HarlynThe celebration has been going amazing; I watch Wayne standing with the pups and Samuel walking towards my mother. I sit.“Darling.” She moves and hugs me. “He seems like such an amazing man.” Her words make me smile.“He is; I’m grateful to have him.” That I am.“He and the pups have changed you. The girl you were has basically disappeared. You walk with your head up, no longer at your feet,” she says while smiling.“Mother, you know we all love you, right?” I ask, and she nods. “Then don’t do this again; imagine how I would have felt if Father refused to let me return and you had died.” I hate how close that reality came.“Samuel needed you. Lucy needed you.”“So much that you were willing to die?” Is she crazy? I stare at her, fighting back the tears.“He missed you. We all did.” Sighing, she looks around the room. “Maybe it was foolish, but I knew Samuel needed you there for his wedding. I knew you would forever regret not being there. So if I died in my quest, it would hav
HarlynWe sit talking, and I watch the moon move across the sky. Wayne’s arms are wrapped around my body, comforting me. Something about this feels familiar; I’m unsure of why, however.“Do you still want to marry me?” he asks, looking down at me. I smile and nod.“Of course, we can start planning when we return,” I reply. “How long do you think we’ll stay?” I ask, unsure of his plan.“A few days, my love, and then it will give you some more time with your family.” He smiles and kisses my neck. “What do you think about doing it here, my love?”I listen to his words and glance at him, confused. “Doing what here?” I wonder what he wants to do.“Get married. Your family is here. You know mine could take years to find and bring back for a wedding,” he explains, and I sit quietly, unsure of what to say.“Why here?” I don’t get why he would want to.“Well, as I just said, your family is here. This is where you were brought up. I also know it will be hard for your family to come to the weddi
StefanShe stares at me. She didn’t expect me to confirm it; I would have said it years ago had I known for sure Harlyn was safe.“You love Harlyn?” She looks at me, waiting, almost like she didn’t hear the words right. Part of me still feels like this is a trap, and if I confirm it again, something bad will happen.“Yes.” I watch her and wait; she glances around the room and then back to me. I wait, unsure of what to say now, so I wait for her to speak instead.“Stefan...” She stops and looks at me again, her head shaking. Why is she struggling to talk to me? I wait, and I can see she is considering what to say.“Tell me about the Earl Mother.” I want to know about him. I know he hated that Harlyn didn’t have a wolf, but I didn’t know just how bad it was.“I don’t understand why he hates her so much. Samuel has spoken to your Father for years, trying to figure out a way to protect Harlyn from the Earl. He never physically hurt her, but his words were very expressive.”“Why, though?”
StefanWalking through the palace, I consider ways to sort this. It’s not like I can go to the Earl to help; he would likely make it happen, so she leaves.“Stefan,” I hear my mother’s voice and stop. “You realise that your father and I cannot even tell her this, right?” She stands next to me.“Would it work? Surely she would believe it if it’s coming from you or Father?” What reason would she have not to believe my parents?“We have no proof. Should Harlyn ask, what do we give her?” She looks at me, and I’m unsure. “I get you love her, but you need to remember that Wayne is her saviour in her mind. She loves him. She won’t just take someone’s word and walk away from that.”“So what do I do?” I can stop them from leaving. When it comes to them leaving, I can have my guards stop them. The pups are mine, so it gives me a reason.“Make her see you’re sorry, make her yours again.” Sighing, she looks outside. “Unlock it, Stefan. When you started to push her away, you ignored and blocked ou
Stefan POVWhat has he done? Everything, he’s done everything. He’s looking at me like he’s innocent. He knows that he isn’t innocent. He knows what he has done but is playing dumb. He’s acting.“Harlyn, leave,” I shout, not bothering to look at her. I need her gone, out of the way, somewhere safe away from him. She needs to leave.“Your Majesty, I still am unaware of what I have done to warrant your attack.” He repeats the same damn question, yet I swear his eyes say he knows. Does he know she is my mate?“Do you realise who you were just about to claim?” I ask, waiting and watching him.He smiles at me and looks behind me. I don’t like that, and I don’t like the way he looks at her. He smiles and points behind me.“Oh, you mean her?”I turn behind me, and she is still standing there. I assumed she would have walked away by now, but her defiance just annoys the hell out of me. Anyone else wouldn’t refuse, but she does. Why?I hate the look in her eyes for him even more. She cares for
StefanEveryone stands quietly, and I know they are not foolish to believe this was a misunderstanding. Still, they won’t argue the point anymore. I should have realised that doing anything like that wouldn’t end well. It will only end in Harlyn being humiliated and facing the backlash from her father.“A misunderstanding?” The Earl looks at Wayne and then glares at Harlyn. “What sort of misunderstanding would cause the king to feel he had to attack someone?” He looks at us.I don’t want them to know what Harlyn was doing, and I don’t want her shamed for what was about to happen outside, in the gardens, where anyone could see.“It was a misunderstanding, just as Wayne said, so forget about it. There’s no need to ask anything else,” I say, trying to make him forget this.“Your Majesty, if they have done something to warrant being attacked, please just say. You do not need to defend them. You do not need to defend either of them.” The Earl looks at me, and I can see he wants me to speak
Harlyn“Because I love you.” I am dumbfounded by Stefan’s words. He leans forward and kisses away my tears.Stefan’s words roll around in my mind, and I wonder if he’s okay. Like mentally, because he really appears to be losing it.I’m concerned for him. The shift in his attitude and behaviour is worrying. Was he hurt during the war with the rogues, and has that caused this?Either Stefan has genuinely had a nasty knock to the head and needs medical help, or this is a joke, a game to him. He hates me. Actually, he despises me. So why is he now acting like this?Why the hell is he constantly trying to touch me? Hell, he kissed my tears. What is his plan and game now? Just to make everything even more painful for me? Is he set to make sure that he outdoes my father’s hurt towards me?It feels like he and my father are battling for the top spot on who can hurt Harlyn the most.I don’t feel like he’s being honest, and part of me honestly is worried. This isn’t right or real, and there mus
HarlynI’m confused by his questions. What does where we are have to do with anything?“You honestly don’t remember, do you?” He looks at me, hurt, and I shrug, unsure of what to even say. It’s clear he thinks I don’t remember something, but what is it exactly?“I’m not sure what I’m meant to be remembering, Your Majesty,” I say, looking at him confused.“What if I told you that at this spot, you don’t call me Your Majesty, Highness, Prince or similar, just Stefan?” he asks, and I look at him confused.“I-” What? “I don’t get what you’re saying.” I don’t. I don’t understand why he would say that.“Here, just come here.” He pulls me forward slightly. “Sit.” I laugh at him ordering me. “Just, please, sit down.” Sighing, I sit in the same spot as before, where I was with Wayne, and I watch as he sits next to me.Is this some sort of trick? I glance at him, confused.“Lie down, Harlyn.”Turning, I stare at him. “What? No.” What the hell? I go to stand, and he stops me.“Just listen and li
StefanI look at Samuel, and he seems cheery, so things must have gone well on his trip. I can hope, anyway.“Come on, Earl Samuel, this is taking forever,” I complain, and he laughs.“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. The people are completely cleared of magic, and his sister is none the wiser. Magic was used and she didn’t know a thing, so she isn’t a risk,” he explains.“Their father?” I ask.“His body is there, so he was certainly dead, and it was all Wayne. The pack has a new alpha, one who isn’t connected to Wayne’s family and such. So it’s sorted,” he explains, and I relax more.We had thought we had sorted everything, but only two months someone attacked, and it turned out Wayne had yet another brother we didn’t know of. So now we know everything and are sure no one else is coming for Harlyn. I can relax.“How has Lucy been?” He looks at me.“Fine, she and Harlyn have spent most of their time together. Go see her. We can get a full breakdown in a few days,” I say and watch as he nods a
HarlynStefan currently has everyone’s attention. The pups are behind me, but the place is packed. People have moved closer to him to listen to what he is saying.He’s currently thanking everyone for coming, and the speculation over what this is about surrounds me.Some men think that he’s planned a date to marry Diandra, and others think that he is stepping down as king. Some of the women are speculating as well. Their speculation is around me, because people know that Stefan left to deal with an issue about me.“Maybe he has exiled her entirely, and this is him letting us know?” I hear the woman and ignore her.“The royal family took long enough. She barely had the right to be classed as a werewolf,” another laughs. Thorin glares towards them. Kneeling down, I smile at him.“Forget their words, this is about you,” I say and kiss his cheek. I listen as Stefan announces he recently found out he was a father. I watch as he calls up the pups, Princess Lotta, Prince Thorin and Prince Isa
HarlynMy last few hours were spent with Lucy and Lotta getting ready for this ball, where Stefan will announce the pups. Lotta is in her element. She has on a dress. One that has taken hours for her pick.I blamed Lucy for that. The ideal thing to do was bring a few dresses, no more than six, for Lotta to pick from. Instead, she had almost an entire room, and that meant she wanted to wear them all.In the end, she gave up on the giant princess dresses and went for a more simple one. It didn’t have the big petticoat skirt under it, either.Lucy helped me pick a dress, and it matched Lotta’s in a way; I didn’t see why I needed a dress. As I told her, no one noticed me yesterday; they pushed in front of me to get to Stefan.Apparently, however, once it’s announced the pups are Stefan’s, people might approach them while they are with me. I still think my dress is a bit too much, but I won’t argue with Lucy.I’m glad the boys have Stefan and Samuel to help them. While Thorin would be dres
HarlynWe spoke for a while and discussed the way forward. I don’t want to wait months before we move forward. Stefan agreed. Our first task is announcing that the pups are his.No one other than those close to us knows about it, but everyone in the kingdom will be made aware of the pups and who they are. Then, we can focus on moving forward. I’ll be moving into his room, but Lotta will have a room close to us for the days Lucy stays at the manor.I don’t want her on a wing all on her own. The boys have each other, but Lotta wouldn’t have anyone once I move into Stefan’s room if Lucy isn’t there.We arrived back at the palace in time for Lunch. The pups are laughing and talking, and even Thorin is relaxed and having fun—something I rarely see. I wonder if it was the magic that suppressed everything.“Okay, pups, lets go!” Lucy skips over, and I turn, confused.“Court, and they shouldn’t be there,” Stefan explains, and I watch as they walk off with Lucy. “Are you sure you want to be th
HarlynI wake up in bed, yet I can’t remember coming to bed last night. I was with Stefan outside, and that is my last memory, so I must have fallen asleep there.I’m still fully dressed. As I get up, I get cleaned and dressed. The knock has me opening the door, and I smile, seeing Lucy.“The pups are with my mother. Stefan and Samuel are ensuring everything is safe again at the walls, so I’m spending the morning with you,” she says as she walks in with a tray and food.“Did Wayne die then?” I ask, unsure of what actually happened.“From what Samuel said, all the brothers were there and are dead. Forget about that. Tell me about you and Stefan.” She smiles at me, but I don’t know what to say.I’m not sure there is a me and Stefan. “There’s not really much that I can say,” I explain.“I know, he’s stubborn,” she says while laughing, and I look at her confused. “Sorry, he’s got his weird little plan,” she laughs more.“Weird little plan?” What the hell does that even me? She laughs more
HarlynThe celebration has gone well. I spoke to Lucy for a bit, Colton, Samuel, and the queen.Now, the pups have gone to their rooms, much to Thorin’s disappointment, who wanted to stay with me and watch over me.The queen reassured him that the guards would be with me and keep me safe, so he and Isaac were given a room within the prince’s chamber—the same place Stefan used to stay.Lotta has been given a room in the princess’ chamber, so she is sharing the entire wing with Lucy. I have a room on the same wing as Lotta.I’ve not seen Stefan for a while. Grabbing a jacket, I walk outside and spot the maids, soldiers, and guards at their usual spot. Walking past them, I find Stefan sitting in the same spot we used to.Moving, I sit beside him, and he glances at me briefly before looking back down at his hands. We don’t speak for a while and just sit in silence. He is off, and I feel like he needs a break from everything.“I’m sorry,” he whispers.“You don’t need to apologise, Stefan;
HarlynI walk into the room and sit next to Stefan. I know I panicked too much with Thorin; it’s hard to remember that he is strong and a lycan. To me, I see him as the baby from when he was born, and he’s still a child.“How are you feeling?” Stefan glances at me. He seems off—not like before, but like he’s avoiding me.“I’m fine, honestly. Shouldn’t we go out there and celebrate, Your Majesty?” I ask.“I’d rather sit here with you and the pups,” he says while smiling.I know he would rather that, but he’s the king. Him avoiding a celebration after a battle isn’t right. “We will join you,” I say.“Your father will be there, Harlyn,” his words are barely a whisper. I know I didn’t want to see or speak to him, but it’s going to be impossible. I know they would have used my father to help with the battle, and it would be wrong to remove him from the celebration.I also don’t like that me insisting I avoid him will make it harder for everyone.“I’m fine with it, Your Majesty. At some poi
StefanI’m not sure how long we have been fighting, but the longer it lasts, the more strength he gains, and I realise his wolf wasn’t fully bound.Some of his men have run off in the direction of the distraction, so I know that they will have their wolves back soon. Not that it helps me now, I don’t have the strength against Wayne and his wolf.I fall to my knees and he laughs, but right now, my body hurts.“Hold him down,” Wayne speaks and I feel my arms get gripped and them holding me down to keep me kneeling. “You see, all I wanted to do was show everyone how it felt without a wolf.” His face leans into mine.“After all, Harlyn had no wolf, and many of the people here mocked her for it. They will now realise just how she felt.” His fist swings and hits me, and I groan. “Don’t worry. I will claim her again and use magic, so she stays.” He leans into my ear. “And well, your pups, I guess they become like the Cinderellas of the fairytale, just without the happy ending.”I see the kni
StefanMy eyes open, and I see my mother peering down at me. What happened? I feel someone next to me and turn to see Harlyn lying next to me. I’m in my room.“How did I get here?” I was on the ship.“You were drugged and didn’t wake, don’t worry. Focus on regaining your energy,” my mother smiles at me.“I’m fine. Just explain what happened,” I say, still unsure of what happened.“We believe Wayne injected you with Dragufic during your altercation,” she explains, and I look at Harlyn.“He did the same to Harlyn?” Why would he do that?“No, Harlyn used her wolf and the bond to connect with you and make you realise. What was your torment?” she asks, looking at me and waiting.“Me rejecting Harlyn. Now, thinking back, I can remember it was on replay. At the time, though, it felt so real, and I couldn’t remember it happening again and again.” I doubt I would have realised if Harlyn wasn’t there; I know for sure I wouldn’t have realised.“How long has she been asleep?” I ask.“We’ve been h