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 told you not to come in!” She tried to push him out the room “Tell me what happened!” he pushed through gritted teeth, his eyes wild.
“It’s not my place!” Adelaide roared. Marc managed to side step his sister and went to the corner of the room where Klara was cowering, her knees up to her chest hiding her nakedness. He took a few breaths trying to calm the wolf that was angry at seeing his mate hurting. He wanted to pick her up, cradle her. But he refrained “Klara… I…” it was then he realised he had no words. What could he possibly say?
Klara cowered, silently crying, tears streaming down her face as Marc loomed over her, he looked furious and she knew it was her fault. His belt glinted at her menacingly, she kicked herself at getting herself into a corner. But then… it was always worse if she ran from a beating. “I’m sorry,” she whimpered. Marc sighed and sat next to her, his back against the wall
“There’s nothing to be sorry for. If I’d known I’d have helped you,” he explained. She wanted to trust the King, he’d been kind so far, and it was exhausting waiting for a beating that hadn’t come. Neither of them realised that they were now alone, Adelaide and the doctor had both silently slipped out.
Marc knew this was going to be a long process, he had been there for his sister, now he’d be there for his mate, he would be anything she needed him to be, his wolf didn’t agree. His wolf was irritating him chanting ‘mark, mark, mark’ usually Marc and his wolf were one, they didn’t argue, they had the same goals. This was different, and he hoped he could control the beast.
“Are you hungry?” Marc asked
“Not really,” she muttered, Marc nodded, they both sat in silence, their scents swirling around them even if for Marc, her scent was marred with ointments which were stinging his nose, but he didn’t care. Klara glanced up to the tall man, his adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed, he was stunning to look at. His straight nose was the perfect size, and his pale pink lips were slightly parted. She found herself staring at those lips and she wasn’t sure why...
“C-Can I have a top?” Marc glanced over to her and found his lip between his teeth as his pupils dilated. He hadn’t realised she was topless and as he stared he could see the outline of her small breast leading down to her bare stomach. He closed his eyes trying to control his urges. He looked away, seeing a t-shirt lying on the bed he grabbed it and without looking, handed it to her. When he looked again, she was clothed. “Thank you,” she muttered as she peered her baby blues up to him again. “You need to eat, it’s been six hours since you last did… your body needs fuel to heal,”
“OK,” she complied, not wanting to disobey and make him angry. Marc stood, taking a few steps before turning. Klara hadn’t stood, he smiled before leaving the room. She wondered if he had expected her to go with him, but she wasn’t sure.
She stayed in her corner, too scared and anxious to move. Marc came back with a sandwich and fruit on a spotless white plate. He set it down next to her, before he moved to sit on one of the sofas in front of the balcony. He had noticed her jumpiness around him handing her food, so decided to not hand it over. He wondered if she’d only been starved or was food taunted to her? Which reminded him he hadn’t seen his baby brother for a few days - OK he wasn’t much of a baby anymore being twelve, he’d make a point to nip to the Family Wing, just to irritate him.
Marc sighed as the familiar crackle of a mind link came through ‘Someone’s on the phone…’ Wade sounded nervous which wasn’t like him ‘Who is it?’ Marc replied, there was a pause
‘Alpha Silversmith,’ Marc cut off the mind link almost instantly. He looked to Klara who had just finished her food “I…” he paused, he didn’t really want to leave her, he wanted to get to know her, he wanted not just his wolf to want her. “I just need to go, sort some work out. You’re welcome to explore this floor while I’m gone.” He fained his confidence. Klara nodded so he left the room.
‘Father…. I’m going to need your help on this,’ he quickly linked as he descended the sweeping steps, heading to his office. He opened the double doors to the circular office finding Wade’s bulk stood next to his desk. He nodded back to the door and Marc stepped back, Wade closing the door. “He’s claiming someone’s kidnapped his daughter and thinks it’s someone under our rule,” Wade quickly explained in a hushed tone. “He’s demanding permission to enter the Kingdom.” Marc scratched his neck
“You’ve dealt with him before… what’s he like?”
“Ruthless, paranoid, but intelligent.” a deep powerful voice cut in
“Father,” Marc gave a small bow of his head. The former King strode towards the two men,
“The Silversmiths can’t be trusted.”
“What do I do?” Marc asked
“Give his daughter back,” he responded simply.
“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
She huddled in the corner of her room, desperate to be left alone for one day. Just one day. She didn’t want anyone else to come into her room. She wanted to be alone. She wanted to feel… safe.*“I’m going to stand up,” he whispered when she was quiet. She gave a little hiccup as he stood with her in his arms, she didn’t let go of his waist. He stood in the middle of the corridor, arms wrapped securely around her small figure as her breathing gradually evened again.“Put your arms around my neck, I’ll take you home.” She let go of him and backed away, her eyes going back to fearful. “Don’tsendmebackthere” she rushed out, quivers racki
“I’ll never get rid of you, dirty disgusting whore.”The wall hit her back as she backed away. “D-Daddy I don’t want the men in my room.”“Don’t walk away from me!” The sole of his boot smashed into her face “Whore,” he spat.*Marc got to work as soon as he was changed. He organised all the alcohol to be removed from the private wing and placed in one of the meeting rooms. Only then did he head to his office, trying to control the anger burning within him.“Wanted to see me?” Wade walked through the door to Marc’s office.“When was