Page 3 of Abel

Abel’s jaw tightened as he wrestled with the internal turmoil her words had stirred.He shifted his gaze to Esme, the woman who had once held his heart, and then back to the psychic.“I thought we were here for speed dating?”His tone, a feeble attempt at deflecting the depth of his inner conflict.

She shook her head slowly, her curls dancing in the dim light.“I think this tale is much more interesting than a shallow date where you’re thinking of her instead of me.”

Abel locked onto her gaze, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.“You are a very kind soul,” he remarked, extending his hand in a gesture of introduction.“I’m Abel.”

Her hand met his with a firm shake.“I’m Mika,” she replied before diving right into the heart of the matter.“Now, why do you continue to reject your mate?You know you belong together.”

“She cursed me to this form.”

The woman narrowed her eyes.“I see, but your wolf disagrees.”

“Yeah, well…” He let out a frustrated growl, the sound reverberating through the air.“He’s an asshole.”

Mika leaned back, her laughter carrying the warmth of genuine amusement.“No, he’s not,” she chuckled softly, her eyes dancing with a mix of mirth and understanding.“It’s your pride that keeps you from embracing what you both truly know - she didn’t curse you.”

Her eyelids fluttered closed for a moment, as if seeking refuge from the weight of the truth.“Oh,” she breathed, the word heavy with the revelation that had just dawned upon her.

Abel’s curiosity was piqued.“What is it?”

A somber shadow passed over Mika’s face as she spoke.“King Lycaon, he’s a ruthless man.”

“Ah, you see that too?”Abel inquired, his tone, acknowledging the complexity of the situation.

Mika nodded slowly, her gaze now holding a depth of wisdom.“I see the events that unfolded, and I see that deep down, you understand she had no part in it.But that relentless Primis pride,” she sighed, “it’s the very thing that holds you back from accepting the truth.”

Abel pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, a hint of resignation in his gesture.“Pride, it seems, has been the bane of my family for generations.”

The bell chimed once more, signaling another change in partners.Mika leaned in closer and whispered, “Yes, but it doesn’t have to be.”

CHAPTER2

Esme’s heartpounded as she counted down the seconds.This was it.Time to deal with Abel, face to face, in public.Which was probably the best thing, so neither of them could rip the other’s throat out.He settled into the chair opposite her, smoothing his suit jacket with a deliberate motion, and her reaction was immediate—a low, wary growl rumbled from deep within her.

He raised his hands in the air.“I’m just here to talk.”

She studied him for a brief moment.“Why do we have to do this here?”

“Because I figure it’s the only way, I’ll get you to sit still long enough to hear me out.”He curled his lip with a calculated sneer, allowing a thin veil of his manufactured disdain to seep through.“Sorry to interrupt your date night.”

“I’m not here to—”

“Sure, you are, why else would you be here?You don’t have to hide it from me.You’re trolling for a mate.”

Esme narrowed her eyes.Anger boiled just beneath the surface at Abel’s arrogant words.As if he knew anything about anything.“Watch yourself, Primis, you are on shaky ground.”

“What are you going to do, curse me some more?”Abel leaned forward.“At least my wolf is loyal enough to not seek out another one, but here you are looking for a piece of—”

“I’m getting married, Abel.”

* * *

Esme droppedthe bombshell with a gravity that felt like a physical blow.The words hit him like a thunderclap, causing him to jerk back in his seat as if he’d been struck.“You’re what?”He stammered, disbelief etching lines on his face.

“I’m getting married,” she repeated, her voice tinged with a resignation that chilled the air.“It’s an arrangement my father made a long time ago.”

A bitter taste filled his mouth as he grappled with the cruel irony of it all.“Your father cursed me to be your mate,” he protested, his voice laced with anger and frustration.

Esme met his gaze, her own eyes reflecting a mixture of sorrow and determination.“Yes, but you rejected me,” she replied softly, her words heavy with the weight of their shared history.“To preserve my father’s kingdom, I have to be married.”

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