I braced both hands against the cold stone wall of the training chamber and bowed my head. Sweat slid down my spine, my scars pulling as my muscles locked, my teeth clenched hard enough to ache.

Control.

That word had followed me my entire life. From tutors, from my father, from commanders who praised my discipline especially after I turned feral.

My wolf snarled inside me restless and offended.

Mine, it whispered, not with words but instinct. A possessive pull that surged whenever the bond stirred, whenever Raven was frightened, stressed, or too far away.

I hated it, hated the way the bond demanded attention, and demanded a reaction. The way it made me feel exposed, unguarded, one misstep away from losing myself, and I hated the fact that Raven felt none of it. Why should I have to suffer alone?

I grimaced when I remembered the reason I'd blocked Raven from feeling it in the first place.

I shoved off the wall and crossed the chamber in long strides, grabbing a practice blade from the rack. The sound of steel sang as I swung, the motion sharp, precise and brutal. I imagined cutting through the pressure, severing the pull.

It didn't help.

The wolf pushed harder, a flash of teeth and heat and hunger curling behind my eyes. I staggered, breath hitching as my vision flared gold for half a heartbeat.

"No," I growled aloud, voice rough. "Not now."

I forced myself to stand still, my shoulders back and my spine straight, a prince did not falter.

The doors opened, my best friend- Camden didn't bother knocking. He never did when something was wrong.

"Eilís," he said, already crossing the room. "We've got a problem."

I didn't turn to look at him. "If this is about the patrol routes, tell the council to wait."

"It's not," Camden replied, his tone stripped of its usual humor. "It's worse."

That got my attention.

I sheathed the blade and faced him. Camden's expression was tight, jaw set, eyes sharp in a way that meant he'd already run through every scenario and hated all of them.

"Talk."

He voice lowered. "North district, outer boroughs first, then spreading inward. I think it's Arden's people, they're calling it a 'correction.'

I felt the word like a strike.

"How many?" I asked.

"Enough," he answered. "They're not armed openly yet, but they're organizing, blocking roads. And-" He hesitated.

"They're using the mating as leverage."

My chest tightened. "Explain."

"They're saying the kingdom's weakened, that you're compromised, that a bond between a human and a wolf is unstable." Camden met my eyes. "That a ruler who can't control himself can't protect Caravia."

The wolf roared at that, furious, feral, shoving against my restraint.

My hands curled into fists, my anger almost getting a hold of me. "Where?" I asked, pushing it back down. It hadn't even be up to a week.

"Right now? Just noise," Camden replied. "But if it spreads to the inner court-"

"It won't," I cut in.

Camden studied me. "Are you sure about that?"

I straightened slowly, forcing the weight of the crown back onto my shoulders. "Issue a statement, keep it calm and measured, no threats."

Camden blinked. "That's it?"

"For now," I answered. "If they want proof of weakness, I won't give it to them."

"And the bond?"

My jaw tightened. "I will handle it."

Camden didn't look convinced, but he nodded. "I'll keep you updated."

When I was alone again, the chamber felt smaller. Hotter. The walls pressed in, echoing with the quiet thrum under my skin.

My wolf stirred, restless and angry.

They're coming, it warned. They'll try to take what's ours.

As I closed my eyes, "No," I said softly, to the beast, to the bond, to the kingdom trembling just beyond the walls. "They won't."

But for the first time, I wasn't entirely sure who I was convincing.

****

I sighed as the door opened again, I inhaled deep as Denis poked his head in, flashing me a smile. "Can I come in?"

I shrugged. Taking that as an answer he came in and clicked the door shut.

"I just thought you might want to know the king called for Raven."

I stiffened. "He did what?"

"They're conversing as we speak." Denis supplied.

I fisted my knuckles, what if he noticed something? I couldn't exactly go there and demand to see the king. My father would get suspicious. What could they be talking about?

I should have attended the ball.

"I didn't think you'd risk leaving her all alone there." Denis said slowly, "I had thought you'd keep her close considering the bite mark you left on her." His lips twitched.

I threw him a towel. "I didn't want to overshadow his moment, you know as well as I do that people would be hesitant to approach if I was there. As much as I need hi..her to keep to herself I also need hi..her to speak with people to avoid rumours." gods, saying the right pronouns was going to be a bitch.

"How was the claiming?" Denis asked, changing the subject entirely.

"Is this question coming from my friend or pack?"

"Both?" Denis replied, sounding unsure.

"She's alive isn't she? And she has the bite."

"That you're happy about it." He raised his eyebrows.

"Im happy about it." When he just stared at me, I groaned and rubbed my face. "What more do you want me to say? You want me to tell you I regret it because it just added more to the list of things I need to be careful about."

"She is not a thing." Denis said softly.

"Exactly! She's someone who just added to my problems, as if handling the pack wasn't enough now I have a mate to think about."

Denis hesitated a moment before he spoke. "Did....did your wolf take control?"

"No, thank the gods for that." I replied. Even though Denis was among the people who knew about my split personality, I couldn't exactly tell him the wolf had been the one to claim Raven. He'd just go tattle to Camden who'd tattle to Aria-my sister.

"Are you going to tell her?" He said, still hesitant.

"No, I'm not. Not if the situation calls for it."

"Doesn't she have a right to know?"

"No, she doesn't, I didn't choose to mate with hi..her she didn't choose to mate with me, we're both a victim of circumstances."

When he tried to speak again, I cut him off. "This conversation is over Denis please see your self out."

His mouth closed immediately. "As you wish your highness."

I sighed as the door clicked shut behind him.

What had I gotten myself into?

Chapter 7 Regret

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