Just a couple of notes before the chapter, guys, sorry! First, I really wanted to thank that explosion of new readers on Property of a Gordon! It's odd knowing the story is still within the top 1000 Werewolf stories (and is currently #62!!), and I am so very grateful. Also, go and add ROWAN to your reading list, as I'll be working on that after this story. It's also a Werewolf one!

Chapter Fifteen

The next morning, Kai and I were summoned into Prince Gordon's office. I sat in the chair while Kai stood behind me, his fingers absentmindedly rubbing circles into my neck.

There was an enforcer present with us, but he stood next to the wall, staring at nothing in particular. I'd tried talking to him, only to receive silence. So I eventually gave up.

We were the only three present in the room. Martin had been in here when we first arrived, but he cast a look our way before leaving to find the Prince.

"Do you know why we're here?" Kai asked me curiously, but I could only shrug my shoulders.

"I know as much as you, kullake," I replied as he lowered his free hand, reaching for mine. I locked our fingers together, pressing my lips to his hand. In return, I received a soft one on my hair.

"I thought perhaps he told you last night." Try as he may, Kai wasn't able to keep the words from sounding bitter.

"Don't start, Kai. I am not in the mood to hear you cry like a jumbu," I snapped, hearing his huff in response.

"I love you, Kai, and only you," I whispered, and felt his lips on my hair once again.

I had wanted to add that if he stopped worrying about Prince Gordon, he would see that, but I then became afraid. If I gave him a reason to think about it, would he truly see that I loved him? Or would he have trouble, as I did last night? That alone was enough to keep my thoughts to myself.

"I love you too, my sϋda," he replied and I knew without looking at him that a smile had appeared on his face.

The door behind us was opened, and I squeezed Kai's hand momentarily before letting go to stand up. I could only pray that there wasn't any sort of conflict between Kai and Prince Gordon.

"Good morning, Prince Gordon," I greeted as he began walking over to his desk.

His eyes met mine and he smiled briefly. "Good morning, Ivy, thank you. You can sit," he said, gesturing to the chair as he sat in his own.

I sat down and felt Kai's hand on my shoulder, stroking it. It would appear affectionate, but I knew he was being possessive. However, I didn't think he was aware he was doing it.

"Tonight, your learning will come into play. All the manners and proper etiquette that you have been taught will be needed throughout the ball tonight. It is being held in honor of the both of you."

I had already forgotten about the ball Prince Gordon told me about last night. That meant tonight, Prince Gordon would meet his Princess and potential Queen.

"There will not be many attending; however, this event is significant. All those attending are of very high importance, therefore making a good impression is necessary," he concluded.

"And what happens if we make a bad impression?" Kai asked, and it took everything in me not to turn around and scold him.

Prince Gordon replied, not seeing anything wrong with the question. "Making a bad impression on them will not give them reason to help change the lives of your kind. They will not want to stop hunting and persecuting them if you do not portray the good of your kind."

He continued speaking, a hint of a smile on his face as he said, "Fortunately, Ivy has already made a good impression on several of them." I smiled back, and waited for Kai to snap at him. I felt surprise course through my body when he didn't.

"My sϋda can make even the most vile creature fall in love with her," Kai replied, for once agreeing with Prince Gordon. I could hear the pride in his voice, mixed in with warm affection.

"Don't forget about your meeting," Martin said suddenly, interrupting them.

Prince Gordon glanced at the clock on his wall before sighing. "Ah yes, I have forgotten about that already. I will see the both of you tonight," he said, and Kai grabbed my hand, assisting me as I stood up.

"Until later, päästja," I replied with a smile before Kai led me out the door, his hand around me.

"I am proud of my imtleja," I said happily, resurrecting his earlier smile.

"What are you proud of me for, sϋdame?" he asked as he led us back to our rooms. This was the side of Kai I could never grow frustrated at, the side that made up for him being overprotective.

I paused as we made it to the rooms, stopping him. I pressing my lips against his nose, only for him to capture them with his own. It was him who pulled away, a smile lighting up his face.

"I am proud of you for acting civil in there. I think that was the first time you were in a room with him, and there wasn't trouble," I said, a smile on my own face.

"I was too busy thinking about our future together, sϋdame. I care more about that than the Prince," he said, pressing his lips to my hair once again. I stood there expectantly, waiting for him to explain further but instead he did just the opposite and walked into the room.

"Kai—" I called with a frown, my intention to know just what he was thinking about. But I was stopped before I had the chance.

"Ivy!"

I turned and found Prince Gordon walking towards me, two black, zipped bags splayed across his arms. I smiled, waving at him.

"I thought you had a meeting, päästja," I said when he finally reached me, enforcers close behind.

"I am on my way there; however, I forgot to give you and Kai your attire for this evening's ball. I thought I would drop them off myself," he explained and I took the bags from his arm, transferring them into mine.

"I am so excited for tonight! I cannot wait to meet everyone," I said, wishing the day would pass by at a faster rate.

Prince Gordon laughed in response, his eyes glowing. "I am sure they cannot wait to meet you either, my dear. I hope you enjoy the dress, as I personally chose it. I thought you would appear enchanting in it," he said and I opened my mouth to thank him, but it never came.

The door beside me flew open, and there stood an enraged lumeleopard. I only stood there as he snatched the bags from my arms, deadly eyes on Prince Gordon the entire time.

I could hear them land on the bed before Kai's arm went around my waist, and he hastily yanked me into the room, slamming the door shut.

"I tell you I'm proud of you, and you have to do something like this! You had no right to be rude to him," I snapped, my patience with Kai seeming to grow thinner and thinner.

"I'm tired of you pretending that you aren't fond with him or throw yourself in his direction every time he so much as glances at you! If the leap were alive, you wouldn't even consider acknowledging the Prince," he spat, his words growing more heated with each passing second.

I was quiet at first, unsure of how to respond. His words were angry, yet they were true. All I wanted was to be considered a part of the leap, not the shamed leopardess I was. Talking to any male, let alone one with power like Prince Gordon, wouldn't have been accepted by anyone in the leap.

"You are right, Kai: I wouldn't have spoken to him," I started, satisfaction building in his eyes. "I wanted nothing more than their approval. But doing so would make me selfish because Prince Gordon is a better man than you will ever amount to."

The moment the words left, I instantly regretted them. Kai's face was an expressionless shield, locking me away from him and widening the gap between us. We both descended into silence, neither of us knowing what to say.

Kai started to walk away, but paused when he was by my side, our shoulder next to one another. He didn't turn to face me, or do anything. He simply spoke. "If I catch you near the Prince again, I'll kill him." He said nothing more but walked out, the door booming behind him.

I sunk onto the bed, knowing I shouldn't have said that. Kai got the best of me, and I didn't really understand what I was saying until the words had already been voiced.

It was certainly wrong of me to compare the two of them. They had both grown up in completely different environments and lived different lives. They both had their own strengths and their own flaws.

However, I was not the only one at fault. Kai had no reason to be angry at me. Just because I was kind to Prince Gordon, much unlike Kai, did not mean I would ever leave Kai.

If Kai paid close enough attention, he would come to the realization that nothing was happening. Never did I give Prince Gordon the type of intimate affection I did Kai. I enjoyed Prince Gordon's company, but even if Kai's suspicions were correct, I could never see myself by his side.

Already, one Gordon brother had chosen his spouse over the thoughts of society. He had been praised by our leap, but werewolves and humans alike resented the relationship. In their eyes, humans shouldn't dilute their genetics by mixing with a beast. In their eyes, a werewolf shouldn't remain loyal to the very family that was responsible for her own kind's fall.

It was not likely another Gordon brother would put himself through the same thing. Relationships like that were extremely forbidden now and never found among royalty. When they were found among common people, the pair were sentenced to punishment and clubbed to death to convey the wrongness of the two.

I also didn't think I had the strength within me to go through that. Living within the leap was brutal enough, but having two whole races go against you? Kendall's spouse was strong for remaining by his side and had a fire I could only dream of. Females like her were the reason I wanted so badly for this to work, for Kai and I to help our kind.

Kai knew I would become his mate, not a human's. It was what I had been taught from the moment Kai chose me. I did not know how to be anything else. I knew how Kai's gears functioned, not Prince Gordon's.

For a relationship to work, it required mutual affection and love. I knew better than to fall for Prince Gordon because he would not find interest in someone of my kind when he had beautiful Princesses to choose from.

Prince Gordon was one of the nicest people I'd been honored to meet and get to know, but even the kindest heart has its limits.

[sϋda - heart]

[sϋdame - my heart]

[jumbu - little one]

[lumeleopard - snow leopard]

[kullake - sweetheart]

[imtleja - admirer]

[päästja - savior]