StefanI haven’t slept. I know he is due to arrive tonight, so I have stayed awake, pacing the halls of the palace. I aim to leave first thing in the morning.Right now, I accept that when he arrives, I need to let him rest before forcing him to come back out with me. He can rest, but at first light, we’re leaving. I won’t delay it anymore.He has been travelling for days. Usually, I would refuse to let them have a break and rest, but I need him, so I need to be careful how I act. The last thing I want is to upset him, and he refuses to help.It means I will get there in just over twenty-four hours. It takes about twenty-four hours to get there. Still, a lot can happen between now and then, like Harlyn waking up and panicking and running away from Wayne. That wouldn’t be good as I wouldn’t be able to find her then.“Your Majesty, people are approaching.” I turn, hearing the guard, and begin to walk to the door.“Son, let him rest,” my father says, and I nod.“I know, okay, I will welc
HarlynThings have been weird since we returned. I’m not sure why. I just feel like I’m missing something. Wayne’s family looks at me differently now.Or maybe they had always looked at me in that way, but I didn’t notice it before. Maybe he told them about Stefan, so now they hate me for hurting their brother?All I know is things have been weird since we got back yesterday.“Are you ready?” Wayne stands by the door, looking at me. I’m not sure. I still feel uneasy about everything. “You need to do this, Harlyn. You need to practice shifting so you can do it easily and yourself, not just when you’re having intense feelings.”I know he is right, but everything feels weird. I’m not used to having a wolf. “I still haven’t heard it.” I look towards him.“It may take time. Stop thinking about that. You should be happy you have your wolf—not just any wolf, but the rarest of them all. You need to test your strength, speed, and such.”“Okay, what about the pups?” I don’t want to leave them a
StefanThe trip is long, and I have spent most of the time explaining to Volkaros what I believe is going on. I’ve explained how Harlyn reacts, and he confirms it could be dark magic.I have also explained Thorin, and how he acted that day, and even Volkaros was baffled by how Thorin had heard him if no one else did.Still, he thinks it’s black magic. He’s given me some examples of the types of spells that could have been used on the pups. I’ve listened to every detail, and I’m more worried now than before.It would appear I was right. Wayne likely used black magic while training the pups. Their minds are likely controlled by it, which is why they follow his whistle so quickly without a thought.“We’re making a stop, Your Majesty.” Samuel’s voice comes from behind me.“We’re not, we’re going straight there, we don’t have time for stops.” I won’t delay getting here.“This one we need to make, there’s something—or rather someone—we need to collect, Your Majesty, that will be essential i
StefanStepping off the ship, I’m instantly met by guards refusing to let me pass. Samuel moves and walks ahead of me.“We’re here to see my sister, Harlyn,” Samuel says, his eyes looking at the guards. “We’re not here for trouble. She had just returned from my wedding, but she left quickly, not giving me a chance to thank her or explain something.” Samuel stands waiting.The guards refuse to move, however, and we wait for Wayne or Harlyn to appear. I wait and soon see Wayne approaching.“Your Majesty,” Volkaros says, and I turn to look at him. “This won’t be quick, and I will need hours, maybe even a day.”What? I stare at him. There is no way Wayne will let us sleep here. I had thought to myself that anything could change or happen, and it just has. Now we need to find a way to stay here. Great.“What can I do for you?” Wayne looks at me, and I see the pups behind him. My eyes look around. Where is Harlyn? She would be here, where is she?“I came to see how Thorin is and to speak to
HarlynThe night passed quickly. We lay cuddled together watching films, and I fell asleep in Wayne’s arms with the pups cuddled against me.When I wake up, I’m alone in bed, getting ready for the day I consider everything. Now that I’m back here, I feel like I’m missing something. I’m not even sure what it is, but it’s an intense feeling.I keep telling myself it’s just that I’m missing my mum and brothers after finally seeing them and having to walk away again.Sitting on the bed, I look around the room. Before, when I was here, I felt like home. Now? I’m not even sure anymore. Something has shifted, and I’m not sure if it was the fact that I slept with Stefan or that I have my wolf. Something isn’t right.“My love.” Wayne’s voice comes from behind me. Turning, I look at him. “The pups are playing through there. They had breakfast. How are you feeling?” He sits next to me.“I don’t know.” That is the truth. I have no idea how I feel right now. I feel confused and lost.“Everyone has
HarlynWalking through, I consider things. As much as I hate the thought of it, the pups need to return to the palace, not forever, but to visit.I won’t agree to it if my father is there, that will be one condition to them returning to visit is that my father isn’t allowed within the same building as them. That way, I know that they are safe. It’s as if the hate he had for me spilt over into the pups, and I won’t agree with them being put through what I was.It’s wrong to keep the pups here with me and never let them return to the kingdom to get to know Stefan and his family. It will also hopefully help with my mother and her starvation attempts. If the pups are visiting frequently, she has something to look forward to.Right now, I need to discuss it with Wayne, I’m unsure of how he will take the news, but this needs to be done. If I can send the pups back to the palace some weekends, it’s a good thing.They will then get to live the life they could have and choose for themselves if
StefanI walk towards the tree line and stop, I’ve no idea if she shifted or anything. Walking back to the house, the guard looks at me.“I need Wayne, please.” I stand waiting. His eyes glance across me, and he nods, walking back in. I watch as the door opens, and Wayne looks at me, confused.“Did she shift?” I ask.“Yes, why?” He stands looking at me.“Because I will need clothes for her, as I’m guessing she didn’t take them off before running away.” She will either need to come back as a wolf, or naked. I look at him and wait.“Fine, I will get her clothes.” He slams the door and walks off. Standing I wait and smile at the guard, he glares towards me. The door opens and Wayne holds out the clothes.“You stay out of sight while she shifts back and gets dressed,” his words are almost growled.“Why?” I smile at him. “I’ve seen her naked already.” I smirk at him.“Keep going and you won’t stay tonight.” He glares towards me.“And I won’t find her.” If he is going to taunt me I will do
StefanThe silence is weirdly nice. It reminds me of those nights when we wouldn’t talk and instead just sat in silence with our own thoughts.“I never wanted to reject you, Harlyn. I had heard my parents speaking, and I was worried about how they would react if we were mates. That is why I stopped coming to our spot. I thought it would be easier on us both if I had pushed you out. I only found out when you returned that what I had heard was wrong.” I admit.“What did you hear?” she asks.“You couldn’t be my mate, and I would be forced to reject you in front of the entire Kingdom. I didn’t want you to face that, So I rejected you, shouted at you, hurt you, and I’m sorry.” All this was caused by me; I can’t even blame my parents.I could have spoken to them and asked them about the conversation. There was nothing to stop me from asking why they had said that and still acting like Harlyn wasn’t my mate.“I always knew no one wanted me in the kingdom, so it doesn’t surprise me,” she whis