Transmigrated as the Villainess Princess - Chapter 34

Chapter 34: The Mate Bond (2)

Queen Tereza rose from her seat unhesitantly.

“Everyone, leave us at once!” she commanded, her voice firm and brooking no argument. The attendants and guards quickly vacated the hall, their footsteps echoing in the vast space.

Once the room was empty, the queen extended her hands and murmured an incantation.

A shimmering barrier of golden light surrounded them, glowing faintly with intricate runic patterns.

Ahcehera’s eyes widened in surprise. “Mother, you… you can use magic?”

Queen Tereza turned to face her daughter, her expression now filled with determination and worry.

“There are many things you do not know about me, my dear,” she said, her tone serious. “But this is not about me. Tell me everything. Who is this werewolf? How did this happen?”

Ahcehera swallowed hard, her mind racing. She hadn’t expected such a reaction, nor had she ever seen her mother wield magic before, it was also not mentioned in the novel.

“It’s Richard Mors… the third son of the Mors family,” she admitted reluctantly. “I think… I think I might be his mate.”

The queen’s brow furrowed deeply.

“The Mors family…” she whispered, pacing the room as though piecing together a puzzle. After a moment, she stopped and faced Ahcehera. “You are certain of this?”

Ahcehera nodded hesitantly.

“I don’t know for sure, but ever since I met him, strange things have been happening. Pain, emotions I can’t control, and then… he kissed me, and the pain stopped. I don’t understand it.”

Queen Tereza placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder, her expression softening slightly.

“If what you say is true, then this bond is not something to be taken lightly. Werewolf mates are bound by destiny, a force older and stronger than either of us can fully comprehend.”

Ahcehera looked away, her voice trembling. “But I can’t be his mate, Mother. He hates me. I…”

I felt that within him.

She hesitated, the memory of Richard’s obsession and anger flashing in her mind. “He’ll never accept it. And neither will I.”

The queen sighed, her grip on Ahcehera’s shoulder tightening.

“My dear, destiny does not ask for our permission. But it is not without choices. There are ways to understand this bond, to test its strength and its meaning. For now, we must tread carefully.”

Ahcehera’s mind whirled with questions, but one stood out above all. “Mother, what do I do now?”

Queen Tereza smiled faintly, her confidence a small comfort. “We start by understanding the bond. And if there is a way to protect you from its consequences, we will find it together.”

But mother, his family will be against me, Ahcehera thought silently.

The Queen’s expression softened into a sad, distant smile as she stared past Ahcehera, her eyes fixed on a memory only she could see.

Her voice was tinged with both sorrow and nostalgia when she finally spoke.

“My cousin was a werewolf’s mate,” she began. “It was the scandal of our time. The family was vehemently opposed to the idea of her being with a werewolf’s descendant.”

Ahcehera frowned, her curiosity mingling with unease. “Why were they so against it, Mother?”

The Queen turned her gaze back to her daughter, her eyes shadowed with the weight of old secrets.

“Because, dear, a werewolf’s mate bond is unlike anything we understand. Once the bond is fully established, through marriage and consummation, something irreversible occurs. Their lives become inseparably entwined.”

Ahcehera’s breath hitched. “Entwined? What do you mean?”

The Queen sighed, her voice heavy with the gravity of her words.

“If one of them dies, the other cannot survive. The bond ensures it. They share their essence, their very souls. When one is gone, the other follows shortly after.”

Ahcehera’s heart pounded as the implications of her mother’s revelation sank in. “So… a bonded couple… they’re tied together in both life and death?”

“Yes,” the Queen said solemnly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“It is a beautiful connection, but also a dangerous one. To love as a werewolf’s mate is to live with the knowledge that your fate is not entirely your own. My cousin loved her mate deeply, but the risk was too great. She paid the price when he was taken from her.”

Ahcehera shivered, her thoughts racing. The idea of such an intense bond terrified her. It was more than she could comprehend, more than she thought she could bear.

I thought werewolf-themed novels were exaggerated!

How come the bond between mates will truly kill people?

Will I die if he dies?

“But what if someone doesn’t want the bond, Mother? What if they reject it?”

The Queen’s lips pressed into a thin line, her face growing sterner.

“Rejection is possible, but it comes with consequences. The bond is not something that can be severed easily. It will fight back, and both parties may suffer deeply, physically, emotionally, or even spiritually.”

Ahcehera sank into her chair, overwhelmed. “This is madness,” she muttered. “How can something so cruel be called destiny?”

The Queen reached out, placing a gentle hand on Ahcehera’s. “Destiny is neither cruel nor kind, my dear. It simply is. What we do with it is what matters most.”

For the first time, Ahcehera saw a flicker of vulnerability in her mother’s usually composed demeanor.

It was a reminder that even queens carried their own burdens, their own scars from the choices and sacrifices made in the name of duty and love.

–

When Ahcehera returned to her room, an unexpected wave of pain seized her chest, sharp and unrelenting.

She gasped, clutching the fabric above her heart as though it could still the ache.

Her mind raced. Did something happen to him?

Before she could steady herself, her optical brain buzzed with an incoming call. The number was unfamiliar. With curiosity and dread, she answered.

The sound of labored breathing greeted her from the other end, a strained, heavy rhythm that immediately set her on edge.

“Who is this?” she demanded, her voice sharp with urgency.

No response came, only the persistent sound of someone struggling to speak.

“Answer me!” she barked, her patience waning.

Finally, a voice, hoarse and tentative, broke through.

“I… I saved a drowning man by the lake near Serena Bridge. You were the only unrestricted contact on his calling list. We’re at the hospital now. He needs a guardian.”