Enzo's POV
I'd been in Nefaria for a while, trying to convince my father not to assign Laurel to me—but it was pointless. His mind was made up.
I hated the idea. Not because I didn't trust Laurel—but because I wasn't sure she really wanted to be here, in the human world.
But maybe I was wrong. She returned from her shopping spree, arms full of designer bags, grinning like she belonged.
"Wow. You adapted quickly," I said as she dropped the bags onto the couch.
"Adaptation comes naturally to me, Enzo," she said with a smile.
She wasn't the same Laurel I knew back in Nefaria. Then again, I wasn't the same either. Here, I was blind—and I hated that about myself.
"I'll be in my office," I said, rising to leave.
"Wait," she called. I paused.
"I know this might sound inappropriate, but… did your father mention anything about your mate? Are you getting close to finding her?"
"Yeah. I'm close," I replied.
"Really?" Her tone changed, but I just nodded.
"I'll be in my office. Tell Fred to come see me."
Once I was alone, my thoughts drifted to April. Our last encounter hadn't gone well—not with Laurel barging in—but now that business was done, I was ready to focus.
Back in Nefaria, Father had made it clear: I had six months to find my mate before the coronation. Time was ticking.
There was a knock. "May I?" Fred peeked in.
"Yeah, come in," I said.
"Laurel said you wanted to see me?"
"Yeah. It's about the girl from the hotel—April. You remember her, right?"
"Of course. She's the only one I've seen you actually show interest in," he said with a smirk.
"Good. I need you to find out everything you can about her. I have to meet her again. But first—I need to know who she really is."
Fred blinked. "Wow, that's new. But I'll get it done."
"Thanks." He left.
"April, is it?" a voice said.
I jumped. Dean sat on my desk like he owned it.
"Fred's barely gone—are you insane?"
"That guy? Please. You really trust him more than me? I could find your little crush in minutes."
"What do you want, Dean?"
"Nothing. I'm just bored. Besides, it's fun watching you and Laurel play house. Your father really knew what he was doing…"
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, suspicious.
Dean tilted his head. "How are you always this blind, Eutler? Don't you see your father is—"
"Dean!" Laurel's voice cut him off as she entered the room. He froze.
"When did you get here?" she asked, stepping toward him.
"Just now," he replied, clearly thrown off.
"It's nice to see you." She hugged him. I blinked. Laurel wasn't exactly fond of Dean… What was going on?
Dean smirked. "I'll leave you two alone." Then he vanished.
"What was that about?" I asked.
"I don't know. Let's go have dinner," she said.
"I'll join you in a bit."
Three Days Later
Fred returned with files in hand.
"She's an orphan?" I asked, scanning the report.
"Yeah. Parents died in a car crash last year. She's been living with her uncle."
My chest tightened. Is that the same man I stopped from hurting her that night?
"I'm not sure what happened exactly, but the uncle's now wanted for physical abuse," Fred added.
I nodded, jaw tight.
"There's something else. Her workplace mentioned it, though I'm not sure how important it is…"
"What is it?"
"She's passionate about med school. But she's thinking of giving up."
"Why?"
"Financial reasons. She can't afford it."
That was it. The moment of clarity. The deal I needed to offer her had just presented itself.
"Arrange a meeting for us tomorrow."
"Tomorrow is Friday, Enzo. She's still a student."
"I don't care. Make it happen."
Enzo's POV
I was heading to my room, exhausted and ready to crash face-first onto my bed. Fred's news had been a weight off my shoulders. Finally—relief. The idea that I was close to finding my mate gave me something I hadn't felt in a long time: hope.
Then I bumped into a table. My shoulder clipped it, and my head smacked against the wall.
"Ouch!" I hissed.
Stupid Laurel—she must've rearranged the room again.
But then something strange happened. The pain from the bump wasn't normal. It was sharp, too sharp, and inside my head… something cracked open.
A bell rang in my ears.
Then came the voices.
"She's dying! Someone help her, please!"
The sound of a baby crying.
Then a deeper voice—cold, merciless:
"She had to. That's the price. My son is all I need. I don't care about her."
The baby's wails grew louder, more desperate. My hands flew to my ears as if I could block it out.
Then—nothing.
Darkness.
I opened my eyes to find Laurel sitting beside me. Dean stood nearby, stiff and pale. I didn't need sight to sense the panic in the room.
"You scared me, Eutler," Laurel whispered, hugging me tight.
"I'm fine," I muttered, struggling to sit up.
"What happened?" Dean asked, his voice clipped.
"I don't know. I hit my head… then I heard voices."
Dean's posture shifted. "Voices?"
"Yeah. A baby crying. A man yelling. It felt… real."
Dean looked at Laurel. She gave him a look. A warning.
"I'm sure it's nothing," I said, brushing it off. "Probably just stress."
"You should rest," Laurel said quickly. "Your body's catching up with everything. Sleep will help."
I nodded, but the sound of that baby's cry haunted me.
**********
Outside Enzo's room, Laurel spun on Dean the moment the door closed.
"What are you doing here?" she snapped. "Since when do you linger in the human world?"
"I should be asking you that. Playing house with a prince now?"
"I'm fulfilling my duty."
"No, you're manipulating him—again. Just like Valtor asked."
Laurel's eyes flashed. "Watch it, Dean."
"Oh, I am. And I saw plenty. Like how you nearly panicked when he mentioned hearing a baby cry."
She hesitated. "That doesn't mean anything."
Dean stepped closer. "Doesn't it? You think he's not starting to remember? You think a mate bond that powerful can be suppressed forever?"
"I'm protecting him."
"No, Laurel. You're protecting Valtor's lies. Same lies that got his mother killed."
Laurel's face twisted. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, I do. You think I don't know you love him? That this is all just a chance for you to finally make him look your way before she gets to him?"
Laurel flinched.
"I know everything, Laurel," Dean said. "I was there when his mother died. I watched her fall. And I know what the mate bond cost her."
"You know about the secret?" she whispered.
Dean narrowed his eyes. "I know Valtor plans to let it happen again. She'll bond with Enzo, give him a child, and die—and he won't even understand why. That's the price. That's the curse."
Laurel was quiet for a moment, then said, low and shaky, "That's why I have to stop it. He can't fall in love with her. If I reach him first, if he never bonds with her, he'll be safe."
Dean stepped back, disgusted. "So your solution is to steal his heart before the one meant for it arrives?"
"I'm doing what Lord Valtor asked me to do."
Dean's voice turned ice-cold. "Then you're no better than him."
With that, he vanished into shadow, leaving Laurel alone.
April's POV
Prom was next week Friday, and school was buzzing with excitement. The hallways were filled with grand gestures—posters, roses, giant teddy bears. One guy even serenaded a girl near the lockers. I smiled faintly as I passed them, my steps steady toward the exit.
Then I heard my name.
"Leaving without saying goodbye?" Randolph called out, stopping me in my tracks.
I turned, a small smile forming. "I'm sorry."
"Well, you're forgiven… since you're cute," he added, grinning. I blushed and looked away.
"Thanks."
"I could give you a ride home, if you don't mind."
"Oh—don't worry. I'm fine walking."
"I know you are, April. But I insist."
I hesitated, then nodded. "Okay."
The ride was awkward at first, filled with long silences and glances out the window. But as we started talking about prom, things relaxed.
Then came the question.
"Will you be my date for prom?" he asked as we pulled up in front of my place.
My stomach dropped.
Prom. I hadn't attended one since my parents died. It wasn't that I hated it—I just couldn't afford to care. A dress, shoes, the pressure to smile… it always felt impossible.
"Erm…" I started, unsure.
"Please say yes," he added, holding his hands out in a playful plea.
I sighed. He wasn't wrong—it was our last year of high school.
"Fine. I'll go with you."
His eyes lit up as he hugged me. "I can't wait to see you on the dance floor!"
I laughed softly as he drove away, turning to head into Sarah's place—until I stopped dead.
There, standing in front of my uncle's old house, was a familiar face.
"…Fred?"
He turned when he heard his name. "April!" he called back, walking toward me.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"I thought this was your house," he said, nodding toward the front door.
"It was. I'm staying over here now," I explained.
He nodded, then glanced around before saying, "Enzo."
My heart jumped. "Enzo?"
"Yeah. He wants to meet you—tomorrow. Here's the address." He handed me a small black card with silver-embossed letters.
"Why?" I asked, instantly on edge.
"I don't know, April. But he said it's important. It'll be worth your time."
"I still don't get it," I murmured. "Why is Enzo so interested in me?"
Fred shrugged. "Is that a bad thing?"
"I don't know. That's the problem. None of this makes sense."
"That's why you should meet him. Ask your questions. Get answers."
I paused, watching him carefully. "Fine. But I pick the time and place."
"Fair enough. When and where?"
"Tomorrow. 5 p.m. At Belleview Café."
"Got it." He nodded. "See you then."
"Was that Fred you were talking to?" June asked as soon as I stepped inside. She was standing by the window like a nosy neighbor. "What did he want?"
I dropped my bag on the floor with a sigh. "There's a lot I need to tell you, June."
Her eyes widened as she followed me to the couch. "Oh no. What happened?"
I told her everything—my unexpected encounter with Enzo, how he spoke to me, how close he stood. Her mouth fell open.
"Wait, wait, wait," she said, throwing her hands in the air. "You're telling me Enzo Blake just walked up to you and started talking? Like, out of nowhere?"
"I know it sounds crazy, but it happened."
She blinked at me like I'd just told her I met Beyoncé at the corner store. "Are you sure you weren't hallucinating? Maybe it was the sun."
I laughed. "You literally just saw Fred leave! So, if I'm hallucinating, then what were you looking at?"
She squealed, grabbing a pillow and hugging it to her chest. "This is huge, April! Enzo Blake is into you!"
I rolled my eyes and flopped onto the bed. "Let's not jump to conclusions. I wouldn't exactly use the word into… not yet."
"But you felt it, didn't you?" she grinned, wiggling her eyebrows.
I smiled despite myself. "Maybe."