My Fated Mate Can Have Her-Chapter 237: His Priority

Violet

Rowan turned to me, his expression gentle despite the lingering hurt.

"Come," he said. "You should get settled and have some rest."

I quietly followed him out of the study and into the hallway.

Our footsteps echoed softly as we walked.

"I apologize for the chaos," Rowan said quietly, breaking the silence. "With Telsid. I know it all must have looked... odd."

"Yes, somewhat," I whispered.

We didn’t say anything for a while after, and I don’t know why I just wanted the silence to stop. So, I said what came to mind.

"What he had said about a war. Especially with what you... did..." My words faltered and I lightly frowned.

I still remember how angry I was with him after he had done that.

Rowan’s stride slowed slightly. His gaze remained forward, but I saw his jaw tighten.

"I promise you, Violet. It is grave, yes. But not as severe as it sounded." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "There are protocols, clauses, and allowances in rules between nations. Kael would be within his rights to demand retribution, but it would not escalate to war. The situation is... manageable since they are all alive."

"I understand," I said quietly.

It truly would have been a different matter if they were dead.

We walked in silence for a few moments longer before he spoke again.

"This is my wing of the castle," he explained. "The study is a part of it and my chambers are just ahead."

"Oh..."

After a few more turns and walking past closed doors, he finally stopped in front of a large wooden door, its surface carved with the same swirling patterns as the walls. Then he gestured to the door directly across from it.

"That will be your room."

I stared at the door. Then at his.

They were directly opposite each other, separated by nothing but a few feet of the hallway.

The implications of that arrangement settled over me slowly.

Before I could fully process it, Rowan reached out.

His fingers brushed against my temple, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

I went completely still, my breath catching in my throat. His fingertips lingered at the curve of my ear, barely touching, and I could feel the warmth of his hand radiating against my cheek.

My heart stuttered, then began to race.

"I am sorry," he said softly, his voice barely above a murmur. "For earlier. For putting you in that position."

I stared up at him, unable to move.

He was so close.

"Wh—why did you do it?" I asked him, forcing the words out. "Why did you leave your people and come after me? It makes no sense. You’re a Supreme Alpha. You have responsibilities. You have an entire nation depending on you." My voice wavered slightly. "It makes no sense you would you risk all of that for me. You barely even knew me."

His hand lingered near my face before slowly dropping it.

"Because you were my priority."

I stared at him, my lips parting, but no sound came out. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears, drowning out everything else.

"Also, I did not abandon my people," he continued quietly, his gaze steady on mine. "I set plans in motion before I left. Contingencies. Preparations. All the sorts" He paused and a faint smile touched his lips. "I always plan ahead, like nearly every other Supreme Alpha does. Whenever anything takes me out of my capital or territory, I prepare things months in advance for the unexpected. This time was no different.

"My betas, especially Telsid, are ready to take things in my absence for months. The only problem now was that this was simply the first time I did so without informing Telsid of my change in plans. Ezra informing him of that change is what had likely sent him over the edge... I would never recklessly put my people in harm’s way." His eyes softened and something vulnerable flickered in their depths. "But I believed you needed me more than my nation did at that moment."

My heart felt like it was swelling, pressing against my ribs until I couldn’t breathe.

The warmth from earlier came rushing back, flooding my whole body and my syzygy soared in excitement with it.

I looked away sharply before he could see just how much his words had affected me.

My hand found the door handle, and I pushed it open, stepping inside quickly.

"I should rest," I managed, my voice coming out strangled.

The room was dark, and thick curtains covered three large windows. A large bed dominated one side of the wall, draped in pale linens, while the rest of the room was mostly bare.

Rowan walked in to immediately start parting the curtains.

Light flooded the room and I was stunned to see the side of the capital below.

I didn’t fully understand what he did or how he did it, but suddenly, cold breeze started to blow into the room through the glass panes.

"The rooms are cleaned regularly." Rowan placed my bag beside the bed and walked up to me. "You can lie down. I will send in the servants soon to help you set your bath."

"I can clean up after myself," I said quickly, turning around and walking towards the bed.

I heard him come up behind me and his hands were suddenly on my shoulders.

I stopped.

He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to my cheek.

It was featherlight, but it stunned me.

"Rest," he murmured against my tingling cheek, his voice low and tender. "Please."

He stepped back and a moment later, the soft click of the door told me he had gone.

I stood there in the quiet room, alone, my hand rising slowly to touch my cheek where his lips had been.

I pressed my palm flat against my burning face and exhaled shakily.

The warmth in my chest had spread everywhere now, tangled up with guilt and confusion and something that felt dangerously, terrifyingly close to happiness.

I walked unsteadily to the bed and sat down on its edge, staring blankly at the windows and the city beyond.

I was in so much trouble.