Page 17 of The Alpha's Cursed Queen

Chapter 4

Darian

I’m not used to catering to women.

I’ve never had the need to. Then again, I’ve never been so thoroughly insulted by one, either.

Jerk? How dare she call me that?

And after I was being so nice to her! It’s not like I intentionally pulled her into the lake. It was an honest-to-God mistake. And on top of that, I saved her! She should be thanking me!

“Is there a reason you’re muttering to yourself?” My second-in-command, Jimmy, looks up at me from his phone, irritation in his eyes. “I’m trying to write a message. You’re not letting me concentrate.”

I sneer at him. “I’m so sorry. Was I disturbing you?”

He shrugs. “As long as you understand—”

“You do realize you work for me, don’t you?” I growl at him. “My problems are your problems.”

My childhood friend lets out a gust of air, giving me an exaggerated look of patience. “And what would be our problem today?”

“A girl insulted me.”

This has Jimmy’s eyes widening fractionally. “Really?”

“Yes. She called me a jerk.”

My friend leans forward, resting his forearms on his thighs and looking intrigued. “And did that hurt your feelings? Let’s talk about it. Should I get you a tissue?”

“Either you’re really enjoying this or you’re mocking me,” I say nastily. “Either way, knock it off. I’m not in a good mood.”

Jimmy snickers and leans back in his chair, returning his attention to his phone. “You’re the prince of the Wolf Kingdom, Darian. Women are throwing themselves at you. You’re going to be the highlight of the mating gathering next week. Why do you care what an insignificant woman said to you? Or is she someone important?”

I open my mouth to deny it, but the words get stuck in my throat.

Her vibrant red hair and those blue eyes come to mind. I’ve never seen a wolf shifter with those features. The most predominant hair colors among our kind are blond and dark. That red hair makes her look radiant. Her features are also striking. When I first saw her in the woods, yesterday afternoon, my wolf stirred in interest. There was something about her.

But she ran away, despair in her eyes.

And when I saw her next, yesterday evening, she looked and acted like a whole different person. I’m guessing that in that most vulnerable moment of hers, I saw a part of her that she normally hides from the world. Distress, agony, helplessness.

But the woman last night was sharp-witted, funny, and she made my heart pound.

“You’re not saying anything.” Jimmy leans forward again, curious now. “She must’ve made quite the impression on you.”

“It’s not that.” The anger deflates out of me. “She was celebrating her birthday, and I ruined it for her.”

The guilt is beginning to settle in now. It still doesn’t justify her calling me a jerk, but I do feel bad for ruining her celebration. That sad, little cupcake in her hands had seemed so precious to her, and she had given me half without any prompting, as if she wanted to share some of her happiness with me.

“Darian,” Jimmy say, interrupting my thoughts, “if you’re interested in her, just tell me who she is, and I will bring her to the palace.”

I give my friend a dirty look. “Thanks, but no thanks. I don’t think she’s going to enjoy being kidnapped and brought here. She already thinks I’m a jerk. I don’t want to ruin my reputation even more.”

“So, you care about what she what she thinks of you.” Jimmy grins. “Does Prince Darian have a crush?”

I glare at him. “Keep mocking me. I hear Lilith is seeing one of the royal soldiers from the palace. Isn’t she supposed to be dating you?”

Jimmy has gone through a string of females, but Lilith is the first woman who has rejected him, and he’s not taking it well.

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