Their Hidden Princess (Zora and Maximus) novel Chapter 288

Chapter 288

Zora’s POV

Leaving the others behind, I rushed after Kairos, following him into the woods. Even when I lost sight of him, I knew exactly where he was, following the pull of our mate bond. Though even if I couldn’t feel the bond, all I had to do was follow the destruction and debris.

Kairos was likely still in his human form. From the holes in the bark, it seemed as if he was punching tree after tree as he rushed through the forest.

After a short time, I came to a clearing, and there, I found Kairos.

“You shouldn’t have followed me,” he said, a growl on his voice,

“Neo was wrong,” I said, “You are important to me, Kairos. Don’t listen to him.”

“I don’t care about him, or what he says.”

“But then why…?”

In a blink, Kairos turned and rushed up to me. I wasn’t afraid of him, but I found myself backing up anyway, just out of surprise. He’d planned that, and cornered me up into the base of an old tree. With my back flat against the bark, he boxed me in with his hands gripping the bark at either side of my hips.

“There is something wrong about him,” Kairos said. “And seeing him touch you… like he’s allowed.”

“He is allowed. He’s one of my mates.” I didn’t understand where this mistrust in Neo was coming from. Yes, he was cursed, but shouldn’t that make him more sympathetic? Not less so? Yet Kairos was acting like Neo was some kind of enemy.

“I sense something off about him,” Kairos said. “Are you sure he’s a werewolf?”

“He has to be,” I said, though suddenly I was unsure. “Doesn’t he have to be, to be my mate?”

“Are you sure he’s your mate?”

“Yes, that I do know, I can feel it in my chest. He’s definitely-”

Kairos growled louder and kissed me, his lips stealing the words I had been about to say. Maybe he didn’t want to hear them, but that was part of the problem, wasn’t it? He needed to listen, to understand, to accept. Neo might be unusual, but I had no doubt he was my mate, I could feel the bonds growing stronger, and once we consummated our connection, that bond would be indestructible,

“Stop thinking of him when you are with me,” Kairos growled against my lips.

“We were just talking about

Again, he quieted me with a hot kiss

“When we are together, I want to be the most special one in your heart.”

I shook my head lightly, though my thoughts were swimming, difficult to put together. Kairos was so passionate, he was like holding fire. When I was with him like this, it was difficult to do much more than react

“All of my mates are special…”

“No. I will prove myself, if I must ”

“Kairos, that’s not necessary.”

“Your new mate may be physically faster than me, but he will never best me in this.” A fire sparked in his eyes.

“In what?” I asked.

Although whenever Neo was around, it seemed a fight was always about to start.

I needed to try to do or say something that would solve tensions.

While Max and Thorne’s faces softened as they looked at me, Neo’s hardened, his gaze sliding to where I was still holding Kairos ‘hand.

“We have to talk about this,” I told the group as I approached, and while I was speaking to everyone, I meant Neo the most. Neo’s overly possessive behavior wasn’t helping the others accept him. If he was going to gain their trust, as he had promised me he would do, then he needed to show it as well.

“No,” Neo growled. He stormed toward me.

Kairos started to step in his way, but I released his hand to hold it up, signaling him to stop,

When Neo reached me, he grabbed me, drew me to him, pressing me up against his hard chest, and dropped his lips to mine, conquering my mouth with his kiss. The kiss his dominant, demanding and rough as he bit at my bottom lip.

but not like this. Not with the others

I didn’t hate it. In fact, my heart surged. I would have loved to feel and taste more watching. Not when Neo wasn’t doing this because he wanted me, but instead because he wanted to claim me. To dominate me in front of my other mates, in an effort to belittle them.

I pushed both hands against Neo’s chest, but he was so strong. He didn’t give an inch, kissing me until I couldn’t breathe, and I had to bite him in return, splitting his lip, drawing blood. He leaned back then, startled. When I pushed again, he finally let me go.

His eyes went wide, like he was surprised by his own reaction. “Zora, I –”

I didn’t wait for an apology or an explanation.

I slapped him across the face.