Protected by Three Mates

Chapter - 4

Fiona -POV

One of the few places I found solace after my parents’ deaths was the bakery where I worked part-time. Baking had always been a calming ritual, a way to lose myself in memories of flour-dusted afternoons spent with my mother. It helped me cope with the pain and the confusion after they were gone. Despite everything, their accumulated money had fallen into the hands of the corrupt shifter government. Eventually, when no culprit for their deaths could be found, the funds were returned to me, though they came tainted with injustice.

Veronica’s parents had offered to support me financially, but I couldn’t accept their charity. I had my own savings, a part-time job, and a scholarship to help with college expenses. Independence was the only thing I had left.

“Monica, you’re not thinking about him again, are you?” I asked, watching her from the corner of my eye as I cleaned up the counter. Her usually cheerful face was pale, her shoulders slumped.

“You know me too well, Fiona,” she replied with a sigh, her voice tired but grateful.

I slipped into the kitchen, my mind already on what might cheer her up. Chocolate chip cookies—her favorite. Maybe, just maybe, they could lift her spirits. As the sweet, comforting scent filled the small space, I carried a tray out to her.

“Here, crybaby,” I teased, offering the cookies. “These might make you feel a little better.”

Her eyes lit up, the slightest spark returning as she grabbed a cookie and took a huge bite. A moan of pleasure escaped her lips as she devoured it quickly, crumbs falling onto her lap.

“You’re an angel, Fi. Seriously, these are amazing.” Monica wiped away a few tears, her usual joyful spirit trying to resurface. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

I smiled back at her, my heart warming a little. “Well, you can repay me by letting me handle the kitchen for the rest of the day.”

Veronica wouldn’t be available until 5:30 p.m., so I had an hour to kill before meeting her. Monica had just finished her shift, so I figured we could go shopping together to distract her from her heartache.

As I changed out of my uniform, Monica’s voice called out from the other side of the door, excitement in her tone. “Fiona, where are you?”

I hurried out, curious. “What’s going on?”

“A hot-looking guy is asking for you!” she practically shouted, her face lit with intrigue as she rushed back toward the front of the bakery.

I followed her gaze to the man standing near the counter, his head bowed as he flipped through the papers in his hands. When he finally looked up, my breath caught. His eyes—purple, striking—locked onto mine with an intensity that made my pulse quicken. He was built like a god, with an air of authority that sent a ripple of something dangerous through the room.

He walked toward me with slow, deliberate steps. “Fiona Jones?” His deep voice sent a shiver down my spine as he confirmed my name.

My heart fluttered unexpectedly. “Who are you?” I managed to ask, though my voice came out a little shakier than I intended.

Monica, who had retreated to a corner with the last cookie in hand, was watching the scene unfold with wide eyes, clearly amused.

“Flint Hill,” he introduced himself smoothly, pulling a document from under his arm. As he did, I caught sight of the dragon seal embossed on the cover—a symbol of the Brenton Kingdom, the realm my family was from. My hands trembled slightly as I reached for it, but before I could open the file, Flint’s hand shot out, stopping me.

“Don’t read it here,” he warned, his voice low and commanding. “The contents are magical. Read it in the shifter realm.”

Recognition flashed in my mind—this wasn’t the first time I’d seen him. His expression was as unreadable as before, but his presence was unforgettable. And yet, as his eyes lingered on me, something about his tone sent heat rushing to my face.

“You’re staring again,” he said flatly, his face betraying nothing.

I flushed, embarrassed that he’d caught me. Despite his cold demeanor, there was no denying his handsomeness. His features were sharp, his black hair falling carelessly over his forehead. “You must be the Crown Prince,” I whispered, more to myself than him. I recall the king description my mother had told me about.

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “So, you know who I am.”

I swallowed, trying to regain my composure. “Why are you here, Your Highness? Just to deliver a file?”

He sighed, the sound heavy with a weariness that didn’t match his regal stature. “Don’t worry about why I came to give you file . The dragon shifter governors have granted you access to your parents’ estate. It was sealed for your protection, but now it’s being returned to you, along with the funds that were withheld.” His voice was low, meant only for me.

“Oh.” The word fell from my lips, barely audible. “Thank you, Crown Prince, for coming all this way.”

“I needed your signature on these documents,” he said, handing me a pen. “And you’ll need to return the file once you’ve reviewed it.”

I signed quickly, glancing at the papers just enough to make sure they were in order. My hands were still shaking, though I didn’t know why—perhaps it was his presence, his silent authority. As he brushed his fingers through his hair, the other customers in the bakery stared in awe. His very existence demanded attention.

And yet, as he turned to leave, something inside me stirred. I hated him—or maybe I hated how arrogant he was, how little he seemed to care. But deep down, there was a part of me that longed for something... something more.

As he walked away, Monica leaned in, her voice full of curiosity. “Who was that guy? He’s too good-looking to be just a lawyer.”

“Just someone from the legal department,” I lied smoothly, trying to downplay it. “He was here to talk about a house I’m looking to rent.”

Monica raised an eyebrow, not buying it. “Fiona, come on. You dumped Matt not long ago, and now a guy like that comes into your work? You can’t tell me he didn’t ask you out.”

I shook my head, running a hand through my hair. “Monica, don’t mention Matt, okay? I don’t need to think about him right now.”

Matt and I had been serious. I had trusted him completely, given him everything—only to find out he’d cheated on me with some cheerleader. The memory still burned like an old wound.

Monica, sensing my discomfort, quickly changed the subject. “Let’s go shopping and forget about our asshole exes, okay?”

The rest of the day flew by in a blur, and before I knew it, I was late meeting Veronica at the coffee shop. She was already there, waiting with her arms crossed, tapping her fingers impatiently.

“You know I hate waiting, Fiona,” she grumbled as I sat down.

“I’m sorry, Vero,” I said, trying to catch my breath. “But the cold-hearted prince stole my time.” I didn’t realize I’d said it so loudly until she gave me a confused look.

“What are you talking about?”

I sighed, rubbing my temples. “Flint Hill—the Crown Prince. He came to deliver some documents about my parents’ estate. Apparently, I’ve been granted access to their funds.”

Veronica’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wow. You’ve had quite the day, huh?”

I rolled my eyes, feeling the weight of everything that had happened pressing down on me. “He told me to read the document in the shifter realm. It’s magical, apparently.”

Veronica took a sip of her coffee, her expression thoughtful. “Why’d you want to meet up anyway? What’s going on?”

I hesitated, unsure how to explain it without sounding crazy. “I had a dream... a warning, I think. I need the shifter Council’s protection. Something dangerous is coming.”

Veronica leaned forward, concern etched into her face. “A dream? Fiona, how are we supposed to get the shifter Council to act based on that?”

Her words lingered in the air, and a heavy feeling settled over me. I didn’t know how to answer her, but deep down, I knew the danger was real. And it was getting closer.