Yes, Your Highness (18+)

13

•──⋅☾ Chase ☽⋅──•

"I'm Stephanie," she said, noticing Luke's wide-eyed look as he munched on some chips. "You probably knew that since Sasha is here too." She flashed him a playful smile. "You're quite cute yourself. It's no wonder your pack doesn't want you wandering off on your own." This comment made Scarlet give him a playful swat. He ducked slightly, hearing her playful growl.

"Hey, don't flirt with her just because she's here with us, and because she's a princess," Scarlet chimed in, looking a bit protective.

"I'm not a princess!" Stephanie quickly interjected, rolling her eyes and giving her a sassy look. "If that were true, you wouldn't need an escort just to come here."

"Alright, that's enough. Just let her be. She values your thoughts, but there's no need to overwhelm her," I said, trying to ease the tension in the room. After that, it got quiet.

I found myself watching her intently, not wanting to come off as intimidating. As she took her first few sips of her drink, I could tell it was a new experience for her. My inner beast was restless, lurking in the back of my mind, trying to maintain control. If I let him out, she might see a side of me that I wasn't ready to reveal. 

Some say not every man can manage the beast within, but nurturing it shows I'm alive. It's a challenge having both a human side and a beast—the two often clash. The wolf part of me was why only a few friends call me by my wolf name; he prefers to remain a mystery until the right moment to unveil the truth arrives. I'm more than just a shapeshifter or a werewolf. There's a depth to me that goes beyond those labels—a story I'm not ready to share. However, one day, if Stephanie wants to know the truth, I would consider telling her. Only because she...

Is she my mate? My wolf's voice echoed in my mind, insisting she was. I couldn't quite wrap my head around that idea. I had just met her, after all. Yet, something about her felt urgent, as if she was calling out for help. They say love at first sight isn't real, but here I was, proving that notion wrong in the most unexpected way.

"So..." Stephanie broke the silence, drawing my attention back to her. I had been so lost in thought that I hadn't realized I'd been staring at her. I couldn't help but smile back at her. "How is it?" I asked, nodding toward her drink. After a moment of thought, she replied, "Not bad. It's kinda fizzy though." 

Scarlet and Sasha exchanged looks, and Scarlet said, "Girl, you have some explaining to do," as they headed into the next room, their laughter fading away. I noticed Dmitri sharpening his knife nearby, focused on the rhythmic thud of Stephanie's heartbeat—a skill he had mastered. 

"You. Stressed," he remarked in a lighthearted tone, making me chuckle. 

"Dmitri, what did I tell you?" his mate called from the front door. 

"Close the door, it's cold," another guy named Derek chimed in, glancing at Stephanie briefly. His silver eyes lingered on her before he looked away, with an almost comical huff. He seemed a bit perturbed by me being part Lycan and part wolf, given their rivalry, but that was a chapter of my life I couldn't change—one I'd try to navigate carefully for now.

"Speak properly," Zayah declared, addressing everyone but mostly aimed at her mate. Dmitri hailed from a different era, yet he had lived an exceptionally long life. Exiled from his own kingdom, he had strayed from the rules, caring little for the chaos he left in his wake. There were times he let his beastly side out, and I allowed him to express his true nature without risking our cabin's safety.

Stephanie remained quiet as she listened to the playful banter around her. Suddenly, a sound escaped me, and once again, the room fell silent. "Keep yourself on your toes if you want to survive," my other self warned through me. He held a great disdain for werewolves and was not keen on enduring their presence. More like an irritable old bear, he preferred to be left to his own devices, while my primary wolf shot him a heated glare from his sleeping corner. His growl echoed, revealing his true nature: a lycanthrope, not just a bear.