Chapter 417: His Suggestion

REBECCA’S POV

I woke up the following morning feeling unusually hot.

At first, I thought it was because I had slept with the blanket covering my entire body, but even after throwing it aside, the heat refused to disappear. My skin felt warmer than usual, and there was a strange restlessness inside me that made it difficult to remain still. My nipples were already tight against the fabric of my nightshirt, sensitive in a way that made even the lightest brush of material feel like a deliberate touch. Between my legs, a low, unwanted throb had started, and when I shifted, I felt the faint slickness that told me my body was already responding to something I refused to name.

Oh, Goddess.

The full moon was tomorrow.

I had known it was approaching, but I hadn’t expected the effects to begin so early. Usually, I could manage the symptoms until the full moon itself, but this time, something felt different. The heat was deeper. Needier. It pooled low in my belly and made my pussy ache with an emptiness I hated admitting even to myself.

I sat up and pushed my hair away from my face, trying to calm myself. That was when I noticed something else.

Kaden’s scent.

I froze. What the hell?

His scent was everywhere. It was so strong that, for a moment, I genuinely thought he was standing somewhere inside my bedroom. I immediately looked toward the door, then around the room, but there was nobody there.

I was completely alone.

Yet I could smell him as clearly as though he were sitting right beside me. It was that familiar, clean, masculine scent that used to make my wolf go quiet and content. Now, it only made the heat between my thighs worse. My nipples tightened further. Another slow pulse of wetness gathered at my entrance.

Now, tell me something. How was it possible for a man who wasn’t even in my bedroom to have his scent tormenting me like this?

And before you suggest that I was imagining things, believe me, I wished that were the case.

I took another breath, hoping I was mistaken, but his familiar scent filled my lungs, sending an unexpected shiver through my body and making my pussy clench around nothing.

"Seriously?" I muttered, pressing a hand against my forehead. "What the hell is happening to me?"

You know exactly what’s happening, my wolf replied, sounding far too smug.

Please, don’t start, I warned her.

The full moon is approaching, Rebecca. What did you expect? Your body is already preparing itself. You’re wet just from smelling him.

I expected to feel uncomfortable, not to start smelling Kaden when he isn’t even here!

My wolf chuckled, clearly finding the situation amusing.

I ignored her and climbed out of bed, but the moment my feet touched the floor, another wave of heat spread through my body. I closed my eyes and took several deep breaths, trying to regain control. The movement only made me more aware of how slick I already was between my legs.

No. Absolutely not.

I wasn’t going to spend the entire day thinking about Kaden, especially after what had happened between us. And I certainly wasn’t going to let the approaching full moon turn me into a desperate mess over a man who had already complicated everything enough.

I needed to get myself together.

Without wasting another moment, I hurried into the bathroom and turned on the shower, making the water as cold as I could tolerate.

The moment it touched my skin, I gasped.

"Ah! Goddess, that’s freezing!"

Still, I forced myself to remain beneath it. The cold water ran over my breasts, making my already hard nipples tighten almost painfully. It helped a little, but not enough. Even under the freezing spray, my mind kept drifting back to the way Kaden’s mouth had felt on mine, the way his cock had stretched me open, and the way he had looked at me with those golden eyes while he fucked me.

Gradually, the uncomfortable warmth in my body began to subside, and I finally felt as though I could breathe properly again.

At this point, I was beginning to think the Moon Goddess had a personal problem with me. Because why else would she allow my body to betray me over a man who had practically thrown my feelings back in my face?

Anyway, I wasn’t going to let Kaden win. If a cold shower was what it took to restore my sanity, then a cold shower it would be.

After spending several minutes under the cold water, I stepped out, dried myself, and got dressed. Even the soft fabric of my clothes felt like too much against my sensitive skin. My nipples remained tight, and every step reminded me that I was still wet.

I stood in front of the mirror for a moment, examining my reflection.

"You can do this, Rebecca," I whispered to myself. "It’s just one more day. Tomorrow, you’ll go to the facility, and everything will be fine."

By the time I reached the ground floor, I was beginning to feel hungry. I hadn’t eaten much the previous afternoon, and after everything that had happened with Kaden, I had skipped dinner entirely.

At least breakfast would give me something else to concentrate on.

That was what I thought until I entered the dining room.

Kaden was already there.

Of course, he was there. Because why wouldn’t he be? Out of all the rooms in this enormous palace, the one place I needed him not to be was exactly where I found him.

And before you ask why I didn’t simply turn around and leave, remember that I still had a little pride left. Very little, admittedly, but I was determined to protect it.

He was sitting at the table, eating his breakfast while looking through something on his phone.

The moment I saw him, my heart skipped a beat. And then his scent hit me.

Oh, Goddess!

It was even stronger than it had been upstairs. I could barely concentrate as his familiar scent surrounded me, making the heat I had worked so hard to control return almost immediately. My nipples tightened so hard that they ached against the fabric of my top. Between my legs, another slow rush of wetness soaked the thin underwear I had chosen. My pussy throbbed, empty and needy, and I instinctively pressed my thighs together as I stood there, struggling to maintain my composure.

For a brief moment, I genuinely considered turning around and leaving. I could always ask one of the maids to bring breakfast to my room.

But then I stopped myself. No.

If I suddenly walked away after seeing him, Kaden would know something was wrong. He was an Alpha, for goodness’ sake. His senses were far too sharp for him not to notice the way my body was reacting.

And after yesterday’s embarrassment, the last thing I wanted was for him to realize that I was still struggling with my attraction to him... or that the approaching full moon was making me so wet just from being in the same room as him.

I straightened my shoulders and forced myself to continue walking.

Just behave normally, I told myself. Eat your breakfast and leave. That’s all you have to do.

Kaden looked up when he noticed me approaching.

"Good morning, Rebecca."

His voice sent another unwanted shiver through me. My gaze dropped, almost against my will, to his mouth. Those lips. I remembered exactly how they had felt against mine, how they had moved down my body, and how they might feel between my thighs right now. A soft, involuntary moan almost escaped me as the image of him licking my pussy flashed through my mind.

Fuck.

I clenched my thighs tighter and looked away.

"Good morning," I replied, doing my best to sound casual.

I pulled out a chair and sat down, deliberately avoiding his eyes. My pussy was so wet now that I was certain that if I shifted even slightly, he would smell it. The full moon was already working against me, making every sense sharper and every need more demanding.

One of the maids approached almost immediately.

"Good morning, Your Majesty. What would you like for breakfast?"

"Whatever has already been prepared is fine," I answered, my voice a little tighter than I intended.

"Of course, Your Majesty."

As she hurried away, I reached for a glass of water and took a long drink, trying to cool the heat still crawling beneath my skin.

I could feel Kaden watching me, but I refused to look in his direction. The maid soon returned with my breakfast, and I thanked her before picking up my cutlery, determined to concentrate on the food in front of me.

Every breath I took seemed to carry Kaden’s scent, and my body continued reacting to his presence. Have you ever tried eating breakfast while pretending not to notice someone whose mere presence was driving you completely insane?

Well, I wouldn’t recommend it. Especially when that someone happened to be your former mate, your temporary husband, and the same arrogant Alpha King who had made your life a living hell.

Across the table, Kaden set his phone aside.

"Rebecca."

I stiffened slightly at the sound of his voice but forced myself to look up. "What?"

He studied me for a moment. "It seems my presence is making you uncomfortable," he said calmly. "And from the way you’re reacting, I suspect my scent is affecting you more than usual."

My cheeks immediately grew hot. Was he seriously going to bring that up?

"I’m fine, Kaden," I replied, returning my attention to my breakfast.

"I didn’t say you weren’t fine. I’m simply suggesting that perhaps it would be better for you to spend tonight at your mother’s place. You can teleport there today, and tomorrow morning, you can go directly to the facility, where they’ll give you the suppressants you need."

I slowly lowered my fork, struggling to believe what I had just heard.

Seriously?

Yesterday, I had practically humiliated myself by admitting how badly I wanted him, and now he was sitting across from me, calmly suggesting that I leave the palace because my presence was apparently becoming inconvenient.

Was this man trying to get rid of me?

Perhaps Kaden was genuinely trying to help. Perhaps he thought staying away from him would make the approaching full moon easier for me. But after what had happened yesterday, I couldn’t see it that way. All I heard was another rejection.

Yesterday, he had ordered me off his lap. Today, he was practically suggesting that I leave the palace.

Was my presence really that unbearable to him?

There was a difference between offering someone help and making them feel as though they were a problem that needed to be removed. I wasn’t going to sit there and allow him to make me feel unwanted all over again.

"Rebecca?" he called when I didn’t respond.

I pushed my chair back and stood up. "You know what, Kaden? Who told you I was going to the facility?"

He frowned. "What?"

"Who told you I was still planning to go to that facility for the full moon?" I repeated.

His eyebrows drew together. "Rebecca, you said yesterday that you would speak to Logan about making arrangements."

"Well, I’ve changed my mind!"

Kaden stared at me.

"I’m not going to any facility," I declared. "And I don’t need you telling me where I should spend the night or what I should do tomorrow!"

His expression hardened slightly. "I’m only trying to make things easier for you."

"Well, thank you very much, Your Majesty, but I can take care of myself!"

"Rebecca, calm down."

Oh, that annoyed me even more. Of course, he wanted me to calm down. Apparently, I was supposed to sit quietly, accept whatever arrangements he suggested, and thank him for being so considerate.

Absolutely not.

"I’ll speak to Melvin," I announced.

Kaden went completely still. For the first time since our conversation began, I saw a noticeable change in his expression.

"What did you just say?"

"I said I’ll speak to Melvin. He’s my fiancé, remember? I’m sure he’ll be more than willing to help me through the full moon."

I watched his jaw tighten. Good. At least now he knew how it felt to hear something he didn’t like.

"You intend to spend the full moon with Melvin?" he asked slowly.

"Why not? He’s my fiancé, isn’t he?"

Kaden’s expression darkened further. "Rebecca, I don’t think you understand what you’re suggesting."

"Oh, I understand perfectly well!" I snapped. "You don’t want me, Kaden. You’ve made that very clear. So why should it bother you if I turn to someone who does?"

He opened his mouth to respond, but I didn’t give him the opportunity to speak.

"Don’t worry. I’ll make my own arrangements."

With that, I turned away from the table and headed toward the dining room entrance.

"Rebecca!" Kaden called sharply.

I ignored him and continued walking.

Honestly, I had only mentioned Melvin’s name because I was angry and wanted to hurt Kaden’s pride. I had absolutely no intention of asking Melvin to help me through the full moon. The thought had never even crossed my mind before that argument, and even now, I couldn’t imagine being intimate with him.

Melvin might be my fiancé, but that didn’t mean I wanted to spend the full moon in his arms. I would much rather endure the discomfort of staying at the facility than turn to him for intimacy.

But Kaden didn’t need to know that. As far as he was concerned, I was perfectly willing to spend the full moon with Melvin, and I had no intention of correcting that impression.