Page 21 of Sun's Roar

Sol remained silent, his eyes traveling slowly from her face down to her feet and back up again. A muscle in his jaw twitched, and his hands flexed at his sides. He looked like a predator barely restraining himself.

“What is this?” Helena demanded, finding her voice. “First you show up at my restaurant making me believe you’re my new boss, then you somehow rescue me from the fire, and now I wake up in your castle? Are you stalking me or something?”

Sol still didn’t answer but took a deliberate step toward her. His movements were fluid, almost too graceful for such a powerfully built man. The look in his eyes made Helena’s breath catch—it was possessive, protective, and primal all at once.

“This isn’t funny,” Helena insisted, trying to ignore the way her heart raced at his approach. “I want answers. Now.”

EIGHT

SOL

Sol paced the length of the opulent dining room, his tailored suit accentuating his powerful frame. He could still feel the weight of Helena’s unconscious body in his arms as he’d rushed her into the castle.

The events of the night replayed in his mind like a frenzied montage...

“Dammit, Joshua, drive faster!” he’d growled, his wolf clawing at the surface desperate to protect its mate.

The SUV had just barely stopped before Sol was out, cradling Helena against his chest. Mitesh’s footsteps echoed behind him as they’d raced through the castle’s grand halls.

“Get the doctor. Now!” Sol had barked at a startled servant.

The royal physician’s words still rang in his ears. “Stress and exhaustion, Your Highness. No lingering smoke inhalation or burns. Let her rest.”

Sol’s fingers twitched at his sides, recalling how he’d traced Helena’s unmarred skin, relief flooding through him. His Luna, unharmed by her own flames. It was a good sign, but it also meant she was completely unaware of her true nature.

“How the hell am I supposed to explain this?” he muttered.

A knock at the door interrupted his brooding. “Enter,” he commanded, his voice rough with anticipation.

Deina, Helena’s assigned personal servant, stepped in with a curtsy. “Your Highness, Lady Helena is awake and bathing. She’ll join you shortly.”

Sol’s wolf perked up at the news. “Excellent. How is she?”

“Confused but calm. She believes you to be her new employer.”

A low chuckle escaped Sol’s lips. “Of course, she does. That’s going to be an interesting conversation.”

As Deina excused herself, Sol found himself drawn to the elaborate table setting. Two places, intimately close. Crystal glasses caught the light from the chandelier, casting prism-like shadows across the crisp white tablecloth.

“You’ve waited centuries for this moment,” he reminded himself, straightening his jacket. “Don’t screw it up.”

His mind wandered to the upcoming revelation. How would Helena react to learning she had magical fire powers and was his destined mate? The Luna of the Sunflare pack.

Sol’s eyes flashed with determination. “She’ll accept it. She has to.” His wolf growled in agreement, already recognizing its other half.

The scent of cinnamon and vanilla suddenly filled the air, signaling Helena’s presence outside the dining room doors. Sol’s body tensed, every nerve ending alive with anticipation. He moved to stand near the head of the table, forcing himself to appear relaxed and in control.

“Show time,” he murmured, a smirk playing on his lips. Whatever happened next, one thing was certain – life for both of them was about to change forever.

Sol’s heart thundered in his chest as Helena entered the dining hall. Her fiery red hair cascaded past her shoulders, framing her pale face. The green sundress Deina had chosenhugged Helena’s figure perfectly, and Sol’s wolf stirred within him, eager to claim its mate.

“You?” Helena’s voice, laced with shock and suspicion, cut through the air. “You’re the Prince?”

Sol’s jaw clenched as he fought to maintain control. Every instinct screamed at him to cross the room and take her in his arms, but he held back, remembering Joshua’s warning about human customs.

“What is this?” Helena demanded, her hazel eyes flashing with a mixture of confusion and anger. “First you show up at my restaurant making me believe you’re my new boss, then you somehow rescue me from the fire, and now I wake up in your castle? Are you stalking me or something?”

Sol took a deliberate step forward, his movements fluid and predatory. He couldn’t help the possessive gleam in his eyes as he gazed at her. “Helena,” he began, his voice low and confident, “I assure you, this is no laughing matter.”

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