The Wolf Princess’s Seven Promised Mates Chapter 03

The Wolf Princess’s Seven Promised Mates Chapter 03

Selina linked her arm through mine, her eyes sparkling as she swayed back and forth playfully.

“I want to learn how to ride too. Please, sister?”

I would have said yes without a second thought before. I was never a mean person. On good days, I would even pay for her lessons myself.

But memories of the previous night turned my stomach.

I pulled my arm away sharply.

“Stay away from me.”

I did not use much strength, but Selina stumbled backward and tumbled down the stairs dramatically.

“Selina!”

Damian’s panicked shout echoed from below. I looked down and saw all seven promised mates standing in the hall.

“How could you be so cruel, Aurora?” Zane was the first to snap. He had the shortest temper out of all of them. “What did Selina do to deserve being pushed down the stairs?”

“Zane, don’t blame her,” Selina tugged at his sleeve, putting on a timid act. “It was my fault. I lost my balance.”

Her eyes glistened with tears as she spoke. Everyone around me stared with undisguised loathing.

Damian’s gaze was colder than ice.

He said nothing. He simply picked Selina up and carried her away, not giving me a chance to explain myself.

A bitter laugh escaped me. There was no point in explaining anyway. None of them would believe me.

My equestrian lesson was originally meant for only Damian and me.

I arrived at the riding grounds and found Selina waiting there too.

She smiled sweetly at me.

“Brother asked me to come. Don’t worry, I won’t get in your way. The coach will teach me separately.”

Her words sounded polite, but Damian never left Selina’s side once the lesson began.

He fitted the saddle for her with his own hands and lifted her onto the horse with one arm.

Selina had no experience riding. Damian stood beside her, guiding her hands and posture step by step.

When she grew tired and wanted to get down, Damian knelt on one knee so she could step down using his shoulder.

The sight cut deep into my heart.

I had once stepped onto a horse using his shoulder too.

Back then, Father had been watching.

“A true wolf king only kneels for his mate,” Father had told Damian. “Come here. Let Aurora use your shoulder.”

Father meant no insult. He was simply passing down an honorable tradition. My mother had always stepped onto horses using Father’s shoulder.

I was just a small child at the time. I set my feet on Damian’s broad shoulder, and my heart raced wildly.

I had fallen for him right then. I never noticed the look of humiliation in his eyes.

I thought Damian hated having others step on him, so I never asked him to kneel for me again after that one time.

Now I watched him kneel willingly for Selina. It felt like someone had sprinkled shards of glass into my eyes.