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
Stefan POVI stay sitting, facing her, trying to figure out the words I need to say.“So, us...The whole mating bond...” Sighing, I try and fix my mind. “About our bond...us being mates...”I watch as she nods and smiles, my body relaxing.“I, Harlyn Rich—” her words infuriate me. I quickly cover her mouth with my hand to silence her rejection.“What the hell, Harlyn! I thought you said we were fine?” She said we were fine, she smiled, and then she tried to reject me again. “I’m sorry, okay. I take everything back, I take back the rejection, I take back my words, I take it all back.” I shout, trying to make her see sense.She thrashes and tries to break out of my hold. “Why are you still trying to reject me, Harlyn? I apologised. You remember how we used to be before.” I beg her, trying to make her see sense.Why would she try to accept my rejection? I wanted to shake her for being so stupid; I thought she remembered and realised how much we cared for each other.Was it all an act to