We're here for you

"Harper," he said. "What are you doing here?"

I didn't answer him. I just stared at him, my anger and defiance boiling over.

"I told you to stay in your room," he said. "You're not supposed to be here."

"I don't care what you said," I said. "I'm not your prisoner."

"You are my mate," he said. "And you will do as I say."

"I'm not your mate," I said. "And I never will be."

A murmur of shock went through the crowd. Everyone was staring at us now.

"What are you saying?" Andrew asked.

"I'm saying that I don't want to be your mate," I said. "I don't want to be your queen. I don't want anything to do with you."

"You're being ridiculous," Andrew said. "You're my mate. You belong to me."

"I don't belong to anyone," I said. "I'm my person. And I'll never belong to you."

Someone in the crowd laughed. "Hear, hear!" they said.

More laughter erupted from the crowd. Andrew's face turned red with anger.

"You're making a fool of yourself," he said. "Everyone is laughing at you."

"I don't care," I said. "I'd rather be a fool than your mate."

I turned and walked away, leaving Andrew standing there, humiliated.

I walked out of the hall and into the courtyard. I took a deep breath of fresh air, and I felt my anger start to subside.

I knew that I had made a scene, but I didn't care. I had to stand up for myself. I had to let Andrew know that I would never be his mate.

I walked through the courtyard, and I saw my parents standing by the fountain. They saw me and came over.

"Harper," my mother said. "What was all that about?"

"I told Andrew that I'm not his mate," I said. "And I never will be."

My parents looked at each other, and I could see the relief on their faces.

"We're so glad," my father said. "We never wanted you to be with him."

"I'm glad too," I said. "I'm finally free."

I hugged my parents, and then I turned and walked away. I was finally free. I was finally myself.

I hurried through the dark corridors of the ancient castle, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn't shake off the overwhelming mix of fear and desire that had consumed me since Andrew's shocking revelation.

I reached the open courtyard and saw Andrew standing there, his piercing eyes fixed upon me. He was seething with anger, and I could see the hurt and betrayal in his eyes. I knew that my rejection had wounded him deeply.

"Harper!" he called out, his voice filled with hurt and betrayal. "You can't just walk away from me like this!"

I paused, my body trembling with conflicting emotions. I turned to face him, my voice barely above a whisper. "I... I need time, Andrew. This is all too much to handle."

He took a step forward, his gaze fierce and pleading. "Harper, I love you. I would never hurt you. I need to mark you, claim you as mine, so that we can be bound together forever!"

My heart ached at his words. I knew that the bond he spoke of had a power beyond my comprehension. But I also feared losing myself in his world, losing the independence I cherished. I mustered up the courage to voice my doubts.

"Andrew, I can't simply surrender myself to you. I need to understand what this means for me, for us. I can't give up everything I am without knowing the consequences."

His frustration grew, and he clenched his fists to control his rising anger. "Harper, I'm fighting every instinct in me to hold back, but the pull between us is undeniable. If I don't mark you soon, I'll lose you forever."

My eyes welled up with tears as I tried to reason with him. "Can't we find another way? A way where we can both be sure and make an informed decision? I can't lose myself in you blindly, Andrew."

His parents and advisors interjected, their concerned voices attempting to reason with him. They explained the importance of my consent, of my need to understand and embrace their world willingly. But Andrew's desperation clouded his judgment, blinding him to their words.

"No! I won't let her slip away." His voice quivered with a mix of determination and vulnerability. "I won't allow her to walk out of my life without a fight."

I watched as Andrew's inner conflict unfolded before me. I could see the love and the anguish in his eyes, the battle between his primal nature and his desire to protect me. Deep down, I knew I had sparked a tempest within him, a tempest that threatened to consume us both.

"Andrew, I need time to think. Time to understand what you're asking of me. I need to be sure that I can keep my own identity while being a part of your world."

His grip on his emotions wavered for a moment. He reached out towards me, his voice cracking with raw vulnerability. "Harper, please... I can't lose you. Give me a chance to make you understand, to show you that love and darkness can coexist."

I felt torn, my heart aching for the love that burned within Andrew, but also for the freedom I needed to hold onto. With a final look filled with uncertainty and longing, I turned away, retreating into the depths of the castle, leaving Andrew standing alone in the desolate courtyard.

I stumbled through the front door, tears streaming down my face, and slammed it shut behind me. The weight of my sorrow seemed unbearable as I raced up the stairs to my room. The darkness within me threatened to consume everything I once held dear.

Locking myself in, I collapsed onto my bed and allowed the tears to flow freely. The room echoed with my anguished sobs, the sound reverberating off the walls and blending with the hollow ache in my chest. How did I end up here? Lost in this twisted web of love and pain.

I heard a faint knock on the door, followed by my mother's worried voice. "Harper, please open the door. We're here for you."