Chapter 5 5: His Mate And Maid

VALKIRA

Valkira hadn't meant to scare him. She had simply come back to the woods to pack some wood for her father, as she often did when she had the chance.

Her family lived near the edge of the forest, close enough to make it a regular route for her to help him with his work. But this time, her legs had carried her back to the very spot where she had healed Zeroth... the prince.

She hadn't expected to find him here again, but the sound of his voice made her freeze in place. She turned toward him, and he was already facing her, his expression stunned, as if he hadn't expected to see her again either.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to scare you," she said quickly, her voice soft, almost apologetic.

Zeroth, however, didn't move. His eyes stayed locked on her, and she could see the confusion in his gaze. She glanced behind her, wondering if someone else was there, someone he might be looking for... but when she turned, there was no one. It was just the two of them.

His eyes never left hers, and Valkira felt a strange pull deep in her chest. He seemed lost, as if he were trying to piece something together in his mind. She felt uneasy under his stare, but she couldn't look away.

"My prince," she called softly, snapping him from his thoughts.

Zeroth blinked, as if awakening from a trance. His expression softened, but the air around them felt charged. He was still staring at her, his eyes narrowed as if searching for an answer he couldn't find.

Zeroth was no fool. He had realized something that Valkira hadn't- she was his mate. He couldn't deny the connection, the way her presence stirred something deep inside him

When she had healed him in the woods, he had felt it. The bond had been there, but he hadn't seen her face clearly at the time. Now, standing face to face with her, it was undeniable.

But Valkira didn't feel it yet. She didn't know. She couldn't possibly know. He wasn't sure whether she was pretending or if she truly didn't recognize the bond.

Perhaps she hadn't realized it when her hands had touched him during the accident. Maybe it was only him who could feel it- the pull that tethered him to her, the call of their shared fate.

He blinked again, clearing his mind. He had to know. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice more controlled this time, though there was still a trace of uncertainty.

Valkira hesitated for a moment before answering. "I'm helping my dad. He sells wood, and we live close to the woods."

Zeroth processed her words, his mind working through the meaning. "So, you were waiting for me to leave the mansion before you did?" He raised an eyebrow, a hint of suspicion creeping into his voice. There was something about her presence that didn't quite add up.

Valkira shifted nervously, her eyes flicking away from his. She nodded, but her gaze was uneasy, as though she wasn't entirely sure how to answer him.

Zeroth studied her, his mind still reeling. Everything about this moment felt too familiar, too destined. But Valkira didn't know.

He stepped a little closer, his voice firm but calm. "Who told you to leave the palace?" he asked, his tone louder than he intended.

Valkira froze, her breath catching in her throat. Her wide eyes looked up at him, and she gulped nervously, her throat dry. "You told me to leave," she said, her voice soft and apologetic. She hoped that would be enough that he would understand her hesitance.

Zeroth, however, wasn't having it. "I told you to leave my room, not the mansion," he shot back, his voice stern.

Her heart raced as she quickly apologized, her words tumbling out in a flurry. "I only came to help my father. You told me to leave, and..."

He cut her off with a sharp scoff. "You don't work for your father, Valkira. You work for me. Now, follow me to my mansion, this instant."

The command was clear, and Valkira quickly nodded in obedience, hoping her parents wouldn't worry or think she'd disappeared without a trace. She fell in line behind him.

As they walked toward the carriage, the silence between them was thick with unspoken thoughts. Zeroth's mind was a whirlwind. He had been hoping... praying that he wouldn't have to marry Lady Ygraine, but fate had brought him to an omega. Valkira. His mate, and maid.

The very idea made his chest tighten with a mess of emotions.

But there was no way his father, Alpha Tyrian, would ever accept this. Valkira wasn't the future heir to a powerful pack. She wasn't a princess. She wasn't Lady Ygraine.

She was... Valkira. His mate. Yet still an omega.

The thought of the rejection from his father, the disappointment that would follow... made his insides twist.

He stopped in his tracks, and Valkira, walking behind him, immediately halted as well. He turned to look at her... really look at her.

She was beautiful. Fragile. And it struck him in a way he hadn't expected. **His mate.**

And his heart fluttered at the thought.

Did she feel the bond? Did she sense what he was feeling in this moment? Or had she not realized yet what they were to each other?

His heart ached at the thought of what would happen if his father found out about her. His father would never accept her. He would force him to reject her, no matter what. Lady Ygraine was everything an Alpha needed- intelligent, a princess, and from the Frostbite pack. A future heir. A perfect match... on paper.

Zeroth turned to face Valkira, his voice louder than he intended. "Why are you walking behind me like this?"

Valkira blinked, confusion filling her eyes. "It's appropriate this way, my prince," she said hesitantly. "I'm your maid... I need to stay behind you."

He raised an eyebrow and placed his hands on his waist. "Come here. Now," he ordered, his voice firm.

She didn't hesitate this time. Quickly, she walked to his side. He nodded at her and gestured forward. "Lead the way."

As she started walking, he found his gaze falling on her again. She turned to glance at him- and his eyes couldn't help but trail down her form. Her hips. Her body. Everything about her made his pulse race.

He couldn't stop himself... even though he should have. He was an Alpha. She was an omega. Why would he be checking her out?

But as she turned again, his gaze was still locked on her... on her àss.

He didn't even try to hide it.

The realization hit her in a rush: Zeroth was really checking her out.

Her face flushed crimson, and she quickly shut her eyes in embarrassment. She couldn't believe it.

And then, as if to confirm her suspicions, his voice came-low and teasing.

"Valkira," he said, "you got a nice backside."