Chapter 39

Chapter 39 Don‘t make me come looking for you “She… Never mind.” Prince William paused, he looked back at the fire as if it would answer for him. Lady Katherine leaned forward and patted his knee in a motherly fashion, it almost made Doris smile. “It’s not his favorite subject to talk about. The only reason I know is because I raised him and I’ve seen how he’s gone through mistresses almost as fast as his father did.” “Oh, I just didn’t realize he resented the idea of a fated mate.” Doris shifted uncomfortably. It was a dangerous topic, she knew she shouldn’t tread anywhere near it but she couldn’t help herself. There might not be another opportunity for her to learn about how he truly felt about having a mate. Prince William slowly turned his blue gaze back to her. She silently held her breath and wished he wouldn’t look at her as if he could see right through her every thought. “It made my father weak.” Prince William finally admitted. “He loved her more than anything, he wanted her more than any woman in the land and when he lost her–no one else would ever do. To this day he refuses to give his heart away again.” “Loving someone doesn’t make you weak.” Doris said quietly, Prince William shook his head in annoyance. “My father can’t even look at me without thinking of his mate. He goes through life as if it’s a chore instead of living it because he lost her. He treats his – on 1:1, tana vatham hol l .

Don’t make me come looking for you left of her.” “Perhaps he’s scared to lose you one day.” Doris said softly. She wanted to reach her hand out and hold his own as a friend might, but she knew he would never let her. “He might be trying to selfishly protect his own heart by keeping you away. “Selfish is all my father knows how to be.” Prince William rolled his eyes to the ceiling, “He knows no other way to live, why should I?” “William,” Lady Katherine frowned. “Why don’t you admit the true reason and stop dancing around the subject?” Prince William only ignored her, Lady Katherine turned towards Doris.

“He’s afraid his mate will die and he’ll never recover like his father He thinks if his father had never met her, he wouldn’t have ended up how he is today.” Doris’s lips parted, but she couldn’t find any words.

Suddenly, his horrible attitude towards everyone he met made a bit more sense. He was trying to push them away as much as he could and only keep around people that didn’t matter. It wouldn’t destroy him if any of them died, but it would if his mate did. Perhaps that was why he was going through all this trouble for Melody, he wanted to make sure whoever had hurt his mate paid for it. She wondered why he hadn’t brought her up again yet, unless the topic hurt too much to talk about Doris fought the urge to rub her mark again when he sat there watching her. He clearly still believed Melody was his mate, there was no way it could’ve been Doris anyway when she had no wolf inside her. Still, she found herself touching her own mark often when he wasn’t near. Doris felt her blood heat under Prince William’s gaze, he leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “As for your earlier statement, I suppose I’ll Don’t make me come looking for you Doris furrowed her brows and glanced at Lady Katherine. She only shrugged, “Please excuse me for asking, your majesty-but do you think pushing people away is worth it?” “They don’t care for me, Doris. They care for what I am or how I look. They care for my title despite the fact that my father doesn’t. Once they get close enough, they eventually see there’s nothing to love or wrap their arms around to hold onto. There’s only more layers of the cold person I’ve always been.”

Prince William leaned back again. “Who would want to love a beast when there’s a prince more worth it around the comer.” Doris frowned. “We’re all capable of true love.” “I think it would be impossible for someone to be true for me.” “Everyone is worthy of love” “Not me,” Prince William stood as his mood darkened again, Doris stood as well and watched as his eyes flickered over her every movement. It was almost as if he had the nerve to look amused at her slight frustration. Doris remembered herself and let out a small breath. “Not everyone cares about a title or looks.” “I’ve yet to find a woman who cares for who I am behind my title.” Prince William snapped. “Then you’re not truly looking.” Doris couldn’t help herself, she knew she should stop talking and stay silent as she always did. “Sometimes you have to allow people in and risk getting hurt.” Prince William’s eyes turned a little stormy as he stared at her. Her insides made her want to shrink away and remind herself he was nothing but a rotten prince who had drunkenly attacked her by mistake. Sometimes she had sparks of-something for him until she remembered what it felt like to Don’t make me come looking for you feel as if she were about to die at his hands when he marked her as his own. But she wasn’t his. Part of her heart understood him more, but inside she knew she would never belong to him. She would never belong to anyone but herself, and no prince could change that for her. Prince William’s gaze flickered to Lady Katherine, who only looked amused. “We’re leaving now, mother.” “Oh, already? You barely touched your tea!” Lady Katherine quickly stood and went to hold his hand. “Tell me you’ll be safe. How many guards are joining you?” “I’m not sure yet. I wanted to travel light so we can get the trip over with as soon as possible. A bigger party might delay us further.” Prince William’s face softened a little as he looked at his mother. Doris couldn’t help but smile this time. He hadn’t lost his temper once in her presence, even when she saw he was close to it. “We will be safe, you have my word.” “What’s your word if you don’t return?” Lady Katherine said with a crack in her tone. “He could send anyone else to investigate, it doesn’t have to be you.” “I offered to do it myself. I want to find the answer before they try to make up the answer for themselves.”

Lady Katherine frowned as she leaned up to give him a long hug. She smoothed back his hair when she pulled away and turned to look at Doris. “Don’t be afraid to put him in his place when he deserves it.”

She teased “I wouldn’t dare, my lady.” Doris quickly curtsied before she followed Prince William out. 3 Doris wished Lady Katherine would always be in the room when she was with the prince. It was so much Don’t make me come looking for you easier to talk to him without fearing he was about to snap at her or threaten her. He clearly had a loving respect for the woman and it softened Doris’s heart to see he was able to have those sort of feelings for someone. For some reason, it just didn’t fit right with what she’d thought of him before. Once they stepped outside the door and it closed behind him-his back stiffened and a stony mask fell over his face once more. Doris almost flinched when he turned to look at her, it was as if he melted from the person he was a second ago. “I had the palace pack you some clothes fit for the north. I have one more thing to do before we leave so I need you to check on our supplies and meet me in the stables before the hour is up.” “Yes, your majesty.” Doris bowed her head and turned to leave. “Doris?” He said, she stilled and glanced back at him.

“Don’t make me come looking for you.” a Her Unwanted Mate On The Three