Chapter 13: Plus One

"It's honestly not my betrothal." Dante's words sounded firm and convincing

I stared at him for a while and nodded my head before staring out the window again. "okay"

"Look, Kira. I'm honestly telling you the truth—I'm not getting betrothed to anyone. Shockingly, my father was invited to the ceremony and instead of politely rejecting the invitation he talked me into representing him" He pouted slightly, his expression almost boyish.

I creased my brow as I looked at his cute pouting face. "It's fine, Your Highness. I never asked for an explanation. I was just wondering why there are so many gifts when it's not you who's getting betrothed, that's all" I half-heartedly said

He stared at me as though he was contemplating what he was going to say next. "You don't need to ask for an explanation Kira. I'd explain regardless so you don't feel uneasy and uncomfortable being with me."

"The gifts are of two significant purposes, one for congratulatory reasons and the other as an apology for my Fathers absence" He sighed and I inwardly giggled

"Oh, that's why." I muttered eyeing the heap of neatly packed gifts

'Imagine just finding our mate and having to deal with the fact that he's about to get married to someone else.' Athena sighed as I continued staring out the window stealing glances at the heap of gifts.

"Mmm" I absentmindedly answered back loud, forgetting that Dante was beside me.

"Are you sure you're okay, Kira?" He gently spoke while his warm voice penetrated my head

'Oh little one.” Athena purred. “We have got to work on our conversation skills." she lightly teased.

I stared at the gifts a while longer than I needed to before darting my gaze towards him. "How long will it take before we get to the place we're going to?"

His gaze lingered on me for a long time before his mouth finally moved. "Oh, well the ceremony begins tonight. At the pace we're moving, we should get there on time, I guess."

"Won't that be a little bit late? It's because of me, right? I mean you are a..." I trailed off, trying my best not to sound too concerned about his affairs but the sound of his soft chuckle interrupted me

"It's fine, Kira.. I didn't want to go to the ceremony in the first place, I've never been a fan of betrothals, but I'm glad I allowed my father to talk me into attending this one. At least something good happened..." His voice softened, almost as if he was whispering.

'He must be speaking about us. We're the something good that happened to him, oh my little one.' Athena stirred inside of me.

"Something good happened?" I coyly asked as I stared back at him, my heartbeat accelerated, waiting for him to complete his sentence.

His smile widened. "Isn't it obvious?"

'It is.' Athena screamed in my head

"You're the something good that happened to me, Kira" He calmly said as his blue eyes continued staring deep into my soul. "I don't know how it's possible but one thing I do know is that I've found you and I'm sure of it—I’m never letting you go."

My heart skipped at his words.

"Found me—never letting me go?" I repeated his words as he leaned in towards me, closing the gap between us and I subconsciously bit my lips—an old habit of mine that I usually made when I was tensed.

His chocolate and Vanilla scent flooded my senses leaving me defenseless and weak in my knees

'Mate' Athena stirred again.

"Don't you feel the bond between us, Kira?" He whispered, making goosebumps form on my skin.

'We do.' Athena spoke again excitedly.

" I.. I.. I do, but I don't understand... I'm just a lowly omega" I stammered trying my best to calm myself and Athena.

Athena huffed.

‘Little one, who are you calling an omega?’

I ignored her question. I still find it hard to believe my wolf will turn out to be a Lycan.

Well, maybe until the time I get my first shift.

Prince Dante placed his hands over mine sending jolts of electricity down my spine. "I don't think you are what you say you are Kira, what I do know is that I... we've found you." His sweet calm voice suddenly sounded hoarse yet soothing.

'YOU HEAR THAT KIRA? MATE.' Athena screamed loudly in my head. 'Relax little one and let me handle things from here.'

Maybe it was the way Dante said those words or maybe it was the way he stared at me while saying those words, or maybe it was both. But I found myself drifting away into my subconscious state, letting Athena appear on the surface.

This time, I wasn't unconscious.

I could see and sense everything, especially the way his lips tasted as he kissed me.

Dante's soft kiss felt so tender on my lips and the moment he lifted his face I felt a certain kind of emptiness and a burning inferno between my thighs.

And just as I was about to beg for more, he kissed me again only this time with more pressure, more urgency than before.

"Mine." he moaned out against my lips as his strong hands gently gripped my waist, pulling me over in a way that I was sitting on top of his laps, straddling him.

He held me firm against me and I couldn't help but squirm as his tongue skillfully parted my lips before trailing down my chin and into my...

"Arghhh" I moaned out in pain and pleasure as I felt his teeth lightly sink into my skin as he sucked and nibbled on my neck

"Mmmm," I moaned again as he continued sucking my neck, giving me pleasurable chills and then I felt it..

Something.

Something hot and hard poked at my thighs making me squirm in surprise while Dante's heart beat accelerated as he moaned out in pleasure or was it pain?

"Please sit still Kira," he breathed into my ear, his voice shaky as his hands traced soothing strokes through my hair. I obeyed, my body trembling.

When I stopped feeling the hardness between my thighs and could hear only his soft and calm heartbeat, I gently tilted my head upwards.

Only to be met with the prettiest set of blue eyes and cute pink lips staring back at me.

"How are you feeling now?" He sweetly asked me and my cheeks burned red.

"I'm.. I'm fine, You High..."

"Dante," he corrected firmly. "Stop with the honorifics Kira, call me by my name, I wanna hear you call my name"

Oh, if only the ground could open and swallow me whole. What was this feeling?

"Dante," I slowly whispered.

"That wasn't so hard now was it?" He spoke while smiling like a little child that had just been offered candy.

'Oh what a sight for sore eyes' Athena gleefully cooed

"We should reach our destination in a few hours time, you must be famished, cause I know I am."

"I'm sorry," I muttered. "You must have been so uncomfortable " I spoke as I remembered I was still perched on top of him.

"It's fine, Kira. I enjoyed the trip" he flashed me a teasing smile. “It's a shame we will arrive at the Blackthorn pack quicker than expected, I am really enjoying the ride."

My cheeks burned again as his words made me blush even more.

But that name Blackthorn pack sounded familiar.

"Blackthorn Pack?" I asked.

He nodded his head. "Yes that is where we are going to"

"Have you ever gone window shopping Kira?" He added suddenly before my mind could fully recall where and how I have heard of the pack.

I stared at him confused. "Window shopping? Why? You plan on also gifting the couple a window?"

Dante's warm laughter filled the air " I don't mean shopping for Windows Kira, I mean shopping for clothes"

"Clothes?"

"For you my dear Kira, I need you to look your best for the ceremony" He calmly spoke as he stared deep into my eyes. "You will be joining me as my plus one."

My eyes widened in surprise.

“What?”

"Yes, you will, Kira," He sternly replied, his voice holding no room for disagreement.

‘Athena, what are we supposed to do? I'm not fit to stand by his side.’

‘I can't afford to embarrass the Crown prince of the Lycans.’

Athena sighed deeply.

'Little one, how dumb can you be?’