OwenDiego came to discuss the Hunt Ceremony with me. The large-scale hunting event we are about to hold is important for our family.“Diego’s hand is not important to the family,” my wolf retorts, snarling. “Cut it off.”I admit the thought is tempting. The sight of Diego’s fingers digging into Amelia’s arm, myAmelia…I’m seething, furious that Diego hasn’t given up trying to take her away from me. I stare him down with one hand behind me, protectively cradling Amelia’s hip. Her hand falls to clutch mine, and I savor the joining of our skin.I won’t let anyone touch my pet.Per usual, my little brother seems completely oblivious to my anger.“I can find a better pet to trade you for her,” Diego offers. “This one’s just so delicious.”He tilts his head to try to see her better behind m
AmeliaI stare at him in shock, still too drained from yet another ordeal to respond. How could he?“Maya should behave like the other human pets and obey the rules,” Ava adds, fanning the flames of my growing fury. “If she goes outside, she’ll be caught by the guards again.”I can’t take my eyes off the prince, waiting for him to admit this is a joke or a mistake. Something. Anything.I’m not a caged bird to be kept indoors. I can’t imagine not being able to get outside. And all because of Ava’s lies!Her ability to twist the truth to her advantage is impressive if not diabolical. She was the one who ordered the guards to seize me.I open my mouth to say as much to Prince Owen when a guard walks in. “Prince Diego has arrived to see you, Your Majesty.”Ava looks to the prince. “We have work to discuss,” is his only explanation. “Come,” he reaches for his mate. “Let’s let Maya rest.”Before he reaches the doorway though, he turns to look at me. “And rest properly. I’ll come check on yo
AmeliaIt’s infuriating to intellectually understand I’m just a pet and yet feel so sickened by the idea of Prince Owen with someone else. Struggling to slow my breath, I leave my room again, hoping that fresh air will help.The air in this palace feels too damn stagnant.The moment I’m outside, the fresh air instantly soothes me. It takes several steps for my heartbeat to finally slow, but the stifling feeling gradually fades as I splay my toes in the grass and let the sun warm my skin. The warm breeze feels like the influx of oxygen my body needed.I wander around the gardens, making sure to stay closer to the palace this time. Even if the prince granted me permission to roam the grounds, I’d like to be close enough to run for help if I encounter Violet again.Instead of Violet though, I run into Ava. I’m surprised to see her, thinking the prince was with her.“Oh! Hello, Ava.”But she doesn’t give me the friendly greeting she offered me the day we met or the polite acknowledgement
AmeliaThe thought of Prince Owen spending another night with Ava turns my stomach. I can’t stop thinking about the sensation of his finger on my neck when he was treating my wounds, of his hand on my finger while he taught me to read. Of his naked body in the orphanage basement.I should not have feelings for my captor even if he is also my rescuer.But I do.I’m sitting in a plush armchair in my bedroom, brushing my hair after my bath as part of my new nighttime routine, when the door to my bedroom opens. I watch it open a few inches, before there’s a pause, and then the door closes again. A knock quickly follows.“Come in,” I call curiously.To my surprise, it’s Prince Owen. “Sorry,” he says, “I forgot to knock the first time. I’m trying to be better about your privacy in case you’re…” his gaze rakes down my body in a nightgown, “not clothed.”“Thank you,” I reply. How could I be angry with him for forgetting to knock when he’s putting forth the effort to change his behavior? And e
AmeliaI wake up in the morning, simultaneously feeling much better than yesterday while still exhausted and drained. I peak under my bandages where my wounds have started to heal and scab over.Deciding I should move around a little, I slowly pull myself out of bed and open the door to my bedroom. I’m leaning on the table just outside which now holds a vase of fresh lilies, trying to decide if I have the strength to wander any further when the door to Prince Owen’s room opens. It’s pathetic how my heart leaps in excitement.Especially when it’s Ava who emerges.My heart sinks at the sight of how happy she looks coming out of the prince’s room where she clearly just spent the night. I try to dip back into my room unnoticed, but I’m not quick enough.“Oh, Maya! Good morning. How are your injuries faring?”I offer Ava a polite smile. “Better, thank you.”She smiles politely in return, and I prepare myself for more pleasantries that I don’t want to endure. Yet I’m still mad when she give
AmeliaThe absence of the prince’s touch is as abrasive as a cold wind.“Maya was injured,” he explains to this stranger who called him darling. I bristle, and I’m not sure if it’s because of her presence or the fact that he called me Maya. Again.“She’s unfamiliar with others and needs help with her injuries,” he goes on. “I didn’t want her waking up to an unfamiliar face after such a traumatic event.”I try not to stare at the woman’s arm around the prince’s shoulders. I try not to care when he tucks a lock of her hair behind her ear. I try to deny who she must be.“Maya…” the woman repeats, as if tasting the name. “This is the human pet you brought back?”For some reason, I hate that she’s heard of me, but I’ve never heard of her.The prince nods.The woman tightens her arm around his shoulders. “Darling, you’ve always avoided human pets because of your mother. Why claim one now?”I had already been clued into the fact that I was the prince’s first human pet based on how Diego resp