My Fated Mate Can Have Her-Chapter 155: Chosen Path

Rowan

I deserved this.

Every bit of her fury, her disgust, the way she flinched when I moved too close. I deserved all of it.

The knowledge didn’t make it hurt less. But it made it bearable. If she was this angry, it meant she still cared about what I had done. It meant the violation mattered to her.

Indifference would have been worse.

I shrivelled up inside at the ridiculous thought.

’What nonsense am I even saying?’

"She wouldn’t be this furious with you if you had taken my suggestions," my wolf muttered, his tone somewhere between smug and reproachful.

I stiffened, my hands stilling over the maps spread before me. "Don’t."

"The wolves would have been removed from the equation," he continued, his voice carefully neutral. "And all you just had to do was simply arrive at the proper time."

"And three dead escorts." My stomach turned. "I am not doing that to her."

"It wouldn’t have appeared to be your fault," my wolf said quietly. "And no one would have ever known. The others don’t know about this facet of your ability. You have just outed yourself by doing this, and when Fresna’s Supreme Alpha finds out—"

"Stop." I took in a slow steadying breath. "That’s enough."

I focused on smoothing out one of the crumpled maps, trying to push away the image my wolf’s words had conjured. Let the danger I created run its course using a dangerous beast before I arrived at the ’right moment’ to play the hero and save her.

The thought made my skin crawl.

"That plan was deplorable," I told him in a hard tone. "Don’t bring me a suggestion like that again."

He sighed. "You have always liked a lot of my plans."

"Not this one."

My wolf retreated into silence, and I was grateful for it.

At least I had some standards, twisted as they were.

I turned my attention back to organizing the scattered supplies, sorting them into categories. Some food, water skins, spare clothes, tools. The maps needed the most attention. Several were crumpled and rough, but a few were still legible.

"What... what are you doing?" She looked up at me in disbelief.

I paused. "Helping?"

That earned me another deep frown. My chest tightened and it was to the extent I started second guessing my decisions and wondering if I should have just stayed away to monitor them from the distance.

"Can you read maps?"

The question surprised me. It came out grumpy, reluctant, like the words had physically hurt her to say.

Violet stared at me, her expression caught between anger and embarrassment. Then I watched realization dawn across her face, the sheer ridiculousness of asking a Supreme Alpha, someone who commanded entire territories, if he could read a map.

Her face twisted and she looked away, seemingly even more annoyed.

"Yes," I said simply.

No mockery. No amusement, even though the question was absurd. She had only asked because she needed help, and admitting that to me like this must have been strange for her.

I spread out the most intact map, studying one of her companion’s careful markings and the documented routes. The detail was quite impressive. They’d noted terrain changes, water sources, even areas known for rogue activity.

"Where exactly are you going?" I asked carefully, keeping my eyes on the map rather than her face.

She was quiet for a long moment.

"I have somewhere to be."

The deflection was obvious.

"The pull you’re following," I said quietly. "Where is it leading you?"

Her expression shifted immediately. Her brows shot up in shock and her eyes widened in alarm.

I think I might have made a mistake saying that.

"How do you know about that?" Her voice was sharp and suspicious.

I felt my chest tighten.

I couldn’t tell her the truth or even make things worse by admitting I had been using animals to watch her and listen to her conversations with the escorts. That would only confirm I was exactly the kind of monster she already thought I was.

"I heard you mention it to Kael. When I came upon you both after you left the hall that day. You were talking about it."

The lie settled uncomfortably in my chest.

In truth, I hadn’t been there for that conversation. I had merely sped up to where they were, arriving at the exact moment Kael had sensed my presence. But from the little bits I had overheard in the few seconds I was almost there, it would realistically be quite easy to piece together what they had discussed.

"I only heard bits and pieces, but it was enough for me to understand," I quickly added.

She wasn’t stupid, she would have sensed me the moment I was close enough to have listened to their conversation from the start.

She seemed to accept my explanation. Her shoulders relaxed slightly, and she turned her attention to the scattered supplies, quietly trying to arrange them back into the bag.

I focused on the maps, pulling out one of the most detailed ones to spread it flat.

My finger traced our current location.

"We are here," I said, pointing to a spot in the neutral zone. "Between Fresna’s border and another territory called Orpal."

Violet glanced over but didn’t move closer.

I wished she did.

I continued, tracing potential routes with my finger. "If the pull is leading you somewhere across the ocean, there are a few ways to get there. But most of the direct routes would take us through both nations."

Her expression darkened immediately.

"I can’t go back there," she said flatly.

"I... I know. Two Supreme Alphas are still there." I traced an alternative path. "Which is why I suggest we go through Orpal instead. Their Supreme Alpha still hasn’t left Fresna."

Violet looked at me, surprised.

I offered a small smile. "Their territory would be a safer option. He would have likely sent word there about you to his Capital, but most packs in his territory would not be aware. And from there, we can get proper passage across the sea."

"I..." She frowned, no longer saying anything.

But I could see the discomfort written across her face. The idea of entering another Supreme Alpha’s domain clearly made her uneasy, and I couldn’t blame her. Not after what had just happened a few weeks ago.

But Eden not being there is actually the prime opportunity she has now.

I studied the map again, then traced a third route with my finger. It curved wide, skirting the edges of both territories and sticking primarily to the neutral zones.

"There is another option," I said quietly. "It’s longer. Considerably longer. But it avoids going through any territory directly."