CHAPTER THIRTEEN
TANYA'S POV
I spent two days avoiding Prince Ray. I didn't want to disobey my godmother. Prince Ray tried his best to get close to me, but I ended up spending most of my time inside my chamber so that our paths would not meet. Deep down, I was hurt. I wanted his company even though it felt wrong, dangerous, and unsettling. I missed his jokes that made me laugh, forgetting all my sorrows and troubles, even if it was only for a moment.
One day, my godmother went hunting with the other witches.
As always, I stayed inside my chamber. Then I heard a knock at the door, but I ignored it.
"Princess Tanya, it's me, Raymond. I know you're in there. Please come out, I miss your company. Did I do something wrong to you? Why are you avoiding me? Or are you not feeling well? Open the door, I just want to see if you're fine."
After he spoke those words, my heart ached. I missed his company too. But then I remembered the woman he spent the night with on their first day in our pack. Why wasn't she keeping him company? Remembering that night filled my heart with jealousy and anger.
I didn't want to open the door, but surprisingly, I found myself walking towards it. I opened it slowly.
There he was, looking troubled. The moment he saw me, he smiled.
That smile sent goosebumps through my body. He was truly a charming man. But was I really falling for him? No. Not me. Not the broken girl who swore never to love. I was a witch who lived for torment, revenge, and blood. There was no place for love in my heart—only darkness. Or so I kept telling myself.
I walked with him, wandering around the pack. As we walked, I noticed Daniel watching us with an unreadable expression. After some time, he left without saying a word.
I didn't know why, but that made me feel strange… almost sad. It felt like he was avoiding me. He was no longer trying to get my attention like he always did. But I had always been irritated by his pestering, so why did his silence affect me now?
It was already midday when I told Prince Ray that I was not feeling well and needed to rest. Before I could leave, he suddenly knelt in front of me and held out a golden ring.
"Princess Tanya, you are the only woman who has ever moved my heart. I always thought power, fame, and wealth were enough for a prince like me. But after I met you, I realized something inside my heart was empty, and only you, Tanya of the Lion Pack, can fill that void. Please, beauty of the gods, allow me to walk this journey of life with you."
I was shocked. How could he propose to me when we barely knew each other? Despite his beautiful words, I could not forget what I had seen that night. If I hadn't known the truth, maybe I would have believed him.
I told him I needed time to think about it, and he agreed.
When I returned to my chamber, I found Daniel sitting outside, playing his flute. The soft melody filled the air, calm but full of hidden pain. For a moment, I stood still, listening.
I asked him if he was feeling well. He said yes without even looking at me. My heart skipped slightly, but I ignored it and opened my door.
Before I entered, I heard him warn me to stay away from Prince Ray because he was not what he pretended to be.
His words angered me. I walked straight to him and tortured him mercilessly. How dare a human servant try to control me? Who gave him that audacity? I hated his arrogance.
Three days passed, and I didn't see Daniel at all. He avoided me completely.
One day, I went looking for him to release my frustration. I found him piling firewood, but what caught my attention was Eve from the western territory standing beside him. They were laughing and chatting as if they belonged here.
Suddenly, Eve stumbled over a rock and almost fell, but Daniel quickly grabbed her by the waist. She told him she had twisted her ankle. Without hesitation, Daniel lifted her into his arms and carried her in a bridal style to the guest chambers. He gently applied herbs to her ankle with care.
Seeing this made something inside me snap.
I was furious. How could my own servant treat a stranger with such care when he had never treated me that way?
I went back to my chamber, overwhelmed with anger. But then something unexpected happened—I started to cry.
The image of Daniel and Eve would not leave my mind. Ever since I became a witch, I had never cried or felt empty. But now, tears kept falling.
I even asked myself… was I some kind of rejected child?
But the truth hurt even more. Daniel had always tried to get close to me. I was the one who pushed him away. I was the one who tortured him and made him wish for death.
So why was I feeling this pain?
No. I hated him.
But I didn't want him to be close to anyone else.
He was my servant.
Mine alone.
That night, I went to Daniel's chamber and made myself invisible so he wouldn't see my sadness. I found him lying on his mat, reading a book.
He didn't see me, but he heard my voice.
I asked him if he was in love with Eve, but he didn't answer. I warned him to stay away from her because he was my servant, not hers.
He laughed and said he would do all the duties I assigned to him, but when it came to his friends, I had no right to interfere.
His arrogance angered me again. I revealed myself in front of him, ready to torture him once more.
I raised my dagger.
But Daniel didn't flinch.
He looked straight into my eyes and said three words that made me drop my dagger.
Before I could understand what I was feeling, I disappeared.
END OF CHAPTER THIRTEEN