My Fated Mate Can Have Her-Chapter 67: Silent Threat II

Violet

He stepped onto the verandah, and stopped a few steps away from me. The ugly scar along his jaw seemed even more pronounced in the evening light. A twisted reminder of what Kael had done.

He stayed silent, staring at me with the same raw hatred I had seen earlier.

Though, it wasn’t as jarring this time.

For a moment, neither of us moved.

My first instinct was to flee. To retreat back into the building, find Ana, hide until Ila finally returned.

A stubborn part of me refused.

My hands clenched around the stone railing. "Can I help you?"

His eyes slightly widened, as if he was surprised I was talking to him.

I did not know how he did it, but the animosity remained in his eyes as his lips spread into a small grin. His scar pulled tight against his face. "I didn’t think you would actually come here."

I stared at him, lightly frowning this time and not knowing what to say.

He was strong. I could sense that much even without trying. His build was solid, and he most definitely would have been trained in combat like the rest. Skills he would have earned through years of training.

He could overpower me easily if I wasn’t careful.

But...

I felt the familiar pulse of syzygy beneath my skin, that reservoir of energy I’d spent weeks learning to control. My abilities could very well offset the gap between us.

’I still shouldn’t underestimate him.’

Why should I even be afraid, he wouldn’t really do anything here with other wolves nearby, would he?

"I didn’t do anything to you," I said quietly, even when I knew fully well I should not say anything to him. "What happened was a consequence of your own actions."

’Don’t goad him!’

I knew better than to goad him, but I found it utterly ridiculous how he could feel this way when I didn’t do anything to him.

He was just a coward who was afraid to face Kael, and would just rather unleash his frustration on me instead.

His eyes flashed with anger. "My own actions?"

Corin’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, and for a long, tense moment, I thought he might actually attack me.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he unleashed his fists and the tension eased in his features. He stared at me with something that looked almost like frustration mixed with his already visible hatred.

"Corin." Someone’s voice broke the silence and I stiffened, my attention shifting to the newcomer.

It took me a few moments to register where I remembered him from. He was one of the wolves I had seen in passing at Kael’s camp.

He stood slightly shorter than Corin, but his brown eyes held a stern steely gaze that made Corin flinch.

His hands were clasped behind him.

"Step away from her. Now," he warned, his tone holding a dangerous edge.

Corin scoffed, darting one last glance in my direction before diverting his sneer the man’s way and rushing past him.

Corin bumped his shoulder against the man’s during his exit, but the man didn’t acknowledge it.

His features eased and he sighed, turning to face me.

I didn’t notice how tense I was until Corin was gone. I was gripping the railing tight, my knuckles white as the adrenaline drained from my body.

"Thank you." I let go of the railing, turning around to fully face him.

He nodded and stood there, staring at me. He looked young, but seemed so mature at the same time. His eyes drifted out the verandah entrance before shifting to look at me, seemingly contemplating something in his mind.

’I think I’ll just go to my room.’

"Would you like to join the rest of us for dinner?" he asked.

I paused, surprised at the random question. "I... I’m not sure I feel particularly hungry."

He walked up to me and leaned on the railing, looking out into the darkening garden. "I insist."

He spoke with a finality that made me go still.

What?

"Everyone comes out for the first night," his adam’s apple bobbed as he spoke. He then turned to look at me, and the intensity in his eyes took me aback. "I promise this is in your best interest."

He straightened, his hand still on the balustrade. "Ila asked me to keep an eye on you. Ana too, and Meribel. She will not coddle you. You will not get preferential treatment. The word going around is that Lord Kael saw potential in you, you would have to prove it." He placed a hand on my shoulder. "You are in a place it took many wolves a lot of work to get to."

My eyes widened.

He was advising me, and no matter how much I tried, there was no mocking tone or sense of hostility coming from his measured words.

It made me uneasy.

"I didn’t know. All he told me was that I would be coming with Ila to the capital for combat training..." I whispered, an uncomfortable feeling tugging at my chest.

He had to know what he was doing.

What was it with Kael and putting me in such disadvantageous situations?

My hands trembled at my sides.

He wasn’t doing it on purpose, was he?

"Why would—"

He took his hand off my shoulder, a serious expression clouding his face as he looked down at me. "Our Lord gives orders, and unless he provides specifications, it is up to us to carry out his will as we see fit... as long as we get the job done. He is too busy to go over minute details of every single command."

’In essence, Ila was behind this arrangement.’

The relief I felt was short-lived, and it was replaced by a slow, unwelcome realization that merged with the doubt already forming in my chest.

Was I not worth enough of his time to make sure I do not get nasty fallbacks of decisions involving me?