His destined mate

Bianca's

POV

I stood there, feeling stunned and confused. The pain from where Emily had hit me on the back of my head was throbbing. But I was even more shocked that Ethan had stepped in to defend me.

For so long, I had faced cruelty and hatred from others without anyone taking my side. Now, the powerful Lycan King himself was protecting me - his supposed "temporary mate" - from Emily's wrath.

Emily snarled, yanking her arms away from Ethan's grasp. "How dare you defend this pretender over me?" she spat. "I am your true mate, your destiny!"

Ethan's expression hardened. "You lost the right to make such claims when you disrespected our bond through your selfish actions," he stated firmly. "Bianca is my mate now, in title and treatment. You will regard her accordingly."

I felt a swell of gratitude towards Ethan for backing me, even as a part of me wondered if

he was simply keeping up our act convincingly. Did he actually care about my wellbeing,

or was I merely a pawn in his game against Emily?

Emily opened her mouth, no doubt to unleash another venomous words. But Ethan

silenced her with a sharp look. "That's enough, Emily. You've made your objections clear. Now leave us."

For a tense moment, it seemed like the obsessed woman would refuse and lash out again. Her eyes burned with bitter hatred as she glared at me. But finally, some shred of self-preservation made her back down.

"This isn't over," she bit out before whirling around and storming away.

After Emily had stormed off, an uneasy silence fell over Ethan and me. I gingerly touched the sore spot on my head where she had struck me, feeling shaken by her outburst of violence.

Ethan watched me closely. "Are you alright?" he asked, his tone losing some of its usual

gruffness.

I managed a small nod. "I'll be fine. Thank you...for defending me against her."

He inclined his head. "I gave you my word that no harm would come to you while you remain my mate, temporary or not. Emily overstepped."

His reminder of our arrangement's temporary nature reminded me not to read too much into his actions. As the Lycan King, he had his own motivations for entering into this deception.

"Of course," I replied steadily. "I know our situations is...orgplicated. But I appreciate you upholding your end of the bargain so far."

Ethan regarded me intently for a moment before giving a curt nod of acceptance. An awkward silence stretched between us until he finally spoke again.

"For this facade to work, we'll need to maintain consistent appearances," he stated matter-of-factly. "Which means sharing living quarters, at least for the immediate future." I stilled at his words, realizing what he was implying. As his supposed "mate", we would

be expected to share intimate quarters and present a united front, especially in the aftermath of Emily's confrontation.

Part of me felt apprehensive at such an extreme shift in our circumstances. But the logical side reminded me that I had agreed to fully commit to upholding this ruse, no matter how uncomfortable it became.

"I understand," I answered, keeping my tone neutral. "If that's what is required to sell this deception, then I'm prepared to do so."

Something I couldn't quite identify flickered across Ethan's chiseled features. Approval? Surprise at my willingness? Either way, he gave a short nod.

"Very well. I'll have servants prepare one of the smaller adjoining suites for you to move your belongings into tonight. We'll need to make your presence here permanent."

The implication that this situation would be my new semi-permanent living arrangement sent a shiver through me. But I pushed aside any reservations, squaring my shoulders resolutely.

"As you wish...my King," I replied, putting a touch of deference in my tone to maintain the act.

Ethan's pale eyes glittered with something like respect at my response. With a last lingering look that made me feel strangely self-conscious, he turned and headed inside, the flutter of his cloak marking his departure.

I stayed out in the garden courtyard a while longer, releasing a shaky breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. This new evolution of the deception, being forced into constant close proximity with Ethan, felt impossibly daunting. How could I uphold such without slipping up?

My gaze fell on the stone path under my feet, memories of all the cruel rejection I'd endured over the years flooding back to me. I had agreed to this bargain for a temporary chance of acceptance, of feeling wanted and valued rather than shunned as a burden. Clenching my fists, I lifted my chin with renewed determination. I would not shy away from this challenge, no matter how demanding it became. I had made an oath, one that could finally bring me out of the loneliness that had haunted me for far too long. For that chance alone, I would put every ounce of my effort into making the Lycan King and his court believe that I was his true, devoted mate. No matter what obstacles Emily threw in my way, I would not falter.

Drawing a steadying breath, I followed in Ethan's footsteps and strode back inside, ready to fully embrace my new role and all the complications that came with it.

The next few days were a blur as I got used to being Ethan's partner. Just like he promised, a fancy set of rooms next to the King's suite was made ready for me. My first night there, I was surrounded by rich furniture and decorations that were very different from the simple living conditions I was used to. The bed was incredibly luxurious with soft furs and silk sheets, which felt overly extravagant after years of sleeping on basic mats.

In the morning, a group of servants came to take care of me. They drew hot baths, offered a wide range of fancy clothes and jewelry, and made sure all my needs were met before I even asked. At first, all the attention and pampering made me feel uncomfortable. But over the next few days, I got used to the royal treatment. I made myself stay calm and act like a queen, even though it felt over the top. I had to fully embrace my new role as the Lycan King's mate.

My days followed a routine of joining Ethan for meetings with his people and advisors, always playing the role of a supportive partner. We ate together, showing unity with subtle gestures and secretive looks. Every night, I went to my chambers next to his while the servants gossiped about the "newlywed couple."

Ethan stayed mysterious but respectful. He kept his distance in public but made our act believable by treating me like a cherished mate. We perfected the deception with lingering looks, light touches, and quiet whispers, down to the smallest details. When we were alone, Ethan's demeanor softened a bit. He stopped treating me with the cold detachment he had at first. Our conversations felt different, like we were two partners depending on each other to pull off a risky plan.

"You're learning quickly," he said one evening as we reviewed plans by the fire for an upcoming visit to his lands. "I doubted you could fit into this role so smoothly."

I looked into his pale eyes, no longer intimidated. "You underestimated my determination, your Grace. I don't take on challenges lightly."

Ethan gave a faint smirk at my mild rebuke. "I see. I suppose Elizabeth's stories of your perseverance despite constant ostracism weren't exaggerated."

The mention of my oldest friend made me pause. How much had Ethan investigated about me before proposing this arrangement?

Sensing my silent question, Ethan's expression grew more serious. "Don't read too much into my background check. You were a means to an end, Bianca-assessing your capability to play your part was just practical."

His blunt words stung, but I couldn't argue with his practicality. This whole situation was built on practicality and manipulation from both of us. I was just a willing pawn to help him achieve his goals against Emily.

"Well, your assessment was clearly accurate," I replied lightly, hiding my true feelings. "I am playing my role as your mate with the utmost conviction."

Ethan held my gaze for a long, unreadable moment before giving a reluctant nod of respect.

"Yes... you are certainly that."

The words lingered between us, their deeper meanings unspoken but understood. Our arrangement was built on lies and a desperate gamble, but we were both committed to seeing it through, no matter how convincing we had to be.

The following weeks only reinforced that reality. If anyone in the Kingdom doubted the legitimacy of the Lycan King's new mate, they kept it to themselves. To everyone, Ethan and I appeared to be the perfect, devoted couple with an unbreakable bond. Only Emily continued to oppose us, criticizing our union at every opportunity and trying to win back Ethan's affection. However, her efforts were eclipsed by the constant circle of protection and respect I received as the King's mate.