Chapter 51: Ours to Protect
Natalie~
The room was still, but my mind was a raging storm.
Jacob’s brothers—Bubble, Tiger, Fox, and Eagle—stood before me, each radiating a strange mix of familiarity and mystery. Their words swirled around me like an unfinished puzzle, the pieces scattered beyond my grasp.
What prince? What breadcrumbs? And why did they talk to me like I was a long lost friend or something more?
Eagle crossed his arms over his broad chest, his silver eyes narrowed with irritation. "I still don’t understand why we had to leave breadcrumbs for the prince," he grumbled. "He doesn’t deserve her."
My curiosity pecked up. Her?
Jacob smirked as if he’d been expecting that exact reaction. "Oh, come on, Eagle. You know that no matter what we do, she always picks him. Every single time."
I couldn’t understand why but a cold shiver ran down my spine. Who was "she"? Were they talking about me? No, of course not, I didn’t know any prince.
Tiger let out an exasperated sigh, his emerald-green eyes flickering in frustration. "I thought this time would be different. Mother decided to bring another choice to the table, but what do we get?" He scoffed. "An even bigger disappointment than the prince."
Bubble, the most serene among them, hummed in thought. "In my opinion, no one deserves her," he said, glancing at me. His voice softened. "She’s too good, too pure for this world."
Something in the way he looked at me sent a lump to my throat.