Disguised Before The Alpha Prince

Chp 45

Demyan POV

The moment I caught her scent it was faint, laced with fear. My wolf surged forward inside me. I sprinted through the woods, following it like a lifeline. It was dark, but I could feel her.

Then I heard her, a muffled cry… then silence.

My heart slammed in my chest.

I burst into the clearing and froze.

Lucien was there.

His hand was on her. Her body slumped.

I couldn’t breathe. My vision blurred with red. He touched her. She is only mine and how dare he tried to hurt her!!!.

“GET AWAY FROM HER!” I roared. As I rushed towards him.

Lucien spun, startled but it was too late. I tackled him, and we both went crashing into the dirt. My fists met his face again and again and again.

“You. Touched. What’s. Mine.”

He spat blood, snarling, “She’s just a—”

I slammed him into the tree behind us. “Say another word. I swear on the moon goddess, I won’t kill you because death is mercy. I’ll ruin you. She is my mate and you have no idea what you have done today!!!”

Lucien tried to claw at me, but I caught his wrist and twisted it until he screamed.

“I’ll burn every inch of this forest if it means keeping her safe. I’ll scorch the world if it dares lay a finger on her,” I growled into his ear. “You’ll carry this scar for the rest of your life.”

Then I raked my claw partially shifted down his face.

He screamed.

With desperation in his eyes, Lucien grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it into my face before I could stop him.

By the time I wiped it away, he had fled into the night, leaving behind blood, anger, and the stench of his cowardice. I'm going to find him and make sure he pays for what he has done. Right now my life is lying there unconscious and I tend to her.

I turned to her.

Pearl.

Limp. Unconscious. Her tunic was loose. My chest tightened as I knelt beside her and gently cradled her in my arms. She was still bound but as I shifted her, one of the binds came undone.

My breath caught.

I looked away instantly, pulling my coat over her chest. Not now, not like this.

“I’ve got you,” I whispered, holding her close as I rose to my feet. She was safe now. No one would ever hurt her again. Not while I was breathing.

I carried her close, shielding her from the cold night air. Her body was far too still, her breathing shallow but steady. Relief fought with rage inside me, but I focused on what mattered now: keeping her safe.

After a few minutes, I spotted a small wooden shed just beyond the trees. The door creaked open easily. Inside, it was dark, but dry lined with hay and old tools. It would do.

I laid her down gently on the soft hay, careful not to jostle her. But as I shifted, the jacket I’d wrapped around her slipped from her shoulders... and her chest was suddenly bare before me.

My breath hitched.

For a long moment, I froze, staring not out of lust, but in disbelief.

She was... beautiful. More than that, she was mine.

That old seer woman’s words echoed in my head.

"She is your mate."

No wonder I was drawn to her like a moth to flame. No wonder her scent haunted me, drove me mad, and soothed me all at once.

I reached for the bindings she’d used before and, carefully, so damn carefully began wrapping them back around her chest. My fingers brushed against her skin once, and I flinched. Not from shame—but from how right it felt. And yet, I pulled my hands back, my body burning with restraint.

She was unconscious. Vulnerable. She trusted me.

Even though my instincts were screaming, my wolf on the verge of breaking free, I whispered to myself, Not like this. Never like this.

I sat beside her, still and quiet. Watching over her.

“I’ll wait,” I murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “No matter how long it takes… I’ll wait for you.”

Because when she opened her eyes, I wouldn’t be a stranger hovering in shadow.

I would be the man who stood between her and the world. Her protector. Her mate.

I sat in silence, the shadows of the shed curling around us like a cocoon. The only sound was her soft breathing, steady now, thank the Moon and the occasional gust of wind rattling the wooden panels.

But I couldn’t stop thinking about her.

Her breasts… soft, delicate, pressed against the bindings she wore every single day. My jaw clenched.

How could she endure that?

Tight bandages wound over her chest, forcing her to flatten what was so clearly a part of her. Every day, pretending to be someone she wasn’t. Every day, hiding.

That had to hurt. Not just physically but deeper. In her spirit.

And still… she smiled. Still, she stood tall. Fierce. Defiant.

I swallowed hard, my chest tightening. I wasn’t just burning with the heat of her scent anymore I was burning with guilt.

How many times had I pushed her? Interrogated her? Doubted her?

Damn it.

I gently covered her again, making sure every inch of her was warm, shielded from the chill. My hand lingered for a second before I drew it back.

She didn’t deserve to suffer like this.

No one did.

“I don’t know why you’re doing this, Pearl,” I whispered, brushing my knuckles over her covered shoulder. “But I’ll find out. And when I do, I’ll get you out of it.”

I didn’t care if it meant going against the academy, the kingdom, or even my own father.

No one—not even she—could stop me from protecting her.

Because she wasn’t just someone I cared about.

She was my mate.

And I would tear down the world before I let it hurt her again.

___*----*___

Pearl POV

My head throbbed. Everything was a blur. My eyes blinked open slowly, the soft rustle of hay beneath me grounding me back to reality.

Where… where was I?

I sat up with a jolt, heart hammering in my chest as memories came rushing when I was in Lucien’s grip, the cold fear in my spine, the struggle. That moment was so terrifying, I will never forget about it. My breath caught when I saw him.

Demyan.

He was sitting across the shed, his back pressed against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. His head had tilted to the side in sleep, dark strands of hair falling messily across his forehead. His brows were furrowed, even in rest.

He looked… exhausted.

What was he doing here?

I shifted slightly, and the hay crackled under me. At the sound, his eyes flew open. Sharp. Alert. Trained immediately on me.

“Pear—Perin,” he said, voice rough with sleep but edged with urgency. He sat straighter. “You’re awake.”

I didn’t respond right away. My body still ached, and so did my pride. But more than anything, I was confused.

Did he… know?

His eyes searched mine like he was trying to read my thoughts, but he didn’t say anything. He didn’t question the bindings. Didn’t stare. He just… looked relieved.

“Are you alright?” he asked quietly, voice softer now. “Do you remember anything?”

I nodded slowly. “A little. I—Lucien—he…”

Demyan’s expression darkened instantly, and he clenched his jaw.

“I found you in the forest,” he said. “He had you cornered. What the hell was he doing, Perin? Why would he do that to you?”

My heart skipped. If he knew the truth he would definitely try to seek answers. Trying to know why I was disguised as a guy but he didn't question me. He just wanted to know why Lucien was hurting. I sighed a relief while i look at him

He didn’t know.

Or maybe… he was pretending not to.

I looked away quickly, hugging my arms around myself.

“I don’t know,” I whispered. “He probably thought I was a threat. Or maybe… maybe he’s just crazy.”

Demyan narrowed his eyes at me, like he knew I was lying. But he didn’t push.

He just let out a long breath and leaned his head back against the wall again. “You’re safe now,” he said, almost to himself. “That’s all that matters.” I glanced at him. He had fought for me. He stayed with me. Protected me.

And yet… he was giving me the space to keep hiding, even if he might know the truth.

Why?

I didn’t understand him but one thing was certain: with Demyan here, I felt safe. Even if I didn’t know how much longer I could keep pretending.

He leaned his head back against the shed wall, his jaw still tight. The tension in the air was thick, but it wasn’t just because of what had happened with Lucien. I watched him for a long moment in silence.

His clothes were torn at the edges, probably from running through the forest. A shallow scratch marked his forearm, and there were stains on his knuckles. He must have fought Lucien. Hard.

“Demyan…” I said quietly.

He turned his face slightly to me, but didn’t fully meet my eyes. “Hm?”

“You… found me just like that?” I asked. “In the forest?”

“Yeah,” he said, a little too quickly. “You were alone. I tracked your scent.”

My heart skipped. Scent. The word lingered between us like an invisible question mark.

I studied his face. His eyes were a stormy mix of something—conflict, restraint, and something else… Was it guilt?, Or longing?

“What if someone else had found me?” I asked softly, watching his expression closely.

His jaw ticked. “I wouldn’t have let that happen.”

“But how did you even know I was in danger? You weren’t assigned to follow us.”

He finally looked at me.

“I wasn’t going to let you go alone with him,” he said, voice low, each word coated in something possessive. “Not when I knew something was off about him.”

I swallowed. “So you… followed me?”

His gaze dropped to the floor. “Yeah.”

“You’re not supposed to, you know,” I said, attempting to tease, hoping it would draw out some reaction, anything to confirm what he was thinking.

“Yeah, well,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, “I was never good at doing what I’m told.”

I smiled a little, but my fingers tightened around the hem of my robe. There were so many things I wanted to ask him.

Did you see me?

Did you notice?

Do you know I'm not a boy?

But none of those questions left my lips.

Instead, I whispered, “You… stayed with me all night.”

His eyes flicked back up to mine. And for the first time, I saw it. The flicker of emotion he tried so hard to hide.

“I wasn’t going to leave you alone,” he said.

A silence fell between us.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

He gave a faint nod. “You don’t need to thank me. You’re my—” He stopped himself, his throat moving as he swallowed.

You’re my... what?

Friend?

Mate?

His what?

He stood up abruptly. “You should rest. We’ll head back once the sun’s up.” I bit my lip, watching him as he walked over to the other side of the shed and leaned near the door, pretending to check outside.

He was retreating again.

Just when I thought I could reach him.

But one thing was different now. My feelings for him have grown even more stronger. I think I have fallen in love with him.