The Rejected Wolf Princess

The Royal Gardens

Evie’s POV

I wasn’t surprised when Tristan’s entire family greeted me at the castle steps, but I am surprised when they all join us for dinner.

We couldn’t have dined completely alone, of course; an unchaperoned date isn’t appropriate for an unmarried couple. I had Ty, though, and I figured one of his brothers, or perhaps just his mother, would have been in attendance.

But it’s the whole lot of them.

It’s a rather dull affair. To my disappointment, but not to my surprise, Ty isn’t offered a seat at the table, which leaves me seated between Maxwell and Thomas, Tristan’s brothers, while facing Tristan, who is seated between his parents.

Sitting across from Tristan like this, wearing the Choker beneath my new gown, I realize that Marisa was right: he does stare at my breasts. A lot.

I don’t know how to feel about it. Again, it makes me feel a strange sensation I’ve never really felt before—one that makes me think of that conversation with Marisa and the possibility that it might be my wolf starting to stir.

By the dessert course, I’m starting to feel a strange combination of tired, frustrated, defeated, and energized. For the first time in my life, I find my mind wandering to the possibilities that I never before considered as an unmarried woman. What if Tristan pulled me off into the shadows on the way back to my room and stole a kiss? What if his hands found my waist again, but this time, they wandered further? What if—

“Princess?” Tristan asks, drawing me out of my stupor. “Would that be alright with you?”

Whoops. I have no idea what he just asked me. “Sorry,” I stammer, blushing. “I was just thinking about how delicious the food was, and I missed the question.”

A lame excuse, especially since the food is quite underwhelming—my non-compliments to the new chef—but thankfully, he only laughs. “I was wondering whether you might be up for a little stroll through the gardens before I escort you back to your chamber. That is, if you’ve had enough food.”

“Oh—of course!” I blurt out a little too enthusiastically. It isn’t quite pulling me into the shadows, but it is a step in the right direction, isn’t it? “I’ve had plenty; thank you. That sounds lovely.”

I catch a noise that sounds suspiciously like a snort from the doorway, and I’m pretty sure it’s Ty making fun of me again. I pretend not to have heard it.

We all rise to our feet at that. I exchange polite goodbyes with Tristan’s siblings—both of whom seem to share his habit of looking a bit lower than my eyes—then thank his parents emphatically for the delicious meal. (Ha!) I expect at least one of them to join us on this midnight stroll, but they both retire to their chambers, leaving me alone with Tristan… and Ty.

“Your services won’t be required, bodyguard,” Tristan tells Ty coolly as he offers me his arm.

I don’t know if I like that.

Thankfully, Ty doesn’t seem to like it, either. “I’m afraid that assessment can only be made by the king of this great kingdom, lordling. And he has instructed me never to leave his daughter’s side—especially when she is in the company of young men who unabashedly ogle her.”

I swear, that tongue of his is going to get him in serious trouble one day.

Tristan’s light blue eyes narrow to slits, and he takes a step toward Ty, obviously trying to appear threatening. Tall and muscular as he is, Ty still towers over him, making it impossible.

“Keep your distance,” Tristan growls at Ty. “And know your place.”

I don’t bother defending Ty; Tristan is right. Instead, I take Tristan’s arm and follow him out to the castle gardens, noting with approval that Ty does, in fact, keep his distance.

“Sorry about him,” I say to Tristan once Ty is more or less out of earshot. “He never really learned his manners.”

“So it would seem,” Tristan says through clenched teeth. “Is it at your father’s insistence that you keep him around?”

I’m not sure what the truthful answer to that question is. Ty’s assignment as my bodyguard was more of a figurative reward for good behavior than a position that he was expected to carry out for years to come. I was traumatized by the attack, though, and knowing that my protector was by my side brought me comfort. Over the years, Ty grew more bold with his words, probably because he knew that he was protected by his position. If I told Father I wanted a new bodyguard, he’d probably be fine with it. I don’t, though. At this point, I can’t really imagine life without Ty.

But I don’t think it’s smart to say all of that to Tristan; it might come off as me having some sort of crush on Ty, which I emphatically do not. So, instead, I say, “Yes. Father thinks he’s the best-suited to protect me, given the incident with the vampires.”

“Yes—I recall it well.” Tristan shudders. “If you ask me, every Umbra sentinel should have been hanged for the oversight. Maybe even Lord Bruce himself.”

Lord Bruce is the Alpha of the Umbras. Father did punish him and his Sentinels for the oversight in allowing vamps to cross over the border they were responsible for protecting, but he certainly didn’t hang anyone.

“We’ll find you a new protector when we get married,” Tristan says, coming to a stop. He lifts a hand to my hair and tucks a loose strand behind my ear. “Not that you’ll need one. I would never let anything happen to you.”

I try to ignore the lurch my stomach gives at the thought of not having Ty anymore. Instead, I focus on the way Tristan is looking at me—into my eyes this time—and the romantic things he’s saying to me.

Is it just me, or is that daydream coming true?

Is he leaning in for a kiss?

He is leaning in for a kiss.

As our lips connect, I find myself wishing I had taken Marisa up on her offer. I don’t know how to kiss. I certainly don’t know how to do more than kiss. Am I supposed to move my lips around? Am I supposed to do something with my tongue? Am I—

“That’s quite enough of that.”

Tristan pulls away from me before I can come to any sort of decision about what to do with my lips. He glares at Ty. “I told you to keep your distance, traitor.”

I really hate when people call him that.

“And I told you that I only answer to the king," Ty retorts evenly. "I don’t think he’d be pleased to know you were making moves on his only, unmarried daughter before committing yourself to her in the presence of your king and your gods.”

“He wouldn’t care.”

That’s a strange thing to say, isn’t it? Of course, my father would care. It’s my reputation we’re talking about.

Seeing my expression, Tristan’s expression quickly morphs to one of guilt—or maybe embarrassment? “Sorry,” he says quickly. “Of course—the outsider is right. I was just so moved by your beauty, I couldn’t help myself.”

Ty snorts again. I glare at him, then smile sweetly back at Tristan. “No need to apologize. It was a lovely evening. I am growing rather tired, though.” And ready to escape this extremely awkward situation.

“Of course—of course. I’ll take you up to your room.”

As I follow Tristan back into the castle and up the stairs, I find myself trailing closer to Ty than I did before.

There’s something about this night that makes me feel uneasy—and not in the good way.