Chapter 4

KNOX'S POV I glared at my mate, my mind struggling to accept that she was the one from that fateful night. The conversation with Noah from a few minutes ago echoed in my thoughts, a stark reminder of how quickly life could change. Just hours ago, I had returned from the royal elite warrior camp, completely unaware that my world was about to be turned upside down. A few minutes ago... The castle gates loomed before me, their ancient iron wrought into intricate designs that cast dancing shadows across the cobblestone path. My polished black boots clicked against the stone with each step, the sound mixing with the gentle morning breeze that carried the scent of home. The late morning sun bathed the courtyard in a golden glow, catching on the elaborate gold embroidery adorning my fitted navy blue military jacket. Each thread had been carefully sewn to denote my royal status, though the jacket now bore the welcome wear of intense training. I inhaled deeply, letting the familiar scents wash over me—the sweet perfume of climbing roses winding their way up the castle walls, the mouthwatering aroma of fresh bread wafting from the kitchen windows, and the sharp metallic tang from the armory where the clash of steel on steel signaled another day of guard training. "Your Highness!" The familiar voice cut through my reverie. I turned to find Noah hurrying toward me, his usual composed appearance notably disheveled. His normally pristine white shirt was half-untucked, scroll papers threatening to spill from his arms, and his dark brown hair looked like he had been running his hands through it all morning. A smile tugged at my lips—some things truly never changed. "Noah," I greeted him, genuine warmth coloring my voice as I grasped his outstretched hand. "How many times do we have to go through this? When it's just us, it's Knox." He adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses with his free hand, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. The morning light caught on the thin silver frames, momentarily obscuring his knowing hazel eyes. "Force of habit. But seriously, welcome home. How bad was the training this time?" We fell into step together, our footsteps echoing off the castle's stone walls as we made our way inside. I rolled my shoulders, still feeling the ache from countless drills. "Let's just say they didn't cut their future king any slack. If anything, they made it harder." "You look exhausted," Noah observed, genuine concern in his voice. "The training camp's getting more intense each year." "Nothing I can't handle," I assured him, though my muscles protested with each step. "How have things been here?" Noah hesitated, and I caught the slight shift in his expression—that all-too-familiar look of concern mixed with exasperation. "Well... speaking of your duties," he began carefully, "the court's been rather vocal lately about the whole mate situation." I dragged a hand through my dark hair, wishing I'd taken the long way around the castle to avoid this conversation. "Not this again." "The kingdom needs stability, Knox. You know as well as I do that your continued..." he searched for a diplomatic word, "singular status is making the court nervous." "Since when does having a mate determine whether someone can lead?" I snapped, frustration bleeding into my voice. "Those old fools in the court—" "Those old fools," Noah cut in, his tone unusually sharp, "are the backbone of this kingdom's political structure. And like it or not, they're going to start parading their daughters in front of you if you don't figure this out soon." Deep down, I knew he was right. The weight of the crown had always come with expectations, and finding a mate was one of the most fundamental. I felt my wolf stir restlessly at the thought of a mate, eager and wanting, but I stubbornly pushed those instincts aside. My wolf and I rarely disagreed, but on this, we couldn't be more opposed. As we rounded the corner into the grand hallway, fate decided to prove just how wrong I'd been. The scent hit me like a physical blow—vanilla and jasmine intertwined with something uniquely feminine that made my wolf surge forward with recognition. My hand flew to my chest, trying to calm my suddenly racing heart. "Knox?" Noah's voice sounded distant, as if I were underwater. "You okay?" I barely heard him, my enhanced senses zeroing in on the source of that intoxicating scent. The crowded hallway seemed to part before me as my eyes locked onto her figure. She stood near the center of the room, her back turned to me, but everything in my being recognized her as mine. Her dark hair fell in loose waves down her back, the rich color contrasting beautifully with her pale blue gown. The dress hugged her curves in a way that made my wolf want to growl possessively at any man who dared look her way. I couldn't stop the word from falling from my lips like a prayer: "Mate." I stared at her, wondering where she got the audacity to be angry after what she did that night. My memory might have been fuzzy from the alcohol, but her scent had left an indelible mark. Back then, I hadn't realized she was my mate, dismissing it as another one of her deceptions—something I still couldn't be entirely sure about. But Liam, my wolf, insisted she was my mate regardless. And that was just the beginning of this clusterfuck. The guard uniform in her hands told me exactly what I didn't want to know—she'd been assigned as my new personal guard. Fucking perfect. Her cold words to Mom when she demanded I apologize echoed in my mind, that same hollow ache blooming in my chest just like the first time she said them. I pushed the feeling down, even as Mom's look of disappointment and disbelief burned into me. I didn't fucking care. I was about to part my lips to reject her—the words right there on my tongue—when Liam released a fierce growl, fighting against me with everything he had. "You're doing no fucking such thing," he snarled inside my head, and I rolled my eyes. Of course he was against this—he wasn't the one who's opposed to the whole mate concept. "The longer you drag this out, the more painful it's just going to be." "Don't you fucking dare," he growled again, and I sighed wearily. This was going to be a long-ass day!