The Alpha's Prize ??

19

"Tay, please tell me that's you," I call out, giving Edgar a panicked look. To his credit, he only looks slightly terrified.

"Not quite."

I grimace, turning to Edgar. "Fuck. It's Kaan."

His eyes flare open wider. "The Alpha?"

"Go away, I don't feel like talking to you," I call through the door, rolling my eyes.

Knowing Kaan isn't going to give up easily, I shoo Edgar into the wardrobe. He quickly smothers himself amongst all my outfits donated by Tay before he closes the door, sealing himself in.

"Let me in Hunt. We need to talk," says, his voice muffled by the door.

"Don't call me Hunt," I growl.

Nicknames make it seem like we are close, or that we may become close. There is no chance of that, and he knows it.

I just wish he wasn't so interested in me staying around all of a sudden...

"I won't. Just let me in," he insists.

"No. Go away."

The door opens before I can grab for the handle, and Kaan presses inside, closing it behind him.

"You forget, no locks," he notes.

I groan, tipping my head back. He's been avoiding me for days, and now he's come to harass me at the worst time possible. I just hope Edgar can stay quiet in the cramped wardrobe.

"Please go. I'm tired," I mutter, pointing at the door.

I hope he doesn't notice that I'm not dressed in my nightclothes, and my hair is still done up from the day. By now I should be sleeping. Thankfully he seems too in his own head about something to take much notice.

"I need to see you, to tell you something on behalf of my parents," he states.

I sigh through my nose. "Can this not wait until morning?"

"No, it can't," he says. "Tomorrow morning, we are being called urgently to my grandmother's house."

"Your Grandmother?"

"She lives near the border, and wants to inspect you to see if you're worthy enough," he says unevenly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Seriously?"

"I promise, it's not because she wants to see whether you will be a good Queen, because she couldn't care less about that crap. She wants to see if we are in love."

My eyelids flutter in shock. Love? I can hardly stand Kaan, how am I supposed to prove to someone I've never met that I actually have strong feelings for him? It sounds like something I shouldn't concern myself with since I'm leaving soon.

Yet, if I don't, Kaan will get suspicious, and will ruin my plan.

"In love?" I say breathily, glancing at the wardrobe door, willing Edgar not to make a sound. I'm not sure how much air he has in there, so I hope he can last...

"I know, but her happiness means a lot to me. I want her to believe we are in love, even if we aren't," he murmurs.

My stomach hollows at his words, guilt chewing away at my resolve. By escaping, I'm not trying to hurt him. I just want him to have the freedom I desperately crave.

"I suppose I don't have any other choice, right?" I shrug, averting my eyes, hoping he can't see my guilt.

Look at him, my mate, I can see that something is troubling him. His eyes are dark and haunted, his statute rigid.

I would ask him how he is, but if we start sharing emotions, we will get close.

And I can't get close to him...even if every part of me craves doing so.

Kaan nods tightly. "Exactly. She will be at the wedding anyway. And now that we are-"