Dwayne's POV
The pack's courtyard was bustling with servants moving properties to the cars that lined up in the yard, ready for departure. I stood by the side, watching as my head guard barked orders in an attempt to hurry the process.
We weren't supposed to return back to our kingdom until a week later but my patience was wearing thin every second I spent here and sooner or later, the head of a werewolf will roll on the ground. Just the sight of them made my blood boil, what more the thought of being married to one?
"Prince Dwayne," one of them carefully approached me, his eyes trembling.
I stared at him coldly. "What is it?"
"It's Princess Nina," he said, almost stumbling over his words. "She's not here."
I frowned. "Not here?" I repeated, my irritation clearly not hidden. "Where is she?"
The guard flinched under my gaze. "We're not sure, my lord. No one has seen her since today."
"Of course" I scoffed. I hadn't even noticed her absence. She was scared after our conversation and probably ran away when she realized she was stuck with me for the rest of her life. Werewolves were weaklings, what did I expect.
"Find her," I muttered, dismissing him with a wave of my hand. "We're leaving with or without her."
"Dwayne," my father, Alpha Kael called out to me but he pursed his lips when he saw the finality in my expression.
Nina had still not arrived and the servants were done loading the cars.
"Let's go," I ordered and was about to get into the car before my father stopped me.
"Your wife is not here yet, wait a little," He said calmly but with a hint of authority in his voice.
"Tch, that stupid Nina, always wanting to be the center of attention," Nina's step sister, Sheila muttered from behind and I turned to face her, shooting her a fierce glare.
"Watch what you say about my wife from now on, before I rip your mouth open." I spat. As much as I hated the Union between me and Nina, any insult to her is reflected on me and I won't let anyone get away with insulting me.
At that moment, Nina appeared looking all confused. She didn't know of this arrangement so I wasn't surprised by her reaction.
"Good that you're here. Get in the car, we're leaving."
"What's going on?" Nina asked.
Her father, Alpha Thompson, stepped forward, his face hard but his voice gentle. "Where have you been, Nina?"
She hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line. She didn't answer, just glanced away, avoiding his gaze.
I stepped forward, my voice cutting through the awkward silence. "Doesn't matter. We are leaving. Get into the car."
She turned to me, her confusion written all over her face as if she didn't hear me the first time. "What?"
"You heard me," I said coldly, my patience thinning by the second. "Get in."
She blinked at me. "I… I need to go get my things," she stammered, trying to gather herself.
"There's no need," I replied sharply. "Whatever you need, you'll get it when we arrive at the Great Black Pack."
Her mouth opened, probably to question the sudden arrangement, but she must have known it was better to oblige. With a frustrated huff, she muttered, "Just wait," and turned on her heel, running back into the house.
Minutes later, she returned clutching a small jewelry case. She stopped in front of her father and engulfed him in a hug. I could hear her break into silent sobs.
"Take care of yourself," Alpha Thompson said softly, his hand resting on her back. "And call me often, okay?"
Nina nodded, her face buried in his shoulder. The moment felt too sentimental for my liking, and I averted my gaze, focusing on the roaring cars instead.
Shiela's voice interrupted the moment. "Oh, for goddess' sake, Nina. Stop being such a drama queen and get in the car. The Lycan prince doesn't have all day."
Nina, pulled from the hug and wiped her tears. She shot Shiela a sharp glare before entering the car.
I followed behind her. Once the door was shut, silence settled between us. Nina looked out the window, fidgeting with the jewelry case in her hand. She didn't say anything and I had no interest in starting a conversation.
Once everyone had settled in their respective cars, the journey to the great black clan began.
At some point, Nina leaned her head against the window pane of the car, her chest slowly heaving up and and down as she slumbered.
I resisted the urge to look at her. But my wolf stirred in the back of my mind, his restlessness forcing my gaze to look at Nina.
Finally, I gave in. She looked… different when she was asleep. Peaceful, almost. Her dark lashes fanned against her cheeks, and her lips parted slightly as she breathed. Her skin glowed faintly from the reflection of the sun. Her small perfect nose flared occasionally which looked…cute.
My wolf growled low in my mind, his voice echoing. She's ours.
I clenched my jaw, pushing the thought aside. She wasn't ours. She was nothing more than a responsibility—a complication I hadn't asked for. A liability.
But then, I felt something strange. An aura seemed to radiate from her, it was so powerful. It wasn't her alpha aura. This was something… different.
I frowned, squinting my eyes as I observed her. What was it?
Before I could think too much about it, Nina shifted in her sleep. Her face turned toward the window, her soft hair falling across her face. I quickly turned my head away from her in embarrassment. Did she notice? I hoped not.
The rest of the ride passed in uncomfortable silence, for me though. I couldn't help but steal glances at her every now and then. No matter how much I told myself to focus, my wolf refused to settle.
When we finally arrived at the Great Black Pack's territory, I was out of the car the moment it stopped. I sighed in relief the moment the cool evening air slapped my face.
My body felt hot, restless. Being close to her stirred something in me that I didn't understand, and didn't want to.
I didn't look back as I walked away, my focus already shifting to more important matters. Whethe
r or not Nina realized we had arrived wasn't my concern. She could catch up on her own.