Disguised Before The Alpha Prince

Chp 63

Pearl’s POV

The warm water wrapped around me like a cocoon, and Demyan’s presence, so close, so protective, made me want to forget everything outside this chamber.

But I couldn’t.

A sudden pang hit me not in my body, but in my chest. Demyan was speaking but I was not listening as I suddenly thought about Cecil.

She must be worried sick. I hadn’t returned all night. And I knew her. She’d wait… no matter how late it got.

I slowly shifted in the water, wincing the moment I tried to move. My legs were weak, too sore from the night we spent tangled together. A flush rose on my cheeks, half from the heat, half from the vivid memories of Demyan’s hands, his lips, the way he had made me feel things I never thought possible.

But that same memory reminded me: the world still existed beyond these walls. And right now, it was calling for me.

I pushed myself up, my arms trembling as I reached for the edge of the bath. My knees buckled slightly, and I stumbled, my hand slapping against the tiled wall for support.

“Pearl!” Demyan’s voice was sharp with concern as he moved to my side. “Wait. You’re still sore—don’t push yourself.”

But I shook my head, not meeting his eyes. “Cecil is waiting. I need to go… she’ll be looking for me.”

“You don’t need to—” he tried, reaching for me again.

“I do,” I said softly, my voice barely more than a breath. “Please, Demyan.”

I didn’t want to leave him. My heart ached with the weight of it. But I couldn’t lose sight of who I was, or the promises I had made to the people who helped me survive until now.

I slipped into my clothes with slow, cautious movements, each pull of fabric across my skin a reminder of everything that had happened between us. My body still hummed with the memory of him.

As I wrapped the red cloth around my face and my old disguise I felt a pang in my chest. A part of me didn’t want to wear it anymore. I didn’t want to hide.

But it was necessary for now.

I turned toward the door.

Demyan didn’t stop me this time, but his gaze burned into my back like a brand. I knew he didn’t want me to go. And I didn’t want to leave him.

But we still had a long way to go before we could walk out into the world together, hand in hand without masks. One day. But not today.

Every step felt like a struggle.

The soreness between my legs throbbed with every movement, a reminder of the night I had willingly given myself to Demyan. I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing myself to keep walking, even though my legs trembled beneath the weight of my body and the weight of everything that had changed.

I wrapped the cloak tighter around myself and kept my head down. No one could see my face not now. The red cloth shielded more than my identity. It hid my flushed cheeks, the remnants of emotion that refused to fade even as I tried to compose myself.

My back ached. I reached behind, gently massaging the muscles with one hand as I walked. My fingertips pressed into sore spots, trying to soothe the tension, but it was no use. My body wasn’t used to… that.

And yet, it wasn’t the pain that troubled me most.

It was the fear that someone might see through me. That I wouldn’t reach Cecil in time. That she had been worried, or worse caught the attention of someone she shouldn’t have.

I took a deep breath and forced myself to walk straight.

Just a little more. Just around the corner of the courtyard.

And then I saw her.

Cecil.

She was pacing nervously by the edge of the garden path, her eyes wide and frantic, scanning every shadow like she expected me to appear out of thin air.

Relief surged through my chest like a crashing wave.

She’s safe.

I took another step, but my foot faltered, and I caught myself on a nearby pillar, inhaling sharply at the sudden stab of pain. I couldn’t let her see me like this.

I adjusted the red cloth again and steadied my posture, trying to breathe evenly, trying not to limp. Then, gathering what little strength I had left, I called out softly.

“Cecil…”

Her head whipped around, and the moment her eyes met mine, she ran.

“Pearl! Where have you—” she stopped short in front of me, her eyes scanning me head to toe. “Are you hurt? You look pale!”

I forced a faint smile and shook my head. “I… I’m fine. Just needed some air.”

Cecil frowned, unconvinced. Her hand gently touched my elbow, steadying me.

“You’re not fine. You look like you’ve seen a ghost and walked through a storm.”

I couldn’t say anything. Not yet. My throat felt dry, my heart loud in my ears.

Because I had walked through something last night. A storm of emotions, desire, and truth. And I hadn’t come out of it the same girl who entered.

But right now, I just needed to hold it together. For Cecil. For myself.

Cecil's eyes narrowed the moment she got a good look at me.

“You look… different,” she said softly, scanning my face with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. “Where were you all night?”

I swallowed hard, tightening the red cloth around my face just a little more. “I—I just needed some time alone,” I replied, avoiding her gaze. “I couldn’t sleep.”

Cecil raised a brow. “Alone? You disappeared without a word. You’ve been gone since evening, Pearl.” She stepped closer. “Your hair is a mess, your cheeks are red—and not the nervous kind. You’re glowing.”

“I am not,” I said a little too quickly, heat crawling up my neck. I turned away, pretending to adjust my cloak, but really, I just needed a second to collect myself. The soreness in my body hadn’t faded. Every shift of my weight reminded me of his hands, his voice, his touch—

Goddess.

I cleared my throat. “I… found a quiet place to rest, and I guess I fell asleep.”

Her eyes narrowed even further.

“In a place where no one could find you?” she pressed. “You look like you haven’t slept at all.”

“I didn’t say it was comfortable,” I mumbled, forcing a weak smile. “But I had a lot on my mind.”

Cecil folded her arms. “Uh-huh. And does this ‘lot on your mind’ have anything to do with the fact that your face is practically glowing like a full moon and you can barely walk straight?”

My mouth opened and closed, and for a second, I couldn’t think of a single excuse. Just images of Demyan’s hands, his breath, his lips—

I shook my head quickly. “You’re imagining things.”

Cecil tilted her head and let out a hum. “Mmhmm. Alright then. If you say so.”

But the smirk on her lips told me she didn’t believe a word I said.

I turned away, hiding my face as best I could, silently begging my cheeks to stop burning. If she knew even a fraction of what had happened between Demyan and me last night…

No. I couldn’t even think about it without—

“Let’s just go,” I whispered. “We’ll be late.”

Cecil sighed but didn’t argue. She looped her arm through mine and began to walk beside me.

And despite everything, despite the aching and the embarrassment and the secret I was now carrying deep in my chest, I smiled to myself because last night… was mine.

We walked side by side down the quiet path, the crunch of gravel under our feet the only sound between us. But I could feel her eyes burning holes through the side of my face. Again.

I sighed and turned toward her, not even bothering to hide my irritation. “Alright, enough,” I muttered. “If you have something to say, just say it. You’re staring at me like I’ve grown horns.”

Cecil raised her brows and gave me an exaggerated innocent look. “Me? Staring? Nooo… I’m simply admiring how someone can disappear without a word, stay gone the entire night, return sore, glowing, flushed and act like it’s completely normal.”

I stiffened. “I told you, I just needed space. And sleep. Sort of.”

“Sort of?” she echoed, lips twitching. “Interesting kind of sleep you’ve had, Pearl. Because last I checked, sleeping doesn't leave bite marks.” Her voice was light, teasing, but her eyes… they saw too much.

My hand flew to my neck instinctively, pulling my scarf higher. “You were worried about me, weren’t you?” I asked, trying to change the topic.

Cecil folded her arms. “Of course I was. You left without a single word. Do you know how many places I checked? How many people have I almost questioned?”

I bit my bottom lip. Guilt was a bitter taste. “I’m sorry,” I said softly. “I didn’t mean to worry you. I just… needed time. That’s all.”

“Time? Time with who?” she asked, raising a brow. “Or do you want me to guess?”

I looked away, cheeks burning again, my silence giving more answers than my words ever could.

Cecil let out a long breath and shook her head. “You’re lucky I didn’t send out a full search party.”

“I’m fine,” I insisted. “Really.”

She didn’t respond. Just gave me that look again—the one that said she’d drop it for now, but I wouldn’t be getting away that easily.

And deep down… I knew she wasn’t done with me. Not even close.

Cecil’s stare was relentless sharp, amused, and far too knowing.

I could feel the heat crawling up my neck again, especially where his marks were. My hand instinctively rose to adjust the scarf I’d tugged up earlier, trying to make sure not even the edge of the bite peeked out. Goddess help me if she got a better look.

“So?” Cecil’s voice cut through my thoughts like a dagger. “Still not going to explain the ‘sleeping’ part? Because that glowing face and that stiff walk say otherwise.”

I cleared my throat and gave her the most casual shrug I could muster, though I felt anything but calm. “I… fell asleep in the wrong part of the estate. There was a little… accident.”

Cecil narrowed her eyes. “What kind of accident leaves bite marks on your neck, Pearl?”

I blinked. “Oh, those?” I forced a weak laugh, tugging my scarf higher. “I… might’ve gotten too close to the wolf pups in the lower courtyard. One of them got a bit too excited when I tried to pet it.”

Cecil crossed her arms, unimpressed. “A pup bit your neck?”

“It leapt at me?” I tried, voice cracking.

Her silence was deafening. Then she blinked slowly. “Right. Because that makes perfect sense.”

I let out a nervous laugh, eyes darting away. “Well, you weren’t there, so…”

“Mhm,” she said, voice heavy with disbelief. “So, this imaginary leaping wolf pup bit you, you didn’t tell anyone, and then you just vanished all night without leaving a note, a trail, or a single clue for your poor best friend?”

I gave her the most apologetic smile I could. “Yes?”

Her hand landed on her hip. “Pearl.”

“I panicked?” I added with a small shrug.

Cecil stared at me for a beat longer, lips twitching like she was holding back either laughter or a very dramatic eye-roll. “You are absolutely the worst liar I’ve ever met.”

“Thank you,” I said with fake pride.

She gave me a long look, then let out a sigh. “Fine. Keep your secrets. For now. But don’t think I’m done with this conversation.”

I offered a sheepish grin. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”

As we continued walking, I kept one hand on my scarf, heart pounding. I might’ve survived this encounter… barely. But the next time?

I wasn’t sure I’d be able to lie again.