Chapter 221

“So? It hasn’t been a huge deal for Sideburns. Actually, it’s the opposite of a big deal.”

Shade looked stunned. “You knew?”

 I shrugged. “From the beginning. What do you think I am, Canary, blind?”

“And you didn’t tell me?” he accused.

“Sorry I didn’t try to depress myself even more,” I snickered. But then my shoulders slumped, and I overcompensated by tossing a chip or two into my mouth.

Ever since I’d met Sideburns, everything about him depressed me.

I lifted my eyes to Shade. “What difference does it make if I know it or not? He never wanted me.”

“He wants you,” Shade said with a sigh. “That’s why he prohibits every man from courting you or getting close to you.”

I let out a low laugh without mirth. “He won’t claim me as his mate, but he won’t let anyone else have me either. He’s such a treat.”

“He’s the Alpha Heir.” Shade scratched his stubble. He hadn’t shaved for a couple of days. “His marriage will be a political alliance. When Princess Viviane, the heir of the Great European Shifters Kingdom, is bound with my brother in matrimony, our family will become more than a powerhouse. With our combined forces, the North American shifters will stomp the vampire army. That’s what’s in my brother’s head.”

“I get it,” I said. “BJ comes from a royal shifter bloodline, like your family. The joining of the two most powerful bloodlines can produce the next powerful bloodline. It’s all about pure royal blood. I, on the other hand, am a lone wolf who doesn’t remember her past. I’m a refugee, the lowest among the lower shifters. I have no power behind me. I have no ties. I’m also being hunted, and I don’t even know why. It’ll be an eye-opening event if the Alpha Heir ever picks me, fated mate or not. And yet,” a grin reached my ears. “This nobody bit off the ear of the most powerful shifter princess.”

“An earlobe,” Shade corrected with a chortle. “Which the best healers in the city have patched up. And could you please stop giving ridiculous names to everyone? It’s a horrible habit. And you’re wrong about you being the scum of the earth.”

I scowled at him. Who said I was the scum?

“You are special, Catnip,” he said. “I can feel it whenever you’re around. I felt it when I first spotted you. I see it, but Jared hasn’t yet. Fate gave him a great gift, but he’s tossing it away. One day, it’ll bite him in the ass.”

“Fate cursed us by pairing us with each other,” I murmured.

 The prince frowned at me. “You need to develop a sense of self- perseverance. You surprised everyone with your outburst of power and strength. They have no idea that you’re actually more dominant than any shifter, including Jared. All the more reason you need to rein in your rage. Use it, but don’t let it ride you or you may end up dead. I can teach you how to control your beast and your temper.”