Disguised Before The Alpha Prince

Chp 23

Pearl

When I opened my eyes, I found myself tied in an unknown place. My body screamed in pain, and I couldn’t open my eyes fully because of it. It felt like I had been left in a storage room, hay scattered around, the air thick with dust and the smell of damp wood. My mouth was gagged, rendering any attempt at calling for help useless. Panic began to rise in my chest, but I fought it down. There had to be a way out of this.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of a door creaking open, and then footsteps—slow, deliberate, as if the person knew I couldn’t escape. I felt my heart pound faster as the figure appeared in the doorway, his face covered by a dark cloth. A shadow loomed over me. I could barely make out his shape, but the cold air that followed him sent a shiver down my spine.

I could feel him watching me, his gaze piercing through the darkness. He said nothing for a long moment, just stood there. I tried to move, but my wrists were bound so tightly that the ropes bit into my skin, and the pain only made it harder to focus.

“Not so strong now, are you?” His voice was low, rough, as if he’d been waiting for this moment for a long time.

I struggled against my restraints, but it was useless. My eyes darted around the room, trying to find any way to escape, but all I could see was the dim light filtering in from the cracks in the walls.

He took a step closer, his boots crunching on the hay as he neared me. “You’re more trouble than you’re worth,” he muttered, almost to himself, before kneeling down in front of me. I could feel his presence too close now, his breath warm against my cheek. I recoiled, trying to shift away from him.

I could see his eyes, dark and cruel, through the gap in his cloth mask. "I know who you really are," he whispered, his voice filled with malice.

My heart stopped.

How could he know? My mind raced, trying to process the words, but the ache in my head made it hard to think clearly. The image of Demyan flashed in my mind—what would he think if he found out? Would he ever forgive me? I had to stay calm. I had to focus on getting out of here.

The man reached out and grabbed my chin roughly, forcing me to meet his eyes. “You’re not as clever as you think, are you, Perin?” He smirked, almost enjoying the power he had over me.

I froze, my entire body tensing at the mention of my male disguise. The name Perin echoed in my mind like a bell tolling in a dark, endless chamber.

He knows.

A wave of panic washed over me, but I tried to keep my breathing steady. I could feel my pulse hammering in my throat, my mind reeling as I wondered how much this man knew.

The man slowly reached for the gag in my mouth, loosening it just enough to allow me to speak. "What do you want?" I managed to ask, my voice hoarse from the gag.

He chuckled, low and menacing. "What I want is simple: I want you to pay for what you’ve done."

Before I could respond, he pulled the gag from my mouth completely, and I gasped for air, grateful for the brief moment of relief.

The silence between us felt heavy, like the calm before a storm. I needed to get out of here—quickly. I needed to think of a plan, but my mind was a mess, consumed by the fear of what he might do next.

Suddenly, he stood up and stepped back, moving toward the door with a slight, mocking laugh. "I’ll be back for you later, Perin." His words lingered in the room like a curse, and then he disappeared, leaving me alone with my racing thoughts and the ache in my chest.

The door slammed shut behind him, and I was left in the darkness once again.

I tugged at the ropes, the skin on my wrists burning as I struggled against them. Every second that passed felt like an eternity. I didn’t know how long I had before he returned, but I knew one thing—if he came back, I might not get another chance.

Then suddenly—thud.

A faint sound from outside the room. My breath hitched.

Another thud. Then silence.

The door burst open. I flinched, expecting to see the masked man again, but it was someone else not the bad guys

His face was covered and it all felt like a dream, my head was wounded so I had no idea what was happening. His eyes found me in an instant as he rushed inside, knocking over a barrel with his boot. He dropped to his knees, quickly pulling out a small blade and cutting the ropes from my wrists.

The second I was free, he helped me up, supporting my weight as I struggled to stand. My body was weak, but the fear gave me strength. We had to move.

“We need to leave now. They are coming,” he whispered, slinging my arm around his shoulder and leading me out of the storage shed.

We rushed through the night, the thick mist of the forest clinging to us. My bare feet stumbled over the forest floor, and he pulled me along, shielding me with his body whenever he heard something nearby.

We were so close—just a few steps away from the boundary of the trees where our horses were waiting—

SWOOSH.

An arrow whizzed through the air.

Before I could react—thunk.

Pain exploded in my side. I gasped sharply, a searing burn ripping through my skin. My legs gave way, and I collapsed to the ground, clutching my side.

He dropped beside me, panic flashing in his eyes as he saw the blood staining my dress. Who is this person and why is he so concerned about me,“No, no, no—stay with me!”

My vision blurred. The sky above me spun as he pulled the arrow from my side, pressing cloth to the wound.

“Don’t you dare close your eyes,” he growled, his voice trembling. “You’re going to be okay. I’ve got you.”

The last thing I heard before everything went black was the sound of that unknown man and the distant howl of a wolf.

*_-*_-*_-

ROWAN POV

Being Beta's son is not an easy task. My father wants me to be the next Beta, but how can I make him understand that I’m not ready to take that responsibility? I’m not even interested in serving the Alpha. I’ve seen him—and frankly, I don’t want to know who he is.

Right now, I’m focusing on completing my education at the university, which my father owns. To my surprise, my childhood friends Killian and Demyan are here too.

Sometimes I wonder how I ended up so different from my father. He was raised in war and discipline—taught to follow orders, lead warriors, and never show weakness. I, on the other hand, was drawn to books, quiet corners, and moments of peace. As a child, I once brought home an injured fox pup. My father scolded me for days, told me kindness was weakness. But I still remember how the little creature trusted me, how it healed and ran free. Maybe that’s why I see something in Perin.

This guy, Perin, is so different. And the more I interact with him, the more I want to understand who he really is. He’s not like other guys—he’s weak, sensitive, and soft. It’s like he doesn’t belong in a place like this, and yet… I respect his guts for being here, fighting for his position.

Killian and I reached the temple and noticed Perin there. He had successfully placed the totem and was about to leave, but I caught him by the shoulder. He slowly glanced at me from the side… then shoved my hand away.

What’s wrong with him? Why is he acting like that?

He quickly moved to the other side, and I tried to follow him—but then I lost sight of him.

I searched the area frantically. Where did he go? One moment he was there, and the next, gone like a puff of smoke. The temple grounds weren’t that large—there was no way he could disappear unless someone took him. A sudden chill ran down my spine.

I picked up my pace, weaving through the trees and side paths, calling out in hushed tones, “Perin…?”

Then I saw it—faint drag marks in the dirt leading toward the back of the temple, near the old shed that hadn't been used in years. My heart slammed against my chest. I moved quickly, careful not to make noise. As I neared the building, I heard low voices and the unmistakable sound of someone struggling.

I kicked the door open with a growl.

Two masked men were inside—one holding Perin down, the other tying something to his wrist. Perin’s mouth was gagged, his eyes wide with panic. The second they saw me, one of them lunged. I fought them off with a burst of fury I hadn’t known I had. One hit the wall, groaning, while the other tried to escape. I didn’t give him the chance. They moved outside and closed the door behind trying to get towards me but they didn't know who they were trying to mess with, so I soon fought with them and tied them with the rope. I opened the door and noticed him on the cold floor.

“Come on!” I grabbed Perin’s arm and pulled him to his feet. He stumbled, still weak, but he nodded, trusting me.

We ran through the trees, branches tearing at our clothes, adrenaline pumping through my veins.

And then I heard it—a sharp twang.

An arrow whistled through the air.

Perin let out a sharp cry and collapsed in my arms.

“No—no, no, no!” I caught him, seeing blood spreading across the side of his back. The arrow had grazed him, but it was deep. Too deep.

“Stay with me, Perin,” I whispered, cradling him in my arms as I looked back, teeth clenched. Whoever had done this wouldn’t get away with it.

Not while I was breathing.

I carried Perin through the dark forest trails, his body limp in my arms. The arrow wound was deep. he was losing blood fast, and I couldn’t risk taking him to the university medics or the main healer. Too many eyes. Too many questions.

Only one person came to mind.

I reached Seren’s stone cottage at the edge of the mountain slope and kicked the door with urgency. She opened it within seconds, her hair tied in a loose braid and sleeves rolled from the herbs she had been sorting.

“Rowan? What the hell—?”

“He's been hit. Poisoned arrow,” I said as I laid Perin down on her treatment table. “Please, just help him.”

Seren’s gaze snapped to the blood pooling near the wound. “Get water boiling. Tear those bandages open. Now.”

We worked in tense silence, until Seren started cutting open Perin’s shirt to treat the wound. But her hands slowed—then froze. I noticed her brows draw together sharply.

“Rowan…” she said, her voice low and measured. “You didn’t tell me you brought me a girl.”

“What?”

She glanced up, her face grave. “This boy… he’s not a boy.”

My heart dropped. I moved closer, eyes darting between her and the unconscious form on the table. “You’re sure?”

Seren gave me a look. “I’m a healer. I’m sure.”

I staggered back a step, mind reeling. Perin—he’s a she? My memories of him flickered through my mind—his delicate features, quiet voice, the odd discomfort in the locker rooms, the way he always averted his gaze.

“Oh moon goddess,” I muttered. “I didn’t know.”

“She’ll wake up confused,” Seren said gently. “What do you want me to say?”

I ran a hand through my hair. “Tell her nothing. If she asks, lie. Say you didn’t notice anything. Just tell her the wound was tricky to clean, that she was unconscious the whole time.”

Seren narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re protecting her secret.”

I nodded. “I don’t know her reasons, but I know she’s gone through hell to keep this up. Let her come to me when she’s ready.”

Seren sighed. “Alright. But you’d better decide what she means to you before that moment comes.”

I looked back at her—this fragile, brave, stubborn person who had fought so hard to be seen as an equal in a world stacked against her.

“I need time,” I whispered. “Just… take care of her.”

Seren nodded, returning to clean the wound. I couldn’t bear to stay. My world had shifted, and I wasn’t ready to face it yet.

I walked out of the cottage, heart racing, the weight of the secret pressing against my chest.

Perin isn’t who I thought he was. And I don’t know who I am anymore, either.