up as if noticing my presence not too far away. Their conversation cut-off mid-sentence as the saw the same insufferable grin on Darnel’s face.

I fought the urge to turn around and leave, deciding to approach them instead. If I had sensed Darnel was also here, I would not have come.

He grinned. "Well, well. Our pretty prisoner emerges from her tower."

Turin sharply elbowed him with a frown. "Stop it."

Darnel only chuckled as he held his side.

Turin’s expression shifted to surprise. "Violet? What are you doing here?" Then he suddenly seemed concerned, his eyes shifting to the surroundings. "Should you be outside?"

Darnel smiled, directing a pointed look at me but didn’t say anything. He was definitely trying to poke at me.

"He gave me permission to go out." I showed Turin the card and shock registered on both their faces.

The shock on Darnel’s face disturbed me more.

I was going to ask why they reacted like that when I suddenly sensed Kael close by. I turned my head to look.

He was heading towards the castle, a frown on his face as he was keenly listening to the tall woman in a loose luxurious dress at his side.