Chapter 23: Chapter 23

It was like I was deprived of breathing, and I can't explain why.

Just then, I heard the door make a clicking sound, showing it was unlocked, but I knew he must have left. The noise outside has died down, and it has been hours ago.

"There is no need to open the door when he is gone already. I hate you all!!" I bawled in tears without turning, but just at that moment, I smelled the Lycan scent.

Not only did I smell this most pleasant Lycan scent, which made my entire body shiver with a very sweet sensation waving through me from the inside.

I spun around sharply, and all I was able to see was his gold wavy hair that just swayed through the air in a swift way. His speed was so extreme that I couldn't see his face before he swooze past the door and out of my room, shutting it back as it was.

I left the bed and made to run after him, but couldn't take three steps forward before Nana walked into the room in a flurry of activity as her eyes wandered around. She looked so pained and scared.

My feet gummed at one point as I followed her with my eyes as she darted her gaze around the room.

"Where is he?" She asked, and my brows arched in confusion, unable to comprehend what she was asking about.

She stopped looking around and faced me with eyes bloodshot with anger.

"He came here, right?!" She yelled at me, and I got even more confused.

"Who?" I managed to mumble as it was hard to understand what was making her this furious.

"The Lycan prince came here!!" She yelled again, slapping me so hard that my neck snapped to the side, sending a hot sensation all over my face. The slap was so painful, but I vowed not to cry over it.

"You locked this door and caged me here. When you walked in here, it was locked. So what are you saying?" I fumed, rubbing my burning cheek. I should be so angry that she hit me, but not a single ounce of anger could slip in as so much happiness filled my heart on realizing what had just happened.

The man I saw leaving the room was Prince Jaden. I was locked here, but he snuck over to see me. Even though I was unable to see him, he saw me instead. He stood a few minutes behind me, staring at me only. This couldn't stop making my heart race in excitement.

I never know what mates' bond feels like, but I must say I felt something deeper when that lycan smell oozed into my nostrils. It was like a soothing balm to my soul. I felt inner peace and protection around that smell.

"Ava!!!" The scream of Nana made me cringe back to reality, as I was already lost in my thoughts of him.

"What were you thinking?!" She bellowed, peering into my eyes with so much envy that could raze down a building if they were to be fire. There was this fear and intimidation in her eyes that gave me so much joy.

"I wasn't thinking of anything." That was all I could fumble on seeing that she was really waiting for a reply.

"He came here and left before I could get him. Wow, what could have happened?" She mused, gritting her teeth in anger.

"I thought you kept guards outside to prevent me from going out. Go ask them if anyone came in here "

"They said no one came in here, but I don't believe those weaklings! He came here!" She bawled, kicking the table in exasperation as she glared at me so hard that I felt like she would gun me down with those eyes.

"Why do you think so? And what really happened? Is he leaving you in the palace to come up here for me? Wait, you mean, your boyfriend left you and came searching for me?.." I snickered, saying each word with heavy sarcasm and mockery, and that really made her cheeks flush pure red in shame.

"What do..you..mean?"

Her voice was suddenly cracked as she asked the question.

"You know what I mean. How could you think he came here to see me after claiming him as your boyfriend. Stop being insecure, it makes you disgusting." I scoffed, and another slap from her lashed across my other cheek.

Hot tears formed in my eyes, but I never let them fall as I stared straight into her face, which was all red as if she was the one slapped.

"He will never come to see you, bitch!" She snorted in shame, hurrying out of the room like one who was being chased. I knew my words made her realize how entirely stupid she had been.

But it was all true.

Prince Jaden had left her there in the palace and came here to meet me. And what were those feelings his presence had triggered in me? Could we be mates?

Could our mate bond be the force driving us together at all cost? Or God, why couldn't I see his face? That gold hair looked so celestial and flew over the air like he was an angel.

He must have left because he senses Nana coming. And those guards didn't see him come in? How? What really happened?