Chapter 39:

"It's against the rules. Only wolves are allowed into the Alpha's office."

Rowan's voice is sharp, laced with authority he doesn't deserve as he stands blocking the way to his office.

I almost forgot about this daft rule. No humans allowed. Pathetic.

I know why this rule exists. It's not for tradition or security—it's a law he made out of pure spite. 

A punishment. A way to erase my mother's legacy and remind everyone that I, her daughter, don't belong.

Over the years, the rule twisted into something more sinister. A superstition. A belief that if a human steps into the Alpha's office, it's a bad omen. A curse.

Wolves can be dumb too, you see proof.

"But I'm not a wolf, am I?" Caspian counters smoothly. "I'm a Lycan. And does that mean you would deny your Prince the dignity of having a decent conversation in your office?"

His voice is calm, but there's steel beneath it. A challenge.

Rowan's lip curls. "Lycans and wolves share the same ancestry, I believe?" he muses. "Leave the girl outside. Let us men talk. She certainly won't be dead if you leave her by herself for a few minutes."

Panic rises in my throat. No. I can't be left alone. Not here. Not when I don't know who might walk by. 

What they might do. My hands instinctively tighten around Caspian's sleeve, but I force myself to loosen my grip.

"I'm not going anywhere without her," he says firmly. His voice is quieter now, but no less powerful. "She either comes with me into the office, or we might as well have this discussion outside."

"My Prince, this hasn't been—"

Theo tries to speak up. He always finds a way to insert himself.

Caspian turns his head slightly, fixing him with a look that could shatter stone. "Did I at any point speak to you?" he asks, his voice polite but deadly. "Pardon me, but I can't recall."

Theo's mouth snaps shut for a brief second but then he speaks again. "Lilah will be with me the whole time. It's no big deal. This is her home, after all."

I stiffen. No. No, it isn't.

"She comes with me," Caspian states, finality in his tone.

For a long moment, silence stretches between them. Then Rowan exhales through his nose, a slow, measured breath.

"Come on in," he finally says.

I feel Theo's glare burning into my back as we move past him. He's angry, of course. 

He has always demanded respect, always acted as if he was entitled to it simply because he was born the Alpha's heir. But Caspian just brushed him aside like an insect.

The Alpha's office is nothing special. Airy, organized, not nearly as grand as Caspian's chambers. Still, I feel a weight settle on my shoulders the moment we step inside.

I've never been in here before. My mother was overthrown before I was born, and Rowan made sure to put the rule in place a year after that.

We take our seats across from Rowan.

"What was so urgent that you decided to come to my humble territory?" he asks, leaning back in his chair, his fingers drumming against the desk.

"For a while now, you've managed to disentangle yourself and your pack from proper government," Caspian says casually. "I wonder how my father let it slide, but it's something I've been looking into."

Rowan scoffs. "I don't see how that concerns you."

Caspian tilts his head. "I'll be king in a year or two, depending on how much time it takes to weed out these rogues. When I ascend the throne, I plan to rule all packs in unity. No fragments."

"That's quite an ambition, boy." Rowan's lips pull into a slow, mocking smirk. "But my pack has cut out a path we would like to follow. And that's independence."

"I didn't come here to bargain," Caspian says. "Not really. I came here to present two options. Swear back your fealty to Goldencrest, or I'll be forced to claim your pack. That's the consequence as stated in the constitution. I wonder how my father overlooked that. There's no independence in the eyes of the council and as far as I'm concerned, your pack is a rogue pack."

"So in other words, you came here to threaten me." Rowan chuckles.

His gaze flickers to me, and I stiffen as malice seeps into his expression. I hold his stare, unwilling to cower, but then something shifts. 

His eyes darken, power surging in the air between us.

He's trying to force me to submit, but I refuse to because he's not my alpha anymore. I'm now Goldencrest's responsibility and him forcing me to submit is a challenge to Goldencrest, or Caspian as it stands now.

I grit my teeth, willing myself to resist, but the pressure grows.

"Do you have an issue with my mate?" Caspian muses.

Rowan's concentration breaks.

Huh? What? Mate?

"You've been staring at her quite a lot," he continues. "I mean, I get that she's particularly a beauty, but she's your niece, is she not?"

The words hit like a hammer. I inhale sharply, my pulse hammering in my ears. 

Is he calling me his mate?!

Rowan's expression is unreadable.

Caspian's hand finds my thigh under the table, his fingers warm and firm as I let out a small, uncertain sound, somewhere between a nervous chuckle and a soft "yes."

He runs a reassuring stroke up and down my thigh twice and let's go with a pat. I'll read that as a signal to play along.

Rowan's shock morphs into disgust. "You're mated to this...thing?"

"'This thing' has a name," Caspian says coolly. "Delilah. Who is a person, not a thing. She's Princess Delilah now. Soon-to-be Queen Delilah. I would mind my tongue if I were you."

I swallow. I know what he's doing. Riling him up, yes, but also staking his claim. Putting me under his protection.

"If a human is going—"

"What does it matter?" Caspian interrupts. "I'm bored of hearing about your human, no human logic. Are you swearing back your fealty to me or not?"

Rowan's jaw clenches, his gaze sliding back to me. There's pure loathing in his eyes now.

"If she's going to be Queen," he says, his voice like gravel, "then I'd rather die than answer to her."

Caspian exhales sharply and stands, offering me his hand. I take it without hesitation, letting him pull me up beside him.

"Fine then," he says, his voice smooth. "Your pride will be your downfall. And honestly, I couldn't care less."

He turns, guiding me toward the door.

"Let's go, my love."

Heat floods my cheeks, but I keep my expression neutral.

It's all an act, I tell myself.

He doesn't mean any of this.

Right?