Chapter 17: Her Smile was Fake

FINNIAN

I came to the palace to check on Isolde, as usual. Thank the gods, she’d been stronger these past few days, walking again, even if only within the palace walls.

I’d pleaded endlessly with Rowan before he finally gave in, and now she was back practicing her magic too. That spark of hers hadn’t died.

I followed her to her garden. She wanted to show me where the heir had died. I’d been investigating too, quietly. But nothing made sense yet. No clue had teeth.

“Here,” she said, stopping suddenly. She turned and stumbled into me, almost falling. I caught her waist before gravity got the better of her. Her eyes widened, startled, soft.

“Careful,” I whispered, voice close to her ear. She froze, just for a second. Then she nodded quickly.

“Yes, thank you, Prin...” she paused, catching herself.

That damn title again.

How many times did I have to tell her to use my name?

‘Even outside?’ Marlin scoffed in my head.

Maybe not. But when we were alone, I wanted her to say it. Just Finnian. Nothing else.

Did that make me sound possessive?

“Yes, you were saying something?” I leaned in, murmuring again, pushing my thoughts aside.

“Nothing. Just… thank you for catching me,” she said. Her voice, soft and sweet, hit something in me I didn’t want to name.

“Well,” I said, voice lower, “I didn’t hear you say it.”

Her deep green eyes met my pale blue ones. She reached out, brushing a hand through my long, dark hair. I let her.

“Thank you, Finnian,” she smiled.

And I kissed her cheek.

I froze the second I did it. So did she. Her body tensed like ice beneath my hand. I stepped away fast, heat climbing up my neck. What the hell was I doing?

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I coughed, clearing the tension, and she stepped aside, putting distance between us.

“So, how did you find him?” I asked, trying to sound normal.

“I found him… handsome. Attractive. More than any man I’ve ever known,” she said, dreamily.

I blinked.

Wait. What?

I glanced around, confused, wondering if she was talking to someone else.

“Handsome and attractive?” I repeated. “Who were you talking about, Isolde?”

Her eyes widened. Then she smiled awkwardly. “Don’t mind me. I talk rubbish sometimes.”

Rubbish? That didn’t sound like rubbish.

“Here,” she said quickly, pointing to a spot, keeping a distance. “That’s where I found him.”

I walked up, glancing at her for a moment before bending to inspect the ground. Could she have been talking about me earlier?

No. That wasn’t possible. She still loved Rowan. It was obvious in her eyes, her tone, the way her whole body came alive when he sent for her.

Maybe, I was just a miracle trying to glue them back together.

I crouched, sniffing the spot with my wolf’s nose. Faint, but still there... poison. It had dried up but clung to the dirt like a warning.

“We need to scrape this spot,” I said.

She nodded.

“Okay, I’ll send one of my men,” I said and dusted off my hands. Then I felt her by my side.

“Finnian,” she said gently, reaching for my hair.

The moment her fingers brushed it, she winced in pain.

I caught her hand, concern snapped in my voice. “You okay?”

She nodded. “Yeah… It was a dark flower, but it’s gone now.”

I shook my head, flipping my hair to check for anything that might’ve lingered. Then I wrapped an arm around her and guided her out of the garden.

~~~

“Your Highness,” Daze called, bowing before Rowan who sat stiff and quiet on his throne. Felda and Velin perched beside him, eyes shadowed.

“Yes,” Rowan’s voice rumbled low and sharp, his gaze already fixed on the entrance.

“Two of your men are down. Two more injured.”

As if on cue, the doors burst open. Guards stumbled in, carrying bloodied bodies.

I was on my feet before I knew it. So was Rowan, his fury already thick in the air.

“Who the hell did this?” Rowan’s voice hit the walls like a whip. It had weight. Force. A king’s rage.

One of the guards stepped forward, dragging his words out of his throat. “Your Highness… It’s the Silver Moon pack. Last week they demanded we leave their territory. Those who stayed… they’ve been dealt with.”

“What?!” Rowan roared. The whole hall froze. Even Felda stood up, eyes darting nervously.

“Why am I just hearing about this now? Why did they kill my men?” Rowan’s voice cracked the air. The scent of fear from the guard was strong enough to choke.

“I… I don’t know, Your Highness.”

“Gather the elders. Now!” he thundered.

The guards bolted, leaving behind the injured.

Rowan turned sharply to Felda. “Take care of them. You and Isolde. They must not die.”

His tone made Felda stumble. Daze made a move to catch her but froze when our eyes met.

Something passed between them, but I couldn’t name it.

Rowan stormed off, Velin at his heels like a second shadow.

Felda turned to Daze, whispering something I almost missed. But I was an Alpha wolf. I heard everything.

“I’ll take care of them alone,” she said.

I stepped closer.

“Why?” I asked flatly.

Her eyes widened slightly, then curved into a sweet smile I didn’t buy. Her smile was fake.

“Why don’t you want Isolde helping you?”

“No reason, Prince. I just… didn’t want to stress her.”

I didn’t respond. My gaze lingered on her face for a moment longer than polite.

“Daze, call Jared. Get these men to the treatment room. I’ll send Isolde,” I ordered.

Felda’s smile faded too fast. Like a mask slipping.

Daze bowed, about to move, when Jared walked in.

“You mind-linked me,” Jared said to Daze, bowing.

“I thought you said you were far away?” Daze muttered.

“No time for chit-chat,” I said, eyes flicking to the wounded wolves. One of them had slashes deep enough to show bone. Poisoned, too with silver.

They hoisted the injured, and I caught Felda’s eyes watching Daze a bit too long.

Something was going on there.

But that wasn’t possible… right?

All of Rowan’s wives were obsessed with him. Even Isolde, after everything he’d done to her. She still asked about him. Still smiled when he sent for her.

Rowan had always been like that. Since we were pups. Girls fell at his feet like he was carved from the gods themselves.

And me?

Still searching. Still wondering if my fate was dead or never existed.

‘You are jealous of your brother now?’ Marlin asked dryly.

I shook my head.

No. Not jealous.

Just… tired of being the second choice. Or never the choice at all.