The Alpha King's Princess
The Alpha King’s Princess – Chapter 67

Candido walked us out through the crowd of people who were snapping photos left and right and escorted me back to the Team Gamma jeep. He opened the door and ushered me inside as people whispered before climbing in after me. A bit of fear went through me. What happened now? Would he be upset about what I did?

I turned to him. His jaw was set firmly. His eyes flashed with moonlight, but I couldn’t let his anger stop me.

“Candido, I—”

He turned to me, focused on me so intently that I could barely breathe. I felt my cheeks heat as he pulled me across the seat and into his lap.

Then, he kissed me. I was shocked. My whole body went still before he cupped my jaw and licked into my mouth, drawing a soft, breathy m**n out of me. He grunted, pressing his lips more firmly against mine and holding me in his lap. The partition whirred as it went up, and the front two doors opened.

When he pulled back, I was dazed and breathless, panting softly. Candido’s face was flushed, but his voice was calm.

“Take us back to the Estate.”

My face heated. In every dream I had ever had about Candido finally returning my feelings, it hadn’t been like this. That k**s had been more than I had ever imagined. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t speak. I thought about getting out of his lap, but he tightened his grip around me and forced me to lean against my chest as if I had woken up from a nightmare.

I smiled, leaning into him and enjoying the way his warmth and scent wrapped around me. When the jeep stopped, he opened the door and carried me out of the car. I wanted to tell him that he was being ridiculous, but after all this stress, it just felt nice to be safe in his arms.

He walked us up to his office and closed the door behind us. He set me on the couch. I thought he might k**s me again, but he simply sat beside me and said nothing.

“Candido?”

“You’re insane for lying like that,” he said, his voice distant. “What would have happened if it didn’t work?”

My jaw trembled. The little bit of happiness seemed to die in my heart. He glanced at me, and his lips twitched.

“The mark… is an impressive copy… and the dress was a nice touch. It’s beautiful on you.”

“It’s—”

“Thank you for interrupting the wedding, but the priest is going to replace out as soon as you turn twenty.” He sighed and shook his head. “It’s little more than a stay of execution, though one I am grateful for… With any luck, the war will commence soon and make it unnecessary to care more about it.”

I shook my head, grabbing his hand. “I didn’t lie. It’s not—”

“Hedy,” he said with a deep sigh. He pulled his hand from me. “I know very well that you aren’t my mate.”

He couldn’t do this to me. I wasn’t going to let him do this. I launched myself at him, grabbing his face and forcing our lips together. He didn’t k**s me back, but he didn’t fight me either. My eyes watered as I wrapped my arms around him.

“I love you,” I said, sniffling. I want to be with you forever, even if we aren’t mates, but this mark isn’t a copy.” He pulled back and looked down at me. “It’s not a copy.”

His eyes searched mine. He let out a frustrated breath before taking a firm grip on my shoulder and looking at the mark. He narrowed his eyes. The flash of moonlight in his eyes maybe me jump, but he didn’t move. His expression turned shocked. He took a deep breath and leaned close, sniffing my skin. When he pulled back sharply, his expression was hard. His jaw was set.

“C-Candido?”

He pressed a hand to my chest, rubbing against the mark. I frowned, realizing what he was trying to do. The pain of it made me go still and silent, watching him. He grit his teeth and growled. He pulled his handkerchief out of his pocket and grabbed the vase on the table. He knocked it over and wet the handkerchief before pressing it against the mark and rubbed it.

He didn’t hurt me physically. He was as gentle as ever, but my heart was breaking. I just couldn’t exactly say why.

“It’s not fake.”

He snarled and threw the handkerchief away before standing.

“You’re growing up too fast,” he hissed. “I hadn’t ever… I didn’t think…”

My jaw trembled. “You didn’t think what?”

He sighed and turned to me. “I had always… hoped you would be fully recovered and get a chance to live a full life. I just didn’t think it would be like this.”

“What… does that mean?”

He looked away. “I… I can’t answer that, Hedy.”

I stood, sniffling and marching over to him. “You kissed me.”

“I know.”

“You kissed me like that, held me, and carried me in here like I meant the world to you—”

“You do,” he said breathlessly. “I just—”

“Can’t believe that it’s me?” I sniffled. “Or… you already know who it is.”

He glanced at me, then away. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It does matter!”

“No, Hedy, it doesn’t,” he shook his head. “That mark is more than just the Moon Goddess saying that you’ve met your mate. It’s… It’s a gift. A gift for the rest of your lives together being the most fulfilling years of your life.”

I shook my head. “What if I don’t want that with someone else? Whoever you think this is? Are you telling me you know because you don’t want it to be true—”

“I’m telling you this because I know it isn’t true.” He met my gaze. “I met her.”

I sucked in a sharp breath. “You… You met her?”

“Yes,” he looked away. “Weeks ago. I… I knew that the altar would reject Sibyl.”

My jaw dropped open. “You… You’ve known all this time that I… that you wouldn’t marry her? That you couldn’t? And you didn’t think to tell me why?”

Candido sighed. “I couldn’t.”

“What the hell does that mean?” I yelled. “You rather me think that you were going to risk the entire pack’s well-being over this deal, over some misguided sense of honor, than tell me.”

“You’re crying,” he said softly, coming to cup my cheeks. He wiped my face and pressed me close to his chest. “I’ve never… wanted to make you cry, Hedy.”

There was nothing fixing it now.

“I only want you to live… and live well. That’s what that mark means. When it’s completed on your 20(th) birthday, you’ll know. You’ll be able to replace your mate, whoever it is, and he will be able to… to replace you no matter where you are.”

I shook my head. “Candido, you can’t—”

“You’ve already met him.”

“Why can’t it be you?”

He chuckled, “Because I know she is not you.”

He slipped his hand into the back of my hair, pressing me close as I started to sob.

“Why did you k**s me?” I asked. “If you were so sure. If all of this was for nothing?”

“… I was weak.” I pulled back and looked up at him. “Perhaps… I was reaching for something I knew I couldn’t have, but it’s nothing more than that.”

His smile felt bittersweet. “I really… I really am happy that you’ve found your mate, your fate…”

He dropped his gaze to the mark. “I am… so happy that he’s powerful enough to look after you in the days to come.”

He kissed my forehead and pulled away. He pulled my hands free of his tunic and pressed them toward me.

“There will be a lot of bloodshed. When you realize who it is… I would like to meet him if you are agreeable. “

“Who is she?”

His lips twitched. “I don’t know yet.”

“Then, how can you be so sure—”

“Hedy,” Candido said, shaking his head. “You are trying to argue something that is already decided. The Moon Goddess has spoken on it.”

“Then why k**s me!” I cried. “If you’re so sure, if you’re so attached to this idea that mates are one and only and nothing else matters, then why k**s me? You never kissed Sibyl. You’ve never dated in all the time I’ve known you, Candido. No exes, nothing! Why k**s me?”

“Answering that won’t help you let it go, Hedy.”

“I deserve to know.”

“I disagree.”

Candido drew back and rounded the room. I went after him.

“You can’t just run away from this. You can’t just walk away from me, Candido!”

He stopped at the door and turned back. “I would never walk away from you, Hedy, but right now, my presence will not help you. Go to your room, change for bed, and rest. Things are going to get messy from here in.”

Then, he left, and I sank to the ground sobbing.