"Lillian Lowe, would you consider being my mate?"
She couldn't comprehend what he just asked her. Her brain completely shut down and she could only stare at him with her mouth agape. She couldn't grasp what was happening in front of her.
"I-I feel faint. I'm going to lay down," she stuttered and went back to the manor house unsteady on her feet.
She returned to her room and laid on the bed to center herself among her familiar scents. As she grew up with humans, her room was her sanctuary away from all the protocols and confusing social rules. Today it seemed that the normally calming effect had been destroyed because of that beast's behavior.
Never before had a man of power bowed to her. What did he think he was doing? He must be trying to throw her off so she couldn't think straight. And it was working. She had no idea how to reply to such an action. The maids and butlers bowing were almost commonplace by now. A lord bowing to her was outlandish. Werewolves most certainly didn't show any vulnerable spots like that either.
Her thoughts were spinning as she tried processing what his ultimate goal was. Was he actually trying to kill her like the one who murder her parents? No, she couldn't detect any ill intentions towards her so that couldn't be it.
She just couldn't believe that he honestly would want her to be his mate without some ulterior motive. Love at first sight was something found in those popular romance novels and she refused to entertain the thought further.
Could he want to strengthen an alliance? Most of her original pack was killed and the few who remained scattered across the land. Was he unaware of this? Or did he wish to validate his social standing? But she wasn't the Alpha's daughter so that wouldn't make sense.
The only thing she could think of was that he wanted fresh blood in the family line. If he truly lived by the sea and had come inland to find a mate then wanting someone outside the pack made the most sense.
A feeling of calm came through her as she felt that she had solved the mystery. Of course he wasn't interested in her but in her blood and what she could offer to his family line.
Lillian breathed a little easier as she sat up with a clear head. How foolish of her to get so worked up over such a simple issue.
She went to the dressing table and fixed her makeup before venturing back down to the sitting room where his scent was very strong. His deep voice was clearly heard as was the voice of her benefactor. He would most certainly not be pleased by her sudden absence. She took a deep breath to steeled her nerves and continued towards the room.
She knocked on the door frame making her presence known. Lord Culpepper glared daggers at her while the werewolf looked excited to see her return.
"Lillian. Sit with us," Lord Culpepper said remarkably calmly for how rage filled his eyes were.
She did as she was told and sat in a chair between the two men.
"Are you feeling better, Lady Lowe?" Asked the werewolf first before the lord could speak.
"Yes I am. Thank you for your concern, Lord…" she trailed off realizing that she never asked his name and it would be impolite to ask now so she lied "I apologize. I don't want to mispronounce your name."
"Prince Claude Rawls," he supplied.
Her eyes widened only for a moment as dbe realized that her solution to his rapid proposal was the only logical answer. All the royal families of Europe were inbred so of course they would look for someone outside their realm to produce healthy heirs.
"Prince Rawls," she correct herself before continuing, "after careful consideration it would be in both of our best interest for me to accept your proposal."
Unfortunately for her, Prince Rawls was the best candidate so far and he was the only werewolf around so she wouldn't need to hide herself any longer. Plus he could offer much more protection than Lord Culpepper could. Lilian could defend herself against a few humans at once but when it came to supernatural creatures with practical fighting experience, she was sure to fail. She also couldn't keep running away all the time either. There were no other good options for her to choose. At least she probably wouldn't need to see him that often as he'd be off doing whatever the kingdom needed him to do.
"Then it's settled. The engagement will commence!" Lord Culpepper announced outloud and went off to make her captivity to this beast official.
He got what he wanted, but for some reason Prince Rawls didn't look happy