Chapter 376: A Chance

Rebecca’s POV

?Six Months Later!

?I took one last look at myself in the mirror before picking up the velvet-wrapped gift box from my bed. "Alright, Rebecca. You can do this," I muttered, taking a deep breath to calm the nervous flutter in my stomach.

?Today was Melvin’s birthday, and for the first time since I’d known him, I had decided to surprise him. He was hosting a grand celebration at his palace in the Southern Dragon Kingdom, and although he’d invited me two weeks ago, I had deliberately refused to give him a definite answer.

?Of course, that hadn’t stopped him from asking again. In fact, just this morning, he’d sent me another message.

?Are you absolutely certain you won’t be coming? Because I might just cancel the entire party if my favorite woman isn’t there.

?I’d laughed when I read it and replied that a Dragon King couldn’t cancel his birthday celebration simply because one woman couldn’t attend. His response had been immediate.

?Watch me.

?I smiled at the memory. That was Melvin. He could be terrifyingly intimidating when dealing with his subjects, but whenever he was around me, he somehow became the most charmingly unserious man I’d ever met.

?I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. The party had already started, which meant I was arriving fashionably late. Perfect. That would make the surprise even better.

?Holding my gift securely against my chest, I closed my eyes and focused on the entrance of Melvin’s palace. A familiar warmth spread through my veins as my teleportation ability activated. Within seconds, my bedroom dissolved, and when I opened my eyes again, I was standing directly outside the grand entrance of the Southern Dragon Palace.

?The faint sound of classical music and lighthearted laughter drifted through the enormous doors.

?Two heavily armored guards stationed at the entrance immediately snapped toward me, their hands moving toward their weapons before recognition flashed across their faces.

?"Lady Rebecca!" one exclaimed, bowing deeply.

?"Good evening," I greeted with a soft smile.

?"We weren’t informed that you would be arriving tonight," the other guard said, looking genuinely shocked.

?"That’s because it’s supposed to be a surprise." I lifted the gift box slightly. "Is His Majesty inside?"

?"Yes, my lady. The celebration is taking place in the grand ballroom."

?"Wonderful. And please, don’t announce my arrival."

?The guards exchanged amused glances before stepping aside. "As you wish, Lady Rebecca."

?I thanked them and walked into the palace. The marble corridors were decorated with lush floral arrangements, and servants glided past carrying silver trays of wine. As I approached the ballroom, I slowed down to smooth the front of my dress. I’d chosen a long, emerald-green gown with delicate silver embroidery, leaving my hair in loose curls over my shoulders. I’d kept my jewelry simple, although I had spent far more time getting ready than I cared to admit.

?I wasn’t trying to impress anyone.

?Well, perhaps there was one particular Dragon King whose reaction I was looking forward to seeing.

?Smiling at the thought, I stepped into the ballroom. The celebration was in full swing, with hundreds of guests gathered beneath massive crystal chandeliers. An orchestra played near the far wall, while nobles and military commanders moved between tables, chatting animatedly.

?Several people turned to look at me as I entered, but I barely registered them. My eyes were already searching the room for Melvin.

?It didn’t take long to find him.

?He stood near the center of the ballroom, surrounded by several high-ranking diplomats. He wore a tailored black suit with subtle gold embroidery along the collar, and his silver hair was neatly styled. Even from a distance, he looked every inch the powerful, commanding Dragon King.

?He was speaking to an older gentleman when one of the men beside him suddenly noticed me. The diplomat leaned closer and whispered something into Melvin’s ear, causing him to turn in my direction.

?The moment his eyes locked onto mine, he stopped speaking mid-sentence.

?For several seconds, he simply stared as though he couldn’t quite believe I was real. Then, a brilliant, breathtaking smile broke across his face.

?Look at that smile, my wolf said teasingly. You would think someone just handed him the entire kingdom.

?It’s his birthday. He’s supposed to be happy.

?Oh, please, Rebecca. We both know you’re the reason he’s smiling like that.

?Excusing himself from the group without a second thought, he started walking toward me.

?I couldn’t help laughing when I noticed the sheer speed of his stride.

?"Well, well," I greeted as he reached me. "Is this how the great Dragon King welcomes his guests?"

?"Rebecca?" he asked, his voice thick with genuine disbelief.

?"Unless you’ve invited another woman with the same name."

?He stared at me for another second before letting out a rich, joyful laugh. "You’re actually here! But you told me you weren’t coming!"

?"Actually, I said I wasn’t sure."

?"Rebecca, you explicitly told me you had important things to do tonight."

?"And I do." I raised the gift box between us. "I have a birthday boy to surprise."

?Melvin looked from the gift to my face, his grin widening. "You really came all this way for me?"

?"Don’t flatter yourself. I was just bored at home."

?He laughed heartily. "Of course. And I suppose you just happened to teleport directly to my palace with a wrapped birthday present?"

?"Exactly."

?"You’re a terrible liar, Rebecca."

?"And you’re getting older. Happy birthday, Melvin."

?His expression softened, his dark eyes searching mine with gentle intensity. "Thank you, Rebecca."

?For a quiet moment, he simply stood there, and I found myself growing strangely conscious of the intensity in his gaze.

?"What?" I asked, shifting slightly.

?"Nothing."

?"Melvin."

?He smiled softly. "You look beautiful."

?And he looks handsome, my wolf whispered.

?I have eyes. I can see that.

?Then perhaps you should tell him instead of pretending you haven’t noticed.

?I ignored her, although I couldn’t stop the smile forming on my lips.

?I glanced down at my emerald gown before looking back up at him. "Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself."

?"Not too bad?" He raised an eyebrow, feigning offense. "Is that the highest praise I get on my birthday?"

?"Would you prefer I call you handsome?"

?"Immense satisfaction would follow, yes."

?I laughed, shaking my head. "You’re impossible."

?"I’ll take that as a compliment," he replied smoothly.

?Before I could respond, a high official called out from across the ballroom. "Your Majesty! The guests are waiting for the royal toast!"

?Melvin barely spared the man a glance. "They can wait."

?"Melvin!" I protested, laughing quietly. "You cannot ignore your entire court because I arrived."

?"Why not? You are the only guest I was truly waiting for."

?I rolled my eyes, though my cheeks warmed beneath his gaze. "Go and attend to your party. I won’t disappear while you’re busy."

?He studied my face intently. "Promise?"

?"Melvin, I’m not going to run away."

?"With your spatial magic, you could be back in Stone Pack in a heartbeat."

?"Then I promise not to teleport away during your birthday speech."

?"That is somewhat reassuring." He offered me his bent arm. "Come. At least let me walk you in properly."

?I slipped my hand into the crook of his arm, and together, we moved toward the center of the ballroom.

?Dozens of guests turned as we passed, whispering among themselves. I wasn’t surprised. Melvin had never hidden his intentions toward me, and I suspected half the Southern Dragon Kingdom was well aware he had been trying to win my heart for more than a year now.

?He introduced me to a few key officials before stepping up onto the raised dais for his address. Standing near a decorated table, I watched as he addressed his kingdom—thanking his court, speaking of the kingdom’s prosperity, and offering genuine gratitude for their support.

?He was majestic, powerful, and wildly respected. But just before stepping down, his eyes scanned the crowd, found mine, and offered me a private, warm smile.

?I looked away quickly, suddenly taking an intense interest in the glass of sparkling juice a servant offered me.

?Honestly, that man is going to be the death of me.

?Nearly an hour later, Melvin finally managed to break away from the endless stream of nobles demanding his time. He found me standing by one of the arched windows, watching the moonlit fountains dancing in the palace gardens.

?"There you are," he said softly, stepping up beside me.

?I turned toward him. "Your Majesty. I was beginning to think you’d forgotten your guest of honor."

?"Never." He glanced at the velvet box resting on the table beside me. "Especially when you’ve been standing guard over my present like a dragon over his hoard."

?I laughed, picking up the box and handing it to him. "Speaking of which, it’s time you opened it."

?Melvin took the box carefully, a curious glint in his eyes. "May I?"

?"It is your birthday, isn’t it?"

?He carefully untied the ribbon and lifted the lid. Resting on black velvet was a custom-crafted silver pocket watch, intricate dragon scales carved across the cover. I’d commissioned it weeks ago after noticing how frequently he checked the time before important council meetings.

?Inside the cover, a small inscription read:

?To Melvin. May every new year bring you the peace and happiness you deserve. — Rebecca.

?For once, his quick wit deserted him. He stared down at the watch, his thumb tracing the engraved letters before he slowly raised his eyes to mine.

?"Rebecca..."

?"Do you like it?" I asked, suddenly feeling a tight knot of nerves in my stomach.

?"Like it?" He let out a soft, breathless laugh. "I love it."

?Relief washed over me. "Good. I was worried you might already have dozens of these."

?"I don’t. And even if I did, none of them would mean a fraction of what this means to me."

?I smiled softly. "Happy birthday, Melvin."

?"Thank you. Truly." He carefully placed the watch back into its box, his expression turning thoughtful. "Although..."

?I narrowed my eyes playfully. "Although what?"

?"I was hoping for one more gift."

?I folded my arms, giving him an incredulous look. "Melvin, do not tell me you are negotiating for more presents."

?"A man is allowed to make a birthday wish, isn’t he?"

?"And what if that wish is denied?"

?"Then I will simply ask again tomorrow."

?I shook my head, chuckling softly. "You really don’t give up."

?His playful smile faded slightly, replaced by a quiet, grounded warmth. "Not when it comes to you, Rebecca. Not unless you tell me to my face that you genuinely want me to stop."

?His words settled gently between us.

?For the past six months, Melvin had been a steady, unshakeable presence in my life. He visited whenever his kingdom allowed, called just to hear about my day, and somehow always knew when I needed space versus when I needed company. Yet, he had never once pressured me. Whenever I told him I wasn’t ready, he accepted it with patience, never making me feel guilty or rushed.

?And somewhere along the way, I had stopped fearing his affection and started looking forward to it.

?Six months had passed since my final phone call with Kaden. Six months without a single word, a single glance, or a single touch between us.

?The first few weeks had been excruciating. There were mornings I woke up aching to hear his voice, and nights I lay awake questioning if I had destroyed my own happiness. But slowly, painfully, the wound had turned into a scar.

?I couldn’t pretend I had stopped loving Kaden entirely. A piece of my heart would likely always belong to the Alpha King. Three years apart hadn’t erased him, so I knew six months wouldn’t magically wipe away our history.

?But I had made a promise to myself that I would not spend the rest of my life trapped in the ghost of what used to be.

?Standing here under the moonlight, looking into Melvin’s warm, patient eyes, I realized I was finally ready to step forward into the light.

?"Actually," I murmured, "there is one more present."

?Melvin raised an eyebrow, a spark of curiosity dancing in his eyes. "Is there?"

?"Don’t get too excited. You might not want it."

?"I find that highly unlikely."

?I took a slow breath, my heart hammering against my ribs. "Remember that date you’ve been asking me to go on?"

?His smile faltered slightly, his gaze sharpening as he studied my expression. "Yes?"

?"Well..." I looked down at my hands for a brief second before locking my eyes with his. "As your birthday gift... I’m saying yes."

?Melvin stared at me.

?For the first time since I had met the mighty Dragon King, he looked completely speechbound. His lips parted, his dark eyes wide with shock, and for two agonizing seconds, no sound came out.

?"Melvin?" I asked, biting back a nervous laugh.

?He blinked hard. "Wait. What did you just say?"

?"I said I will go on a date with you."

?"Rebecca..."

?"One proper date," I added, holding up a finger. "Do not go ordering wedding banners just yet."

?A breathless, incredulous laugh burst from his chest, and he shook his head as if trying to wake himself up. "Are you serious?"

?"I am."

?"You aren’t just saying this because it’s my birthday?"

?I shook my head gently. "No, Melvin. I’m saying it because I want to."

?The lingering shock on his face melted away, replaced by an expression so tender, so deeply happy, that my chest throbbed with an unexpected warmth.

?"Rebecca," he whispered, stepping closer until only an inch remained between us. "You have no idea what you’ve just given me."

?I offered a small smile. "I think I have some idea."

?"No," he laughed softly, his voice thick with emotion. "You really don’t."

?He reached out slowly, giving me every chance to pull away. I stayed right where I was. He gently took my hand, lifting it to his lips, and pressed a soft, lingering kiss against my knuckles. A thrilling spark of heat rushed down my spine, making my breath hitch.

?"Thank you," he murmured against my skin.

?"Melvin, it’s just one date," I teased gently, trying to keep my voice steady.

?"To you, perhaps."

?"And to you?"

?He lowered my hand slightly, his dark eyes holding mine with unyielding honesty. "The chance I’ve been praying for every single day."

?My heart did a sudden, chaotic flip in my chest. I wasn’t used to being looked at like this—without tragedy, without guilt, without pain. Just pure, undeniable devotion.

?"Well," I said, clearing my throat to hide my flustered state, "you had better make it an extraordinary date, Your Majesty."

?Melvin’s lips curved into a confident, breathtaking grin. "Oh, Rebecca. You have no idea."

?I narrowed my eyes. "Should I be concerned?"

?"Not at all."

?"That tone is not comforting."

?He chuckled softly, leaning in a fraction closer. "I have a small confession to make."

?"What did you do?"

?"Nothing terrible."

?"Melvin."

?"I may... have already planned our first date," he admitted, his grin turning sheepish.

?I stared at him in disbelief. "You what?"

?"Months ago, actually."

?My jaw dropped. "Melvin!"

?"What?" He spread his hands defensively, looking entirely unrepentant. "A wise king knows the importance of being prepared."

?I burst out laughing, shaking my head. "You are utterly ridiculous."

?"Perhaps." His smile softened as he gently squeezed my fingers. "But now that you’ve given me this chance, I intend to make sure you never regret it."

?"And where are you taking me?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

?"That is a royal secret."

?"Melvin, I dislike unexpected surprises."

?"Really? Because your surprise appearance tonight was quite exquisite."

?"That was completely different."

?"Naturally." He chuckled, glancing toward the gardens. "I promise you will love it. In fact, it is somewhere I have dreamed of taking you for a very long time."

?"When?"

?He looked back at me, his eyes shining. "Tomorrow evening."

?"Tomorrow?" I repeated, startled. "You want to go tomorrow?"

?"Why wait another second? Unless you’re having second thoughts?"

?I looked at him—at the patience, the joy, and the genuine care shining in his eyes—and felt a profound sense of peace wash over me.

?"No," I replied softly. "I’m not having second thoughts."

?His face lit up with radiant joy. "Good. Then tomorrow at dusk, I will come to Stone Pack to pick you up myself."

?I studied him, a small smile playing on my lips. "You seem very confident that I’m going to enjoy this."

?"I know you will."

?"And what makes you so certain?"

?Melvin’s gaze softened, his thumb brushing gently over the back of my hand. "Because, Rebecca, I’ve spent the last year and six months learning every detail of what brings a smile to your face. Tomorrow, I just want the privilege of putting it there."

?A blush bloomed across my cheeks, heating my skin.

?Standing there beside him, listening to the soft music echoing from the ballroom, I realized something wonderful.

?For the first time in six long months, I wasn’t looking back at the ashes of my past.

?I was looking forward to the future.