*Alice's POV*The nerves were still mounting as I walked to the lake.I had continued to talk with Joan in my bedroom, but she had not calmed me down, so I left to get fresh air. It was starting to get late and I wasn't sure if Simon was still going to show for our regular training session.I hoped so.I would much rather keep privately training anyway. Simon was ignorant if he thought I would do well around the rest of the palace wolves. Just because I had gotten comfortable with him, it didn't mean that I was magically going to be comfortable with the rest of them.Simon hadn't tortured me my whole life.I walked up to our usual meeting spot and was hurt to see that Simon wasn't there. Maybe he had gone further into the woods. I walked to the nearby grove. It was a small area in the trees, still covered by branch cover, but big enough to still train in. After a quick evaluation, I realized that Simon wasn't here either.Suddenly, my anger spik
*Simon's POV*The following day…I sat silently on the judging stage, holding my injured shoulder. I barely slept. Between the pain and dreams of Alice leaving the palace, I found myself tossing and turning all night. The duel was supposed to start soon. It was already getting late, and I hadn't seen her since she jumped.I had spent the morning hoping that she had returned—that maybe she had second doubts and would come back. It was the reason I was here now, at the duel. I had to believe she'd change her mind. But I hadn't heard from her since our phone call, and didn't see her anywhere around the grounds all day. Maybe she really did leave. Olivia, on the other hand, I had crossed paths with everywhere. It always seemed that she was around, no matter how hard I tried to avoid her.Now, she was cockily flaunting around the stands, and saying how excited she was about this duel. She would tell anyone that would listen that she was going to teach Alice a lesso
*Alice's POV*My arm throbbed as Simon continued to hold it in the air. One of the swipes that Olivia had landed had grazed this arm and side. I was trying to be strong, but I couldn't help a gasp that escaped.Simon seemed to notice and lowered my arm, looking down at me in concern. I could still hear the crowd murmuring around me. Most of them were in awe. My cheeks flushed at all of the attention."Why did you force me to do this?" I grumbled out as I wobbled slightly. I was pretty sure that I had twisted one of my ankles trying to evade attacks as well.Without answering, he suddenly bent over and grabbed my legs, pulling me up and into his arms. I wrapped my arms around his neck naturally, despite the fact that I was still annoyed with him.I would never tell him, but I was glad he did it. I wasn't sure how much longer I could have stood up."I will take her back to my place to tend to her wounds," Simon announced as he looked toward the Alpha King.
*Alice's POV*I took a few more deep breaths, trying to calm myself down as I leaned against a tree during practice.It had been a few days since my duel, and my life could not have been any more different. Since starting training daily with the rest of the shifters, I was no longer a maid and was actually being treated like a decent shifter for once.By almost everyone at least.I glanced around the tree and back towards the group of people that were training today. Olivia stood off to the opposite side of the area, and even from this distance, I could feel her glare.We had a few classes together by now, and none of them had ended well. I wasn't sure how it was going to be training with Simon in a group setting, but it was even worse than I imagined.Instead of ignoring me like everyone else he trained, he would deliberately go out of his way to embarrass me during training. Just a few minutes ago, he had set a trap so that as soon as I backed up in a sp
*Alice's POV*The wolf was still bounding at us, when all of a sudden there was a loud whistle that sounded through the entire trees.I clapped my hands over my ears. Even without wolf hearing, that whistle was piercing.Then he came to a stop.Suddenly, without another look towards me or Olivia, he turned and took off. I stared after him in surprise, wondering what on earth could have made them retreat. And so quickly. They had almost gotten us.It had to be Simon. Please, be Simon.Olivia's fist suddenly flew at my face from the side and I didn't have time to react as it made contact with my cheek.My entire body twisted around at the angle and strength of which she hit me."Are you that f*cking dumb?!" I screamed as my already injured head throbbed again. I pulled the rope that tied us together as far apart as possible, so I could keep my distance."That's for what you said about my mom!" Olivia shrieked back, and then she came at me agai
*Simon's POV*After leaving Alice, I tentatively made my way to the Alpha King's office. Enough time had passed that he should have Olivia tended to, and I really needed answers—not only from him, but from everyone. The humans and mutated rogues were connected, and I had a feeling the Alpha King knew why.I approached the door to his office and took in a deep breath before knocking. "Enter," I heard his voice boom through the closed door. I gathered myself before turning the handle and pushing it open."Your Majesty," I began. "You elected to meet with me after managing Olivia's wounds. How is she?"I asked only out of courtesy. I didn't actually care.He looked up at me from the papers he was holding in his hands. "Ah, yes. Simon. Please, take a seat. She's doing well, thank you. You really saved the day."I responded only with a nod. It wasn't me, it was Alice. But he'd never admit that. I took a seat in the open chair across from him and pre
*Simon's POV*There was a light knock on my door, surprising me. I wasn't expecting anyone, and nobody usually dared to visit me except for Alice. But at this point, she usually just walked in, or it sounded like she would break the door down when she knocked.As far as I knew, she had no idea I had spoken to the Alpha King alone, and I planned on keeping it that way in order to protect her. When I saw her standing outside of the Alpha King's door earlier that evening, I knew that she was pissed. Whether it was at me for breaking my promise to take her there myself or with the king was yet to be determined.I just hoped it wasn't the former.Leaving Alice standing there, knowing the king wasn't inside, was challenging. God knew how much I wanted to tell her everything. However, I needed time to organize my thoughts. She was so smart that I couldn't let her find out I was hiding something from her until I figured out how to tell her the truth.I walked to
*Alice's POV*The next morning, when I went to find Simon to talk with the Alpha King, he was not in his room. I had tried to go the night before on my own accord, after Simon had randomly vanished. But I was unsuccessful. The Alpha King had already left his chambers. I asked a nearby guard about Simon's location, only to be told he had already left the palace for the day.Why did he leave so suddenly? I was angry at his sudden departure. But I couldn't do anything else. I stood in front of his room and waited for almost an hour.When I called him, I only got his voicemail. Soon after, I received a text.'Alice, I have some things to deal with. I'll be back in the evening.'I groaned. Fine. If he wanted it to be like this, then so be it. I gave up and walked angrily towards the kitchen.I knew Joan was there. I needed her comfort. Although she didn't know anything, seeing her made me feel better. As soon as I made eye contact with her, I let ou