Chapter 188:
Makenna’s POV:
The lovemaking, though brief, left me with a sense of relaxation I hadn’t felt in ages, all thanks to Clayton. Recent days had been a whirlwind of complications, leaving me exhausted, but Clayton seemed to be brimming with energy, even eager to whip up a meal.
As I sat at the dining table enjoying the lunch he prepared, my mind wandered back to our intimate moment. A bashful warmth spread through me, making it difficult to meet his gaze.
I could hardly believe we had been intimate once again… Yet the memory of his gentle touch made my heart flutter uncontrollably.
Clayton, with a twinkle in his eye, tousled my hair and then, after a brief pause, suddenly suggested, “Makenna, maybe… you should reconsider passing the assessment.”
I stared at him in shock, my confusion palpable. “Why?” Why wouldn’t he want me to pass the assessment? Did he not want me to stay in the palace?
His gaze grew more intense, and his voice dropped to a husky murmur.
“I don’t want to share you with other men.”
His words made my heart race. Was Clayton confessing his feelings for me? Did he want me to stay by his side?
I was at a loss for words, struggling to find a response.
His earnest expression tugged at my resolve.
He was the only person, besides Alice, who had shown me kindness in the palace. Unlike Bryan and Dominic, Clayton was gentle and considerate.
If I were to choose a prince to father my children, Clayton would undoubtedly be my choice.
But…
I bit my lip, conflicted. With the unresolved issues involving Kristina and the Dunn family, I needed the prize money and had to remain in the palace for now. So, I couldn’t agree to his request just yet.
𝖈𝖍𝖊𝖈𝖐 𝖚𝖕𝖉𝖆𝖙𝖊𝖘 𝖔𝖓 𝖌𝖆𝖑𝖓𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⫶𝖈𝗈𝗆
Moreover, if I failed and stayed with Clayton, could he, as a Lycan prince, truly marry me? And if he were to become king in the future, destined to marry Kristina, where would that leave me?
Perhaps because my silence lingered too long, Clayton’s expression slowly shifted to disappointment.
He sighed and forced a smile, saying, “It’s okay. I was just joking. Don’t take it to heart. I’ll drive you to the assessment venue this afternoon.”
I nodded slightly, feeling a heaviness in my chest. If only I weren’t a sex slave and he weren’t a Lycan prince. Would things be different then? But there were no “what-ifs.”
I sighed inwardly, resigning myself to the fact that perhaps this was how things were meant to be between me and Clayton.
The atmosphere grew awkward due to my silence, and the rest of the meal passed in uncomfortable quiet. After lunch, Clayton drove me to the assessment location.
As I stepped out of the car, I thanked him, my emotions a tangled mess.
Despite the subtle sadness in his eyes, his smile remained warm. He shook his head, dismissing my thanks, and encouraged me to do well before turning to leave.
At that moment, however, a woman stumbled beside him, losing her balance and falling toward Clayton.
