Chapter 21 . That Feeling.

Leighton

Titan was on edge, after the nurse came to me yesterday with details of the princesses wounds I had been trying to work out how to get her out of the competition, without going all alpha wolf on her and simply dragging her out. She would even be able to say I was being unreasonable, if the nurse was worried then I needed to do something.

I had been watching her and I knew what she was doing but I didn’t know if I had the nerve to let her see it through. She kept getting so hurt and it was affecting me more than I acted to admit. I was having a harder time watching than I thought I would.

Titan was out for Antony’s blood when he made her bleed today. If Piper hadn’t intervened then he wouldn’t have been in any state to fight for a while once I was finished with him.

Even though I went straight to the infirmary to check on Estelle. The nurse told me she had already gone.

I punched a hole in the wall. Just a few more days and this princess would be out my hair.

I couldn’t handle the constant state of worry about her. Despite actively avoiding her she was all I could think about and I found myself most stalking her from afar. Titan got so very unsettled when she was fighting, he was normally so reserved but today he had been about to snap.

I needed a drink, it would soon be time for drinks with the warriors and I had promised Piper I would catch up beforehand. Maybe a few beers would calm ‘me down.

I found her setting up and she passed me a beer.

“We never do this anymore Leigh, you are always too busy.” I tried not to wince at her whiney tone, it wasn’t like her.

“There has been a lot on.” I said absentmindedly. I had been guilty of throwing myself into every project given in a bid to forget about the rejection. I also had been avoiding Piper a little as she always seemed to want to take our relationship to another level and I just wanted my friend.

I knew sleeping with her had been a bad idea because it blurred those lines of friendship. I thought we had been doing friends with benefits quite well but more recently I felt she wanted it to be more than that.

“I have to say, the princess has impressed me so far. Remember that Prince, he was a pompous prick but Estelle. You can tell she is going to be a good Queen. She doesn’t look down her nose, and she could because she is one of those annoying people that is just better at everything.”

She stoped talking.

“I can’t decide if I sound jealous of her or in love with her.” She joked.

I didn’t want to hear anymore about the damn perfect Princess.

“She didn’t do too well today.”

“Come on Leigh, you know she could have bested him if she used her powers.”

“But she didn’t and so she lost, she is nothing without her powers. In fact the sooner we get her back to her prince the better. They can be be busy making more perfect royal babies and leave us mere mortals to the dirty work.”

Pipers face changed as I was speaking, I should have clocked it before but I was too busy on my high horse. A faint trace of cool air tickled my nostrils. I closed my eyes, hoping that darkness was falling. I wasn’t that lucky.

“With this much faith in your female warriors, BETA. It’s a miracle any want to train with you.” The princess was standing behind me.

Sheepishly I turned around.

“I didn’t…”

She held up her hand, silencing me.

“Please don’t bother, I’m sure it would beneath YOU to apologise.”

“I didn’t..”

“You didn’t what, mean that without my powers I’m nothing ? Don’t you think I don’t know that already. Has it ever crossed your mind that maybe, just maybe I didn’t want powers, or to be a princess. That if I didn’t then my life could be simple, have a mate and actually be with them, without all the expectations?”

I could feel shame slowly seeping into my soul. Even without knowing what had happened in her already short life you could imagine that life wasn’t easy.

“It must be great to be you Leighton, sitting up so high on your horse you don’t even notice those you step over to get there.”

Piper jumped up to defend me.

“You have no idea what he has been through Princess, you couldn’t have survived if you…”

“Piper.” I snapped. The princess had a point, I didn’t have a clue about her life and I hadn’t meant anything I had said. If I was honest I thought she was the bravest wolf I had ever met but my words would seem meaningless now.

“She doesn’t Leigh, she acts like she is the only one that has it hard. Truth be told she’s giving up her mate, without even a fight. Being Queen is more important to her. She doesn’t get to judge you.”

The princess turned her attention to Piper. “I should have assumed his lap dog would jump to his defence. Might I suggest you stop waiting around begging for his scraps and you might have a chance of meeting yours.”

With that she grabbed a beer and marched over to the warriors. I watched as Antony greeted her, checking she was okay before soon he was joking about something.

The few wolves that had been close enough to over hear our conversation moved awkwardly away.

“I take it all back, the Princess is a bitch.” Piper said once she was gone.

“No she’s not.” I said quietly. “I was being a d***. She has worked hard and I should have commended her instead of..”

What had I been doing, why had I felt like I needed to put her down.

“Because you don’t want anyone to know she is your mate.”

“Give it up Titan, she isn’t our mate.”

“She is and you know it. You’re just scared because you think she won’t choose you.”

“She has already told us she can’t have her mate, why would you wish us to be rejected again.”

“She won’t do that.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Go and apologise, once she calms down.”

“Are you crazy, she will send me it into next week.”

The argument with my wolf continued in my head, during which I stared at the princess. She had worn a dress, some dark tied up number that made her look like she was a present, ready to unwrap.

I needed to clear thoughts like this from my mind, it wasn’t healthy. My mood sunk further as she didn’t look my way once.

I didn’t understand how my wolf had obsession that she was my mate. He wouldn’t let it go though and I didn’t notice Piper come over as I was too busy watching Estelle.

“For someone who thinks as low of her as you claim to you seem to be rather transfixed.”

“I’m considering if I will survive trying to apologise.”

“What, you don’t need to apologise she was a b***h!!”

“She was kind of provoked.” I drained my beer. “Wish me luck.”

Ignoring. piper, I set of over to the corner of the garden when she was still chatting to Antony.

“Hey, do you mind if I have a word with the princess?”

Automatically deferring to me, Antony went to leave, but he didn’t seem to happy about it.

“No it’s okay, Antony. I don’t think think Leighton really had anything he wants to say to me.”

Ouch.

I grabbed her arm, as she turned to leave instead. Trying very hard to ignore the warm fuzzy feeling of excitement touching her brought.

“Please, don’t be like this. I’m trying to apologise.”

She pulled her arm out my grasp.

“Save it for someone who cares. I’ll be gone soon so you won’t need to worry about me.”

f**k this.

This time I didn’t give her a choice I grabbed her and pulled her into the garden. Away from prying eyes.

“Hey what are you doing?”

“You are making this this as hard as possible.” I gritted out.

“Of course it’s my fault.” She huffed, rolling her eyes at me.

I didn’t even realise I kissed her, until I was and then it was too late.

I was lost… lost in her taste, her warmth.

In just her.

It was better than I remembered, and I didn’t want it to stop, my hands slid around her waist pressing her to me, like I was scared she would disappear.

“F***” I hissed when I finally pulled away from her.

Her eyes had dreamy look that immediately cleared.

“What, did I do that wrong too?” She tried to pull away.

“What, no. F*** you are perfect.” She stopped resisting in my arms and looked at me quizzically.

“My wolf thinks you are my mate.” She said her eyes not leaving mine.

I ran my finger up her arm, not able to miss the buzz at my fingertips. Was it possible?

“What if she is right?” I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that answer, talk about ripping the bad aid off.

“You know I’m engaged ?” Her voice dropped to a whisper.

“Apparently so.” I deadpanned.

“You know I don’t have a choice ?”

“And if you did ?” Moment of truth, f** I hoped I was ready for this.

“Hypothetically ?”

I pursed my lips automatically not liking they way this was going. Titan was convinced she was my mate, or at the very least important to us.

“I can’t have my mate Leighton.” She said sadly.

“But if you could?” I pressed her.

It was like she didn’t know what to say so instead decided to show me by pressing her lips to mine.

This time I could feel all her charged emotions through her kiss and I kissed her back. I knew it was quite hell no most possibly doomed but she was like a drug and I wasn’t stopping. My senses so overwhelmed by her I had already undone the side knot on her dress before I remembered myself.

Not only was I kissing the princess in the middle of the garden, the princess who was engaged to someone else, but I also had my hands inside her dress and they cupped her bare a** cheeks. Her body moulding to mine like she was made for me.

With self control that I didn’t know I had I pulled away from her lip. Tying her dress, badly back together, I tried to ignore the raging hard on I had from just touching her.

Taking her hand and trying very hard not to grin at her confused look I silently led her out of the garden and straight to my bedroom. Surprisingly she came with me without question or complaint.

Stopping outside I turned to look at her, she was chewing adorably on her bottom lip so I freed it with my thumb, leaving my hand there to cup her chin.

“Princess, this is your chance to tell me that our wolves are wrong, because once I take you I’m not letting you go.”