Page 53 of The Princess and the Pack

“Lord Rafferty.” Her silky voice rings out from behind me as she steps into the hall and regards me with an arched brow.

“Stunning,” I say, eyes trained on her throat. I watch how it bobs when she swallows. I think my mark would look rather beautiful there as well.

What I wouldn’t give to taste her in my mouth as her soul twines with mine.

“I—” She pauses, wide-eyed and uncertain of how to explain herself. But she doesn’t need to. She is perfect. A masterpiece.

Mine.

Ours, it seems, at long last.

“You are stunning, omega. What a treasure you’ve given our Sloan.”

It’s dangerous to utter such a thing, to speak the truth of what’s happened out in the open. But before we get to Cillian, she should hear it. She should know how sacred and beautiful it is to bond. She may be angry with me, but she’s my mate. I want to shower her with praise so long as she’ll let me.

“Thank you,” she breathes. She reaches to trace along the mark, and I all but shudder just thinking of her skin beneath my fingers. I’d love nothing more than to mark her up so prettily—give her something more to admire.

In time, I hope. If she can find me worthy. Gods know, I’m not. But hope is a powerful, drugging thing. Just as the world took it from me, Ivy has given it right back.

“You said the king required me?” she asks.

I try to regain my composure and blink the sparkling wonder from my eyes. “In your chambers. He’s waiting.”

She bites her bottom lip. A move too sensual not to be criminal. “And will you be there too, alpha?” Ivy’s scent sweetens, her eyes glassy with what looks like lust. Goddess. My heart will give out for how much it pounds when she’s near.

“I’ll be there for as long as you like, omega.”

She nods, turning to make the short trek to where her king awaits. The view from behind is far too enticing. Every step, every sway of her hips, and I’m another foot deeper into the pull of her orbit.

I hope she never exiles me from the warmth of her light again. It’s too intoxicating, and I couldn’t stand to lose it.

“Ivy—Your Majesty,” I correct myself as we traverse the castle corridors.

She turns her head, her eyes soft and questioning. “Lord Rafferty?”

I exhale, letting go of the hurt I’ve carried since last night. Each time I try to deny myself this woman, I’m reminded what a fool I am. “I’m so very sorry.” I need her to believe me, to know that what was done was all in pursuit of our future together—of her health. When Cillian explains, I’m certain she’ll understand even better.

Ivy’s answer is a quirk of her lip and heated longing in her ocean eyes. “I know, Oran.”

When she turns back and continues on her way, my grin is wide—bright as this new day.

My omega will forgive me. She’ll allow me the same honor she gave to Sloan. What she didn’t say with words, she said in her loving stare.

My mate will have me.

I just need to prove myself first.

As soon as the sun broke above the horizon, I was itching to see my mate again.

I haven’t slept, not really, merely paced around my bedchamber in the hopes Ivy might change her mind and ask us to come back to the nest. But I’ve failed her—made her doubt me. I only hope Sloan has managed to be successful where Oran and I were not.

In order for this pack to work, Ivy will need to accept all of us as her alphas. So at the very least, I’m glad she and Sloan are building their connection—a small silver lining amidst the storm clouds.

When I sent Oran to summon her, I wasn’t sure if I should wait for her to come to us. If I had done that, would she assume me to be uninterested in fixing things? Would she believe I was rejecting her?

Fuck.

Everything is a mess.

---