POV Luella
The surprise picnic Tobias had prepared was even more elaborate than before. In a secluded corner of the castle gardens, he'd arranged everything perfectly—my favorite honey cakes, wine from my home territory, white roses formed into patterns that spelled out poetry about my beauty.
He remembered everything. Even casual things I mentioned weeks ago.
"I'm so sorry about last night," Tobias said, his brown eyes filled with genuine regret. "I don't know what came over me. I never want to hurt you again."
His scent is pure remorse. He really does feel bad about the bruises.
The marks on my wrists had faded thanks to my wolf's healing, but the memory remained. Still, looking at his careful preparations, his obvious effort to make amends, I felt my heart soften.
"I know you didn't mean it," I said, settling beside him on the silk cushions. "You were just jealous."
"That's no excuse," he replied, taking my hands gently in his. "You're going to be my queen. You deserve to be treated with respect and tenderness, always."
This is the Tobias I fell for. Gentle and caring.
He spent hours listening to my thoughts about court life, my dreams for our future together. His attention was complete, his questions thoughtful, his responses showing how much he valued my opinions.
He makes me feel important. Like my thoughts matter.
"Tell me about your childhood," he said, stroking my hair as I lay with my head in his lap. "What made you happiest?"
No one ever asks me about myself like this. They usually only care about my father's territory or my political value.
As the afternoon sun warmed us, I found myself relaxing completely for the first time in days. Tobias held me gently, making me feel like the most precious and cherished woman in the kingdom.
This is perfect. This is what love should be.
But even surrounded by such devoted love, part of my mind kept wandering to thoughts I didn't want to have. Kyrell's cruel smile. His cutting words. The dangerous intensity in his black eyes.
Why am I thinking about him now? When Tobias is being so wonderful?
The guilt was overwhelming. Here was my future husband, showering me with affection and attention, and I couldn't stop my thoughts from drifting to his terrible brother.
What's wrong with me? I should be completely happy right now.
"You seem distracted," Tobias observed, his fingers tracing patterns on my arm. "Is everything alright?"
"Just tired," I lied, hating myself for it. "It's been a long few days."
I can't tell him I'm thinking about Kyrell. It would destroy him.
"Then rest," he said, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. "I'll watch over you."
He's so good to me. So patient and understanding.
But as I closed my eyes, it wasn't Tobias's face I saw in my mind. It was black eyes and a cruel smile, and the shame of it made me feel sick.
I'm a terrible person. Tobias deserves better than someone who can't stop thinking about his enemy.
Later that evening, as I was returning to my chambers, Kyrell stepped out of the shadows to block my path.
Of course. Like he knew I'd been thinking about him.
"How was your pathetic display of sentiment with my brother?" he asked, his voice dripping with disgust. "Did you enjoy playing the grateful little pet?"
His scent hits me immediately. Dark and dangerous and far too appealing.
"What do you want, Kyrell?" I asked wearily.
"Just observing the nauseating spectacle of your desperation," he replied. "All that romantic theater, and you still look unsatisfied. How telling."
How does he know? How does he always see right through me?
"I'm perfectly satisfied," I lied.
"Are you?" His black eyes glittered with cruel amusement. "Then why do you look like someone trying to convince herself she's happy?"
Because that's exactly what I am.
"You're delusional," I said, but my voice lacked conviction.
"Am I? Or am I the only one honest enough to say what everyone can see?" He stepped closer. "You're playing a role, little wolf. The devoted fiancée. The grateful bride-to-be. But underneath all that performance, you're restless."
Stop. Stop seeing through me so easily.
"You don't know anything about me," I snapped.
"Don't I?" His smile turned razor-sharp. "I know you were thinking about me today. Even while my brother was worshipping at your feet."
How? How does he know that?
"That's not—"
"It is," he interrupted. "I can smell it on you. The guilt. The confusion. The shame of wanting something you know you shouldn't."
My wolf is betraying me. He can scent my emotional state.
"You're sick," I said, my temper finally exploding. "Twisted and cruel and pathetic."
"Pathetic?" Kyrell laughed. "I'm not the one pretending to be in love with someone while obsessing over their brother."
That hits too close to the truth.
"I'm not obsessing over you," I said, but the lie fell flat between us.
"No? Then why do you seek me out? Why do you always know exactly where I am? Why do your eyes follow me across every room?"
Because I can't help it. Because something about you draws me even when I don't want it to.
"Just tell me why you hate me," I demanded, my voice breaking with frustration. "Once and for all. What did I do to deserve this treatment?"
I need to understand. I need to know why we keep hurting each other.
Kyrell went very still. For a moment, his cruel mask slipped, and I saw something raw and vulnerable underneath.
"You want to know why I hate you?" he asked quietly.
"Yes."
He was silent for a long moment, his black eyes searching my face. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper.
"I hate you because I think about you. Often. It's disgusting. But I can't stop."
What?
The brutal confession hung between us like a blade. My wolf went completely still, processing what he'd just admitted.
He thinks about me. The way I think about him.
"I wake up thinking about you," he continued, his voice rough with self-loathing. "I go to sleep thinking about you. You're in my head constantly, and I hate it. I hate you for making me want something I can never have."
He wants me. Despite everything, he wants me.
"That's why I'm so cruel to you," he said. "Because every time I see you with him, every time you look at me like I'm a monster, it reminds me how pathetic I am for caring about someone who will never see me as anything but a villain."
We're both trapped. Both obsessed. Both hating ourselves for it.
I stared at him, understanding finally dawning. We weren't just enemies locked in hatred. We were two people trapped in the same terrible attraction we could neither escape nor acknowledge.
This changes everything. And nothing. Because I'm still engaged to his brother.
"So now you know," Kyrell said, his cruel smile returning. "We're both disgusting. Both pathetic. Both trapped in this sick fascination we can't escape."
He's right. We are trapped. And I have no idea how to break free.