Chapter 4 - ...

I looked at her with my anger brimming to the surface but my gaze softened the minute she met my eyes.

They were not as Princess Svannah's. They were more mature and strong. It had this aura that seemed to lure me in.

I forced myself to look away before it became too apparent that I was entranced with her.

"My apologies."I said to Father.

That was enough for everyone for the meantime.

"You may speak." Father said to the Commander.

"Thank you, Your Highness. We caught this rogue wandering about within the palace. She was found near your Chambers sire. We are unsure how she was able to pass through our defense. We apologize for our carelessness." He said with a bow.

I did not pay much attention to his words and I did everything within my power not to look at her.

"Which pack do you belong to, rogue? Wandering Foes?" Father asked her.

"I would rather die than belong to a pack of castaways."

Her voice came out soft and defiant but it sounded sweet to my ears. I could not resist not looking at her anymore.

My heart filled with fear for herself when I saw that her eyes met with Father's.

"Which pack sent you then?"

She said nothing and lowered her gaze.

"Tell me why you are here and I will show

you mercy."

I felt like an eternity passed before she finally

spoke.

"Mercy?" She scoffed.

Father laughed heartily and I tensed in my seat.

"Very well. Son, what is your judgment towards her?"

I slowly looked at my Father. He was eager to hear my answer. I glanced at my mate. She did not look at me. I folded my arms and leaned back.

"Execution..."

I glanced at her. She made no reaction to my sentence.

Did she want to die?

"...if found guilty." I continued.

"She is a rogue son." Mother reminded me.

"I know but our laws require an investigation before judgment is passed."

Father nodded in agreement but I knew that at heart he wanted her gone.

"Lock her up. We will hear her case tomorrow." I ordered before Father changed his mind,

"No, I am intrigued by her. I desire to know where she comes from here and now. If she refuses to speak, I will consider it disrespect to the throne and slay her this very night."

Father said.

His words triggered me, but I managed to keep my emotions in check.

"Yes Father."

Beside me, I could feel Derrick's uneasy confusion from the way he tapped his foot unconsciously.

"Where are you from Rogue?" Father asked her again.

My mate kept her head down. A moment barely passed before Father gave a signal to the men holding her.

I pretended not to care when one of the men grabbed a fist full of her har and yanked her head up roughly.

The Commander drew his sword at her neck, purposely cutting her a little.

Her whimper nearly sent me out of character.

"I will ask one last time. Where do you come from?"

"Berna Bridge Pack, Your Highness." She said finally.

I looked at Father, waiting for his command to release her but he didn't give the command for them to put away their weapons.

"I do not know of that pack." Father said.

"It's not of the South but of the North."

Father looked at her with a new found interest whilst my emotions remained on edge.

"Wolves rarely live there because the humans are plentiful. And even if they do, they stay till death. So what are you doing here rogue?"

"My pack had to move for the humans were close to uncovering our secret. Unfortunately the pack we stayed with-"

"Which pack?" Mother asked her.

"The Deshin Pack in the Southern Kingdom, your Highness. They attacked us and chased us till they were sure that all of us were slain but I managed to survive."

Mother and Father remained quiet for a while.

The air was tense.

"Why did you come here instead of Wandering Foes?" Father asked.

"I am injured, you Highness. Your Kingdom was the closest and I prefer to die as a rogue than undiscovered within the forest."

"Why is that?" Prince Derrick blurted out.

She looked at him.

"A burial, my Lord."

She lowered her gaze. She tried to get comfortable in the position she had been forced into but any movement she made brought her pain. She bit her lip to stop her gasps of pain.

Even though she was dirty and a little bloody, my mate was breathtaking. Her skin was a silky brown that appealed to me. It was unlike Princess Svannah's paler skin but I found myself loving it.

"Take her away " Father ordered.

"As you wish, your Highness."

I watched as they took her out. I was a bit pleased that she wasn't dragged out the same way she was dragged in.

For a long time after she was taken out, we were all silent.

"What are we going to do with her?" Prince Derrick asked.

Father looked deep in thought.

"Do you believe her?" Father asked him.

Derrick shrugged.

"I have no reason not to. But we can not be sure until we look deeper into her words to know if she was being truthful."

"The search will be thorough. She must not be spared if she is indeed deceitful." I said.

"The rogue would be questioned tomorrow at first light. There shall be no more talk of her until then." Father said.

Dinner ended on a solemn note and I left for my chambers immediately after.

"My Lord.." Savi began.

"You speak now Savi?" I questioned playfully.

He smiled.

"It was my intention to give you enough time to think about your discovery." Savi said.

He allowed for a pause for my unsaid appreciation. He knew I was grateful without me having to say a word.

"If I may ask, do you have any plans to look into your mate?"

"I have already found her. I was certain you had realized that."

"Indeed I have, my Lord. I only wanted confirmation that she was indeed the one. I must say, she is an attractive young woman."

I smiled for it strangely made me proud.

"She is a rogue Savi."

"It is unfortunate but she is your mate."

"Father would never hear it. He might demand I break the bond... I can not do so."

"Not all rogues have evil intentions at heart my Lord."

I sighed.

I sat on my bed and allowed myself to wonder. I thought of Princess Svannah, my love. I could see her smile, her beautiful smile I always strove to see, her incredibly large eyes that stood out every time, and her laugh... A melody to my ears.

Thinking about her always cheered me up but now her memory seemed dull. It had lost the radiance it once had.

Instead, I found that radiance in my mate.

I could remember her eyes much more vividly.

They were enchanting. Not as wide as

Princess Svannah's but more drawing. She had such smooth brown skin that looked untouched...

But she was a rogue.

I knew I had to keep away but I was afraid I would not be able to. No matter how badly I wanted to.

"What plagues your thoughts, my Lord?" Savi asked.

"My mate."

She was in the dungeons and that pained me in a way I have never experienced.

She must be cold and hungry.

I felt torn as to what to do. My heart told me to bring her into my room of comfort but my mind knew it would not be wise.

I knew one thing though. I had to see her one last time before I went to bed.

I stood up.

"Savi, prepare some soup and blankets."

"Why, my Lord."

"My mate is hungry and cold."