Impressions

Kaiden's POV

The crowd buzzed with so much anticipation as I stepped into the ring.

The scent of sweat and adrenaline was everywhere in the air, and the sounds of excited chatter filled the pack meeting ground.

Today was a tournament day, a celebration of strength and skill.

It was a day I normally relished, a chance to prove my prowess and reaffirm my position as the soon to be alpha of my pack within the pack.

But as I surveyed the gathered pack members, my eyes were drawn to a single figure, one who stood apart from the rest.

There she was.

Lilian. She had just arrived, I could see. She was dressed simply but elegantly, her hair was braided and her pale blue dress complimenting her eyes and her curves.

Even from a distance, I could see the shadows under her eyes, and I knew way too well what they meant.


I couldn't take my eyes away from her.

She moved through the crowd with a grace that belied her troubled state, her eyes were downcast, and I knew she was avoiding my gaze. I got guilty and I knew that this was because of our heated argument from the night before.

The hurt in her eyes had been unmistakable, and it had taken every ounce of me not to soften my tone, to not let her see how much she affected me.


Now, seeing her standing there as she tried to blend into the crowd, I felt a feeling of protectiveness.

And something else—something more primal. A desire to impress her, to show her that I was worthy of her attention, even if she didn't want to give it.

It was a childish impulse, but one I couldn't ignore. I wanted her to see me not just as a warrior prince, but as someone strong and capable.

Someone she could rely on.

As the tournament began, I forced myself to focus.

My opponent was a seasoned warrior, a pack warrior fighter known for his speed and strength.

I couldn't afford to let my mind wander, not even for a second.

The first few matches were a blur, the clashing of fists and the roar of the crowd went well into a cacophony of noise and movement.

But even in the midst of the chaos, I was acutely aware of Lilian's presence.

I could feel her eyes on me, a weight that both comforted and unnerved me.


When it was my turn to fight, I stepped into the ring, my heart pounding in my chest.

The crowd quieted, all eyes on me and my opponent.

My muscles tensed under my clothes and they were ready for the challenge.

As we squared off, I spared a quick glance in Lilian's direction.

She was watching, her expression unreadable.

It gave me a strange sort of thrill, knowing she was there, that she was watching me.


The fight began with a flurry of movement. My opponent was fast, his strikes precise and powerful.

I moved to the counter, blocking and dodging with practiced ease.

Every punch, every kick, was a testament to the years of training and discipline that had shaped me into the warrior I was.

But today, there was an added layer of intensity to my movements.

I wanted to win, not just for the pack or for the honor of victory, but for her.

I wanted Lilian to see me at my best, to see the strength I could offer.


As the fight wore on, the blows became harder, more brutal.

My opponent was relentless, pushing me to my limits.

Each hit sent a jolt of pain through my body, but I pushed through it, focusing on the goal.

I was dimly aware of the crowd's cheers, of the way they roared with every successful strike.

But all I could think about was Lilian, standing somewhere in that crowd, watching me.

With a final burst of energy, I landed a decisive blow, sending my opponent sprawling to the ground.

The crowd erupted into applause, their cheers a deafening roar.

I stood there, breathing heavily, adrenaline coursing through my veins.

I had won, but the victory felt hollow.

My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for her, seeking her reaction. But she was gone.

The spot where she had been standing was empty, and a wave of disappointment washed over me.


I had wanted her to see me win, to witness my strength. But she had left, and with her absence came a sharp pang of something I couldn't quite name.

It felt like rejection, though I knew it was irrational to think so.

Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had somehow failed, that my victory was incomplete without her presence.


"Kaiden! You were amazing!" One of the pack warriors clapped me on the back, jolting me from my thoughts.

"We need to celebrate this win! Let's head to the tavern!"

The idea of celebrating didn't appeal to me. I wanted to find Lilian, to talk to her, to apologize for the harsh words I'd spoken.

But the warriors around me were insistent, their energy infectious. They crowded around me, dragging me toward the tavern with enthusiasm.

I allowed myself to be swept along, though my heart wasn't in it.


The tavern was already bustling with activity by the time we arrived.

Pack members were gathered around tables, laughter and conversation filling the air.

The warriors quickly ordered drinks, toasting to the day's victories.


I accepted a mug of ale, though I barely tasted it.

My mind was elsewhere, caught up in the memory of Lilian's eyes, the way she had looked at me from across the crowd.


As the celebration continued, I tried to lose myself in the camaraderie, to enjoy the company of my fellow warriors.

But it was hard to shake the feeling of unease, the nagging sense that something was missing.


I found myself glancing toward the door, half-expecting to see Lilian walk in, even though I knew she wouldn't.


The conversations around me were a blur.

The warriors all joked and laughed out loud as they relived the highlights of the tournament.


They praised my performance, calling me a true warrior prince.

I nodded along, offering smiles and polite responses, but my heart wasn't in it.


I couldn't stop thinking about Lilian, about the way she had looked at me, and the way she had disappeared before I could find her.


"Kaiden, what's got you so quiet?" One of the warriors, a tall man with a broad grin, clapped me on the shoulder.

"You should be celebrating! That was an impressive win out there!"


I forced a smile, lifting my mug in a mock toast.

"Just thinking," I replied as I took a sip of the ale.

The bitterness matched the taste in my mouth. "It's been a long day." I said.


"Thinking about someone special, maybe?" Another warrior teased, waggling his eyebrows.

The others laughed, a knowing look passing between them.


I bristled at the suggestion, but I couldn't deny the truth of it.

Lilian had been on my mind all day, ever since I saw her in the crowd. She was always on my mind, whether I wanted her to be or not.

Her presence, or the lack thereof, had an inexplicable hold on me.


"Come on, spill it!" The tall warrior urged, grinning. "We've all seen the way you look at her. Don't deny it!"


I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

There was no point in denying it; the pack was too close-knit for secrets. "Fine," I admitted, leaning back in my chair. "Maybe there is someone. But it's complicated."


"Complicated?" The tall warrior scoffed.

"You? Complicated? Kaiden, you're a prince. You can have anyone you want!"


"Not this one," I muttered under my breath, more to myself than to anyone else.

They didn't understand. They couldn't. The situation with Lilian was far from simple.

She was different—an enigma wrapped in layers of pain and resilience.

She was a wolf who was unable to shift, caught in a world where status and power were everything.

And I was a prince, bound by duty and expectations.


The thought of our differences, of the impossibility of a future together, weighed heavily on me.

But despite the obstacles, I couldn't deny my feelings.

They were there, a constant, unyielding presence that I couldn't ignore. I wanted to protect her, to be close to her, even if it was against every rule and tradition I had been raised to uphold.


The night wore on, and the tavern grew louder as the warriors celebrated.

I tried to lose myself in the festivities, to forget about the complications and the unspoken feelings.

But no matter how much I drank, no matter how many jokes I laughed at, the thought of Lilian lingered at the back of my mind.


As the celebration began to wind down, I found myself staring into my empty mug, the sounds of the tavern fading into the background.

The warriors around me were still in high spirits, but I felt a strange emptiness.

I stood up and excused myself from the group.

The fresh air outside was a welcome relief, a stark contrast to the stuffy warmth of the tavern.

The night was cool, a gentle breeze rustling through the trees.

I took a deep breath, trying to clear my head.

The moon hung high in the sky, a silent witness to my turmoil.

As I walked back to the pack house, I still felt so restless.

The day's events, the tournament, the celebration—it all felt distant, overshadowed by the unarranged problem between Lilian and I.

I wanted to find her, to talk to her, to make things right. But I didn't know how.