Judy's POV:
The brat didn't have the slightest guard up when I gave him a light kick to snap him out of it, yet he dropped to the ground, clutching his stomach and writhing like he was about to die. I panicked and rushed to help him up.
But one second later, he sprang to his feet and bolted like a little wolf, laughing triumphantly.
"Judy, you really are easy to fool."
Nick leaned back laughing, waving his hand arrogantly, his expression absolutely begging for a punch.
I swear, if my werewolf heart weren't strong enough, this kid would've given me a stroke already.
Our chasing and bickering happened to fall right into Idris's line of sight. He was standing behind one of the concrete pillars in the palace training grounds, staring at us in stunned disbelief.
I, of course, had no idea he was there, too busy playing around with Nick.But Idris's expression… looked like a man who had "just watched his wife get stolen." His hand clenched the pillar so tightly that the bark-like coating dug into his fingertips and drew blood before he snapped out of his jealous haze.He muttered to himself, as if trying to reassure his own heart:
"It's fine… If she agreed to my proposal in the last life, then in this life she definitely will too…"
Meanwhile, I caught Nick by the collar. I punched him a few times to vent my irritation, and he stood still, obedient, as if being hit was a privilege.
When I grew tired, he naturally took my hand and gently soothed it.I yanked away, he caught it again. Only when I was out of breath did he finally say something so ridiculous I burst out laughing.
From afar, Idris turned and left, clearly unwilling to accept what he had seen.
Nick walked beside me, and unlike me, he knew Idris was there, he had sensed him from the start. Which was exactly why he was being extra clingy and affectionate: deliberately provoking him. Before we left the training grounds, Nick even cast one last glance in Idris's direction, lips curling in blatant mockery, radiating smugness.
When we returned to Skywind Pavilion, Jason was no longer there. I glanced around; before I could even process anything, Nick suddenly stepped in front of me, blocking my view completely.
My heart tightened. A werewolf's instinct never lies.
And then a familiar laugh sounded behind me.
"Miss Johnston, looking for Jason?"
That voice, Crown Prince Frantic.
I stepped out from behind Nick and bowed with proper royal etiquette."Greetings, Your Highness. Have you seen my brother?"
Nick bowed as well, expression blank.
"Him? Hard to imagine he has any free time at the moment."
The prince's gaze swept past me briefly before settling on Nick. His eyes were slow, probing evaluating the instincts of a young wolf.
"The flower you're holding… it's beautiful."
Nick narrowed his eyes. His gaze chilled degree by degree. I could feel the oppressive aura of a werewolf radiating off him, thin but sharp, like frost coating a blade.
"I have matters to attend to. Excuse me." Prince Frantic smiled, a polite but unreadable smile then turned and walked off.
Only after his silhouette vanished did I finally breathe again. My entire back was soaked with cold sweat, like I had just escaped the fangs of someone several ranks above me in the power hierarchy.
Nick tilted his head toward me, voice lower than usual:
"You're scared of him."
"Of course I am." I tried to keep my voice steady. "He's the future Alpha of the royal family. Who wouldn't be scared?"
Nick pressed his lips together, silent.
I knew exactly what he was thinking, he had smelled it too: the scent of the same species, the same instinct, the same dominance.
A young Alpha… recognizing the Alpha of the future. Enough to put both of us on edge.
"Nick, you're acting strange today." I grabbed his arm, looking into his eyes, trying to read his true emotions.
His mood was wildly unstable. It was his first time entering the royal territory, he should not be acting this hostile.
He frowned at the flower in my hand, clearly irritated.
"Let me hold it."
Without waiting for me to answer, he snatched it away.
"Huh?"
"I picked it. Why can't I hold it?"
I sighed. "Fine, fine. What's mine is yours."
Nick hugged the flower like a treasure just as Jason came running toward us.His face was calm but his clothes were covered in dirt.
"What… happened to you?"
Jason brushed the dust off and replied casually:
"Nothing. Slipped and fell."
Fell? In the royal palace? My brother, who walked like an illustration in an etiquette book? Fell?
Impossible.
I frowned, knowing something wasn't right. But Jason only smiled, insisting no one bullied him. Still, when he walked, his fingertips trembled slightly and the tips of his ears were red.
The three of us left the palace and returned to the Johnston estate. Only after passing the gate did I finally breathe out.
I said goodbye to my brother and returned to my residence. Nick followed quietly behind me.
My mind was a mess, too many old faces, too many old wounds resurfacing.
Lost in thought, I didn't notice Gita falling behind. When I lifted my head, the world suddenly went dark.
I collided straight into Nick's broad, warm chest.
"A..." My nose throbbed, eyes tearing up.
His rough fingers cupped my nose, gently wiping the tears and brushing the tiny mole beneath my eye before pulling his hand back in a fluster.
"Sorry, Judy," he murmured.
I wiped my face, grumbling:
"Why did you stop so suddenly?"
Nick smiled, his dark eyes clear and pure. He pointed at the sky:
"Judy, it's still early. Let me take you horseback riding."
"Horseback riding?" I raised a brow. "If we leave the city, it'll be dark soon."
Nick shrugged, as if everything was under perfect control:
"Then we'll stay at the family ranch outside the city. Ride again tomorrow morning. You won't have to wake up early."
A marquis household even one with a fancy appearance but a hollow core still had several estates. Completely normal.
"But doing this without permission… Mother will..."
Nick looked at me, reading my hesitation in one glance.
"Judy Judy, I'm here. You don't have to worry."
His offer truly tempted me, my heart even gave a tiny flutter but rationality yanked me back.
This wasn't proper. How could I casually run off with him like that? Even thinking about it felt dangerous.
Nick lowered his gaze. His eyes just one look pierced directly into the truest part of me, the part that hid desires I didn't dare admit.
"What are you afraid of?" he said softly, voice calm but firm. "With me beside you, you don't have to worry."
When the boy said that, his aura surged bright, confident, almost overwhelming. He trusted himself far more than I trusted myself. And that youthful boldness… only made my heart waver even more.
Seeing my expression soften slightly, Nick continued, voice low and decisive:
"Madam adores me. I'll talk to her ask her to let you go out. Don't worry, I'll handle everything."
I looked at him still a boy, not yet grown, yet standing before me like an unwavering shield. And that sincerity, that lack of pretense, made it even harder for me to refuse.
"…Why are you so sure?"
Nick smiled mysteriously.
"I have my ways. Now answer me, are we going or not?"
"…We're going!"
I swear this boy is leading me astray.
When I lived in the monastery and hadn't yet returned to my noble life, the thing I loved most was riding horses with Nick every spring. Freedom, fresh wind, grassy plains everything felt easier to breathe.
But since returning to the estate, I'd had no chance at all. Rules everywhere, watchful eyes everywhere… even stepping out the gate was a challenge.
Thinking it over, I realized: There's no better day than today. Nick already asked, and my heart was already softening.
Fine. For once, I would allow myself a rare moment of recklessness.
I didn't know what Nick told my mother, but she actually agreed to let us go out. What surprised me even more was that she assigned several escorts to accompany us.
Nick clearly hated that idea, he thought it was unnecessary but to leave the city without trouble, he had to accept it.
As for me…
The moment I stepped into the car, I realized just how excited I was.After months locked inside my chambers, even a sliver of freedom was enough to make my heart ache like it had come back to life.