Elena’s POVKing Harvey grabs Jane by the back of her shirt and throws her into the wall behind us with medium strength. I can tell he is restraining himself. Jane collides into the marble wall with a dense thud and groans in pain.This was only enough to give her pause, I can tell.“That blood on your face, Elena.” King Harvey notes factually. “Better be Jane’s not yours.”I open my mouth to answer as he helps me up, but Jane’s pitiful howling stops me. She shakes her bleeding head as she tries to stand from being thrown into the marble wall. She slumps over on the floor, panting. She then throws herself on all fours as King Harvey steps in front of me protectively.“Beta Tom! Teach Elena!” King Harvey says suddenly.King Harvey steps to the side, enough for me to see.Beta Tom walks behind a half-way transforming Jane. Jane is on all fours, her human flesh now a dark fur color. Her hands are now paws.She glares at me with a lowered head, eyes glowing silver.Beta Tom shows me his h
Elena’s POV I open my mouth to ask King Harvey when training will begin, but my phone rings. I know it is Emily calling, so I press it to my ear. “Elena! There is a man named Beta Tom here?” Oh, I see he ran off as soon as King Harvey said so. “Yes, Emily. Because of this situation we are in, it has been decided he will be your protector.” Emily giggles, oddly out of character. “He is very handsome, Elena!” “You know he can hear you?” I whisper into my phone as she gasps. King Harvey smiles softly at my side, seemingly amused at our conversation. “Right, right, werewolf…” Emily sighs. “Well, what is he like?” King Harvey takes the phone from my hand kindly and puts it on the speaker. He clears his throat, then speaks. “Beta Tom has my upmost approval as an aid, Emily. Please trust our decision.” “Oh! Of course, King Harvey! Thank you so much for thinking of me in these difficult times and taking care of Elena so kindly. When is the wedding?” Emily replies happily. If I had b
Elena’s POVI do have King Harvey’s number, but he needs to see this with his own eyes. I could ask him to return or click the pen he gave me, but no. I will go to the study and look around. I recall King Harvey told me one night he has many secret rooms and wants to share them with me.I want to see what is hidden.Returning to his study, I walk behind his oak desk and press my hand on the left corner of it. I saw him tap a corner once and heard a door open.A door opens behind me from behind the massive bookcase, that slips to the side loyally. I follow the motion and walk into a pure white round cornered room.In the center of this white room is a simple short white stacked table.Unsure if my hand will do, I place the pen on the table with a soft thud.I wait.Moments later, a soft whirling enters the room and I see from the back wall two towering mannequins appear. The one on the left is a woman in a long-sleeved silk white dress, with an embroidered red veil. The one on the righ
Elena’s POV“Well, Harvey, dear, what qualifications does this human have?”“My name is Elena.” I interject as firmly as my voice allows. My soul trembles with a mixture of pain and fury. “It is nice to meet you, Queen.”“Ah, I see. She is brave.” King Harvey’s mother turns to face me now, staring me full in the face.Looking back at her in silence, I see she has King Harvey’s brown eyes and nose. Her light brown hair flows behind her freely, long, and soft.“Mother.” King Harvey begins after he clears his throat. “You are to be kind to Elena.”“As your mother, I can act as I please. I never believed you would mate with a human.”King Harvey exhales. “We are not mated yet.”“Oh!” King Harvey’s mother brightens up, her eyes shining like the moon. “Good, go pick a worthy werewolf woman.”“King Harvey, I-!”King Harvey’s mother interrupts me by pressing her taloned finger to my lips. I have no choice but to remain silent, the claw on her pointer finger brushes the tip of my nose.“She is
Uselessly, I weep in my hands in pure frustration at the situation. I am woman enough to admit that he did protect me with his body, but he didn’t defend me when his mother stated I and the children we would have would be a problem.I have heard that my whole life, from my father, then the werewolves. She defended Jane, and even though King Harvey rebuked that, it wasn’t with any evidence she wanted. If anything, I just look like a long one-night stand.I can’t stand every downcast gaze of a werewolf because I am human, and King Harvey seems to be different.No, I know he is, and that is why his silence is such a shock to me. My heart cracks open and bleeds. I continue to cry in my frustration, wishing I could slap him in the face just once.I never expected King Harvey to stay silent when I was slandered. His mother is right, our children would have half-breeds. Would he stay silent while our children are mocked? I wouldn’t.Does he even love me?He has never said it, I have never sa
Hearing the voice of King Harvey’s mother shocks, the tears out my system and I wipe my face. Hastily, I comb my fingers through my hair to look somewhat presentable.King Harvey opens the door to my room and offers me a hand. “Come with me, Elena.”I am still upset with him. “Can you say please?”“Yes.” King Harvey picks me up over his shoulder and marches me through his study to the white room with his parents’ wedding outfits.His mother stands in front of the suit and his father stands in front of the dress. Something clicks in me as I look at them, they complete each other, that is what this means.I have never seen King Harvey’s father before. He is as wide as King Harvey, with burning red unnatural eyes. His face is as chiseled as King Harvey’s, with a salt and pepper beard. His black hair is combed back lightly, not tightly to his scalp. His ears are as sharp as King Harvey’s but longer. Two fangs pop out his upper lip, long but not threatening.He is wearing a black velvet cl
“Elena, you are very brave…welcome.” King Harvey’s father speaks with quiet respect.“What the hell do you mean?!” King Harvey’s mother turns to her husband and grabs face with one taloned hand. She squeezes his face in one hand and growls. “What the hell?!”“He has defended her and her honor. He states the truth. He is king. He has exercised his rights and power as king. We must trust his decision. We have retired from our roles and duties. If his heart is there, and hers is w-!”“How?!” She howls. “How do you know?! No, no, no!! I will not stand this!”“Did you not hear her heart, my wife?” King Harvey’s father asks smoothly. “That is why the question was asked.”King Harvey takes my hand. “Please, we must be alone.”He guides me away as the two continue to argue, and I don’t even know what to say.King Harvey looks down at me then smiles.“What, King Harvey?”“Do you really need me to defend you, Elena?”I sigh. He is correct. I held my own against them today. Maybe I don’t even ne
“Elena.” King Harvey pauses walking and turns to face me. He is guiding me by hand to the armory room because he has a surprise for me. “How do you feel about me now?”I squeeze his hand tightly and enjoy the warmth of his hand, and that he smiles.“King Harvey… after what happened, I do understand better what you meant… but you did defend me sooner…”“I know first-hand what it is to be alone on battlefield, Elena. I may be stronger than you by werewolf blood, but…pain is pain. You were correct that I swore to protect you. Yet… Elena, I am sorry to say I don’t fully grasp…the pain of words. Logically, Elena… I get it… but perhaps my heart is more calloused.”I swallow dryly. “Once we have children… that will die, King Harvey. Or…when you see me hurt.”“…I do not wish to see you hurt, Elena.” King Harvey whispers steely. His eyes soften as he gazes down at me. “…I am beginning to understand… the scent of your tears rips my heart out.”“Huh?” I breathe, absolutely confused. “Really?”“E