Chapter 2 Mate

‘Mate,’ Zyren's wolf couldn't stop shouting that inside of his mind, but one thing he couldn't accept was that his father was right. “Your Royal Highness, Princess Tatiana Fleur together with her family, ruler of the Kingdom Cassia!” After hearing the announcement of that silly man dressed in formal clothing, he smelled something alluring. Even if he didn't confirm anything, his body knew that it was her. His eyes roamed around the crowded place and there she was. Those sky-blue glinting eyes mesmerized him as their eyes locked with one another. She was dressed so beautifully that he didn't know what to do next but to approach her. A tall-looking man who was dressed decently approached her, blocking him from looking at her adoringly. “Curses, why the hell would he block such a beautiful sight?” He spoke to himself before finding a good spot to look at her. What happened next surprised him when suddenly all of the noble people formed into a circle as if they were waiting for something to happen. Everyone had their partners, so he squinted his eyes at everyone before looking at the human who kept on poking his shoulders. “E-Excuse me, may I have this dance?” A noble lady asked. She looked like she was about to faint because of his presence. He looked around and noticed that guards were standing around the whole castle, so he thought that he might as well blend in. “The pleasure's mine, milady,” He offered his hands, so the lady almost squealed as she brought him to the center where everyone was gathered. He was about to put his whole attention to that woman until he heard something disturbing, “May I present, Prince Nicholas Charles, fiance of Princess Tatiana!” Lots of claps and cheers were to be heard as his eyes widened before looking at the center where he almost growled, seeing her hands being held by another man. She was smiling brightly as the prince looked at her with a desire that he didn’t like as he started dancing with the other girl to go near them. His wolf was getting livid on the inside, so he thought that might be a problem as he averted his gaze at them. ‘Fiance? She was the one who was getting engaged today? But she just met him,’ Zyren thought as he clenched his fists. ‘Royalty, they're always too difficult to understand especially when it comes to forging alliances and everything,’ He thought while sighing. “Aren't they lovely?” The noble lady, who he was dancing with commented, so he squinted his eyes at her. “Who?” He squinted his eyes at her, so he glanced at Princess Tatiana and Prince Nicholas with disgust. “They don’t seem to be in love with one another,” He coldly claimed, so the noble lady politely chuckled. “Of course not yet, they just met today and got engaged,” She smiled, “They'll get to know one another soon,” ‘The only man she'll get to know is me,’ He thought before forcing his way in towards where the princess and prince were dancing. It was finally the exchange of partners. Prince Nicholas looked like he didn't want to let go of the princess, but he did whatever it takes to step in between them. After several spins and glides, Zyren finally ended up where the prince and the princess were currently dancing. “Do you mind if I cut in?” He tried to be polite, but the humor was evident in his tone like he was trying to mock him. Prince Nicholas looked stunned at what he did, but he just composed himself before nodding even if it was against his will. “Of course, you may,” He gave him a small smile before dancing with the noble lady Zyren was dancing with a while ago. He then turned his body to the woman whose scent was alluring, he closed his eyes trying to memorize it since he didn’t want to forget. This woman was his mate. The woman who’s probably going to turn his world upside down, the one who’ll prove if his father was truly spouting the truth about mates. Zyren finally opened his eyes and saw the beautiful woman before him that had sky-blue glinting eyes, “Greetings, I'm Princess Tatiana,” She smiled. Her voice was soft and gentle, his heart swells as he gently offered his hands to her before smiling brightly. “May I have this dance, Princess Tatiana?” He politely asked so she flinched before she decided to curtsy for him. Princess Tatiana thought that his voice was so deep, similar to how the writers have explained the deep voices of those handsome men in their novels. “O-Of course,” She said before reaching out to his hands. After their hands touched, a wave of electricity sparked between them as they gasped as if they were getting burned. But the burn isn't painful, it's the burn that wanted them to get closer, to get to know the being that was still a stranger to them both. “W-What was that?” Tatiana whispered, but she neglected it since she didn't want to offend the man who asked her to dance. ‘It was him, the one who locked eyes with me a while ago,’ She thought while biting her lower lip. ‘He looked so mysterious and…dreamy,’ “A-Are you a prince? It was the first time I've seen you around here,” Princess Tatiana smiled, but he didn't speak and just remained looking at her intently. He just wanted to look and admire the breath-taking beauty that he was seeing up close, she was just something else. Zyren wanted to take her away but that would stir up some trouble here, “Princess, are you really going to engage with that man?” He curiously asked. Tatiana almost frowned since he didn’t answer her first questions, “Y-Yes, I am, for the sake of the kingdom,” She informed him. Zyren twirled her around as she gasped after feeling his big, warm hands around her waist tightened; she has never felt something like that before. She thought that she was acting strange around this human being. Their eyes finally locked with one another again as she became more curious about him. “I hope you would change your mind about this,” Zyren whispered, so she wondered for a moment while tilting her head. “Are you saying something? I'm sorry, I didn't quite hear,” Tatiana mumbled, but he didn't reply to her. She thought maybe he was too shy to speak to her, “What's your name?” She politely asked to ease the tension, but before Zyren could even say something, Nicholas cut in between them. “May I have my fiance back?” He almost sounded like he was possessive of her, so Zyren let go of her waist before looking at him. He didn't want to cause any trouble for her party. Zyren thought it was too early for him to act up and he just had to buy some time to speak with his mate again. He has to speak with her, his wolf will go crazy at the thought of her being engaged with someone else that isn’t him. “Of course,” Zyren bowed before leaving them both on the dance floor. Tatiana was troubled while watching him go, her heart was shouting for him not to leave. “What is going on about me?” She spoke to herself before looking at Prince Nicholas, who was glaring at Zyren. “Is there something wrong, Prince Nicholas?” She worriedly asked. He looked like he was bothered about something. “I don't think that he's a human,” Nicholas claimed before he wrapped his hands around her waists as they started dancing again. Princess Tatiana squinted her eyes at him before looking at the mysterious man she danced with a while ago, but he was nowhere around the dance floor anymore and she didn’t like that. It was such a shame that she didn't get to know his name, “Why are you easily claiming such a serious statement, Prince Nicholas?” She curiously asked. “Are you questioning my kingdom's ability to protect our people that supernatural beings could just sneak in here?” Tatiana raised her eyebrows, so he looked at her intently. “No it's not that, isn't it obvious, princess? He has pitch-black eyes, it's rare, plus no one could have that kind of looks unless they're supernatural beings,” Nicholas claimed, which made her stop. She secretly smiled thinking that kind, mysterious gentleman was indeed a very handsome and attractive fellow. ‘Maybe that was why I suddenly got drawn to him,’ Tatiana thought before sighing since she was hoping to see him again. “I don't think he's someone like that, maybe he was just born lucky to have those kinds of features,” Princess Tatiana defended. Nicholas looked like he didn't like what he had heard from her, “I'm just glad that this party was just one time, we'll never see him again and we could focus on getting to know one another,” He whispered and invited her to eat some delicacies on the buffet table. It wasn't long until the party was almost about to reach its end. The commoners who were invited already went home as the nobles were the ones that were left dancing and drinking. Tatiana, on the other hand, had her head up in the clouds because of that mysterious man she danced with. He was just so mysterious and she wanted to do whatever it takes to know his name and probably get to know him better. There was just something about him that made her curious just like a cat, “Princess Tatiana? Are you with me?” Nicholas asked, making her flinch. She almost forgot that he was gloating about some of his successful expenditures, she doesn’t know why she isn’t a bit interested in it. “O-Oh um, I apologize, I was exhausted from all of the dances and talks that have happened today, do you mind if I see you again tomorrow, Prince Nicholas?” Tatiana politely asked. They'll probably see each other often since they're going to get to know one another even if it was against their will. Nicholas stopped before bowing at her, “Of course, do you want me to escort you back to your chambers? I can be with you until then,” He slowly reached out to her hands and kissed the back of them. “No need, Lily will be with me later on,” She politely smiled and curtsied before she decided to leave the exhausting engagement party. Her brother, together with the king and queen, had already departed a while ago to do some business meeting. It has always been like that whenever there was a huge party, her brother was always with them since he was next in line on the throne. Faint taps of her heels were the only thing she could hear in the spacious hallways as she was raising her frilly gown. No one was around, so she thought it was strange. Usually, Lily would be there to approach her after she left the party. Princess Tatiana just shrugged and set her eyes on the grand stairs that would lead to her chambers. ‘Maybe Lily is waiting for me there,’ She thought with a smile while thinking about a book that she would read next before going to sleep. But before she could even step on the grand stairs, she gasped when someone cupped her mouth and pulled her inside a dark room. She was struggling with all of her might, so the stranger who took her let her go before opening the lights. “Calm down, princess, it's just me,” Zyren sternly spoke, so she did calm down for a moment before meeting up with his gaze. “You have to promise me that you won't shout before I let go of your mouth,” He sounded like he was requesting, so the princess just stopped before nodding her head. He slowly removed his hands, so she gasped for some air before squinting her eyes at him as she raised her fingers. “Y-You,” She mumbled, “What do you think you're doing?” Tatiana nervously asked. She has never experienced being captured before and it felt terrifying. “I apologize,” Zyren kneeled, which made her surprised as he slowly raised his head, “I just have to speak with you again,” “You know that if someone found out about what you did, you will be in big trouble,” She informed him. But deep inside, Tatiana knew that she was feeling the same way as he was, so she clutched to her chest. She knew that she would be in big trouble after this meaningful night. To be continued…