~Charlene~
"It cannot be," I thought, feeling a wave of disbelief wash over me as I laid eyes on him after five long years.
The sight of Draven made me want to vanish from where I stood.
Adrian seemed to notice my discomfort and turned to face me. "Are you alright?" he asked, concern barely hidden beneath the sharp edge of his voice.
Before I could respond, Draven's eyes narrowed, and his tone turned sarcastic. "You two must be close," he commented, lingering on me with a gaze that sent a pang of unease through my chest.
What the hell was he implying? I thought.
"Yes, they are," Mr. Daniels, the owner of the hotel where the event had occurred, interjected, coming to our defense. "They are our top chefs and very competent in their work."
Draven's gaze flicked to Adrian, who was beside, but it returned to me instantly. "I can see that closeness," he remarked, clearing his throat. Then he turned toward me, his tone sharp. "You, Miss Charlene," he said.
Charlene, just hearing him call me by that name was enough to trigger memories of our past. It's been a long time since I heard him call me that, and it was messing with my head.
"Yes… sir… I mean, your Highness," I stammered, scratching my head and lowering my gaze.
"I would appreciate it if you looked at me," he requested, though it sounded more like an order.
"Charlene!" Mr. Daniels's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I quickly raised my head to face him. "What would you like the chefs to do for you, your Highness?" he asked.
Draven cleared his throat and folded his arms, his gaze fixed on me once again. I averted my eyes, pretending to look away, and I heard him chuckle. "Please serve me, Miss Charlene," he said.
Nervously scratching the back of my head, I pretended to look down. I could not believe he was asking me to do such a thing.
I would never have shown up if I had known he would be at this event. I had hidden away for so long, only to be found by him again.
The words he uttered before we parted echoed in my mind, and I was sure he remembered them.
" Never return to the royal pack, Charlene."
"Miss Charlene," Draven's voice interrupted my thoughts, and he gestured toward his glass. "Please do me the pleasure of pouring the wine for me," he requested, flashing a smile that did not reach his eyes.
Nodding in response, I stepped away from Adrian and made my way toward him. With trembling hands, I picked up the bottle from the table, preparing to pour the wine into his glass.
Suddenly, I felt his hand on my waist, and panic surged through me. In haste, I spilled the wine on the table and his legs. "Goodness," I exclaimed, tremblingly dropping the wine glass, and the glass shattered on the ground.
"Charlene!" Mr. Daniels shouted, disbelief coloring his tone. "What are you doing in front of the king?"
Realizing my mistake, I lowered my head and quickly apologized. "Your Highnesses, I am sorry," I said, biting my lip in frustration.
I should not have allowed Draven to affect me with a simple touch, but I had, making me look like a fool. I despised that I had to act this way in front of him and in the presence of Mr. Daniels and the human guests.
"I am sorry," I repeated, my voice tighter than intended.
Draven chuckled and stood upright, his expression unreadable. "It is nothing," he said, but I sensed a sharp edge beneath his words. Draven was never one to show mercy. Five years ago, he had not demonstrated any when I was accused of betrayal. He had believed everyone else except me.
"Is it a problem, King Alaric?" he asked briefly, receiving a shake of the head in response from the human king, then turned his attention back to me. "Of course. Now, Miss Charlene, please show me to the washroom," he ordered.
Raising my head, I pointed to myself, wondering why he needed me when anyone else could fulfill his request. I let out a deep sigh and realized he was speaking to me. "Yes, your Highness," I said. "This way, your Highness," I told him.
"May I accompany you?" the Lycan seated with Draven and Adrian asked simultaneously.
However, Draven shook his head in response. "She shall show me the way alone. If I need you, Kylan, I will let you know," he said to the Lycan who had accompanied him, then turned toward Adrian. "I am not sure you are needed," he said, and without warning, he took hold of my hand, pulling me away from the scene.
"What are you doing?" I whispered as he dragged me toward the washroom. "You asked me to show you the way, not take me there," I protested when we reached the entrance, but my words fell on deaf ears as he pulled me inside and locked the door behind us.
"Charlene!" he shouted my full name, a tone I remembered all too well when he was angry. "Did I not tell you not to show your face in front of me again? But you refused simple warnings, and here you are."
Should I show my face in front of him? He must be delusional. "Your Highness, I…" I began, but Draven cut me off with his laughter.
"What happened to saying Draven? Are you trying to act all formal with me because you are with another man?" he yelled, his frustration evident.