(08
Remi’s POV
I was overwhelmed.
How could this be happening? How could he be my second chance mate? After everything I had been through after everything I had lost–the last thing I expected was to feel this pull toward another alpha, the head knight of the Royal Wolf Knights. He was powerful, strong, and had a reputation that preceded him. But I? I was broken. I was pregnant. And I wasn’t ready to open my heart again. Not to him. Not to anyone.
I had felt the bond the moment our eyes met. The intense connection, the sudden warmth that spread through my chest, like a fire rekindled long ago. I had thought the mate bond was a thing of the past, that it would never return to me after the broken mate bond I had with Eros, But here I was, with Head Royal Knight Laurent. And no
matter how much I told myself I didn’t want it, the bond remained, stubborn and unyielding.
So, I ignored it. For a week, I acted like it didn’t exist. I focused on training, pushing myself to prove that I was
I
here for more than just some fairy tale. I wasn’t a princess waiting to be swept off my feet. I wasn’t some damsel in distress. I had no time for romance, especially with someone like Laurent.
But, despite my best efforts, I couldn’t escape him. I could feel his presence in every room, his eyes on me during training. He wasn’t subtle about it, either. He seemed to be watching me constantly, as if waiting for me to acknowledge him. And I refused
By the end of the week, my resolve was worn thin. My mind was in turmoil, and every glance he threw my way sent unwanted heat rushing to my cheeks. I couldn’t help it. The bond called to me, but I couldn’t answer it.
And then came our first mission as knights.
We were assigned to guard a royal gathering. The kind of event that made my stomach churn just thinking about it. The entire palace was buzzing with excitement, the air thick with anticipation. The royal family had organized the gathering to identify the missing princess. To do so, they planned to summon all eligible she–wolves with wrist birthmarks. Apparently, they hoped the right woman would step forward.
Of course, everyone seemed to think they were the one. Women from every corner of the kingdom came forward, all claiming to be the lost princess. The chaos was immediate. Some of them had the birthmark–others didn’t- but all of them believed that if they could just get close enough to the royal family, they’d be granted the title. I could barely contain my laughter at how ridiculous it was. The sheer audacity of some of these women. It was a mess, and I could already sense the tension in the air.
And then it happened. Amid the confusion, Laurent appeared beside me. He was tall, commanding, his silver eyes gleaming with frustration as he scanned the crowd.
I could feel him before he even spoke. That pull, that tug on my soul, like a magnet drawing me in. It was hard to ignore, especially when he was so close. The scent of his wolf, that rich, intoxicating smell, filled my senses, making my heart race in ways I didn’t want
He finally turned toward me, his jaw tight, his eyes darkening with something I couldn’t quite place. I could feel his gaze on me like a weight, and I tried to look away, pretending to focus on the chaos unfolding around us.
“Remi,” he said my name like a growl, and my name on his lips sent a shiver through me. He was standing just a