Zoran froze the moment her fingertip touched his lips. For a heartbeat, he looked like he forgot how to breathe.

Naelis could clearly see his struggle as he tries to find a suitable response to her question or an excuse not to answer.

He gently pulled her hand away and tightened his jaw. "Miss Haldrith... this is not the moment for such discussions."

Of course he changed the topic.. Classic Zoran.

Before she could argue, he adjusted her in his arms, tightening his hold as he descended the last steps. The main hallway came into view, Silas rushing toward them with his shirt half-buttoned and panic in his eyes.

"What happened? I smelled blood, Naelis, are you hurt?" Silas reached to take her, and Zoran instantly handed her over like she was a burning coal.

Zoran didn't even spare her a full glance. "Her injury is minor, tend to it. I must return to the front and join your father in controlling the situation"

He looked like one more whiff of her would make him combust.

Without another word, Zoran spun on his heel and stormed down the hallway. Naelis watched him go, her lips curling into a slow, wicked smile.

Silas followed her gaze and groaned. "Naelis... stop smiling like that, It scares me."

"Oh please," she muttered, flipping her hair back. "If he wants to keep running, let him. It only makes the chase sweeter."

"Chase?" Silas sputtered. "Naelis, he's a primordial wolf. He took a vow. A vow-vow, not the casual 'I'm taking a break from dating' vow. This is a centuries-old, ancient text carved-in-stone type of vow."

"I know," she said, swinging her legs down from his arms despite the lingering pain in her stomach. "And I want to see how far that vow bends before it snaps."

Silas stared at her like she was about to summon a demon in the middle of the hallway. "Please Naelis, I'm begging you. Do not go anywhere near the citadel."

She raised a brow. "Who said anything about the citadel?"

"You just did."

She scoffed, "Nope, you are just assuming things."

"You were smiling."

"And?"

"That smile," he said with despair, "means you're about to ruin someone's life."

"His life?" Naelis laughed softly. "Silas, honey, I'm just trying to unwrap a very old present."

Silas buried his face in his palms. "If my father finds out about this, I am dead"

She patted his shoulder. "Relax, I just need a few books."

"A few books?"

"Yes, traditional texts. So I can walk into the citadel with a totally innocent reason."

Silas's head snapped up. "Naelis! You... "

But she was already turning away, waving him off like he was a mosquito buzzing too close to her ear. The ache in her abdomen hadn't subsided but it wasn't as unbearable as earlier.

She was determined to make Zoran willingly submit to her.

---

An hour later, the rogue attack has been taken care of and everything has returned to calm.

Naelis walked across the courtyard wearing full traditional Frostpine attire.. A deep forest-green gown with embroidered gold runes, her red hair braided into two, and a thin veil draped over her head like the model devotees that frequent the citadel.

She carried three thick books in her arms, all borrowed from the library.

Well, borrowed without permission but still the same thing.

Every elder and guard she passed stared at her like she had grown a second head.

Seeing their reactions, she smirked and headed in the direction of the citadel.

The citadel loomed ahead, towering and solemn. Ancient stone pillars spiraled upward, their surfaces etched with prayers and warnings.

Naelis stepped in anyway.

Because why the hell not?

Her boots tapped softly against the polished stone. She peeked around corners, skirt brushing against her legs as she navigated the dim corridors. Incense drifted from the meditation quarters, warm and irritatingly calming.

She wrinkled her nose.

"Ughh. . It smells like enlightenment." she murmured with an irritated expression.

Finally, she reached the large wooden doors that separated the main hall from the meditation wing.

Silas told her that Zoran usually meditates at this specific time. She pushed the door open, at first it seemed empty but when she looked at the center of the room, she smiled triumphantly.

Zoran sat in the center of the room, cross-legged, eyes shut, back straight as a spear, shirt discarded on the floor beside him. Only loose ceremonial pants hung on his hips, exposing the carved map of muscles across his chest. His skin had faint silver markings that were glowing softly.

He looked... otherworldly and perfect.

Naelis grinned.

"Challenge accepted" she murmured before silently slipping inside and closed the door behind her.

Her foot caught deliberately on the edge of her gown. She gasped and let herself fall directly onto him.

Her body landed on his lap, knocking him slightly off balance. His eyes flew open, the red ring in them looked like it was burning.

Both of them froze.

Zoran's hands hovered around her waist, not touching but dangerously close. His breath hitched quietly.

"Miss Haldrith," he murmured, voice hoarse, like he was holding something back, "why... are you in the meditation chamber?"

She winced dramatically. "My leg twisted and I slipped."

He gave her a hard deadpan expression and she almost broke into laughter.

He gently lifted her off his lap, but the contact alone sent a jolt through him, she saw it in the way his jaw clenched, and his nostrils flared.

"You should not be here," he said, his voice low. "This is a consecrated place."

"I came for guidance," she lied sweetly, waving the book in her hand. "Religious guidance."

He blinked at the titles.

Ancient Binding Rituals.

The Wolf and His Chosen.

Celibacy: A Guide.

Zoran inhaled sharply, looking like he wanted to throw her out the door.

"That last title," he said stiffly, "is not for public reading."

"And yet," she countered, "here I am, public and reading."

He exhaled slowly, as if controlling a beast.

She leaned closer, her shoulder brushing his bare arm. "You didn't answer my question earlier," she whispered. "What exactly did you run from?"

"Naelis," he warned.

"Come on," she teased. "Are you scared of me?"

His gaze snapped to hers, blazing like molten gold. "I fear what my wolf wishes to do around you."

That caught her off guard and heat rippled down her spine.

"Oh?" she whispered.

Zoran rose to his full height, towering over her. The soft glow of the chamber lights caught the silver strands in his hair and the ancient markings on his chest.

"I must maintain the vow," he said, voice thick but strained. "I must keep my distance."

"And how's that working out?" she asked, stepping closer to him.

His fingers twitched.

"Poorly," he admitted.

Naelis's smile grew slow and knowing. "Good."

She moved to walk around him, pretending to browse the scroll shelves. "Honestly, Zoran... if you're going to keep avoiding me, you should at least be better at it."

"I am not avoiding," he said stiffly.

She snorted. "You literally handed me to Silas and sprinted."

Zoran's face flushed.. barely, but enough to see. "Proximity to you is... difficult."

"Why?"

He hesitated.

She turned, leaning back against a pillar, letting the fabric of her gown cling to her curves as she raised a brow. "Zoran. Why?"

He swallowed and it felt like his years of built up restraint was a joke.

"My wolf reacts to you," he murmured. "Too strongly. It is... unsafe."

"For me or for you?" she pressed.

"Yes," he said.

She laughed softly. "You really are an ancient relic."

Zoran bristled. "I am disciplined."

"You're repressed."

Their eyes locked.

A spark lit between them, sharp and undeniable.

Naelis stepped closer. "Tell me, Zoran... does your vow forbid you from looking?"

Silence at first then he gave her a hard look.

Her throat, her lips, the exposed slip of thigh where her gown had parted.

He snapped his gaze away like it burned him. "Miss Haldrith, I will escort you out... "

"No."

She placed her hand on his chest. It felt warm and she could feel his rapid heartbeats.

His breath stopped altogether.

"Miss Haldrith," he whispered, voice dangerously low like he was about to snap, "remove your hand."

"Why?" she asked softly.

"Because my... ."

She leaned up on her toes and nudged his neck with her nose.

His eyes flashed, wolf surging for a split-second.

Zoran stumbled back like he needed distance to breathe. "Leave the citadel."

"No."

"Miss Haldrith... "

"No," she repeated, smiling and giving him a seductive wink. "You keep running away and I keep chasing... I'm enjoying myself."

He stared at her, chest rising and falling too fast for someone supposedly calm.

"And you know what, Zoran?" she added, tilting her head, voice dropping to a seductive whisper. "I'm not stopping until you break that vow."

Zoran shut his eyes like her words physically hit him. He turned away, one hand gripping the edge of the altar as if anchoring himself to something real.

"You should not tempt me," he said, his voice shaking slightly.

She walked past him, trailing her fingers across his shoulder. "I plan to do much worse."

He shuddered but it was barely noticeable.

Naelis strode to the door, pausing only once to glance back. Zoran stood frozen in the center of the chamber, fists clenched, and chest heaving while murmuring some kind of cleansing chant.

She smiled wickedly and triumphantly.

"See you tomorrow, Monk "

"Yes, just like that" Naelis moaned as Zoran's hands teased her wet core. Her body arched in ecstasy at his every touch.

"Uhhh...ahhh.. Yes.. Please don't stop" she begged as she ground her wet core on his fingers.

His every touch made her wet and her moans filled the room. Her wetness soaked into the sheets.

Zoran continues teasing her and his elongated fangs graze her neck, the red rings in his eyes glowing like flames, ready to claim her once and for all.

"You are mine" he growled before sinking his teeth into her. She whimpered and trembled all over.

At first she moaned in pleasure but a few minutes later, her moans turned into soft painful whimpers, which grew faint by the second until she went completely silent.

"No.. No... Don't go, you can't leave me alone!" Zoran growled while shaking her still body.

He half shifted into his primordial form but couldn't hear her heartbeat or pulse.

Zoran holds her lifeless body in his arms, his eyes filled with despair.

"Auuuuuhhh" he howled in pain and a lone tear slid down his face.

Zoran's eyes snapped open and he looked around him before taking deep breaths to calm his racing heart.

This dream has haunted him for years and every time, it always ends the same way.

He frowned and wiped his sweat covered face with his hand, his eyes were also slightly wet, like he had cried. Even his hair was wet, just like every time he wakes up from the dream.

He notices he was still in the woods where he had come to calm himself after his earlier encounter with Naelis.

Crack!

He hears the sounds of dry branches breaking and turns around to check but doesn't see anyone. He could also feel a strong gaze on him but he chose to act like he couldn't.

He already knew who it was and it wasn't the first time the person was spying on him.

He sighs and grabs his shirt before walking out of the woods.

"You are right on time for dinner, brother," Rowan said with a smile when he saw Zoran.

Naelis quickly turned around to look at him and gave him a polite smile, like she wasn't the one who had tormented him earlier.

"Miss Haldrith" he nodded at her before taking his seat.

Zoran tries to remain calm but because of the dream he just had, his wolf seemed to be very focused on every one of Naelis's actions.

He could hear her heartbeat extra clearly and it calmed his wolf and elevated the pain from the dream.

"I ordered the kitchen to make your favorite foods," Rowan said to him.

Silas scoffed and gave his father a side eye.

"You brat, what's that expression for?"

"We all know the kitchen only prepares what you like while the rest of us have no say," Silas replied with a funny deadpan expression.

Naelis chuckled while Zoran had no reaction like he wasn't even there with them.

"You should consider yourself lucky because I have great taste in food," Rowan said with a proud expression that made Silas roll his eyes.

Naelis turned to Rowan and smiled "Your taste in food is awesome"

Rowan grinned "At least someone finally appreciates me"

The servants immediately started serving the food and Rowan's eyes lit up as soon as he had a taste of it.

Naelis also picked up her cutleries and started eating as well but her eyes were focused on Zoran, who acted like he couldn't feel it.

Always acting nonchalant.

She smirked and waited until he picked up his glass of water before putting her plan into action.

She slowly stretched her leg towards him from under the table. She ran her leg slowly up his thighs and rested it in between his legs.

Zoran's hand , holding the glass of water, suddenly trembled and the water spilled on the table.

"Uncle are you okay?" Silas asked when he noticed Zoran's strained expression.

"All is well, Silas" Zoran replied in his usual calm voice, then he looked in the direction of the culprit.

Naelis was busy eating her food, like she wasn't the one tormenting him under the table.

Zoran clenched his fists as his wolf was restless, especially after the dream he just had.

"I have something urgent that requires my immediate attention" Zoran said and immediately got up from the chair.

Naelis quickly took her leg back while still acting innocent. She watched as he rushed out of the dining room.

Keep running darling... The more you run the more I want to trap you in between my legs.

She clenched her thighs as the mere thought of having his virgin cock buried in her made her very wet.

"Naelis, I heard you got hurt while saving the kids earlier"Rowan's voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

Naelis laughed and waved her hand "It was nothing, just a little scratch"

"That's good then" Rowan sighed and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"Silas, is there anyone you like or find attractive enough to take as your Luna? He suddenly asked Silas and the entire dining hall fell into a deep silence.

"Father, I.."

"Marek doesn't want to see reason and insists on the arranged marriage. So as your father, I told him that you have someone you intend to marry"

Silas exchanged a look with Naelis and broke out in cold sweat.

"Uncle Rowan, Silas is very popular among the ladies, so finding a suitable one wouldn't be a problem"Naelis said when she noticed that Silas was acting weird.

What is wrong with him?

Does he have to react so obviously?

"It would have been such a good thing for both of you..."

"I only see Silas as the brother I never had, we are best friends" Naelis said with a little laugh, to cover up the awkwardness.

Silas mouthed a thank you to her and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He has been thinking of how his father would react when he finds out that he was actually into men.

He would be the first Alpha Prince in history to not have a Luna and his family legacy might end with him as his uncle has no plans of ever having a child.

Ring Ring!

Silas' phone suddenly rang, breaking the silence but when he saw the caller ID, he immediately had a panicked expression on his face.

He quickly ended the call and adjusted his emotions, praying that Jamie would understand that it wasn't convenient for him to talk.

Ring Ring!

Jamie called again and on seeing his reaction, Naelis immediately understood what was going on.

She quickly racked her brain for a way out as Rowan was staring at Silas, wondering why he wasn't picking up his call as they were already done with dinner.

"That must be your project supervisor right? You really said he disturbs a lot" Naelis said and Silas immediately understood what she meant.

"Father, I need to go to my room as the document my supervisor asked me to revise before the break is on my desk"

Rowan gestured for him to immediately go get it done. Silas shot Naelis a grateful smile before wanting to grab his phone.

Ring Ring!

The phone started ringing again and the sudden ringing startled Silas, his fingers brushed the screen and mistakenly picked up the call.

"My love, what took you so long?" Jamie's hoarse voice sounded in the quiet dining room.