Chapter 4

HUNTER

I crashed into my bedroom. Did Drake manage to get to Sylvia? Blaze howled and clawed at my mind.

Helen, one of my maids stood in the middle of my bedroom, eyes wide in panic.

“I don’t know what happened, I swear. I didn’t hurt her.” she cried, wringing her hands.

Sylvia sat huddled under my desk, her face against her knees, sobbing. A silk scarf lay on the floor. I turned on Helen. She shrank away in fear.

“What. Did. You. Do.” I said, biting each word. “Speak!”

“I… I just wanted to put a scarf around her neck. To hide those bruises and marks,” she explained. “I helped her bathe and change and… and…” Helen began to cry. “So many scars, so many…” she sobbed into her hands.

My heart clenched at those words. “It’s alright Helen. Go.”

I crouched down in front of Sylvia. “Angel, please come out of there. You’re safe. No one will hurt you. Please trust me.” My blood boiled thinking of what Drake may have done to her. She looked so shattered.

She lifted her tear-streaked face. Those blue eyes were full of pain and fear and it broke me. I held out my arms to her. She scuttled out underneath the desk and flew into my arms. I held her so close, stroking her hair, my eyes closed. This is where she belonged.

It felt like a lifetime before she finally stopped crying.

“Can you tell me why you were afraid?” I asked, dreading the answer. But I had to know.

She shuddered and hid her face against my shoulder. “He liked to choke me. Said it was fun. I was his dog and if I didn’t obey him, he’d chain me up, whip me.”

“He will die a slow and painful death.” Blaze growled in my head. “We will cut him to ribbons.”

I agreed. It took all of my willpower not to let my anger overtake me. Sylvia needed me to be calm.

I lifted her face to look into her eyes. “Sylvia, you are precious to me. Do you understand? I could never do something like that to you, or anyone. He is a monster and he will be destroyed. I promise you.” And he will suffer.

“I’m sorry I scared Helen. It’s just when she tried to put that scarf around my neck I --”

I put my finger to her lips. “You don’t have to apologize. It’s alright. You’ve been through hell. But now you are safe.”

“Hunter.” Father mind linked me. “Come to the court and bring the girl. I need to speak to you.”

Sylvia looked at me, frowning. “Is something wrong?”

“No,” I said, kissing her forehead, “my father wants to see us.” I felt uneasy about it, but I didn’t want her to worry.

“Can I go to the bathroom?” she asked. “I guess I need to wash my face.” She blushed, which I found adorable.

“Sylvia, you don’t need my permission.” I smiled at her. “I’ll get dressed really quick. I don’t think Father would appreciate me showing up like this.” I indicated my boxers.

“I don’t have anything else except this dress.” She looked embarrassed.

“That we’ll fix tomorrow.” I wanted to burn that dress after I got her new clothes. Nothing of Drake’s must ever touch her body again.

***

My father, the Alpha King, sat on his throne in the courtroom. He was still dressed in his formal attire. The expression on his face made the unease in my stomach grow. Blaze felt it too. I held Sylvia’s hand firmly. She bowed her head in greeting.

“You wanted to see us, Father?” King Lucien never wasted time with small talk.

He motioned us to approach. We resembled each other in looks, both having strong features and similar built, but I had my mother’s coloring being blonde with brown eyes. Father had striking blue eyes and black hair. At his age he was still handsome – according to my mother.

“What is your name, girl?” he demanded. Father stared at her coldly. She didn’t need this from him.

I linked him to back off, but he blocked me. I felt her tremble next to me and I squeezed her hand, trying to reassure her.

“Sylvia, Sylvia Devereaux, your Highness.”

Her voice small and reedy had me grinding my teeth. Could he be any colder?

“Tell me, Sylvia, why do I not sense your wolf?” He narrowed his eyes at her.

“Father…” He interrogated her like some rogue and I felt the hair at the back of my neck rise.

He held up his hand to quiet me.

Sylvia glanced at me, a silent plea in her eyes. My father could intimidate the strongest of werewolves. I understood her fear.

“I don’t know, your Highness.” she said quietly. “I think she died.”

Father got up from his throne and came towards us. Sylvia shrank back against me. I put my arm around her shoulders, pulling her into my side.

“I want you to understand, Sylvia, that Hunter will be the Alpha King when the time comes.” He looked at me, pointedly. “He needs a strong Luna to be his Queen. Do you follow?”

She nodded. I did not like where he was heading.

“So do you agree that a Luna with no wolf, cannot be my son’s Queen?” he said, smiling a fake benign smile. I’ve never before wanted to wipe a smirk off my father’s face. I exploded.

“What the hell, Father! You are going back on what you said earlier. She is my soulmate, given to me by the Moon Goddess. How can you…”

“Hunter, you must reject her. No one is going to respect a Luna with no wolf. She will be a liability for you.” He touched my arm, I jerked away. “Your reign will be constantly challenged because of her.”

“Then I will go to war and wipe out anyone who dares to challenge me!” Blaze started to surface. He was just as pissed off as I. “I will not reject Sylvia.”

My father growled, using his Alpha tone: “I will banish you, if you disobey me. Either you take a chosen mate or you take your wolf-less mate and leave!” His face began to change. I saw his wolf Reagan staring back at me.

Blaze wasn’t about to back down I felt him push through. My breath came hard and fast, the anger growing.

Sylvia wrenched herself out of my embrace. She ran from the room, sobbing.