Yes, Your Highness (18+)

14

Chase slipped out after sharing a charged glance with me, and I felt an electric pulse surge through my veins, as if our connection had ignited a spark. I didn't need to analyze it; I resolved to let things unfold as they would because this moment felt like everything I had ever yearned for. The warmth radiating in my chest from that fleeting look made me wonder what it would truly mean to experience such profound goodness within. And no, I definitely didn't mean that in a sexual context.

But wait. Did it end up sounding like that? I watched as the front door clicked shut behind him, the chill of the evening air seeping in through the gap. A brief shiver raced up my spine. What possessed him to go hunting when a storm was brewing on the horizon? My thoughts circled anxiously, until Rae's playful voice echoed in my mind: "We're too irresistible to be left untouched." Suddenly, clarity struck—I had unlocked something in him, hadn't I? A heat or perhaps an awakening? Or maybe it was just my imagination weaving intricate stories. Still, it crossed my mind that he might have ventured out to clear his head after the simmering tension we'd shared earlier. Hours passed in a thick haze of worry as the daylight faded into night without him returning.

Sasha settled beside me, handing me a steaming cup of rich hot cocoa crowned with delightful little marshmallows and a swirl of whipped cream. She knew exactly how much I cherished hot chocolate from our childhood days. I blew gently on the steaming surface, watching the marshmallows soften, and took a cautious sip, trying to distract myself from the knot of unease tightening within. Yet, deep down, an eerie sensation gnawed at me, a feeling that someone was vulnerable and needed help. I recalled a moment from the past that blurred the boundaries between dreams and waking life. Chase was the one I had encountered on the mountain days—perhaps a week—prior. The details of our meeting lingered in my mind, but what overwhelmed me was the worry that clung to my heart. The last time we crossed paths, he had been injured, shot by someone who had mistaken him for a bear. While shapeshifters possess the healing power, my concern remained steadfast and stubborn.

"Are you alright, girl?" Sasha's voice cut through my thoughts, grounding me in the moment. I nodded, though a long sigh escaped my lips. "I'm fine. Seriously."

She scrutinized me with an eyebrow raised, clearly not buying my facade. "You seem lost in thought. Or should I say, preoccupied with someone?" My cheeks flared with heat at her teasing nudge. "I was just... thinking," I replied, my voice trailing off. I had never been good at successfully concealing my thoughts from Sasha, despite our age difference.

I pondered who it was I couldn't shake from my mind. Chase? Or perhaps Riley? Why did I find myself worrying about his sentimental side? Did I actually have feelings for him? To be honest, I was swimming in a sea of confusion. He had a good heart, but he was deeply affected by his father's warped influence. Hedrick was a bully who didn't deserve to play a role in Riley's life, as far as I was concerned. But it wasn't my place to dictate Riley's choices. He needed to summon the courage to confront his father, to reclaim his life from the grip of emotional turmoil.

No one—absolutely no one—should endure suffering, especially not at the hands of family. Hedrick was the root of Riley's pain, and it infuriated me. I drained the last of my cocoa, setting the cup down firmly, feeling a spark of determination. I stood up, stretching with intention, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

"Girl?" Sasha's voice chimed playfully, eager to delve into my thoughts once more.

"I need some fresh air," I said, cutting off whatever conversation was happening. I slipped out of the living room, eager to explore the rest of the cabin. So far, I had only seen this one space. 

"Don't go poking your nose where it doesn't belong, got it, brat?" Derek, with his piercing silver blonde hair, shot me a sideways glance as he flicked his lighter open. There was a mischievous glint in his eyes that made me uneasy.