“Liana,” my mother’s voice echoing through the long hallway stops me.

I pivot in her direction and curtsy. Noble’s mom follows suit as his father bows his head. My mother is the only one to remain upright. A small, but satisfied smile spreads, across her regal face. I turn my head in the direction I was going, my eyes darting to the room only a few steps away where my wolf awaits me.

“It is not your duty to tend to your husband’s wounds,” my mother says, arching a single eyebrow, daring me to counter her assumption.

“It may not be my duty, but it is an honor.” I tilt my face to address the king and queen wolf, who I find smiling kindly at me. “He fought well,” I say to them. “When the day comes, I will be proud to call him my husband. As his wife, I will care for him and remain loyally by his side. It is my hope to also make him proud.”

His father reaches for me and I extend my hand to him in return. He cups my hand, rubbing his calloused fingers over the soft surface of my skin. It’s neither displeasing or welcome, but a sign of our union.

A house servant approaches us and curtsies before she speaks with her head bowed and her eyes downcast. “My lady,” she says to my mother. “His grace would like a word with you.”

My mother nods and the servant rushes away. Placing a hand on my arm, my mother leans into me to kiss my cheek. “A queen waits to be summoned after battle,” she whispers.

I tip my head down, hiding the exasperated expression that must be evident on my face. Because, my mother knows my destiny as queen no longer exists. I am to remain a princess. My children will be king or queen. Not me and as much as it shocks me, I’m also quite elated to find I no longer care.

Noble’s father coughs, drawing my attention. “Already, you have made him proud. And us, Liana, you have made us proud. We welcome you to our pack, and trust you will find happiness there.”

“I will.”

His mother palms my cheek with two hands and I incline my head, so she may press a kiss to my temple. “We thank you, Liana. I don’t know how you did it, but thank you.”

I retreat a step. “I don’t understand what you’re thanking me for, my lady.”

Her hands find mine and she squeezes. “You do,” she insists. “You know Noble’s true nature and not only were you able to call him back into human form, you are also willing to marry him despite it.”

Hissing, I place a hand on my waist. “Noble brought himself back, and it is his true nature I wish to marry, not in spite of it.”

Spinning on my heels, I leave my future king and queen with their mouths agape and enter Noble’s room without knocking or invitation. My hackles further rise when I find him lying on his bed naked with my sister, Lia, touching him.

Mine, my brain growls.

I pull back my lips, bearing my teeth to my sister. She cowers, a small yelp spilling from her lips when I snatch the cloth she’d been using to clean Noble’s wounds.

“You may leave,” I dismiss her.

Lia scurries away, her departing back fleeing through the double doors before I have time to turn back to Noble. But when I do face him, I find him still lying on the bed, but now a ridiculous grin spreads across his beautiful face.

“Jealous?” he asks.

I place the cloth into a nearby bowl of water and wring it before I begin to tend to Noble.

“Yes,” I answer.

“Your honesty is humbling. Always be honest with me, Liana. I’m tired of games and manipulations.”

“You’ll always have my honesty, even when you don’t want it,” I promise. “Now lie still, my brave Noble, so I may clean you.” Kneeling beside him, I place the warm cloth on his chest and trail gentle kisses as I sweep over his battered body. His body shudders.

“Thank you for showing mercy to my father. I am forever in your debt.”

Caressing my face with his outstretched hand, he traces small circles on my cheek with his thumb. I take his hand with mine and kiss his palm. He sighs, a heavy breath that sounds a lot like relief.

“It is I, who is indebted to you.” Long fingers brush over my mouth and I part my lips. “The wolf heard you whisper my name. Your father is alive because of you.”

I nod my head as if I understand, but truly I don’t. He hasn’t come out and said it, but he and his parents have skirted around what I thought may be true.

“Will you be honest with me, Noble? If I ask you something important, will you tell me the truth?”

Taking the cooling cloth, I dip it back into the warm water and squeeze it before I trail it over his chest. He quivers, his eyes darken, and he closes his lids, his hands falling to his side. His tongue sweeps his lips in a quick dash of motion but when he opens his eyes, they’re clear.

“Ask me anything, my princess.” His words come out as a rasp. “But be careful what you ask. Some truths aren’t worth knowing.”

“Your truth is worth knowing.”

For now, I drop the cloth back into the bowl of water and edge closer to him. I run my fingers through his hair and across his face. His throat bobs, the prominent veins on his neck dancing when he swallows.

“That day I saw you in Summer, you were off your mark. You weren’t with your pack. And when I went to Winter to talk to you, it wasn’t yet a full moon, but you were in wolf form, again without your pack. And now,” I bend down to kiss the creases lining his forehead, “you said the wolf heard me. Are you and the wolf not one?”

His face crumbles, resignation settles across his dark features. “Do you know what you’re asking me?”

“I do.” I take his hand in mine and bring his fingers to my lips. “Will you tell me?”

As if the idea pains him, he turns from me, slipping his hands from my grasp. I let him, because I know what I’m asking isn’t easy. It’s admitting a fault to a lineage I’m supposed to marry into. A fault that could break our betrothal despite him winning my hand.

Needing him to know I’m still with him, that whatever he tells me is of no consequence to our future, I lay my hand on his chest and rest it over his heart.

“The wolf and I co-exist, but the wolf has more control than I do.”

Like a stampede, his heart pounds through its confines and against my palm. The thunderous commotion incites war as much as it calls to me to protect him. Both man and beast.

“So, when you turn into a wolf…” I trail off.

“I’m no longer man. I’m rogue, Liana. Do you know what that means?”

“Yes,” I murmur. His lack of command over the wolf is frightening. And exciting. “But the wolf recognizes me?”

“As much as the man does.”

“Then it’s a good thing the wolf is as beautiful as the man.”

“You tease?” An incredulous laugh rumbles from his chest and he reaches for me. I let him, absorbing the warmth of his hands when he touches me. “I tell you I’m rogue, that I’m flawed, and you make jokes.”

“Flawed?” I snort, distaste for the word evident in the way I contort my face.

“You know this makes me flawed, Liana. Do not play the fool. I’m flawed and weak. If your parents, the king and queen, knew of this they wouldn’t permit you to marry me. You shouldn’t want to marry me.”

“It is you who is the fool here, my wolf. I would never marry a flawed or weak man. Yet, here I am. I want to marry you, Noble.”

Swiftly, he sits up, and pulls my face to him. He kisses me. His lips move against mine, soft and tender. When his lips part, mine separate with him and our tongues dance and coax. Fingers, just as tender, hold onto me, massaging the base of my neck, yielding me to him.

Even when my lungs burn for air, we continue to kiss, his lips moving as if he were composing a sonnet I hope will never end. In his arms, I send out a silent prayer that both man and wolf can one day love me the way I wish to love him.

When we break apart, Noble rests his forehead against mine. His fingers dig into my neck and he presses another quick kiss onto my lips and then my cheek. “You are a wonder.”

“As if a royal would marry anything less than a wonder.” I tsk. “Now let me finish tending to your wounds. When I finish,” I add, brushing my lips over his ear, “if you’ve been a good wolf, I’ll ride you soft and slow.”