(29.
Remi’s POV
The night was alive with celebration, the air thick with the scent of flowers, fresh fruit, and the earthy aroma of wolf shifters. The grand hall was adorned with banners bearing the royal crest, golden lights flickering from every corner of the room. Music filled the space, lively and chaotic as nobles, warriors, and pack members mingled. The kingdom had come together to honor me. To celebrate me.
Months ago, I had been nothing but a betrayed wife, no more than a shadow to the alpha family of Lotus pack Now, here I was, standing in the center of the room, the true princess, the rightful heir to the throne. The news of my identity had spread like wildfire, and the weight of it settled deep in my bones, heavy and suffocating.
The crowd parted as I made my way through them, Laurent by my side, his hand firmly placed on my lower back as if he were grounding me. His scent–wood and pine–wrapped around me like a shield. I could feel the pride radiating off him.
I had accepted my identity. In time, I’d come to terms with the fact that I was no longer just some orphaned wolf, I had a title. I was a royal–the princess.
Daisy and Eros entered the hall, their presence causing a stir. Eros’s sharp eyes locked onto me as soon as he saw me, and I couldn’t help but notice how his gaze darkened, his face an unreadable mask. Daisy, standing beside him, was barely able to conceal her shock, her mouth slightly open as she looked from me to Eros. Her father, Alpha Donovan, and Luna Kierra flanked her, both of them giving me wary glances.
I swallowed hard. They weren’t the ones I was worried about, though. No, it was Eros who I needed to focus on The moment his eyes landed on me, I felt that old pull–the one that had once made me question everything.
“Remi,” Eros said, his voice low, but with that same confidence he had always carried. “So you are the royal princess… and my heir. My pup carries your blood”
I nodded, my throat tight, “Not your heir. But mine, Alpha.”
He took a step toward me, and I instinctively tensed. My fingers curled into the fabric of my gown, lace design feeling like a prison against my skin.
the intricate
“What do you mean?” he asked, his lips curling into a smirk. “Why don’t we make things right between us? For the sake of our child?”
The words hit me like a slap, more painful than any blow I had ever received. For a moment, everything around me faded. The music. The chatter. The laughter. All of it. It was just Eros and me, standing there in that hollow space between us, and then again, I saw him for what he truly was. Again.
I couldn’t believe I loved him for years. He was selfish, and he only thought of himself.
He had never seen me as more than a means to an end. He had never cared about me, about my happiness, about anything beyond his own desires. And now, he had the gall to stand before me and ask me to mate with him again, for the sake of the baby he had never asked for.
The nerve of him
I stepped back, my chin lifting in defiance. “No,” I said, my voice firm, unwavering. “I will not mate with you again nor come with you. Not for the baby. Not for anything.”
Eros’s smirk faltered, but only for a moment. “You can’t possibly mean that, Remi. I am also the baby’s father! You know it”
“I’m engaged to Laurent now,” I bit out, each word like a knife. “And I’m not going to let you manipulate me any
longer.”
The air between us crackled with tension, the shock evident in Eros’s eyes as he took a step toward me, anger flashing in his gaze. “You think you can just forget everything we shared? You think you can walk away from this?” “I’m not walking away.” I snapped, my voice rising. “I’m choosing to step forward, I’m choosing my future. And my future is with Laurent, not you.”
before Leven teanzen it, my hand was swinging mrough the air, connecting with his cheek in a sharp stop that echoed across the room. The force of it left me breathless, my hand trembling in the aftermath Eros staggered back, shock and disbelief written all over his face. The room went silent for a heartbeat before whispers began to spread. “You’re insane,” he growled, his jaw clenched tight “You’ll regret this, Remi. I swear to the moon, you’ll regret
this
Theld my ground, my back straight, my heart pounding with the adrenaline coursing through my y veins. “I won’t regret it I’m done with you.”
Laurent appeared at my side, his presence a steadying force. He placed a hand on my shoulder, giving me a reassuring squeeze, though I could see the flicker of anger in his eyes as he stared at Eros. He didn’t speak, but the way he stood there–protective and firm–was enough to make Eros reconsider his next move
Eros’s expression darkened even further, and for a moment, I thought he might lunge at me. But then, he looked at Laurent, his eyes narrowing in what could only be described as pure, venomous hatred. With a low growl, he turned and stalked off, his footsteps echoing in the silence he left behind.
