Chapter 5 - Introductions

"Speak of this to no one " I said to the guard before I walked into the dungeons.

I could not risk having Father hearing about

my visit. Or anyone else for that matter.

As I neared her cell, I reminded myself to keep my composure in check.

"Remain here till I call you Savi." I ordered.

"Yes my Lord."

I took a curve and revealed myself to my mate. I expected her to be asleep or engaged in any other activity but what she was up to fueled my curiosity even more.

My mate stood on her toes as she tried to reach the only window of the cell. She had made it far enough to poke her hands through the bars.I could not tell what she was trying to do but I found it amusing.

She made a jump, perhaps to reach further, before letting out a hushed cry and falling to the ground.

The strange urge to go in and swoop her into my arms nearly bent me to its will.

She held her sides and hissed on pain.

"You will only hurt yourself, rogue." I said instead.

She did not appear startled. She turned around and leaned against the wall, allowing me to see her face fully.

Her features were simply the most attractive I had ever seen but I could not look at her too long. But I could not take my eyes off her.

"I am already hurt my Lord."

Her snarky tone did not snap me out of my trance.

Her lips were full and mature with a natural pink shade. She did not have high cheekbones, rather they were soft giving her a delicate appearance. Her nose was not one to call attention to itself but it was perfect.

Together, her features blended into a masterpiece.

My mate.

I cleared my throat when I realized I had stared too long.

"I assumed you would show your gratitude. Have you no manners?" I said.

She scoffed.

"You condemned me yet you stand here begging for words of acknowledgement. Have you learnt nothing from your lessons, Crown Prince?"

I knew Savi held back a snicker at her words. I could feel it.

"I would watch my tongue if I were you. Your life is in my hands." I warned her.

"My apologies, my Lord. Thank you for your mercy." She said sarcastically with a bow.

She winced from her movements.

"How badly are you injured?" I asked her

"You do not care. You just want my head."

My mate lowered herself carefully to the ground and rested her head on a rock.

I wished she would rest her head on my shoulder instead.

"What is your name rogue?"

She did not answer my question for so long I feared she was dying.

"Why are you here, my Lord?"

"Tell me your name."

She said nothing.

The gap of silence made me realize her behavior. She acted like a rogue; a rogue who could not care less about who I was.

Was she not aware of the bond that existed between us?

Or was she human?

The Moon Goddess had given me a human

mate?!

"Are you a wolf?"

She did not answer my question again.

I got tired of waiting. If she was not going to speak to me then I better leave her to be.

Savi gave me a questioning look when he saw me.

"She will not talk to me." I whispered to him.

"Did you upset her, my Lord?" He whispered back.

"I do not believe so."

I groaned. My mate was already a handful. I considered going back to my chambers but the blankets and soup Savi held prompted me to go back. At least I should give her those before I leave.

I signaled for Savi to follow me.

"You came because your interest can be found in me. Why is that my Lord?" My mate said as we walked to her view without looking up at us.

"Tell me your name and I will consider giving you an answer."

"I am Ally and yes, I am a wolf." She said.

Ally....

I liked the way it sounded

"I come to give you these." I said.

"You did not need to."

Ally wrapped her hands around herself and shivered.

"An offer from a Prince is not to be declined." I said.

She lifted her head and looked at me. Then at Savi and the blanket and food he held.

"Why do you do this? Why do you help me?"

"I have no ill intentions at heart. Accept my

gifts."

Ally stared at me for a long time. I wondered if she found me visually appealing. Perhaps the bond was taking effect on her.

"Give me your word, my Lord, that those robes have not been dipped in venom." Ally requested.

It hurt that she thought that I, her mate, would poison her. I would do no such thing.

"The chance of foul play should not surprise you, my Lord, for I am indeed a rogue at your mercy." She held eye contact as she spoke.

"The robes have touched no poison, Ally. You have my word." I said as earnestly as I could.

She slowly stood up, allowing me to see her full womanly figure. She limped closer and stood before me.

"Very well, I accept your gifts my Lord."

I nodded.

Savi gave her the blankets. With one hand, she wrapped them around herself loosely. As she did so, I restrained myself from helping her.

"Thank you, my Lord." She said with a slight bow.

She slowly leaned on the wall and lowered herself to the ground gently.

She said nothing afterwards. She seemed fine with the silence. In fact, I think it allowed her some time to collect her thoughts.

She looked sad. I had to say something.

"I desire to be friends with you." I said before I could stop myself.

Ally looked at me with such disbelief that I wished the ground would just swallow me up.

"You desire to be friends with a rogue, my Lord?"

"Rogues are not less than wolves. Why does It amaze you?"

"No one pities a rogue for friendship. A rogue is a lone wolf till the last breath."

Her words felt too heavy for me to ignore.

"What happened to your pack? Your family?"

"I do not wish to speak of that my Lord. I beg you not to make me."

Her voice quivered at the end. I could see she held back tears and I wanted badly to be the one who gets to wipe them away.

"Would you like for a search to be conducted in order to find your pack?"

Ally looked at me with great wonder in her eyes.

"You would do that, my Lord?"

"If your words prove to be true, I will uphold my word to search for your pack."

Ally smiled a smile so bright, I felt my insides melt. She had a beautiful smile with delicate creased ends.

I always thought I preferred those dents at the side of a smile but I didn't care that Ally did not have any. She was perfect without it.

"Thank you, my Lord! May you live a life full of joys. Can I ever repay your kindness?"

Her smile was so contagious I ended up grinning as well.

"I only ask one thing Ally. I ask that you allow a friendship to blossom between us."

"As you wish, my Lord."

As much as I was glad, I was saddened. A part of me desired to be more than friends.

I noticed the packed soup at her side untouched.

"Will you not eat?" I asked her.

Ally looked at the food. She picked up the food with a smile on.

"I forgot all about it, my Lord."

She looked at the soup and her eyes filled with tears. I panicked.

"Do you not like vegetable broth? You can have whatever you would like if you do not desire this." I said immediately.

I realized too late that I had taken several steps forward too.

Ally shook her head and wiped her tears.

"It is alright, my Lord. This broth reminds me of a children's tale we..."

She took a deep breath before she turned her head to wipe her tears.

My heart ached at the sight.

"Do you mind telling me about this children's tale?"

Ally chuckled.

"It's nothing special, my Lord. It's just..."

She sat up and looked at me with a spark in her eyes. She cleared her throat and laughed.

"The elders in my pack would sit the

children by the fire and tell them a tale of hungry baby rabbits who would come for the carrots in their broth as they slept."

She wiped her eyes and I smiled kindly at her.

"They would tell them that the baby rabbits were not good farmers so they must not touch their broth at night time else the rabbits would die. And the children believed them and would pride themselves in feeding the baby rabbits."

She laughed.

"Of course it was a tactic to save food because we didn't have enough but the children loved it." She ended on a more sober note.

"It's a beautiful story and very strategic too." I complimented.

"Thank you, my Lord."

"You can call me Zan." I said to her.

"You mean well, my Lord, but doing so would surely get my head cut off." Ally joked.

"Then you may call me by name when we are in private."

"As you wish, Zan."

She took a moment to observe me.

"You need your rest Zan. I imagine you have a busy day when the sun rises. I do not want to be the cause of your duties being unattended to."

She was right. I had overstayed my visit but I did not want to leave her side. Especially when she was just warming up to me, but I knew I had to leave.

"Your words are true, Ally." I said, looking deeply into my eyes.

She had such striking eyes but they were hurt.

"Thank you Zan for the presents but I'm afraid I have to give them back to you."

"You have not touched your broth."

"My zeal to eat has left me Zan. I must return it, lest the rabbits starve tonight."

Her pure smile made light of the heartbreaking situation. Ally passed the broth back to Savi.

"If it pleases you Ally."

I knew it was time to bid her farewell but I stayed rooted in my stance. Her eyes were kinda and I loved looking at them deeply.

She did not look comfortable with my gestures but she had the nicest most patient smile I had ever seen on.

"My Lord..." Savi called.

I turned my attention to him with slight annoyance. He said no more.

"I must take my leave now Ally." I said to her.

"Have a good night's rest Zan." Ally said to me with a slight bow.

I breathed in deeply.

"Sleep well."

"I will."

She nodded before I finally turned to leave. Even though I wanted to turn back, I did not give in to that urge as I walked away.

But I did keep my ears on her. She did not move for a long while.

It excited me to think I had such an effect on her. Perhaps her mind could not stop thinking about me just as mine could not.

Did she imagine me at her side after I left?

Would she dream of holding me in her arms as I will?

My arms itched for an embrace and I carved more than that within. But I had to get a hold of myself.

Until she is proven innocent, I must keep my emotions in check.

The kingdom, the pack always comes first.

I walked in my chambers and sat down on my bed.

"How do you see Ally, my Lord?" Savi asked me.

"She is... One like no other. Savi, I can not find the words to tell of her beauty, of her heart..."

Savi's silence caught my attention.

"What is it you wish to tell me, Savi?"

"My Lord, I think you remain blind to one

factor."

I thought about his words before answering and I realized what he spoke about.

"She does not seem to feel the same attraction as I do. How is that possible?"

"I do not know, my Lord but I find that strange."

"The mate bond does not lie..."

"I do not deny that, my Lord."

I did not understand why the mate bond only seemed to attach itself to her alone

Maybe it had something to do with her being my second mate.