Chase’s POV
A smirk began to spread across my face as I stared at Arya.
“Your Highness,” someone beside her said.
I turned my head to see a blonde-haired girl.
She bowed.
Arya didn’t budge.
In fact, she looked quite angry.
I nodded.
“You may lift your head.” Then I turned to Arya.
“I see you were expecting somebody.”
Arya glared at her friend, then turned back to me.
“What do you want?” she asked, placing her hands on her waist.
I arched a brow.
Was she not the one I had just saved?
“Your Highness wants a word,” Angus said behind me.
Arya looked from Angus to me and raised a brow.
We were wearing matching clothes.
I wasn’t sure if that annoyed her more.
“But first, we’d love to know if you can identify who kidnapped and tortured you,” Angus added.
Arya nodded.
“He’s now my beta,” I said—and her eyes snapped up at me.
“So what do you want to talk about, Alpha?” she rolled her eyes and stared at the clock.
“In private,” Angus said.
I held her gaze.
She sighed.
“Alright,” she said in a defeated tone.
Some Moments Later…
”No way,” Arya shook her head multiple times.
“I don’t want that,” she scowled.
I stood from my seat and noticed her flinch.
Blood rushed through my veins.
I yearned to slam her against the wall for pissing me off—minute by minute.
But Angus and the others believed that if I stayed calm and kind, she’d be less scared.
And as the Moon Goddess said, this cursed fate of mine would only be lifted if I got her to truly like me.
I rubbed my temples and stared at her.
“Why don’t you want me in my son’s life?” I asked, trying to control my rising temper.
“Because I don’t want you to,” she snapped, turning her face away.
A scowl sat heavily on her features.
“But I am his father.”
”I know that!” she yelled.
“You’ll be a bad influence on our—I mean, my—son,” she said, crossing her arms.
“Who says that?
I wanted to walk over and prove my point, but I held back.
I didn’t want to scare her.
“I do!” she shouted, standing up.
She brushed a hand over her neck and I almost flinched.
I didn’t know if I had done that to her… or if it was Mike.
Then I remembered her hugging Chamberlin earlier.
My heart cracked.
They looked like a beautiful family.
But I wanted to be part of them.
I wanted Chamberlin to call me “Dad,” to have his hands all over my face, to laugh with me.
I ached for it.
But did I deserve it?
I shut my eyes and ran a hand through my hair.
“Okay.
I’m sorry.”
Arya spun around quickly, her eyes wide—like watermelons.
“I must be dreaming,” she muttered.
I stepped closer.
“I know I haven’t treated you well, but I do want to meet my son.
I want him to know I’m his father.”
Arya sighed and rubbed her jaw, deep in thought.
I didn’t speak.
I didn’t want to ruin this fragile moment.
“You can hate me all you want,” I said gently, “But you can’t take away the fact that I’m Chamberlin’s father.
He deserves to know who I am.”
She nodded quietly.
“Fine.”
My heart skipped a beat.
She had agreed—without me needing to raise my voice or scare her.
“Thank you,” I said.
Arya’s eyes met mine—surprise dancing in them.
But when I held her gaze a moment longer, she looked away.
“Okay.” She nodded again.
“Umm…” she stammered, playing with her hair.
“Next week, Chamberlin’s celebrating his birthday.
Can you—?”
”Yes,” I answered instantly.
She looked up again, startled.
“Okay,” she said.
“Will that be all?”
I smiled and nodded.
Then she paused.
“Anything else?”
”Your betrothed… um, Genev—”
”Dead,” I said flatly.
She nodded.
“And the other—?”
”Also dead.”
Arya gave me a small smile.
“Okay,” she said and walked out.
I don’t forgive betrayal.
Or liars.
That’s the quickest way to die by my hands.
Two Hours Later
I was in my study when my team joined me.
“So, what did she say?” Mika asked eagerly.
I arched a brow.
She was too eager.
“Mika, aren’t you a bit too excited?” Hercules teased.
“It’s none of your business,” she shot back, sticking out her tongue.
Angus entered with my tea and sat.
Around the table, sat the only three people I truly trusted: Angus, Mika, and Hercules.
They’d been with me long before the elders, and they ran the core of this kingdom.
“Guys,” I began quietly, looking each of them in the eye.
I didn’t speak right away.
Mika face-palmed.
“Just say it already, Chase.
I know she said no,” She groaned.
“She agreed,” I replied.
They all stood up cheering.
Mika was too stunned to speak.
“Really?” she asked.
I nodded.
“I knew it, Your Highness!” Angus said, high-fiving Hercules.
They shook my hands and laughed with joy.
Everyone was happy for me—except Mika.
Something was off.
“What’s wrong, Mika?” Hercules asked.
She smiled faintly and shook her head.
“Oh, it’s nothing.
I just feel like you shouldn’t trust her.”
The whole room went silent.
Because when Mika had a bad feeling about something—it rarely ended well.