A tear rolled down her cheek, she’d counted ten.
Ten cracks of the whip, he’d never gone above ten.
The terrifying swish told her it’s not over.
She let out a sob.
*
Klara was pulled into Marc’s side, she felt tiny against him, she wanted to relax into him but she was very aware who he was. He was leading her through multiple corridors, she was slightly glad of The King half holding her up, despite the wish to whimper with the burning pain at every movement of his arm. He pushed open a set of double doors gilded in gold. “This is my Wing,” He gestured around the grand entrance way, a desk sat in the middle. “That’s Rose, she helps manage the Wing, if you need anything just ask her,” he said as he half dragged her into the room, his arm locked around her waist tighter. Unknown to Marc she winced and had to grit her teeth to not make a sound.
“Good morning King Marc.”
“Morning Rose. this is Klara, she’ll be your Queen.” Klara looked around, her cheeks burning at Marc’s blatant declaration. He pulled her past the desk, up a set of sweeping stairs “Living quarters are up here, I’ll show you around later, you must be tired.” He wasn’t giving her much time to talk so she stayed quiet, taking in the cream walls with gold accents painted beautifully on the walls.
He opened a door showing a grand bedroom, Klara looked around stunned, she’d never seen a bedroom so magnificent. A large four poster bed with deep azure drapes contrasted the cream walls. Glass doors lead to a balcony, which she could see part of the woodland beyond the doors. “Is this your room?” Klara asked quietly
“Our room.” Marc squeezed her gently, she stiffened a little against him. She didn’t even know him and mate or not he was still scary. She’d grown up around wolves who stated the royals were heartless animals who thrived on torture and power. They were greedy who flourished while people under their rule starved.
But she’d been starved by her own father, beaten and whipped for existing. So, she supposed whatever the King did to her couldn’t be much worse than what she’d already experienced… she hoped. She was led through another door which was another room dripping with weath; a bathroom. The floor sparkled with gold streaked marble, which glinted in the many lights strategically placed to brighten the bathroom. The marble floor led to a shower which could easily fit 5 warriors, marble seating edged the shower walls with glass around the other two sides. Next to the shower was a step up to another level, within the platform was a bathtub sunk into the floor which again was for 2 people if not more. Opposite the bath were the double vanity sinks with drawers underneath. Finally a low wall separated a small area which was the toilet.
Klara couldn’t help but gape at the room, Marc left her standing there while he twisted taps, water instantly started filling the marble tub. He ran his hands over a couple of different coloured bottled lines on a shelf, picking up a purple bottle. Klara watched as he added the soap which instantly filled the room with the smell of lavender. Bubbles spang from the water like fluffy clouds. “You get settled in the bath, I’ll just find you clothes until someone fills the wardrobe for you. I’ve sent someone shopping already,” Marc said as he turned off the taps, he stepped away looking at Klara who hadn’t moved. “Do… Do you need help?” Klara bit her lip but shook her head. She could feel her legs shaking with the effort of keeping herself standing but she didn’t want to take the t-shirt off in front of Marc.
As soon as Marc left the room, Klara allowed herself to fall to the marble floor. Her exhaustion taking over, but she didn’t want to disobey the King. She pulled off the dark t-shirt, and dragged herself to the platform. She shakily lowered herself into the bath, finding a seat within the water, once she was comfortable, the water came up to her chin. She rested her head back, her eyes closing.
“Little one?” Klara’s eyes snapped open and she sat up suddenly hearing a male voice, her head connected with something hard “Ow,” she moaned holding her head. Marc also gripped his forehead, rubbing it where she’d just inadvertently headbutted him. Klara realised what had happened “Oh Goddess I’m so sorry,” her voice higher in fear; she’d just assaulted the King! “I’m so sorry, don’t hit me… please,” she whimpered. Marc’s hand dropped
“I’m not going to hit you…” his soft voice slow. He knew she’d been beaten, but her reaction suggested it wasn’t a one time thing which he half hoped it was. He tentatively reached into the water to touch her shoulder, the crackles of electricity shooting through both of them.
She gulped at the contact, her bottom lip finding her teeth as she began chewing; biting the flesh from her lips. Marc frowned gently pulling her lips from her teeth with his thumb “Don’t do that,” he whispered, concern swirling in his golden orbs.
“Sorry,” she whispered
“And stop apologising, shall we wash your hair?”
He stood and pulled more bottles from the shelf. “Why are you helping me?” She peered up to him as he knelt back down next to the bath, she was glad the water came up so high, and the bubbles hid everything. “Why wouldn’t I?” He began cupping water, wetting the top of her head “Mates take care of each other… right now, you need taking care of.” He gently massaged shampoo into her matted hair. Klara couldn’t help but lean into his hands, his gentle touch reminding her of her mother washing her hair as a child. It took three rounds of shampoo before her hair was squeaking under his fingers. He put conditioner in “Don’t rinse it off, I’ll get a comb,” he said gently moving to the sink, rummaging in a drawer.
Klara was wrapped in a large dressing gown, her knees drawn up to her chest while she sat in a large armchair. She watched as Marc laid out some clothes before a knock sounded on the door. A woman came in “Mother, you didn’t need to. Chef could have done it,”
“Nonsense.” she let out a little squeak “She’s beautiful!” she gasped looking at Klara
“Mother!” Marc folded his arms at the blonde woman, her waist length hair tied in a plait down her back. “Sorry dear, I’m Elsbeth.” The women strode over, her hazel eyes glowing in happiness. She held out her hand, Klara eyed her hand suspiciously, “Klara,” she whispered, her arms safely tucked within the large dressing gown.
“Mother!” Marc cupped her elbow and led Elsbeth from the room. Klara could hear hushed whispers from the corridor until Marc came back in. “Sorry, she’s excited,”
“She’s your mum?” He nodded, he held out a plate of vegetable and salmon pasta for Klara. She reached out tentatively, expecting it to be snatched away before she reached it. She was surprised when her hands gripped the cool porcelain. She started shoveling the food into her mouth “Woah, slow down.” She didn’t, she scoffed the meal within thirty seconds, expecting Marc to change his mind and take the meal away.
Marc took the empty plate “Do you want more?” Klara shook her head, she could feel the pasta starting to hit her stomach. A few minutes later she was groaning as her stomach felt like it was being pumped up like a balloon. Marc looked across the room to her as she gripped her stomach. He strode over, “Maybe slow down next time? You can eat whenever you want,”
“I can?” she asked disbelievingly, he was just saying that.
“I’ll show you the kitchen after you’ve slept. Here…” He held out a pair of shorts and a vest top “It’ll probably be too big, but until your clothes arrive you can sleep in these,”
“Thank you.” She stood reaching out for the clothes cautiously, wondering where he got them from.
She slid into the shorts while still wearing the dressing gown, then looked to the top and up to Marc “Oh!” He turned around so she quickly disrobed and pulled on the slightly baggy vest top. Marc tugged the sheets back. “Get some sleep, if you wake up, there’s clothes on the dressing table.” He gestured to the oak furniture “And remember Rose? You can ask her anything, I’ll be in my office.” Klara slipped into bed, feeling weird knowing she’d be alone again, but she was used to being alone so it wasn’t too bad. But being alone in a strange room was disconcerting. However before she knew it, the comfort of the bed and the scent of Marc relaxed her straight to sleep.
“Please daddy,” she sobbed as she counts twelve“This is your fault!” He yanked her hair so she’s looking into his red face.“If you were a good girl you wouldn’t make me,” he sneered before punching her arm.*Klara stretched feeling sore, her back was still burning from the last whipping although she knew the welts were healing. She jumped when she felt the tank top being moved from her back, she scrambled away from the finger. She didn’t want anyone to see them, then they’ll know what she was. She turned to see Marc, a horrified expression on his face. Klara took it as anger and started shuffling away from him “You said you had no othe
Tears streamed down her face. The whip cracked over her back.Number fourteen.She slumped against the bedpost her hands are tied to.*Marc had seen blood on the dressing gown Klara had been wearing, and had frowned. He saw Klara’s back to him, the tank top covered her whole back, he had hooked his finger under the hem gently pulling up, he saw the end of a whip mark before she had scrambled away from his touch. He had never expected it to be as bad as he was seeing. Klara’s back was ripped open, distinctively from a tipped whip. There were so many he was surprised she was alive.Adelaide stormed over to her brother “I
“No more, daddy, no more, please,” she whimpered desperately trying to keep the tears from her voice. “Weak, pathetic, pup. No one is ever going to want you.” * “WHAT!” both Wade and Marc cried in unison “But… father… he whipped her…. He beat her,” Marc tried to reason with his father, he had never expected him to suggest sending an abused female back to the abuser. “She is not under our protection, we protect our Kingdom son.” Marc’s lips twitched in irritation “She’s my mate,” Marc growled lowly “You will find another mate.” Marc’s mouth dropped
She heard the door close with the grind of the key.She curled up on the floor trying to pull the scraps of t-shirt from her wounds.She whimpered, that was her worst beating so far.She was confused… he’d watched.*Klara stretched, birdsong reaching her ears as the sun streamed into the bedroom through the curtains she didn’t close. She was surprised her back only felt tight, it didn’t feel painful. She wasn’t used to being able to have a shower whenever she wanted - if ever. So she wanted to take advantage of it.Just as she stepped into the bedroom with a towel wr
“Hey sweetie, how you feeling?” she looked down from his kind blue eyes“It hurts, Derrek,”“I’ve got something that’ll help.” He sloshed a bottle at the fourteen year old.*She looked at the TV, it was blank. She hadn’t watched how he made it work, and she couldn’t remember. She looked around the sides of the TV and found some buttons, she pressed each one… nothing happened. She stuck her bottom lip out on a pout. She sighed and turned to the books, she looked at the spines, unsure what she would like. There were so many books her head was spinning with the choice.“Klara?
“That’s it sweetie,” he pushed the glass to tip into her mouth.“I don’t feel good,” she slurred.“But it won’t hurt the more you have,” he said, removing his shirt.*Over the next few days, Klara was trying to trust Marc wouldn’t hurt her, there was a niggle in the back of her mind but she was battling to ignore it. She still wouldn’t let him touch her apart from holding her hand, and even that was slightly hesitantly. She enjoyed his forehead kisses the most, he gave her one every morning after asking. She was beginning to want to ask for them but didn’t dare just in case he stopped.
“Derrek. What do do’ng?” she slurred almost incoherently“Keep your eyes on me.” He slapped her as her eyes shut.The room was spinning as she became numb all over.*Marc strode quickly from the palace down the hill, he could hear the disruption and chaos already despite still being a mile from the town. He went past the first two story houses, his feet moving from cobble stones to paving slabs. He quickened his pace, Wade was on his way too but Marc hoped he was going to be the first just to be able to see for his own eyes the wolves who were responsible for such a din. The sun was setting already and he was just about to leave his office for the day when a mind link had come throu
She woke up, feeling sick as she watched him pull on his jeans.“Derrek?” she whimperedHer mouth dry, a pain throbbing below the bloody sheets.“Hey sweetie, same again next week?” A sickly sweet smile on his lips before leaving.*Klara stretched cocooned in the scent of freshly cut grass and honey; Marc’s smell. She opened her eyes, a frown finding her face as she looked around, but Marc wasn’t there. Her fingers were gripped onto something, she looked to see a shirt. She smelt it; that was where his scent was coming from. She sighed, she felt so relaxed and well rested. She cuddled Marc’s shirt closer to her, br