"Come back home right now, Declan." King Ivan's authoritative voice came through the phone.
A cynical smile lifted the edges of Declan's lips. "You sound worried, father, scared I'll disappear again?"
King Ivan paced restlessly in his study, a dark shadow cast over his handsome features.
That was exactly what he was worried about; he knew very well that Declan wouldn't return if he didn't want to and this time they might not find him again.
"If you don't come back, your bodyguards will lose their lives." He threatened calmly, forcing himself to take a deep breath.
He knew that his son was just riling him up and losing his cool was the fastest way to lose the upper hand he currently had.
"I don't care what happens to them." Declan threw out flippantly.
"D?!" Ash whined, giving Declan a betrayed look.
"Fine, I'll come back." Declan agreed with an amused smile. "But…"
Ivan held his breath; although Declan was quiet and calm, he had always been wary of him because he had no idea of what he was capable of.
"I'll be coming back with my mate." He relayed calmly, hanging up before his father could process his words.
"I don't want to talk to him again." He muttered, tossing the phone to Ash.
Just as he predicted the phone started to ring almost immediately. There was raw panic expressive on Ash's face as he held the ringing phone like it was on fire.
Cade strode in at that moment. "Your ride is here." He relayed formally, ignoring Ash who was staring at him pleadingly.
"I want this cottage to remain in pristine condition." Declan ordered, getting to his feet. "Fix the doors and… clear out the things in the other room, I want them shipped to the palace." He added almost as an afterthought, striding out.
His personal bodyguards stared at him as he walked out of the trashed room, Ash forgetting about the ringing phone in his hold.
"Was that a mating mark?" Cade blinked, his expression blank.
Ash scratched his head nervously. "He told King Ivan that he was bringing his mate with him."
"Well, shit." Cade grinned, his fangs flashing. "I'm guessing he's talking about the hybrid, things are about to get interesting."
"Lola isn't going to like this." Ash muttered, glancing down forlornly at the phone in his hand.
-*-
Declan ignored the bowing guards, striding out of the cottage with an inscrutable expression.
It irked him to see so many strangers crawling around the cottage and the woods but there was no helping it. At least the werewolves sent to get him knew well enough to leave him alone.
He had no idea if Faun had fallen asleep because he told him to or if he had straight up passed out from the shock. It was relieving still because he knew that Faun couldn't handle being around this many werewolves.
There were a lot of black cars parked haphazardly at the entrance to the woods, making Declan curse, they were causing a ruckus.
He wanted to disappear quietly the same way he slipped unassumingly into Oakwood but it was seeming impossible.
Just as he was guided to the car that would no doubt take him to the airport, he saw a familiar car pulling up from the corner of his eye and winced.
He had no plans of letting Faun go so he walked over to them, still holding a sleeping Faun.
"Declan?" Isla immediately rushed forward, her frown deepening when she was immediately held back by professional looking men in black.
"What's going on?" Lou asked stiffly, throwing the men evil eyes as she pulled Isla closer to her.
"Stand down." Declan directed, sighing wearily.
"It's not as bad as you think." He said to Isla and Lou.
"You're not a criminal, right? Is Faun okay?" Isla hurried forward again to check up on Faun, this time no one stopped her.
Lou levelled Declan a look when he said nothing. "Don't you think we deserve some sort of explanation?" She crossed her arms.
"Yeah!" Isla chimed in, brushing Faun's hair out of his face. "We saw a lot of suspicious cars drive in this direction and got worried."
"What if I am a run away royalty and these guys are sent by my dad to bring me back?" He asked teasingly.
The stiffness in Lou's shoulders eased a bit. "I'd say you're pulling my legs." She chuckled. "Will you be okay though?"
"When have I ever not been?" Declan replied lightly.
"Before Faun came." Isla deadpanned, stepping back to stay at her girlfriend's side. "Honestly, I don't give any hoots about what happens to you but if Faun is hurt then I'm coming for you." She threatened seriously.
Declan closed his eyes dramatically. "You've broken my heart, Island."
Isla wasn't backing down though. "I mean it, D… sorry, Prince Declan." She corrected herself, laughter in her voice.
"You should get going, I think they're waiting for you." Lou pointed out, referring to the fact that literally everyone was watching them have a conversation.
"Don't forget to call… I mean, tell Faun to call." Isla narrowed her eyes at him, letting Lou pull her back to their car.
"You highness?" A guard walked up to him, questions in his eyes.
"Let them be, they know nothing." He replied coldly, the warmth in his eyes and voice that he had while talking to Isla and Lou long gone.
Declan Waters, the out of luck writer who was usually holed up in his cottage writing didn't exist to begin with. So it wasn't hard to lose that personality.
Now, he was Declan Knox, first prince and heir to the throne of the werewolf country in the north.
He glanced down at Faun, all of his emotions hidden.
Faun had fallen in love with Declan Waters not him, this wasn't going to be any fun.
Declan finally made his way to the car prepared for him, a gloomy Cade and a nervous Ash waiting for him in the driver and passenger seat.
He barely spared them a glance, signalling for the partition to be dropped.
He had been caught off guard, he needed a little time to put himself back together and fix up all the walls that Faun, Isla and Lou had been slowly bringing down.