Chapter 4

“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 other injuries,” his tone harsher than he intended. “I’m sorry,” she whimpered. Expecting a fist any moment, she covered her head with her arms, curling into a ball to protect her healing body. 

A blow didn’t come but she daren’t look up in case he was biding his time. The minutes ticked by but she didn’t peak, “Klara?” A female voice came from the edge of the bed “I’ve kicked my oaf of a brother out, it’s just us girls.” She chanced a look seeing a woman with identical hair colour to Marc, but her’s tumbled to the curve of her waist. Her golden eyes looked kind and trustworthy. 

“Mind if I sit?” she asked, gesturing to the bed, Klara shook her head so the woman leapt onto the bed, laying on her back with her arms tucking behind her head. Klara looked at her wide eyes, “A-Are you princess?” 

“Eh, yeah but don’t let that fool you. We’re all quite normal… well… ish,” her tone dismissive “This must be quite strange?” Klara nodded 

“I’ve been locked up for eleven years… how can someone like me be… It’s a mistake?” 

“I thought my mate was some kind of sick joke when my wolf declared it. Your wolf knows what she’s doing.” She smiled to her “Oh! I’m Adelaide by the way.”

“Pretty name,” Klara muttered, Adelaide shrugged.

“How did you manage to escape?” She shifted slightly to see Klara better 

“Erm… dad left the door unlocked… he thought he’d beated me up too much to move… my wolf did it. She took over,” Klara whispered, she wasn’t sure why she was telling the princess… something about her made Klara want to talk to her. “Your wolf’s strong, you should be proud.” Klara shook her head “I’m just scared,” she whispered. 

“That’s OK, you're allowed to be scared. No-one will hurt you here though.” Adelaide smiled at the small woman, still curled up. “But the Royals hate the Silversmiths,” Klara had to find a catch.

“Hate’s a strong word. But you’re not a Silversmith…. You’re a Hunterson’s mate. That trumps anything. And you’re not just any Hunterson’s mate… you’re the King’s,” Adelaide spoke warmly. “Someone brought you clothes while you were asleep, want to see if you like them?” She moved from the bed as Klara nodded. 

The girls worked through the bags, the items that got Adelaide’s approval went into the room that was the size of her bedroom at the Silversmiths. But this room was just for clothes. One side of the room had male clothes, she guessed Marc’s then her side was quickly filling up. Adelaide put an orange floral t-shirt in the discard bag  “Won’t suit your skin tone, make you look washed out,” she muttered as it went into the bag to be taken back to the seamstress. Klara was too nervous and thankful to say no to any of the clothes until Adelaide promised they would only go back. Klara got confident enough to say she didn’t like a bright pink off the shoulder top. Adelaide grinned at her. “Who’s your mate?” Klara asked while they worked

“My brother’s beta, Wade.” Adelaide held up a dress, nodding as she hung it up 

“Why did you think it was a joke?” Klara asked, remembering her words from earlier.

“Oh… It’s complicated.” Adelaide waved her hand.

Underwear was in the final bag. Klara had never seen such pieces, she hadn’t worn underwear since she was a child, her dad had never provided her with any. She picked up what Adelaide called a bra. “How… how do I put it on?” she said holding the green lacy undergarment. Adelaide promptly taught her with no hesitation, no remarks left her mouth, just helpful advice. Adelaide brushed Klara’s back a little too roughly which made her yelp. “Oh! I’m sorry.” Adelaide chewed her lip “Can I see?”

“No!” Klara turned to face her so her back wasn’t to the princess 

“I just want to check, they shouldn’t really still hurt that much,” Adelaide explained gently 

“It only happened last night,” she whispered 

“I won’t tell anyone, I just want to make sure they’re healing, and if you need I can get some ointment.”

 Klara looked around the room, wondering if she could trust her. After a few painstaking minutes she nodded and turned. Gently lifting the tank top. Adelaide was glad Klara wasn’t looking at her as her face gave all her disgust and anger for the poor girl. The whip marks across her back were many, and deep. She could see marks disappearing as they healed, she could see maybe a few day old marks that were still red and raised, and then the most recent ones. Those were surprisingly still bleeding, a few showed signs of infection, leading Adelaide to suspect silver had been involved. 

“Klara, I think we need to wash these, can I help you?” Klara looked to her

“They’ll heal eventually,” she said quietly in return 

“At least one’s getting infected,” Adelaide whispered a reply, “Washing it may help, but you may need medicine.” 

“Does that mean I have to tell someone…” Fear flashed in her baby blue eyes 

“Only the doctor, he can come to the room, I don’t have to tell Marc.” 

“OK.” Klara hung her head, ashamed, feeling like she was being a nuisance. And knowing Adelaide now knew she was nothing but a whore. Adelaide gently took her hand and led her to the bathroom. “Just stand facing the wall,” Adelaide instructed gently as she turned on the shower. She went into her brother’s drawers under his sinks, finding antiseptic. 

Adelaide gently washed Klara’s back, shocked at how pronounced her ribs were, and just how tiny she was. No-one quite believed the age she said she was. The only indicator she wasn’t lying… was that Marc had identified her as his mate, which was only possible when both parties reached nineteen. Therefore she was at least that old. Adelaide apologised before she put on the antiseptic, promising it would burn but help. Klara let out a cry as the strong smelling ointment cascaded like fire down her back. “I know, I know. I’m sorry,” she cooed as Klara looked back to Adelaide in fear. Adelaide coaxed her out of the shower where she helped Klara into a towel before they exited the bathroom.  

Adelaide apologised a few more times as she gently pulled her to sit on the bed “The fire will help?” Klara’s voice small and fearful

“It’s called antiseptic, we use it on our wounds to clean them,” Adelaide explained.

“How do you get wounds? Someone whip you too?” Klara asked in pure shock.

“No, no. I spar regularly, and accidents happen. We never mean to hurt each other, but sometimes it happens. Usually though… it’s because I fall out of a tree.”

“Why would you be up a tree?” Klara asked, her small voice holding a note of incredulousness  

“I like climbing. It’s freeing… and no-one can get me up there. Apart from Jesse, he’s almost better than me climbing trees.” Adelaide grinned.

“Jesse? I know that name.” Klara frowned, thinking hard.

“He was one of the ones that found you in the woods,” Adelaide jogged her memory.

“Oh... He wasn’t very nice,” she whispered

“Don’t worry about him, he’s lovely really, he’s just taking on his new role seriously.”

“What role?”

“Security and patrols. He took it on when my brother was crowned.” 

“When was he crowned?” Klara looked at Adelaide, she knew Marc looked younger than she knew the King to be. “Six months ago, so he’s still working everything out.” Klara nodded, taking on the information. 

“Look, Klara… Can I get the doctor to come? You’re back really doesn’t look too good,” Adelaide said gently “OK,” Klara responded, defeated. Adelaide quickly mind linked the doctor, instructing him to bring moonflower ointment and large adhesive bandages, not explaining why. “OK, let’s get you some jeans on,” she said as she went into the closet, coming out with an outfit but only handing Klara knickers and dark jeans. “The doctor will need access to your back,” Adelaide explained as Klara slipped on the clothes. A knock sounded on the door “Just lay on your front, a t-shirts right here for after,” Adelaide spoke calmly. Klara numbly followed the instructions as the doctor walked into the room, carrying a bag. 

He gave a meaningful look to Adelaide seeing Klara’s back ‘she didn’t mention this,’ he mind linked Adelaide ‘I know, she’s ashamed, just help her,’ her tone even in her head caring but holding the authority of who she was. He nodded “Right!” the doctor put on his voice more used for pups “Let’s see what I’ve got in my bag of tricks.” He rummaged around “Ah! This will help your body to heal quicker,”

“Will it burn like the anti-antispectic?” 

“No, this stuff is magic. I’ll just wash my hands, two secs”. When the doctor came back into the room he pulled the lid off the floral but earthy smelling cream. “I’ll be gentle,” he whispered as he smeared it over her welts, and the fading marks. All in all he had to cover most of her back. The ointment was soothing against her back, and the doctor’s hands were gentle, he didn’t hurt her once. 

“I’m going to put this dressing over your back, you should only need it on for-”

“What the fuck happened!” Marc’s voice boomed through the room 

“OUT!” Adelaide shouted back. Klara tried to scramble away, terrified of his angry voice. The doctor stopped her movement and quickly placed a dressing over her back before letting her go.