Chapter 9


    Nine: Natalie


    Natalie''s P.O.V.


    It was a difficult thing, sleeping in a strange ce. But it was the awe and excitement that came with


    the realization that things here would not be the same as they were in my old pack that kept me awake.


    Even if I was just a breeder, I would still be treated as the King''s mate… or at the very least, I would


    one day be the mother to the heir.


    No more would I be an omega. No more would I be beaten or abused.


    It was empowering. But it was that rush of adrenaline that made it hard to sleep. Each time I fell into my


    light slumber, I would wake up only minutester. Then the excitement would hit me again, and I would


    struggle to fall back asleep.


    I wanted to go explore to see the rest of not only the castle but the kingdom. I also wanted to try more


    of the food they had here.


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    The dinner had been a tense affair with only myself and the king. Joselin had made herself scarce


    when the food arrived and had taken my guard with her, leaving us with a smugment about how


    time alone would be good for us. But it was the spell she cast over the door, locking me in the office


    with my mate that forced us into sharing a meal together.


    He looked angry, ring at me and tensing his jaw every few minutes, letting me know my presence


    was not wee without saying a single word. I had seen for myself that he killed without warning, and


    figured if he wanted to kill me, he would. I was terrified of it and of him, but if this were to be my life


    now, I had to not let that hang over me.


    Since he was the one who chose me, I dug into my food with enthusiasm, not bothering myself with his


    brooding.


    It was the best decision I ever made. I had never had such tender meat or such buttery freshly baked


    bread.


    Once I was done and had sat back in my chair with my hands over my stomach, I looked back up,


    expecting to see the familiar re of the sexy man. Instead, I found a slight smile. One that vanished


    as soon as I returned it.


    I had a feeling there was more going on than I was aware of. There had to be for him to have chosen


    me of all people. I wasn''t so na?ve to think he had chosen me because he actually wanted me. The


    only thing I could do was enjoy it while itsted.


    The silk of the pillow case felt amazing against my skin as I rolled onto my side, and I snuggled my face


    in closer, knowing that it would help to keep me cool during the warm summer nights. I ran my hand


    over the sheet as I pulled it up to my face, stopping when I came into contact with a warm body.


    My eyes shot open in surprise. I had known I was to share the room with him. He had said as much


    when he dered it as ''our'' room. But I had stayed upte, exploring and enjoying my newfound


    freedom and home. When I had gotten back to the room and he wasn''t there, I had assumed he would


    be sleeping elsewhere.


    I hadn''t expected to find him in bed in the middle of the night.


    In the big picture, sleeping next to him was nothingpared to the other expectations he had for me


    as his chosen mate. The moonlight streaming in through the sheer curtains shone just bright enough to


    allow me to see the outlines of his features. Even so, I couldn''t help but notice that he was an entirely


    different person.


    He waspletely rxed and at peace. The tightness to his eyebrows and jaw was gone, and in his


    ce was no longer a king with the weight of the world on his shoulders. He was just a man.


    A man that probably still hated me, but a man nheless.


    For a moment, I wished that he would open his eyes, and I could talk to this version of him before he


    woke back as the king with his anger and frustration.


    I knew I wouldn''t be able to fall back asleep easily, not knowing a stranger was sleeping next to me.


    The situation made my throat go dry, and while I was grateful that he hadn''t woken me to fulfill my new


    duties, the reality of the situation had me feeling panicked.


    The oncefortable nket felt scratchy as I slowly rolled, trying not to disturb or wake the man next


    to me. My breathing seemed louder than before, and as I moved I had never been more aware of my


    joints popping than I was at that moment. It was like my body had turned against me, wanting to wake


    him up with how loud I was being.


    I had freed only one leg when he started to move, and I froze with wide eyes as I waited for him to


    speak.


    Instead, a shiver ran through my body as he tossed hisrge, muscr arm over me, pulling me back


    into the bed and against his chest. I couldn''t remember how to move, let alone breathe as he moved in


    his sleep to form his body against the back of mine.


    His warm body wrapped around me was like being wrapped in a nket made just for me. Everything


    about him holding me felt right, and that was what made it so wrong.


    My body began to rx without my mind following, and I let out the breath I had been holding when his


    nose touched the back of my neck, nuzzling it lightly before going still again.


    Goosebumps rose along my skin, confusing me more as I couldn''t figure out if it was from pleasure or


    fear. My body was saying one thing while my mind was saying another.


    It was sensory overload, and I opened my mouth to speak. I needed to tell him to release me, and to let


    me sleep elsewhere to stop the confusing thoughts, but he beat me to it.


    His deep voice was thick with sleep. It was low and rough as he spoke, sending a shiver down my


    spine. "Mine."


    I was aware that he was still asleep as his breathing hadn''t changed, and he hadn''t moved beyond


    pulling me in closer, something he wouldn''t do if he were conscious.


    Yet, his soft deration silenced my mind, and my eyes closed as I was lulled to sleep by his deep


    breathing.