"How foolish could he be? But since he offered, we could finally make Caspian submit. He needs this lesson—just as much as Hestiah did." Milly and I agreed.
Our gaze shifted to Hestiah, still crumpled in pain. Caspian had to feel the sting of his pawn's defeat, and though we'd held back before, that would change.
In our wolf forms, our eyes gleamed with excitement at the thought. Caspian's eyes rotated with Kete—the wolf within him—yearning for power, his instincts pushing him toward the confrontation.
The earthy scent subtly shifted, but neither Camilla nor Caspian caught the warning—until the air thickened, and a new presence was undeniable. An unexpected voice cut through the tension.
A calm, playful voice said, "Honestly, brother, is this the time to play games?" came Princess Caterina.
Camilla's heart skipped, her mind racing as she registered Caterina's sudden presence. "How did she get so close without us noticing?" She voices her unease to Milly.
Caterina's hand brushed his shoulder lightly—just enough to jolt Caspian's instincts to life. His silver sword coated in wolfsbane poison flashed in a heartbeat. But Caterina moved like a shadow—her body shifting just as the blade sliced the air where she had been.
"Last I checked, we're not pups anymore." Caterina giggled, unfazed, as if she hadn't just been inches from his blade.
Camilla blinked, astonished by Caterina's impossible evasion, and glimpsed the shock mirrored in Caspian's glare.
"Not even Caspian sensed her approach! Caterina's getting better at sneaking up on us," Milly noted skeptically, realizing they needed to be more cautious—it could have easily been an attack.
Caterina's presence was usually undetectable unless she chose to reveal herself, a testament to her mastery of masking her scent. A skill—combined with her merciless precision in dispatching her prey—had earned her the nickname "Lethal Grace." Yet this time, Camilla truly understood why she received that name.
Caspian's eyes narrowed. "What are you doing here, Caterina?" he asked, still unsettled by her sudden appearance. She had no reason to arrive this early. Something wasn't right.
"Tried calling and texting—no response," she teased, flashing her phone. "I missed my older siblings," she added, circling Caspian slowly, like a predator measuring her prey, her smirk unwavering and her intent unreadable. Was she here for Camilla or him? The question lingered, unsettling and unanswered.
Caterina halted and said, "Just came to pass a message, and you know the rules—we all can't leave the capital simultaneously; one heir must remain nearby. So, someone needs to return."
"What's she playing at?" Milly's unease echoed in Camilla's mind.Her unease only growing with how easily Caterina had slipped past their awareness—and the blatant lie she was spinning.
If Caterina's lies were true, why had Caterina left? She rarely departed the capital. Now, she wants to act as though she upheld the rules, even though she was the one breaking them all the time.
"I am the only one with a valid purpose to be outside the capital. Didn't I promise Lord Hestiah I'd come?" she replied, a dangerous gleam igniting in her eyes as they locked onto Hestiah.
In a blur of motion, she was beside Hestiah, her presence overwhelming. With effortless strength, she lifted him even in his werewolf form, the command in her voice slicing through the air.
"Shift." Her Royal Alpha power radiated in waves, undeniable and absolute, as the fierce roar of her wolf blazed in her gaze—a sight both mesmerizing and terrifying.
YOU ARE READING
The Crown Princess's Choice
Werewolf"So, you orchestrated the death of a Lord's mate without cause. That's murder, and the royal court will charge you for it-regardless of your status as a Princess," Camilla's voice was sharp, laced with authority as she let her power ripple through t...
