Loëk's P.O.V

Oh goddess, please do not make me spend this entire night talking to this girl. I silently prayed as the blonde girl tried to seduce me by showing off her cleavage while she talked. Ice growled slightly. "Doesn't this girl know we have a mate?" "She probably thinks that she's our mate," I tell him and pointedly looked away from the girl. My brain is about to overload with stress. How am I supposed to help Winter if I can't even find her? Ugh I am literally the worst mate in the history of the world. What kind of wolf can't even recognize his own mate?!

I look up and down the table again with a sigh. I am seriously screwed aren't I? I twitched and fidgeted, full of nervous energy. Oh Winter. . . I'm sorry you got stuck with such a lousy mate like me. Ice whimpered in agreement. The blonde said something unintelligible and then shrieked loudly with laughter. "Uh huh." I sigh and fingered the tablecloth, throughly depressed. A butler came over and took away my uneaten salad, replacing it with a bowl of soup. I refuse to touch this either, staring glumly into the liquid. "Loëk," Mother whispered and nudged my arm. "Please Loëk, eat." She pleaded, motherly instincts kicking in. I shake my head, not wanting any food. Hearing the clanking of a spoon in front of me, I look up and see the girl sitting there eating eagerly. Oh. I forgot she was there. She hasn't said anything since she came in has she?

I read her name tag. Artemis. Huh. Pretty big name to choose. "Artemis, was it?" I ask. She looked up in acknowledgement but gave no answer. Instead, she stared me directly in the eyes and shoved a piece of bread in her mouth. A spark of surprise ran through me. Was- was she blatantly ignoring my question? I felt a bit annoyed at the girl. Forget me being the prince, that was just bad manners. After chewing for about a minute, she said a simple "yes" and then shoved more bread into her mouth. I frown at her and decided to give up trying to start a conversation. I turn my sights to the girl next to her. Rosette. That's what her name tag said. "Your Rosette?" She smiled and nodded. "So Rosette, how do you like the castle so far?" "Oh it's gorgeous." She said with a grin.

"I'm Desiree." The blonde piped with a flirtatious wink. I give a painfully forced smile, Ice growling hostilely. "Nice to meet you Desiree." I say through clenched teeth. "Oh the pleasure is mine, your highness." She purred, flaunting her cleavage even more. "Uh ha. . ." I cough into my fist, wishing that I was anywhere but here at the moment. I notice Artemis roll her eyes and I bite back an irritated snarl. I'd like to see her deal with a horny blonde. Then she wouldn't be so sarcastic. The rest of the night was a bit of a blur. Nothing important really happened aside from a girl leaving because she wasn't interested in guys. Oh well. She had blue hair, so it most likely was not Winter.

It was about an hour after dinner and I was in one of the sitting rooms, contemplating my best course of action for the next day. Find Winter! Ice said helpfully. Groaning inwardly, I try to recount everything I did today. Maybe if I remember everything I did, I might be able to figure out which girl Winter was. Wait a second. . . Didn't the tutor mention Winter? I try to remember his exact words. He did! He offered to send Winter, my MATE, home for his whore of a daughter! Ice growled, infuriated. Oh he'll pay. Ice snarled in agreement. Ok, so what challenge is up this week? Hmm. Oh right, there's no challenge this week, just training. All the selected are too be trained everyday until the challenge.

Hearing running footsteps, I turn and see Artemis bolt into the room and then bend over, breathless. When she caught her breath she straightened and looked around. She groaned in annoyance when she saw the room she was in. "You lost?" I ask, standing up. She stiffened and slowly turned around. "No." She replied quickly and turn to leave. "Hey, your uh Artemis right?" I recognize her as the girl from dinner. She offered no recognition to what I said and continue heading out the door. Huh. I wonder. . . "Are you uninterested in guys as well?"

She spun around and gave me a hard glare. "What, just because I'm not falling for your majesty's charm, that automatically makes me gay?!? Is that it?!" She growls and stomps her foot too empathize. I gap at her. I hadn't meant that at all! It was just a random question that popped into my mind. I can't believe I actually said that aloud. Wasn't a very Princely move of me.

"I never said that you were gay. I was simply asking."

"What, so now being gay is an insult?"

"What? No!" Is this girl serious?

"Then why did you say "gay" like it was an insult?"

"I didn't!" I fire back angrily, getting fed up with. This girl is just. . . UGH!! She's infuriating! It's like she's trying to piss me off. I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. I can't get angry at her. I can't let her get under my skin. "Are you lost?" I repeat, through gritted teeth. She hesitated. Pft. She's totally lost. I think to myself, amused.

"If it takes you that long to answer, I'm assuming you are." She grumbled in response. I let out a sigh. "If you keep walking down the corridor and make a left then you'll find the guest rooms where your staying." I tell her and go back to sitting down. Now let me see. . . If I- "Thanks." I blink and look up, startled. "What?"

"I SAID- ugh. I said. . . Thanks." She sprinted out of the room quickly. I stay where I am, processing what she had said. Huh. So she does have manners.

Sorry if this chapter sucks, but I was distracted with something else. Sorry.