Gabriel’s POV:
[FLASHBACK]
5 Years Ago.
Since childhood, even as the only daughter of the Chief Royal Advisor, I have always disliked attending aristocratic gatherings happening in the royal castle every year. Countless families of nobles and dukes along with other royal members from neighboring packs would usually attend it from time to time.
But as always, it brings a lot of suffocation for people like me. Generally, the gatherings always happened near Christmas Eve, so instead of staying with the crowd, I would always go and watch the soft white snow alone from the balcony of the giant hall room.
This year too, I had no other choice but to dress up beautifully in a crystal blue silk gown, I attended the gathering as Youngest Prince Marcus’s fiancee. It’s been the 7th consecutive year I am attending the event with this title.
I have been engaged to him since we were 12, on accord with the decision solely taken by my father and Marcus’s mother, and the royal Luna of our kingdom, Queen Lorelia. Even though I am unable to say that I was entirely happy with the decision, I just couldn’t find any suitable reason to defy our Queen’s command.
Since Marcus was her only son, even though he was a beta, he was the most pampered, youngest prince of our pack. It was strange, how drastically he was different in everything from his older brother, the Crown Prince, and the future Alpha, Zordan.
However, sadly, I never saw the decision of our engagement taking any effect on Marcus’s nature which was the polar opposite of me. He was as usual reckless, carefree, and always popular among women from elite families.
Not to mention, I never saw his side of sincere affection for me through his actions and somewhat, it was the same from my side too. We were engaged and together, but deep inside we were aware, our relationship was based on the hope that one day we will definitely fall in love with each other, despite how long it takes.
I had accustomed myself to this life, and just like every year, I attended the gathering with Marcus again. Even though we arrived together, soon enough he forgot about my existence. Leaving me all alone, he got himself surrounded by countless young and beautiful women from royal families.
While he was heartily chattering and giggling with sips of wine, I could only watch him alone standing afar. I didn’t fail to notice either that not even once I ever saw him laughing like that with him.
Do I make him more happy when I am not around?
While I was gawking at him, all of a sudden I felt a chill of shiver ran down my spine. I was putting on a silk sleeveless gown and the entire hall room was heated inside, it was evident that the weather had been unusually cold this time, compared to every year. Even though I watched countless elite women around dressed in thin lavish attires, I couldn’t find anyone uncomfortable other than me.
Helpless and confused, I slowly walked closer to Marcus and glanced at the long, red fox-fur tail coat he had put on. While he was busy laughing heartily with those women, I noticed his handsome pale complexion had an unusual enchanting charm among all the handsome men present around us.
Maybe that’s one of the reason, women were always drawn towards him. But, why does he never refuses their approach even when he has a fiancee?
Somehow this realization gave a strange discomfiting feeling to squirm in my heart. He didn’t even notice that I was standing close to him which made me frown. I stared at him momentarily and, called him aloud, “P-Prince Marcus?”
As my call interrupted his happy time, suddenly I could notice the change of expression on his face as he coldly snarled at me, “What?”
“Umm, c-can we leave the party?” My voice shivered a little as suddenly I started feeling pretty unwell. The chills were running down my spine and I felt my body temperature decrease gradually.
“What?” All of a sudden, he peered a disgruntled glare at me, along with those other women who threw scornful glimpses at me. But before I could get to speak about my speak my difficult situation, he crossed his legs and answered me coldly, “We just arrived barely an hour ago, and you want to leave already? Can’t you see I am busy here right now. Come on, don’t be such a party pooper, Gabriel.”
“B-But…” With his cold snarl, a strange sharp ache throbbed deep in my heart, as my words trailed off. I could hear those women whispering something about me but what hurt me the most was his nonchalant attitude towards me.
How could he didn’t even notice once that his fiancee was shivering from the cold? My complexion had turned paler, lowering my body temperature. I couldn’t understand, is my existence…is really such a trivial matter to Marcus?
How shall I still keep the hope of affection alive from this person?
I lowered my face down with a void of sadness filled in my eyes. Watching me numb, Marcus let out a heavy exhale and he coldly responded to me, “Gabriel, I know you are not comfortable with public gatherings, but pretty soon you will be the youngest princess of our kingdom. You have to accustom yourself to others even if that makes you uncomfortable. Do you understand me?”
While he responded to those cold remarks at me one by one, the throbbing pain grew sharper in my heart. The chills running down my spine started to make me feel seriously unwell, even difficult to stand still. I quietly nodded my head and walked away from him in the opposite direction because I didn’t wish to bother him more.
But what’s even more surprising, he didn't intend to stop me from leaving either. My eyes unknowingly glistened with tears as I reached the extreme corner of the giant hall room, near a wooden chimney where there weren’t many people gathered.
With a deliberate hope to seek warmth, I stretched out my arms to feel the warmth. But unexpectedly, the profound sadness in my heart grew even stronger leaving me cold inside. Biting my lower lip, I was trying to hold back my tears which were slowly becoming an uncontrollable urge.
I realized, even in that giant hall room filled with countless people, and with the person,I will be spending the rest of my life with, I was completely alone, cold, and miserable.
Just when tears had started falling down my cheeks, suddenly I felt a wrap of warm leather coat around my bare shoulder which flinched me very hard. I almost jumped a little and turned around, only to realize an unfamiliar giant person was standing a few steps apart from me.
Crown Prince Zordan.
As much as I was startled to see him, it was a brief awkward moment for me. Since we never had an introductory or formal conversation between us. He was the crown prince and the future alpha of our kingdom, who had a huge responsibility on his shoulders. Always surrounded by knights and officials, I barely saw him 2-3 times but never got the chance to approach him.
But what is this person doing here now?
“I saw you were shivering a little, that’s why I wrapped my coat around you. Hope, I didn’t make you uncomfortable?” Prince Zordan softly answered me while he was buttoning up his long sleeves shirt.
It was a pleasant voice that echoed in my ears as he spoke to me for the very first time. But what startled me more, out of all the women present there, why did he observe me?