Mated To The Hybrid Prince - Chapter 86: Chapter 86
You are reading Mated To The Hybrid Prince, Chapter 86: Chapter 86. Read more chapters of Mated To The Hybrid Prince.
(Zion’s POV)
I couldn’t get her out of my head.
Ragnar wouldn’t stop howling with joy, pacing restlessly inside me. I had to numb his emotions just to think clearly but even that didn’t help much.
I had only seen her for a second… just one moment. But her werewolf scent: fresh lavender, sweet and wild, clung to my senses like a memory I couldn’t shake.
She had stared at me after I caught her from falling, her eyes wide with something between fear and familiarity. Then, with a quiet defiance, she stepped aside, lifted her chin, and walked away like she didn’t just feel the same pull I did.
Who was she?
Where was she from?
And why had Lucien stepped aside like that? Almost like… he knew her? As though he was giving us space? Did they know each other?
I rubbed my jaw as Lucien led us backstage. The lights dimmed behind us, and the noise of the crowd faded into a low hum. Ahead, voices mingled; stylists, techs, coordinators, all busy, all focused. A small crew handed me a printed version of the speech.
I didn’t even glance at it. I didn't need it.
Lucien turned to me, eyebrows raised. “Ready?”
I gave a tight nod. “Yeah. Ready as ever.”
He was called first. Lucien straightened his jacket and walked out to the stage with that polished grace of his. I stood behind the curtain, took a deep breath, and rolled my shoulders. The moment he said my name, I stepped forward.
The spotlight blinded me for a heartbeat.
Then I saw her... Her face in the crowd.. Those eyes. That lavender scent struck me harder now.
Ragnar stirred again, barking excitedly in my head.
She stared at me, frozen. Her lips parted like she wanted to say something, and then… She stumbled backward and slammed into a waiter.
A tray of drinks crashed to the floor. Glasses shattered, champagne spilled everywhere. The clatter silenced the room for a second.
I almost moved. Almost rushed forward, but I stopped myself.
This was the human realm. I had to be careful. Even if she was a werewolf, she might not know who I was. If she’d lived here her whole life, she might not even recognize her own kind. I couldn’t scare her; not here, not now.
Her dress was soaked, and her face turned red with embarrassment. She looked like she wanted the earth to swallow her whole. A friend maybe, grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the back hallway.
She didn’t look back.
I forced my attention to the microphone.
“Good evening, everyone,” I began. My voice was steady, even though my pulse thundered. “Thank you for being here tonight. Years ago, Virelux Conglomerate was nothing but a dream…”
The words came naturally.
But my mind was nowhere near that stage. I kept seeing her eyes… and how they had looked at me like I was both a stranger and someone she once knew.
When the speech ended, the room erupted in applause. I smiled, posed for pictures, and exchanged greetings with popular names in the business world.
But I kept glancing toward the exit.
She never came back.
The banquet was served. People clinked glasses, toasted to Virelux’s future. Lucien introduced me to a few dignitaries and I gave polite nods but inside, I was unraveling.
Finally, I leaned toward Lucien. “I need a minute.”
He studied me for a moment. “You good?”
“Yeah,” I lied. “Just need some air.”
Lucien didn’t press. “Alright. I’ll be here when you need me.”
I slipped away from the table, following the faint lavender trail that still lingered in the air.
She was still in the hotel. I could feel it.
It led me through quiet hallways, up a narrow stairwell, and onto a small rooftop balcony. The noise of the party below was a distant murmur now, swallowed by the wind and city sounds.
And there she was.
Standing at the edge of the balcony, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. Her dress, still damp, clung to her in the breeze. She looked smaller here, more vulnerable. Her back was to me, but I noticed the slight tremble in her shoulders.
I didn’t want to startle her, so I spoke softly.
“Beautiful view, isn’t it?”
She flinched… and then slowly turned around with tears in her eyes.
I couldn’t get her out of my head.
Ragnar wouldn’t stop howling with joy, pacing restlessly inside me. I had to numb his emotions just to think clearly but even that didn’t help much.
I had only seen her for a second… just one moment. But her werewolf scent: fresh lavender, sweet and wild, clung to my senses like a memory I couldn’t shake.
She had stared at me after I caught her from falling, her eyes wide with something between fear and familiarity. Then, with a quiet defiance, she stepped aside, lifted her chin, and walked away like she didn’t just feel the same pull I did.
Who was she?
Where was she from?
And why had Lucien stepped aside like that? Almost like… he knew her? As though he was giving us space? Did they know each other?
I rubbed my jaw as Lucien led us backstage. The lights dimmed behind us, and the noise of the crowd faded into a low hum. Ahead, voices mingled; stylists, techs, coordinators, all busy, all focused. A small crew handed me a printed version of the speech.
I didn’t even glance at it. I didn't need it.
Lucien turned to me, eyebrows raised. “Ready?”
I gave a tight nod. “Yeah. Ready as ever.”
He was called first. Lucien straightened his jacket and walked out to the stage with that polished grace of his. I stood behind the curtain, took a deep breath, and rolled my shoulders. The moment he said my name, I stepped forward.
The spotlight blinded me for a heartbeat.
Then I saw her... Her face in the crowd.. Those eyes. That lavender scent struck me harder now.
Ragnar stirred again, barking excitedly in my head.
She stared at me, frozen. Her lips parted like she wanted to say something, and then… She stumbled backward and slammed into a waiter.
A tray of drinks crashed to the floor. Glasses shattered, champagne spilled everywhere. The clatter silenced the room for a second.
I almost moved. Almost rushed forward, but I stopped myself.
This was the human realm. I had to be careful. Even if she was a werewolf, she might not know who I was. If she’d lived here her whole life, she might not even recognize her own kind. I couldn’t scare her; not here, not now.
Her dress was soaked, and her face turned red with embarrassment. She looked like she wanted the earth to swallow her whole. A friend maybe, grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the back hallway.
She didn’t look back.
I forced my attention to the microphone.
“Good evening, everyone,” I began. My voice was steady, even though my pulse thundered. “Thank you for being here tonight. Years ago, Virelux Conglomerate was nothing but a dream…”
The words came naturally.
But my mind was nowhere near that stage. I kept seeing her eyes… and how they had looked at me like I was both a stranger and someone she once knew.
When the speech ended, the room erupted in applause. I smiled, posed for pictures, and exchanged greetings with popular names in the business world.
But I kept glancing toward the exit.
She never came back.
The banquet was served. People clinked glasses, toasted to Virelux’s future. Lucien introduced me to a few dignitaries and I gave polite nods but inside, I was unraveling.
Finally, I leaned toward Lucien. “I need a minute.”
He studied me for a moment. “You good?”
“Yeah,” I lied. “Just need some air.”
Lucien didn’t press. “Alright. I’ll be here when you need me.”
I slipped away from the table, following the faint lavender trail that still lingered in the air.
She was still in the hotel. I could feel it.
It led me through quiet hallways, up a narrow stairwell, and onto a small rooftop balcony. The noise of the party below was a distant murmur now, swallowed by the wind and city sounds.
And there she was.
Standing at the edge of the balcony, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. Her dress, still damp, clung to her in the breeze. She looked smaller here, more vulnerable. Her back was to me, but I noticed the slight tremble in her shoulders.
I didn’t want to startle her, so I spoke softly.
“Beautiful view, isn’t it?”
She flinched… and then slowly turned around with tears in her eyes.
End of Mated To The Hybrid Prince Chapter 86. Continue reading Chapter 87 or return to Mated To The Hybrid Prince book page.