Lauren blinked awake, her first sight falling on the closet across the room.
Oh... I fell asleep last night without having dinner, she thought.
She snuggled closer to the pillow.
Wait... a pillow?
Since when were pillows this warm... and hard?
Hard... like solid muscles.
Her eyes flew open.
She looked up—and found Xavier already awake, staring down at her with calm golden eyes.
"Good morning."
"Ahhh!" she shrieked, scrambling out of bed so fast she nearly tripped.
Xavier sighed as he sat up.
"Why were you on the bed?" she demanded.
He frowned.
"Was I supposed to sleep on the floor? This is my room."
"You pervert!" she accused, pointing a trembling finger at him. "What did you do to me?"
His expression darkened.
"I don't understand," he replied, his voice growing colder. "What exactly are you accusing me of?"
She remained silent.
"You were the one who grabbed me," he continued. "You begged me not to leave, then used me as your pillow all night. Now you're acting as if I forced myself on you?"
He climbed out of bed and slowly walked toward her.
Lauren instinctively backed away.
"Stay away from me, jerk!" she shouted. "I warned you not to come close!"
She clutched the hem of her shirt tightly, as though expecting him to tear it off.
The sight made something inside Xavier ache.
"Do you really think I'm some kind of monster?" he asked quietly.
His voice carried more hurt than anger.
"After everything I did for you?"
He stopped a few feet away.
"I've respected your boundaries from the very beginning. Yes, you're my mate. I have every right to claim you according to our laws... but I chose not to because I knew you weren't ready."
His jaw tightened.
"But don't look at me like I'm some predator."
His eyes met hers.
"Do you have any idea how much that hurts?"
Lauren lowered her gaze.
"We... we only just met."
"There is something called a mate bond!" Xavier snapped.
Silence filled the room.
He wasn't wrong.
She couldn't feel the bond yet...
...but he could.
Still, she shook her head.
"I don't care. Just stay away from me."
A long silence followed.
Finally, Xavier nodded once.
"Fine."
His voice became emotionless.
"I'll stay away."
Without another word, he turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Lauren stared at the closed door.
After several moments, she slowly sank onto the edge of the bed.
"...Yeah," she whispered bitterly.
"Stay away from me."
Her eyes filled with sadness.
"I... I don't deserve anyone."
Suddenly—
A sharp pain shot through her injured arm.
"Ah!"
She doubled over, clutching it as sweat instantly covered her forehead.
"Why... why does it hurt so much?"
A knock came at the door.
"Who's there?" she asked weakly.
"It's Kathryn."
"The princess..."
"Come in."
The door opened, revealing Kathryn with her usual bright smile.
The smile vanished almost immediately.
"Lauren!"
She hurried over.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm... fine."
"You don't look fine."
"It's just... the pain."
Kathryn knelt beside her.
"Are you sure?"
Lauren forced a smile.
"Yes... Princess."
Kathryn laughed softly.
"I told you to call me Kathryn."
She smiled warmly.
"You're my brother's mate now. That makes you family."
Lauren's expression softened.
"Alright... Kathryn."
"So," Kathryn said cheerfully, "I wanted to show you around the mansion. Would you like to take a walk?"
Lauren's eyes brightened.
"I'd love that."
She stood—
—but her legs immediately gave way.
Kathryn caught her before she hit the floor.
"Oh..."
Lauren winced.
"I hate this..."
Kathryn helped her sit back on the bed before noticing something alarming.
Her eyes widened.
"Lauren..."
She pointed at the bandage.
"It's completely soaked."
Lauren looked down.
Fresh blood had seeped through the white bandages.
"You're bleeding!"
"I'll be okay..."
"No, you won't."
Kathryn immediately stood.
"I'll get Xavier."
"No!"
Kathryn blinked.
"Did you two fight?"
Lauren lowered her head.
Her silence answered everything.
Kathryn sighed.
"I know this is difficult."
She gently sat beside her.
"But whether you like it or not, you're mates."
She reached out and squeezed Lauren's hand.
"You don't have to accept him immediately."
"But... don't push him away forever."
Lauren smiled sadly.
"I just don't deserve him."
Kathryn stared at her in disbelief.
"What makes you think that?"
Lauren looked away.
"I've only ever brought pain to people."
Kathryn's heart tightened.
"If anyone deserves my brother..."
She smiled softly.
"...it's you."
Lauren didn't respond.
Kathryn tucked the blanket over her.
"You need rest."
She stood and walked toward the door.
Before leaving, she glanced back.
Lauren looked frighteningly pale.
Something wasn't right.
As soon as the door clicked shut...
Lauren threw the blanket aside.
She slowly climbed out of bed.
"I just..."
She staggered toward the door.
"...need some fresh air."
Her vision blurred.
Still, she forced herself into the hallway.
The Royal Garden
Xavier sat alone beneath a large oak tree.
He absentmindedly rolled a small stone between his fingers.
"So this is where you've been hiding."
Kathryn approached with a teasing smile.
He didn't even look up.
He continued turning the stone.
She folded her arms.
"Poor little rock."
She chuckled.
"If it were alive, it'd be exhausted by now."
"What do you want?" Xavier muttered.
Kathryn sat beside him.
"So..."
She smiled knowingly.
"Lauren called you a pervert?"
He groaned.
"You told her I was a flirt."
"I didn't."
"You definitely planted the idea."
Kathryn laughed.
"You really think that's why she's pushing you away?"
He finally looked at her.
"What else could it be?"
Kathryn's smile faded.
"She thinks she doesn't deserve you."
His expression froze.
"What?"
"She believes you're too good for her."
Xavier stared at his sister.
"She... said that?"
Kathryn nodded.
"She thinks she's nothing but a burden."
His heart clenched.
"But she's wrong."
"I know."
"I don't see her that way."
"Then tell her."
Kathryn smiled gently.
"Tell her she's enough."
He sighed heavily.
"She flinches every time I get close."
"She looks terrified."
"How am I supposed to convince someone who doesn't even trust me?"
Kathryn rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Trust isn't demanded."
"It's earned."
She smiled.
"And right now..."
"...she needs you more than ever."
"She's just exhausted."
"No."
Kathryn's face became serious.
"She's getting worse."
Before Xavier could respond—
rapid footsteps echoed across the garden.
A maid came running toward them, completely out of breath.
"Your Highness!"
"What happened?" Kathryn asked.
The maid struggled to breathe.
"P-Prince Xavier..."
She swallowed.
"Your mate..."
Xavier was already standing.
"What about Lauren?"
"She..."
The maid pointed toward the mansion.
"...collapsed in the hallway."
"What?" Kathryn gasped.
Xavier didn't wait another second.
He sprinted toward the mansion with supernatural speed.
Kathryn chased after him but couldn't keep up.
By the time he reached the hallway...
Several maids had gathered around Lauren.
"Move!"
His command echoed through the corridor.
The servants immediately stepped aside.
His heart dropped.
Lauren lay unconscious on the marble floor.
Her skin was ghostly pale.
Her breathing was shallow.
Blood had completely soaked through her bandages.
"Lauren!"
He dropped to his knees beside her.
Kathryn arrived moments later and gasped.
"I left her resting in bed..."
"How did she even get here?"
Xavier carefully lifted Lauren into his arms.
She felt frighteningly light.
"Edward!" he shouted.
"Get the doctor!"
Kathryn immediately ran toward the medical wing.
Xavier hurried back toward his room, holding Lauren close.
For the first time since finding his mate...
Fear truly settled in his heart.
He silently prayed she wasn't slipping away.