The Alpha Prince's Rejcted Mate

CHAPTER TEN

KNOX

My blood boils as I take in the scene before me. Aubrey is trembling in the middle of the pond, her lips nearly blue, while Sasha stands at the edge with not a single drop of water on her pristine dress. When Liam told me something felt off, I imagined a lot of things going wrong—but nothing like this.

I don’t hesitate. I shove Sasha aside with more force than necessary and wade into the freezing water, ignoring the gasps from the gathered noblewomen. Their delicate murmurs of "scandal" barely register in my mind; all I can think about is Aubrey.

Her wide, frightened eyes meet mine. “Your…” she begins, but her words falter as I reach her. Scooping her shivering body into my arms, I hold her close against my chest and step out of the water, my boots squelching against the soft grass.

“I don’t know what the hell happened here,” I growl, glaring at Sasha, “but I will get to the bottom of it. So help you, if you don’t have a good reason why my mate is drained, and you’re standing there dry as the desert—” My voice drops to a dangerous level. “You’ll regret it.”

Sasha shrinks back, but I don’t stay to hear her stammer an excuse. My focus is on Aubrey. Every instinct screams at me to punish Sasha for whatever happened, but first, I need to get Aubrey warm. Her small frame trembles against me, and the cold seeps through her drenched dress into my skin, igniting a protective rage I’ve never felt before.

We barely make it out of the gardens before my mother appears, her face twisting in alarm. “Oh, my goodness! What happened?”

“I don’t know,” I snap, “but I need firewood sent to my room. Now.” My tone leaves no room for argument, and she hurries off, barking orders to the omegas as I take the stairs two at a time.

Once inside my room, I head straight for the adjoining bathroom, placing Aubrey gently on the tiled floor. The flickering lantern light danced across the polished stone walls, casting long shadows over the ornate carvings that lined the room. My heart thuds as I crouch behind her, my hands reaching for the wet laces at the back of her gown.

“What are you doing?” Her voice is soft but firm, her trembling fingers covering mine to stop me.

“You need to get out of these wet clothes,” I say, my voice rougher than I intended. “You’ll freeze if you don’t.”

“Thank you, but I can handle it myself,” she murmurs, pulling my hands away.

For a moment, I let her try. But her fumbling hands are shaking too badly, and the gown clings stubbornly to her soaked body. Without another word, I grip the fabric at the front and tear it open with a single motion.

“Knox!” she gasps, her eyes wide in shock as the ruined dress pools at her feet, leaving her standing in her corset and underclothes.

Fuck, she’s breathtaking.

My breath catches in my throat. I knew Aubrey was beautiful, but this… this is something else. Her damp hair clings to her flushed skin, the delicate curve of her shoulders rising and falling with her rapid breaths. Her cheeks are stained a deeper red now, and I can’t tell if it’s from the cold or the fact that she’s standing nearly bare before me.

I should look away. I know I should. But I can’t.

My fingers move to the ties of her corset, her hands slapping at mine in protest. “Your Highness, please, I can do it myself,” she pleads, her voice shakier now, though there’s a husky undertone that sends a jolt straight to my groin.

“Stop fighting me,” I murmur, my voice rough as I undo the ties with precision. “You’re freezing, Aubrey.”

Her breathing quickens as I work, and I notice the way her chest rises and falls erratically. I fight every primal instinct roaring through me as my wolf, Liam, growls his approval in my head. My hands linger for the briefest moment as I loosen the last tie, freeing her from the restrictive garment.

But I can’t stay here. Not like this.

The moment her corset falls away, I spin on my heel and stride out of the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind me. My chest heaves, and I glance down at my pants, cursing under my breath at the sight of my hardened d**k.

“Damn it,” I mutter to myself. I don’t know what possessed me to help her undress, but seeing her like that… I grit my teeth. I should’ve stopped when she asked me to. Now I’m left fighting the urge to claim her right here and now.

But first, she needs warmth—not my lust-fueled madness.

***

I sit by the fire in my room, staring into the flames as they dance and crackle. Aubrey is asleep in my bed—courtesy of my mother. After she got changed and warmed up, I’d planned to send her back to her quarters, figuring some distance would help me deal with my own frustration. But Mom wouldn’t hear it. Her wolf needs to stay close to you right now; she’d insisted, all but ordering me to keep her here after the trauma she endured.

Speaking of trauma, I can’t stop replaying what Sasha did. The audacity. Did she really f*****g think that just because of some rumor about us being mates, I’d ever choose her over my actual mate? My fists tighten against my thighs, Liam growling in agreement. She’s lucky Mom asked me to let her off with a warning. Otherwise, I might’ve let Liam do what he wanted, and that wouldn’t have ended well for her.

A low groan pulls me from my spiraling thoughts. I whip my head toward the bed and freeze. Aubrey. She’s thrashing under the covers, her face slick with sweat, her body trembling. The sight sends a cold rush of dread through me.

I’m at her side in seconds. “Aubrey,” I call softly, shaking her shoulder. Her breathing quickens, and she lets out a strangled whimper, her fists clenching the sheets like they’re the only thing keeping her grounded.

“Wake up,” I try again, firmer this time. She doesn’t stir.

Then she screams, “Help me!”

The sound of pure terror in her voice cuts through me like a blade. My chest tightens painfully, anger simmering at whoever or whatever haunts her dreams. I can’t stand to see her like this.

“Aubrey, it’s your mate. It’s Knox,” I say, brushing damp strands of hair from her face. Her lips part slightly, her body twitching at my words.

“Knox,” she murmurs, her voice soft and breathless.

I lean closer. “Yes, it’s me. Wake up,” I urge, my tone gentler now as I smooth her hair back again. Her eyelids flutter, and slowly, her eyes open, glassy and unfocused at first. When she finally registers me, they widen, and she turns away, her shoulders curling inward like she wants to disappear.

My brow furrows. “Why are you hiding from me?” My voice is softer than I expect, but the question burns in my chest. I’m her mate. Seeing her like this only makes me want to protect her, even with my reservations about having a mate.

She doesn’t respond, and the silence claws at me.

“Does this happen often?” I ask after a moment. She stiffens but still doesn’t answer, which, in its own way, feels like confirmation.

“What are the nightmares about?” I ask, my voice quieter now, hesitant. I have a guess, but I need to hear her say it.

Again, silence.

I walk around to the other side of the bed, and the second she hears me approach, she spins away from me, curling into herself like she’s trying to disappear. Damn it. I change tactics. Kicking off my boots, I climb into the bed beside her without a word.

“Mate,” I growl, reaching out to grab her hand, forcing her to face me. Her head turns reluctantly, but when her eyes meet mine, I’m struck dumb for a second. Those blue eyes shine so f*****g beautifully it makes my chest ache.

She wets her lips, and I swear, it’s like she’s trying to kill me. Her walls are down now, and I can finally see her—the real her, raw and vulnerable.

“It’s the same thing every night,” she murmurs, her voice breaking. “The day I lost everything.”

That’s all it takes. I pull her into my arms without thinking, wrapping her trembling body against mine. She stiffens at first, but then, slowly, she relaxes, her weight pressing into me. And then, the tears come.

Fuck. I freeze for a second, unsure how to handle this. I’m not good with this kind of thing, but her sobs hit me like a punch to the gut. My arms tighten around her instinctively, and I start rubbing her back in slow, soothing circles.

“Shh,” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper. It’s not much, but it seems to help. Her cries ease, and I lean down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

Then it hits me—What the f**k did I just do?

She pulls back slightly, her tear-streaked face tilting up to look at me, and I don’t know what’s happening anymore. Her eyes lock on mine, and for a moment, all I can see is her. My gaze dips to her lips, and it’s like they’re calling to me, daring me to make the next move.

Liam growls in my head, urging me to claim her. I don’t hesitate. I lean down and kiss her hard. Her lips are soft and warm, and f**k, they taste as good as I imagined.

I kiss her like a man starved, my hands roaming her perfect body, pulling her closer until there’s no space left between us. Her hands find their way to my neck, and then her tongue slips into my mouth, fighting me for dominance.

I growl into her mouth, gripping her waist like I’ll die if I let go. And then she does something that damn near breaks me—she rubs herself against my hardening c**k.

I pull back, staring into her eyes, my breath ragged. Did she really just do that?

Her gaze doesn’t waver. She nods, giving me the go-ahead.

Holy s**t. My mate wants me to f**k her.

And all I can do is stare at her, trying to wrap my head around the fact that this is real.