The Abandoned Luna's Journey to Power Chapter 306: Adam's Promise

Prince Adam's POV:

After lunch, Cindy took Astra upstairs to rest.

I was about to arrange the carriages for our trip back when Oliver grabbed my arm.

"Your highness, don't leave just yet," he said with a smile. But the smile made my skin prickle. "Let's talk in private; I have some man-to-man conversation."

Before I could refuse, he and Toast each took one of my arms and "escorted" me away.

The moment I stepped into the room, I felt the pressure.

Dross sat at the table, sipping wine. Reginald stood by the window with his sword in his arms. Selvaryn leaned back on a couch, blowing out smoke rings. Oliver, Fern, and several others were there too. This room held the strongest werewolf warriors in the entire kingdom.

And right now, every single one of them was staring at me.

So this was what it felt like to be judged by your wife's family.

"Your Highness," Dross set down his chalice and spoke first. His tone was calm, but there was authority in it. "Cindy had married you; we're family now. But there are some things we need to make clear."

I straightened in my seat. "Professor, please go ahead."

"That girl has had a hard life," Oliver said. The smile was gone. His eyes were sharp. "She's always been strong. She swallows her pain and never complains. James once swore he loved her too. And what happened? He turned around and hurt her for his lover."

"We won't let that happen again," Toast added coldly. "You're a prince. One day you'll be king. There will be endless temptations around you. Young, beautiful she-wolves who want power. Promises sound good now. But what about later?"

Fern walked over to me. Her eyes were complicated—part sister, part worried woman.

She lowered her voice and told me something shocking. "Adam, we all know what a destined mate means. It's a pull of the body and the soul. Cindy is not your destined mate. We all know that.

"If... and I mean if," she said, locking eyes with me, "you meet that destined mate one day. You can't fight the instinct, and you stop loving Cindy; please don't hurt her.

"You don't have to stay in the marriage out of duty, but don't push her away with cold silence," she said, her voice trembled slightly. "Just return her to us safely. The academy's doors will always be open for her."

The hall fell silent.

Everyone waited for my answer.

This wasn't just a question. It was a test of who I was—my instincts, my responsibility, my heart.

I took a slow breath and stood up.

Instead of swearing right away, I unbuttoned my collar and revealed the bite mark on the side of my neck. It had healed, but it was still clearly visible. Cindy left it on our marking ritual.

"Everyone."

My voice was steady, but every word came from deep in my chest.

"I know the legend of the destined mate. I know how strong that pull can be. But to me, destiny is not just hormones. It is a choice of the soul."

I looked at each of them, my gaze firm. "When I was at my lowest and most lost, Cindy stood beside me. When I faced an army, she fought back-to-back with me. We have shared blood. We have shared life.

"If another destined mate ever appears, I will tell my instinct to fuck off."

I stood straight, my spine tight and unbending. "My wolf answers to hers alone," I said without hesitation. "My soul belongs to Cindy. There will never come a day when that changes." I met his eyes steadily. "And if such a day ever does come, it will be because I am no longer alive."

Silence filled the hall again.

Then a large hand slammed down on my shoulder.

"Good!" Reginald walked over without me noticing. Even his usually cold face showed approval. "That's the spirit. Sounds like a real man."

Dross smiled faintly. "Very well. Those words are enough for us." His gaze lingered, calm but unmistakably firm. "Remember what you've said here today. Should you ever break that vow, you are well aware of the price."