Yes, Your Highness (18+)

11

•──⋅☾ Riley ☽⋅──•

Sasha kept returning to me, her eyes filled with both urgency and curiosity, bringing news about the enigmatic figure who had returned my mate to me. It had barely been days since the whirlwind of betrayal triggered by Stephanie's sudden departure. I couldn't quite label it an "incident" when her motives were so clear, yet only now did she reveal the truth behind her actions. Stephanie had felt trapped, suffocated by the weight of expectations that my father had placed on her, all stemming from a thoughtless joke he made a year ago. It had seemed innocuous at the time, but now I grappled with the realization that I had deceived her about my promise to change. Deep down, I knew that my vow was little more than smoke and mirrors. Perhaps I was destined to fall into hell for all the wrongs I had accumulated over the years.

I used to be a good kid, intent on following my mother's teachings. Then everything shattered when she passed away after my fifth birthday, leaving me to navigate my father's unpredictable wrath. I had done nothing to deserve his cruelty until he turned his anger on me. Now, as the alpha of the pack, I had the power to reclaim my life, to throw him out if I chose. But what would that make me? A villain in a campfire story, the very kind of monster whispered about in hushed tones.

Then, a chilling thought pierced through my mind: Rajah's warning from that fateful night. The former alpha was rumored to be lurking nearby, searching for a mate to claim. I had to watch Stephanie closely; the unknown figure wasn't just a passing shadow—it had to be him. Statues carved in his likeness adorned our village, standing as grim reminders to keep other, stronger packs at bay. No one really knew the exile's true appearance; the tales spoke only of a commanding presence, a figure that inspired both fear and respect. 

As I pieced together the fragments of my thoughts, I realized the danger we faced was closer than I had ever imagined. 

"Riley, Stephanie has just arrived," Samara announced, drawing my gaze to the entrance. My mate strode in, her mood palpable; she always carried a storm with her. I could understand the frustration swirling within her. I had snapped at her earlier, my anger aimed at the deceit I couldn't tolerate. But the memory of how I had confined her to the basement cells lingered in my mind, a weight I couldn't shake off. I was determined to make things right, which was why I had let her go out to mingle with others—her so-called 'friends'—hoping it might ease her burden.

"Steph, you need to be careful while you're out there. Am I clear?" I cautioned, but she met my concern with a familiar eye roll. 

"What makes you think I won't be?" she shot back, trying to mask her irritation. Beneath that defiance was her wolf, Rae, whose resentment toward me was palpable. I knew well why—years ago, in a moment of vulnerability, I had confessed my feelings far too soon. She hadn't felt the same, and now, thanks to an arranged bond made without her knowledge, we were mates. A constant reminder of why Rae despised me.

"I mean it, Steph. You need to be extra cautious," I insisted, my voice firm. "Unless you want me to send Sasha with you." 

Once again, she rolled her eyes, a dramatic gesture that tugged at my heart. Unraveling the thoughts in her mind felt like trying to grip smoke. I understood the tension—she hadn't spoken to Sasha in ages, and perhaps a familiar presence might ease her anxiety. She shrugged, crossing her arms defiantly. "Yeah, fine," she relented, and I watched as she and Sasha left the room.

The weight of responsibility hung heavy on my shoulders. I never wanted to put her in a position where she felt stressed or used, especially after she had made it clear that she didn't desire to bear my future pups. Her wolf refused to accept my wolf, Ro, with an intensity that was hard to ignore. Yet, deep down, I hoped for a change, a moment when she would allow me to show her just how much she truly meant to me.