Chapter 4: Evelyne 

I didn't know how I made it back home.

One moment, I was standing in King Edric's chambers, my body trembling with rage and humiliation. Next, I was in the familiar comfort of Lady Isolde Devereux's sitting room, my hands curled around a warm cup of tea that I had yet to drink.

The fire crackled in the hearth, casting soft golden light across the plush velvet chairs and heavy drapes. It should have felt comforting, but nothing felt safe anymore.

Isolde watched me carefully from her seat across from me, her brow furrowed in concern.

"Let me get this straight," she said slowly, setting down her own cup. "You begged Sir Alaric to help, and he offered to make you his mistress?"

I nodded numbly.

She exhaled sharply, muttering a curse under her breath. "Bastard."

I let out a hollow laugh. "It gets worse."

Her eyes snapped back to mine. "How?"

I hesitated, fingers tightening around the porcelain cup. How did I even begin to explain what happened next?

How did I tell my best friend that I had stormed into the Lycan King's chambers, kissed him, and offered him my body in exchange for my father's freedom?

And how he had refused me?

My throat tightened. "I went to the King."

Isolde went still.

For a long moment, she said nothing. Then, very softly, she repeated, "You went to King Edric?"

I nodded again, my stomach twisting. "I—I kissed him. Told him he could have me if he freed my father."

She inhaled sharply. "And?"

"He said no."

Her eyes widened.

"He told me he was disappointed in me." The words still burned. "Said I was acting like a child. That my father would stay in prison until I accepted my place beside him."

Isolde stared at me in stunned silence.

And then, abruptly, she burst into laughter.

I blinked, heat rising to my cheeks. "Excuse me?"

She covered her mouth, shaking her head. "I… I'm sorry, Gwen, truly. But you? Offering yourself to a man? And him refusing?" She laughed harder. "This is the first time I've heard of a king denying a beautiful woman who threw herself at him."

I scowled, tossing a pillow at her head. "It's not funny!"

She caught it, still grinning. "Oh, but it is. I can only imagine the look on your face when he said no."

I crossed my arms, my embarrassment deepening. "He said he had never felt the mate bond before."

That sobered her instantly.

The humor drained from her expression, replaced by shock.

I frowned. "What?"

Isolde set her cup down carefully. "Gwen. That means he's never… never had a mate before. Lycans… they don't just claim women lightly. They don't take mates unless it's chosen by the Goddess."

My stomach twisted. "And what if they ignore the mate bond?"

Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Then it torments them. Slowly. Lycans who reject their fated mate lose control over time. They become unstable. Dangerous."

A cold shiver ran through me.

Edric had known what I was to him.

And yet, he had shown no sign of struggle. No hesitation.

He just let me walk away.

Did that mean… I wasn't enough to break him?

I swallowed hard. "He… he told me he wouldn't let me harm myself."

"That sounds like an Alpha's instinct."

"Isolde." I met her gaze, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm eighteen. He's over forty."

Her face softened. "I know."

"I haven't had time to grow up. I haven't even had time to fall in love properly."

Her expression turned unreadable. "And yet… you felt something for him, didn't you?"

I froze.

Heat crept up my neck. The kiss. The way he had looked at me. The way I had melted into him like I had always belonged there.

I hated that she was right.

I exhaled shakily. "It doesn't matter. He doesn't love me. He wants to own me."

Isolde sighed. "That's the way of powerful men, Gwen. They don't know how to love softly. Only how to take it."

I closed my eyes, exhaustion washing over me. What was I supposed to do?

Before either of us could speak, the doors to the sitting room burst open.

A maid hurried inside, breathless. "Milady! There's… there's a commotion outside!"

I exchanged a glance with Isolde before rushing to the balcony.

And what I saw made my blood run cold.

A noblewoman was being dragged through the streets by two guards.

Her clothes were torn, her blonde hair disheveled, her face streaked with tears.

People watched from the sides, murmuring in hushed voices.

I recognized her instantly.

Lady Evelyne Ravenshire.

Isolde stiffened beside me. "What in the Goddess's name is happening?"

We rushed down the stairs, pushing through the crowd.

"Evelyne!" I called. "What's going on?"

She turned toward me, and the look in her eyes sent a chill down my spine. Pure hatred.

"This is your fault!" she spat.

I stopped short. "What?"

"You!" She thrashed against the guards. "You ruined everything!"

Confusion and unease curled in my stomach. "What are you talking about?"

She let out a broken, bitter laugh. "You really don't know, do you?" Her eyes burned into mine. "My engagement to Alaric is over."

I froze.

"What?"

"The council called it off," she hissed. "Because of you."

A heavy weight pressed against my chest.

I had spent the last two days drowning in my own problems and yet somehow, I had managed to destroy hers.

Isolde's voice was quiet but firm. "Why would the council call it off?"

Evelyne let out a ragged breath. "Because they know my father has found his mate."

The council knew.

They all knew.

Edric hadn't just felt the mate bond. He had acknowledged it.

And by doing so, he had made me a threat.

Evelyne's voice trembled with rage. "They think Alaric is no longer a valuable match. They want to marry me off to someone else, and Alaric… he's furious."

I swallowed. "Evelyne, I swear, I didn't—"

"I don't care." Her eyes flashed. "You want to play Queen? Then be ready to fight for it. Because I swear to the Goddess, I will ruin you."

A cold chill ran down my spine.

The guards pulled her away, dragging her toward a waiting carriage.

I stood frozen, my mind spinning.

"Well," Isolde murmured beside me, "if you wanted to stay unnoticed, I'd say you failed spectacularly."

I exhaled shakily. "I didn't want this."

She gave me a knowing look. "No. But the moment you let him mark you as his mate you lost your choice."