Chapter 7: Who Exactly Is Rowan Vale?

The terrace went silent.

I slowly turned toward Rowan.

"What does he mean?"

Rowan's jaw tightened.

Knox looked almost triumphant.

"He didn't tell you?"

"Knox," Rowan warned.

The single word carried enough authority to make several nearby students instinctively step backward.

I noticed it this time.

Not just his voice.

The reaction.

People were staring at Rowan differently.

Some looked shocked.

Others lowered their eyes.

Even students from powerful Packs seemed unwilling to meet his gaze.

Elodie had gone pale.

She whispered something to Knox, but he ignored her.

"Tell her," Knox said.

"Since you're so righteous, tell her exactly who you are."

I folded my arms.

"Rowan?"

He looked at me.

For the first time since we met, genuine uncertainty crossed his face.

"I was going to tell you."

"You've said that before."

"I know."

"Then tell me now."

He exhaled.

"My full name is Rowan Aurelian Vale."

Tessa gasped behind me.

I looked at her.

"What?"

"Nessa."

Her eyes were enormous.

"Vale. As in Nightvale?"

The name finally clicked.

Nightvale.

One of the oldest and most powerful Lycan bloodlines on the continent.

A Pack whose territory stretched across several northern regions.

A family whose authority exceeded ordinary Alpha families.

The current Supreme Alpha came from House Vale.

My gaze slowly returned to Rowan.

"You're related to the Supreme Alpha?"

Knox laughed.

"Related?"

Rowan's expression darkened.

"Enough."

"Why? Afraid she'll run once she realizes what you are?"

Knox turned toward me.

"He's the Supreme Alpha's only son."

Silence crashed over the terrace.

My brain stopped working.

I looked at Rowan.

He didn't deny it.

"You're the heir?"

"Yes."

My wolf seemed delighted.

Of course.

Apparently finding a normal mate would have been too easy.

"And you thought this detail wasn't important?"

"It is important."

"You told me your family moved in the same circles as Knox's!"

"Technically true."

I stared at him.

"Do not technically true me right now."

"Sorry."

Knox stepped closer.

"See? He's been lying since the beginning."

I snapped my gaze toward him.

"You don't get a vote."

His expression hardened.

"I'm trying to protect you."

"From what? Someone who liked me when I was fat?"

Knox flinched.

I turned back to Rowan.

"Outside. Now."

He followed without argument.

We walked beyond the terrace and into the moonlit university gardens.

For several minutes, neither of us spoke.

Music from the ballroom faded behind us.

Finally, Rowan said, "I'm sorry."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because people change when they know."

"Know what?"

"Who my father is."

His voice was quiet.

"Every friendship becomes political. Every girl suddenly wonders whether becoming my mate means becoming Luna of Nightvale someday. Every conversation becomes careful."

He looked at me.

"You weren't careful with me."

"I called your haircut stupid last month."

"Exactly."

Despite my anger, my mouth twitched.

"It was stupid."

"You said I looked like a wet husky."

"You did."

"And I liked that."

His expression softened.

"With you, I could just be Rowan."

I looked away.

"You still should've told me."

"I know."

"Especially before meeting me."

"I know."

"And before letting me discover you're my mate."

"That part surprised me too."

I sighed.

Rowan stepped closer but maintained enough distance not to touch me.

"I'm not asking you to forgive me tonight."

"Good."

"I'm asking for the chance to earn your trust."

The sincerity in his voice made it difficult to stay angry.

I hated that.

"We'll see."

His eyes brightened.

"That's not a no."

"Don't push it."

"Right."

We continued walking.

After a moment, I asked, "Why was Knox so angry about you?"

Rowan's expression changed.

"Our Packs have history."

"Bad history?"

"Competitive history."

"That's diplomatic language for bad."

"Pretty much."

"And you taking the girlfriend he threw away probably didn't help."

"I didn't take you."

"You literally accepted his transfer."

"Worst decision and best decision of my life."

I looked at him.

"That makes no sense."

"Worst because I lied to you."

His gaze softened.

"Best because it led me back to you."

Back.

The word made something strange stir inside me.

"Back?"

Rowan stopped walking.

For the briefest second, something unreadable crossed his face.

"Figure of speech."

I didn't believe him.

Before I could question him, voices approached from behind.

Knox.

"Nessa."

I groaned.

"Does he ever stop?"

Rowan's expression became cold again.

Knox walked toward us alone.

"I need five minutes."

"You already had more than five."

"Please."

The word surprised me.

Knox had never sounded desperate before.

"What?"

He glanced at Rowan.

"Alone."

"No."

"Nessa-"

"Whatever you need to say, say it here."

His fists clenched.

Finally, he looked directly at me.

"I didn't know you looked like this."

I laughed in disbelief.

"You're really starting with that again?"

"Listen to me. I know what I did was wrong."

"Do you?"

"Yes."

He swallowed.

"I shouldn't have transferred the account."

"You shouldn't have called me disgusting either."

"I was showing off."

"You shouldn't have posted me for strangers like an unwanted object."

"I know."

"You shouldn't have let another man pretend to be you while I believed I was still talking to my boyfriend."

"I know!"

His voice cracked.

He ran a hand through his hair.

"I screwed up."

For the first time, Knox actually looked ashamed.

But it changed nothing.

"I'm sorry," he said.

I studied him.

"Would you be saying this if I still weighed two hundred pounds?"

He froze.

That silence answered everything.

I smiled sadly.

"That's what I thought."

I turned away.

Knox grabbed my wrist.

The reaction was immediate.

A terrifying growl ripped through the garden.

Rowan's eyes flashed completely silver.

Power rolled outward from him.

Not ordinary Alpha pressure.

Something heavier.

Older.

Every werewolf nearby froze instinctively.

Knox released me.

Rowan stepped between us.

"Touch my mate again without her permission," he said quietly, "and being Stormridge's heir won't save you."

Knox's face went rigid.

"Mate?"

I closed my eyes.

Well.

There went keeping that private.

Knox looked at me as though someone had struck him.

"He's your mate?"

I didn't answer.

I didn't need to.

The scent between Rowan and me had already changed.

Recognition slowly transformed Knox's shock into disbelief.

"No."

He shook his head.

"No way."

Rowan's hand hovered near mine without touching.

Waiting.

Asking.

I looked at it.

Then deliberately placed my hand in his.

The mate bond surged warmly through me.

Knox watched.

His face turned white.

For three months, he had believed he'd thrown away something worthless.

Tonight, he finally understood.

The girl he had discarded was standing beside the future Supreme Alpha.

And worse for him-

She was his fated mate.