Chapter 22:
Makenna’s POV
After everything was squared away, I found myself wrapped in a jacket and being led to Clayton. The servant knocked on the door, and I stood there, on edge. The door creaked open, revealing Clayton’s face, warm with a gentle smile. He had come to the door himself.
“Good evening, Your Highness. Miss Dunn is here,” the servant said with deep respect.
Clayton responded with a nod, his eyes resting on me. His gaze was like a gentle stream, soft and calming.
Beaming at me, he said, “Come in.”
As I thought about what awaited me inside, my face flushed crimson, and I couldn’t help but feel more shy.
Seeing my hesitation, the servant lowered her voice and prompted me, “Don’t just stand there, go on in.”
Snapping out of my trance, I realized with a jolt that I had already accepted what was to come. This realization only made me more flustered, and I could feel my legs trembling as I forced myself to step inside.
The interior of Clayton’s villa was bathed in bright colors, the decor warm and inviting, just like his appearance. Yet despite the surroundings, I couldn’t shake the tension twisting in my gut.
Clayton closed the door softly behind us and then turned to me with a tender expression. “Why is your face so red? Is it too warm in here? Would you like to take off your jacket?”
The thought of what I was wearing—or rather, not wearing—beneath my jacket made me anxious. I shook my head emphatically. “No, it’s not warm. I’m perfectly fine.”
Amused, Clayton’s smile deepened, his tone growing even gentler. “Don’t be so tense. It’s just the two of us tonight.”
Just the two of us?
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The fact that we were alone did little to soothe my nerves. If anything, it made me more anxious. I found myself avoiding his gaze, lost in my awkwardness.
Clayton chuckled softly, almost resignedly, and gestured to the sofa. “Please, have a seat.”
I nodded and perched myself uneasily on the edge of the sofa.
Clayton poured a glass of juice and handed it to me. “Here, try this. It’s quite good!”
“Thank you,” I murmured, taking the glass and sipping the cool, sweet-sour juice. The icy sensation was a small comfort, helping to calm my racing heart.
Clayton settled beside me, keeping a respectful distance. His voice was soft as he asked, “You seem quite nervous, aren’t you?”
I bit my lower lip; his gentle inquiry only heightened my awareness of the situation.
Unable to contain my curiosity, I finally mustered the courage to ask, “Your Highness, can I ask you something?”
Clayton’s kind expression didn’t falter. “Of course. Ask me anything.”
After a brief hesitation, I blurted out the question that had been nagging at me, “Why did you say that to your father earlier?”
It puzzled me how someone like Clayton, who I had only met a handful of times, seemed to treat me so differently.
Clayton chuckled softly, tilting his head as he looked at me, his golden eyes brimming with warmth.
Instead of directly answering, he said, “Do you know something? You have a unique scent—one that is soothing. It sets you apart from the others.”
I felt a bitter smile tug at my lips as I lowered my head. “Maybe it’s because the scent of my wolf is too faint. That’s probably why I seem different.”
I’d been teased about my faint wolf scent ever since I was a child.
But Clayton’s gaze was steady as he met my eyes. “Makenna, don’t underestimate yourself. Your scent—it is calming to my wolf, and that’s something I find incredibly attractive. It’s why I chose you this morning.”
Could my scent have that effect on him?
I was taken aback by his words. Lycans were known to be powerful; their wolves were often hard to control, making them dangerous. Even Clayton, who seemed so gentlemanly, could be ruthless when his wolf took over.
But to think that I, of all people, could soothe such force… it was hard to believe.
While I was lost in thought, Clayton suddenly leaned in closer.
His handsome face was mere inches from mine, and I was startled, jumping up instinctively to dodge him. In my haste, I forgot about the juice in my hand. It splashed all over me.
“Good grief!” I cried out, quickly shrugging off my jacket.
When I looked up, I found Clayton staring at me, his expression one of utter surprise.
