CHAPTER 269: TO MARK YOUR CLAIM

As the elevator finally reached the ground floor, people exited one by one, leaving Katelyn and Sage the last to step out.

"I’ll drive you to the palace," Sage offered casually, glancing at her.

"No," Katelyn replied firmly. "I came in my own car. You don’t need to drop me, and you definitely don’t need to show your face at the palace," she added with a scowl, reaching for the bags in his hands.

But Sage smoothly stepped back, keeping them just out of her reach.

"Is there some specific problem with me?" he asked. "You’re acting like you hate me."

"You’re absolutely right. I do hate alphas like you," Katelyn snapped. Without hesitation, she moved forward, snatching the bags from his wrists. "You will never have my heart. So it’s best you stay as far away from me as possible."

With that, she turned on her heel to leave, only to twist her ankle the next moment. A sharp breath escaped her lips as she lost balance, but before she could fall, Sage caught her by the arm, steadying her.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

"I think I twisted my ankle," Katelyn murmured, lowering herself as a sharp pain surged through her foot.

Sage acted without hesitation. Ignoring her protests, he leaned down and lifted her into his arms.

"Put me down," she snapped, trying to push against his chest, but he didn’t budge.

He carried her straight to his car, opened the passenger door, and gently placed her inside. Then, after setting her shopping bags in the backseat, he walked around and got into the driver’s seat.

"We’re heading to the hospital. That ankle needs to be checked," he stated, fastening his seatbelt before starting the engine.

"This happened because of you," Katelyn argued, crossing her arms as she winced from the pain.

"I didn’t do anything. You just don’t know how to walk properly," Sage retorted in a teasing tone.

Katelyn glared at him. "Wait a minute. You’ve been speaking to me so casually. Do you even realize who I am?"

Sage threw her a quick glance, the corner of his mouth lifting. "I figured the princess didn’t mind. You seem like the type who prefers real talk over royal sugarcoating."

She fell silent. He noticed the discomfort on her face and gripped the wheel tighter.

Without saying more, he pressed harder on the accelerator, speeding toward the hospital.

~~~~

"Since it’s a mild sprain, I’ve wrapped the bandage around the Princess’s foot," the doctor said. "For pain relief, the prescribed medicine should be taken twice a day after meals. Please use cold compresses as well, Your Highness."

The nurse handed him an envelope containing the medication for five days.

"We’ll examine your foot again after that," the doctor informed Katelyn.

"There’s nothing else to be concerned about, right?" Sage asked.

"No, nothing serious," the doctor replied with a reassuring tone.

"Thank you," Sage said.

The nurse helped Katelyn into a wheelchair and slipped soft slippers onto her feet. Sage followed, then gently lifted her heels to help position her more comfortably before they made their way to the parking area.

He opened the car door, making sure everything was set for her comfort before they left the hospital.

She noticed his phone buzzing repeatedly, the screen lighting up again and again, but Sage didn’t even glance at it.

"It might be an urgent call. You should pull over and check," Katelyn suggested, glancing sideways at him.

"I’ll look at it later," he replied calmly, his eyes fixed on the road.

An hour passed in silence before they finally reached the palace gates. Sage rolled down the window and instructed the guard, "Take the shopping bags to the Princess’s room."

Then he stepped out and opened the passenger door, offering his hand to help her.

"I can walk on my own," Katelyn muttered, irritated, but before she could protest further, Sage scooped her up with one arm and carried her effortlessly, the heels in his other hand.

"Hey, put me down! We’re at the palace!" she exclaimed, lightly hitting his shoulder. "People will see!"

Sage didn’t stop.

Katelyn huffed, her face heating in embarrassment. But then a mischievous idea crossed her mind. She leaned forward and bit his earlobe, firm enough to make him flinch.

Sage froze mid-step, his eyes narrowing as he tilted his head to look at her. "What the hell are you doing?" he asked, visibly startled than annoyed. Then, a smirk appeared on his lips. "Princess, you love to be naughty, don’t you?"

"Hell, no! I just want you to put me down," Katelyn snapped, biting her bottom lip in frustration.

"Well, I will... once we reach your room," Sage said nonchalantly, as if he were carrying something far lighter than a royal.

With a resigned sigh and a sulky pout, Katelyn finally gave him the directions. Minutes later, they arrived at her chamber.

Sage gently placed her on the bed, resting her bandaged foot carefully on the soft mattress. His gaze roamed around the room, noting the delicate shades of baby pink draping the curtains, cushions, and even the bedspread.

The soft, feminine hues gave the space a warm, inviting feel, surprisingly different from the fireball of attitude seated before him.

"Now, leave," Katelyn ordered, glaring at him.

Instead, Sage lowered himself to sit on the edge of the bed, meeting her eyes with a teasing glint. "Why are you in such a rush to send me away? Didn’t you just bite me earlier... like you were trying to mark your claim?"

"What!? Hell, no! That was to make you stop carrying me!" Katelyn shouted, her cheeks burning red.

Sage chuckled under his breath. "Sure, Princess. I believe your lie. Now, it’s my turn to mark you."

"What?" Katelyn widened her eyes, thinking she heard him wrong.

Then, his hand cradled her neck, which made her heart race.

"Sage, stop! You can’t ignore the command of a royal Princess. Just don’t do anything which will make me kill you," Katelyn warned him.

However, Sage had something else in his mind. He pressed a firm kiss on her neck, causing her to almost jolt. She pushed him away and threw her hand toward his cheek but he caught it.

"You’ll be mine soon. And keep this fiery attitude aside. I won’t entertain it for long," Sage said with a serious tone. "Take care, Princess."