I spent a long time wondering if I had completely ruined my easiest chance of getting out of this prison. It filled my head entirely. I hadn't even thought about the fact that the prince might offer up a chance at freedom until after I lunged at his comrade. Now I had proven her words, I was an animal, dangerous and untrustworthy. And maybe that was enough to convince the prince that he did deserve better. He could live happily with a woman from the village and he would certainly have his pick over whoever he wanted, human or werewolf. Though there weren't many humans left in our civilization- most of them progressing back to the human society- there was still a few left over from the transition and if the prince chose the right human woman he may be able to marry her without much uproar. But he would be diluting the bloodline even further. Or he could just ignore the mate bond and marry another werewolf.

I pretended that it was the impurity of the bloodlines that made me angry. The moon goddess was the one who decided who were mated to and she was a powerful being who was not to be ignored. Still, I couldn't deny the truth. The thought of the prince being with someone else infuriated me. The mate bond between us was weak because my human side- which would appeal to him- was barely alive and his didn't have much wolf to speak of at all. But was enough for him to locate me and it was enough to make me question some of my choices. So maybe it was enough for him to overlook my brashness.

Sadly, I was quite certain that my actions had pushed him to make the decision against me. He seemed refined and gentle and I had been the complete opposite. I had no idea who Selene was to him, but clearly she was important and though I hadn't hurt her I made my intent very clear. I knew what my reaction would be if he acted aggressively towards Thorn or Hunter.

That meant that unless I came up with a brilliant plan to outsmart the guards or suddenly became stronger than any other werewolf there was absolutely no way I was getting out of this prison alive.

Like the previous night I paced around my cell relentlessly. My claws clicked against the slippery stones and my tongue slipped out of my mouth as I panted with anxiety. Each time I turned my head to survey my surroundings for the millionth time the agony from the collar would flood through my system.

I willed my mind to come up with a realistic plan of how I would get out of here, with or without the guards, but I came up with very few options and the choice I had didn't seem all the promising. I was sure that I wouldn't be the first rogue that would try to slip out of someone's clutches in hopes of making a mad dash. Sadly, it was the only plan I had that was even close to logical.

The sound of the heavy metal door filled the air again. A guard was coming.

But the steps coming down the hallway weren't as heavy or as aggressive as many of the guards who did the rounds. My ear perked upwards just like my hopes. And a wonderful scent hit my nose. Meat.

"Hello...you." Prince Griffin said with a smile, appearing behind the bars.

And in his hand was a platter with a massive slab of raw beef.

I wanted to go through a reasonable thought process of how I would handle this situation, but my stomach and my wolf were much stronger than any rational part of me. Within seconds I had taken three large strides and I had to force myself to stop from going any further, my eyes locked onto the bloody chunk.

As much as I wanted it the prince was still just that...a prince.

"I figured you were hungry." He said with a soft laugh. But then he held the meat just outside of the bars. If I moved to get it out of his hands my body would have be pressed flush against the metal and I would be extremely close to him. it was too risky. "Come on. I know you want it." He encouraged.

I lowered myself down on my back end carefully. I didn't know why he wouldn't just toss the food in. His act of withholding made me more nervous than I previously had been. My eyes roved over him in his uniform, pausing at the dimples. No, it was not possible for someone with dimples to be malicious. He clearly wasn't doing this for the sake of making me nervous, so why was he playing this game?

Prince Griffin didn't seem quite so concerned. In an act that I deemed to be quite unroyal, he crossed his long legs and lowered himself down onto the dirty cobblestone floor. His expression was bright and filled with optimism.

"My name is Griffin, but I imagine that you already knew that as my father has told me that you've been lurking around the palace for some time." He began. "I don't know if you can understand me or not, but I wanted to spend some time with you. I know it's not ideal, but I think this is the safest way that we get comfortable with each other."

I just stared at him and the platter that he had set down.

He held my eyes for the briefest moment. There was something beneath the glittering happiness that I had come to expect from him but I couldn't label it. Then, he withdrew a book for the inside of his jacket and he began to read. And he just...read. His expression fell into a neutral look as his eyes flickered back and forth across the small pages. It was like I didn't exist.

I expected a lot of things, but I had not expected that.

I just stared at him thinking that he couldn't have possibly come here to the cells just to taunt me with meat and to read a book among the suffering. There had to be more reason than that. But he never once looked at me or gave any suggestion to a secondary plot, just focused entirely on his book.

My eyes darted between his still, siting figure and the thick chunk of meat that was still sitting on the platter. I could probably sneak my muzzle through the bars, that would be enough for me to get it in between my teeth. Then I could reel myself back into my cell and gulp it down before he had a chance to take it away. As a precautionary measure I sniffed hard, trying to detect if it had been tampered with, but it simply smelled pure and delicious. It was beckoning to my empty stomach.

And Prince Griffin just continued to read.

I either had to risk snagging the meat or I had to decide that I would be living off rats until further notice. The meat seemed appealing. So much more appealing that I knew I wouldn't be able to resist it much longer. And I didn't want to wait too long. He might decide that he was done and leave, taking my only potential meal with him.

I shifted my rear legs under my body, getting in a more prepared position. Prince Griffin didn't raise his eyes at the slight movement. I coiled my haunches, keeping them tight while I watched him for another half a second, then I lunged forward.

Griffin's first reaction was to leap away and I instantly felt bad for frightening him. But my body slammed against the bar and I was just barely able to get a portion of my wolf head through. I knew I must've looked peculiar but I was ravenous. My sharp teeth snapped at the meat and I nearly let out an excited yip when I got the slab in my mouth. Now it was time for the retreat.

But the prince was faster and braver than I gave him credit for. He recovered from his startled stance in a breath and moved towards me with speed I didn't think a prince could contain. Before I could depart one hand was grabbing my scruff and the other was prodding around my wounded and aching throat. I let out a startled scream and desperately tried to backpedal. My paws slipped on the wet flooring as Griffin held me firmly, refusing to let me move.

I dropped the meat, only focused on escape now. I pushed all my strength into my legs and desperately tried to wriggle my way out of the dilemma. But he had a firm hold on my scruff.

"I know." Griffin whispered, but I could hear the strain in his voice as he struggled to hold me still.

I knew that I shouldn't. Griffin was my mate and I had already ruined my chances of convincing him that I was worthy of being released. But I felt like my only option was to try and nip at one of his arms. At the very least it would frighten him and he would let me go. Then he might leave me in peace.

Just as I prepared myself to harm my own mate I felt the excruciating pain that had surrounded my neck lessen. The stinging that surrounded me was more of an aftershock and immensely reduced. With a clatter the horrendous silver collar that had been cinched around me dropped to the cold floor.

Prince Griffin's hands released me in the next breath and I immediately leapt backwards, still whining softly to myself. But I was also so relieved that the pain was lesser and stunned by his act of kindness.

"There," he panted, breathing hard from the work it took to hold me still, "That's better, isn't it?" he carefully pushed the platter with the meat closer to the cell bars so I could easily reach it now. "Try and keep the wound clean, we don't want you getting sick."

Then his nimble fingers were untying the red ribbon. A second later he was gone and I was still reeling from what had just happened.

***This chapter is dedicated to my most supportive reader. I can always count on her to leave the perfect comment when I'm feeling down and unmotivated. She has become an amazing friend.*****