The Wolfless Princess

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CHAPTER 9

“Foolery!” Sloan rose to his feet, his eyes glaring daggers at everyone as his chest rose and fell with great gusto. Aurelia shuddered. She expected him to be angry, but not to this point. 

“King Sloan,” Kieran enunciated, his shaky voice betraying the calm situation he was trying to propose. 

He hated that his sister was seen as an object that could be used at will. Sloan on the other hand was enraged at being tricked. 

“How dare those scumbags!”

Ivan’s face was void of any expression while Leo felt pained, occasionally stealing glances from his sister.

“But I…” she was about to reveal the whole truth to them when she decided against it. Seeing the redness of their eyes, Aurelia could tell that would not in any way be a bold move. Who knew what hell would break lose? 

And how would the Lycan King take it that his betrothed was not untouched? In hopes of sparing her brain any more trauma, she shook her head, changing her statement. 

“I ran away and encountered some challenges.”

“That is true. You were bruised all over. Why didn’t you transition and heal?” Ivan questioned once more. 

Aurelia had to give it to him. He was damn good at poking the right questions, leaving her uncomfortable. 

Fortunately, Leo noticed what his brother did and cautioned him. “Ivan, stop it.”

“What? She may be our sister but we must question what needs to be questioned. There’s so much we do not know about her past.”

“Are you doubting her?” Leo asked, rising to his feet too, ignoring Sloan’s pacing.

“Shut it, Leo, and think above your emotions. I love her just as much as you do.”

“No. I love her most. More than any of you, brothers. I won’t question her that way. She’s been through a lot,” he fired back. 

Aurelia felt her heart swell. In all her life, she never had anyone defend her this way, except Ryland, who turned out to be a douchebag.

“Enough with the arguments,” Kieran intervened. Knowing his hot-headed brothers, he knew he had to stop them lest this meeting turned into something more. “Ivan is right.”

The look on Leio’s face showed he felt betrayed that Kieran sided with Ivan. Another proof they did not love her the way he did. 

“But Leo is also right and Aurelia,” Aurelia lifted her eyes to meet his, “this isn’t the time to be hiding any information from us. We need to know what you’ve been through. And as your older brothers, I promise you we will seek justice for you.”

Aurelia gave a nod. But that did not mean she was going to spill about her sleeping with a random stranger.

“You were covered in bruises and bleeding. Who in their right mind dared hurt you?” 

She closed her eyes once more but before she did, she saw Leo’s displeasing look as the latter grunted, obviously angry at them.

There was no escaping this, was there? 

“Eretria.”

“What?!” It was Sloan who hollered his shock. While the others exchanged puzzled glances. “Why?”

She opened her eyes once more. 

“I admit, at first I thought he was a much older man and then I… I was in love back then. But he betrayed me when we were to elope. That was when I discovered Eretria’s plans.”

“What plans? Why would she wish you harm when she first refused the wedding?”

“Simple. She never knew he was the Lycan King. Her parents refused to play a trick on him but she wanted me out of the way.”

“And she dared injure you?” Leo’s raging voice pulled everyone’s attention. 

“No. She ordered some werewolves. Luckily I fell off the cliff.” 

“Urghhh!!” 

Tears stung Aurelia’s eyes seeing her brothers squeeze their eyes shut. They had genuine care but what puzzled her most was Leo. 

His eyes had changed colour, his wolf threatening to come out. 

“When was this?” Leo questioned.

“About three days back.”

“Then, forgive my words but why didn’t you heal quickly?” Ivan threw his question again.

“Because losing my memories and the injuries I sustained as a kid made me unable to connect with my wolf. Some believe I have no wolf. Thus, I cannot heal.” Her voice broke at the last sentence.

Ivan peeled his gaze away feeling stupid for making her utter those words. 

Aurelia lowered her head. Feeling so weak and useless. Aurelia could already expect scorn from her brothers when she said it. Back at the Blazed Moon Pack, many treated her with scorn and would have eaten or bullied her so much had she not been under the custody of Beta Walter.

However, when she felt a hand on her shoulder and two other presence before her, she lifted her head to meet the pained-filled eyes of her brothers, Ivan and Kieran. 

Kieran squatted before her, his eyes glistening with tears. Without knowing, their sister had suffered so much with no one to protect her.  

No wolf at the age of twenty-three was painful on his own. They could imagine the scorn as this was common amongst werewolves. 

“You’re safe now,” Kieran assured her.

“Yeah. You are safe. I'm sorry too. Just know that no harm will come to you here, I promise. And we’ll find a way to help you get back your memories and wolf.”

The tears she had no idea she’d been holding in, spilled out. Never in a million could she imagine being treated with so much care even as a wolfless female.

Releasing another deep grunt, Leo turned to face them, appearing quickly in front of Aurelia when he saw his brothers were more sensible than him. “Trust Ivan. If anyone can find out, he can. I won’t lose either. I’d do my best and find the best healer.”

Once they were done making her cheer up, Kieran turned to face Sloan who till now was furious at being played by the very people he was doing everything for.

“Now that you know she wasn’t his real daughter. I believe the betrothal is null.”