6. Princess

Chloe

I hadn’t slept this well in months – since before Conson died. Ever since that night, it’s been one fitful night’s sleep after another, and it’d only worsened when Mom got sick.

“I think she’s waking up!” somehow whispered.

“Let the poor girl wake up in her own time,” a different voice chastised. “She doesn’t need your screeching.”

“Boys,” a deep voice sighed. “Can we shelve this until Chloe is awake?”

I started to my name, my eyes flying open. I was in a grand bed, surrounded by four men, three younger and one old enough to be my father. I paused at this thought, squinting at the older man who was sitting next to my bed. There’d been something about my father… information I’d just learned recently… I traced the man’s features as we stared at each other. We had the same nose and the same hazel eyes. They were even shaped similar to mine.

In a rush, the last few weeks came back to me, and with them, the knowledge that King Charles was my father.

“You’re King Alpha Charles,” I croaked out. I almost didn’t recognize my own voice. It was rough like I hadn’t had water in years.

He nodded slowly.

I glanced past him and found three very handsome men standing in a group at the end of my bed. The youngest looked bored and like he’d rather I be anyplace else. He was colored the same as the middle son, which meant they were both colored like King Alpha Charles. In fact, everyone in the room had the same auburn hair and hazel eyes, except for the last one. He was a hand taller than the others, with dark hair and eyes almost black in color. He was… well, they all were very handsome wolves.

“Do you know who I am to you?”

I turned back to King Charles with a frown. “Are you asking if I know you’re my biological father?”

He nodded.

I shrugged, then winced. My body felt like it’d been run over by a truck… or like I’d been attacked by a pack of wolves. “I was told.”

Everyone in the room seemed to be holding their breath, waiting for me to say more. I glanced around at all their faces, completely lost. “Am I missing something?”

The youngest son snorted. “You understand that makes you a Princess, right?”

I blinked at him, then turned to King Charles. “I don’t really have to be, you know. No one has to know about me. Your other.. children?” I asked, gesturing at the three men.

“Oh! Yes, these are my sons. The youngest is Knox, the middle is Alexander, and the oldest is Adrian. They’re my children with the late Luna.”

So, the third brother must take after his mother… Interestingly, King Charles’s genetics hadn’t pulled through as much with his first son. But genetics were wild things, and no two kids were ever the same.

“It’s a pleasure,” I said in general.

“The pleasure is ours, Princess,” Alexander said. He seemed genuine – he didn’t give off any indication that he was unhappy I was her convalescing in this bedroom.

Knox rolled his eyes. “Can I go now, Father? I’ve met her. Isn’t that what you required?”

King Charles closed his eyes for a moment, and I knew he was trying not to snap at Knox. “You are correct, Knox; that was all I required of you. You may go.”

Knox wasted no time, turning on his heels and stomping out of the room.

From the cold look Adrian was giving me, I figured he would be the next one to leave, but instead, he leaned against the bottom of the bed as if he had all the time in the world.

“I apologize for Knox,” King Charles sighed. “He’s the baby, and he isn’t thrilled to have to share the limelight with someone else.”

“It’s okay,” I sighed. “I get it. I’m sure finding out there’s a stranger being forced into your family isn’t easy.”

“You are no stranger,” King Charles growled. “You are my daughter.”

I turned to him slightly, careful not to move my neck too much. “No offense, King Charles, but you don’t know me at all. I am a stranger to everyone here.”

“Father, this must be quite shocking for her. Give her a pass this time – I’m sure she’ll hear one of your famous lectures before the week is out.” Alexander gave me a warm smile. “Why don’t we tell her what happened? I’m sure she wants to know.”

I shot him a small, grateful smile. “I do want to know what happened. The last things I remember don’t make a lot of sense. I don’t know if I got them mixed up or what, but they certainly don’t explain how I ended up here.”

“Let’s start with what you do remember,” King Charles said.

“I was at the Inheritance ceremony for my mate… well, my ex-mate and the platform collapsed. I pushed him out of the way, and then nothing. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in the forest alone, injured. I was trying to get home when I was attacked and injured, and the next thing I know, I’m waking up here.” I paused, considering my situation. “Does my pack know where I am?”

“No,” Adrian said curtly.

“Good. I think it’s best they don’t know where I’m off to.”

“Off to?” Kind Charles chuckled. “My dear girl, you’re not off to anywhere. This is your home now. You’re our Princess, and you aren’t going to go anywhere at all.”

“But…” I trailed off, trying to think of a good reason why I should go. “But I still don’t know how I got here.”

Alexander sank down onto the edge of the bed. “You were found by Samson, and he brought you here as quickly as he could for medical attention.”

I stared at him blankly. “Who’s Samson?”

King Charles frowned. “My investigator. You met with him at the graveyard, didn’t you?”

I stared at him blankly, and then it clicked. “Oh, you mean the man in the black cloak. I never got his name.” I paused, considering my next words. “Was he following me?”

King Charles cleared his throat. “Sort of. Not closely, which is why it took so long for him to get to you.”

“Oh.”

King Charles took my hand gently, making sure he didn’t squeeze any of my bruises. “I want to make it clear to you, Chloe, that you are my daughter in the same way these are my sons. I may not have been able to be there for you at the start of your life through my own folly, but I’ll be making it up to you now. You are a member of this household.”

My chest tightened at his words, and I prayed a tear wouldn’t escape. “That’s very kind of you.”

“It’s nothing.” He paused and then turned to Alexander and Adrian. “Boys, could you leave us alone? I have something I’d like to discuss with Chloe in private.”

Curiosity prickled as I watched Alexander and Adrian – my brothers – leave, closing the door quietly behind him.