CHAPTER 152: INFIRMARY

"Wow, I don’t think I’ve had a wolf visit me as often as you do, Miss Emira," the old doctor said with a teasing smile. "You really should take better care of your person. Your highness." He then gave Emira a gentle pat on the head before shuffling toward the door.

"I’m not his person..." Emira tried to protest, but the doctor was already gone before she could say another word.

She turned slightly, glancing at Prince Kael from the corner of her eye. His expression was thunderous, his jaw tight, and that alone made her throat go dry. She swallowed hard, wishing the floor would open up and swallow her whole.

Fine. And she thought back to her actions just before she fainted and sighed.

Maybe she had been feeling ’homesick’ and returning here had made her feel better, but that still didn’t explain how her sense of reason had completely abandoned her.

She had actually run straight to Prince Kael—in front of the entire pack—and then fainted in his arms like some fool. The memory made her stomach twist.

It was probably nothing short of a miracle that he had caught her and not let her hit the ground. Or maybe he hadn’t—she wouldn’t know.

She’d been out cold before she could even process what had happened.

Now, as silence settled between them, she wished she could rewind time- just enough to stop herself from running straight into him. Maybe she would go and just bow to him or something. Or she would look for Ryn and hug her!

"I would have to disagree," Prince Kael said suddenly.

Emira blinked and looked up, confused. Disagree? What was he disagreeing with? That she couldn’t turn back time? That was obvious-she knew that well enough.

As if noticing her confusion, Prince Kael rose to his feet and walked toward her. Why was he walking towards her? When he stopped in front of her, his hand lifted slowly, reaching for her neck.

Emira instinctively leaned back, her pulse quickening. For a fleeting second, she wondered if he was so angry that he was actually going to wring her neck for clinging to him in front of everyone like that? But instead, his fingers brushed lightly against her skin, tapping the faint mark near her collarbone.

"This mark right here," he said, his voice low and even, "says that you are my person."

Emira froze. Not just because of the words, but because of the way he was touching her, it was strangely careful.

For a heartbeat, her thoughts scattered. My person. The phrase echoed in her mind. Then it clicked—he was referring to what she had told the doctor just now. She had tried to say she wasn’t his person, and he was telling her that she was his person.

Her lips curved faintly and a small, helpless smile escaped her before she could stop it. Yes, maybe he was right. She was his person. The mark on her neck proved it. And it almost felt good to know he thought the same.

But the smile didn’t last long. Reality returned just as quickly, and the weight of it pressed against her chest. So what if she was his person? That didn’t mean she belonged with them. It only meant she belonged to

them. And that was a very different thing.

Because being his person also meant that he had the right to give her away. And the Crown Prince Lance had already made that decision. She was to be given to the Redwood Pack, whether she liked it or not.

Her gaze dropped to the floor. Did Prince Kael know? Did he know that she was being promised to someone else? And if he did, what would he do about it? Would he just accept it without question, or would he fight it?

She didn’t know. And that uncertainty burned worse than fear.

For the first time, she wished Prince Zen were there. Zen might not have love her, but he was a man of his word. He would have kept his promise and he would have protected her, even if it meant manipulating things so that she would not be able to leave.

But Kael... Prince Kael was harder to read and unpredictable.

So, she clenched her hands as she looked up at him," Do I? And when I am mated? Will I still be your person?"

She watched his eyes narrow and his hand on her throat tightened, his thumb pressing that she could almost not breathe as he asked in a cold dangerous voice, "What did you say?"

Emira tried to swallow but couldn’t. Still, she forced herself to speak, her voice trembling as she said slowly. "Your Highness... Crown Prince Lance has already informed me of his decision—to have me mated to the Redwood Pack. For an alliance." Her eyes flickered up to meet his. "And since I’m probably a thorn in your mate’s side, I’m sure both of you don’t want me here."

The silence that followed felt suffocating. Kael’s expression was unreadable—his jaw set, his eyes unreadable pools of shadow. She couldn’t tell if he was angry, shocked, or merely indifferent. And that uncertainty scared her more than his grip.

Why couldn’t she read him? Did he already know about the arrangement? Did he agree with it? Was that why they had sent Prince Zen away-so they could get rid of her without interference?

The realization struck her like a blade, and her breath hitched. Just then, Kael’s hand loosened, and he let go of her neck. She took deep puffs of air as she looked up at him, and he stepped back," There is still time before that. Are you in a hurry to be mated to someone else?"

Emira stared at him, speechless. Did she look eager to him?

Before she could ask him that, he continued, "As long as you are a part of the Stormhold Pack, you will belong to us."

And with that, he walked away... Leaving without giving her an ’answer.’