Two Years Of Humiliation

Ross lowered herself to the ground to think. She remembered how everyone expected her wolf to revive. One night. Then another. Then months. Nothing came. No wolf. No transformation. Not even a little connection to the beast everyone else carried inside them.

At first, she was frightened. Then embarrassed. Then angry. Eventually, she had simply stopped expecting anything. But Knox had never allowed her to forget. Two years. Two entire years of being reminded that she was different. Defective. Weak. Not enough and the cruelest part wasn't even what he said. It was what he didn't say.

He never asked how she felt. Never asked whether she was lonely. Never asked why she still remained calm when the entire palace treated her like an unwanted burden. He simply ignored her.nAs if she were invisible. Their marriage had been political from the beginning. Ross now understood that.

Her father had wanted an alliance with Knox's kingdom, and Knox had agreed. But Ross had foolishly believed there might be something more.

A friendship. Respect. Perhaps, eventually, love. She had been wrong. Knox had never even shared a bedroom with her. Their marriage chamber had become nothing more than a beautiful room she slept in alone.

Knox had his own quarters at the other end of the palace. He never came to her room. Never touched her. Never even looked at her for longer than necessary. When they crossed paths at breakfast, he might nod.

At official gatherings, he might acknowledge her existence. That was all. Sometimes days passed without a single word between them. And the servants had learned from their king. They ignored her.

If Ross asked for something, they often pretended not to hear. If she entered a room, conversations stopped. If she needed assistance, someone always found a reason to be busy. Ross had complained exactly once.

Knox had looked at her without emotion. "You're Luna," he had said. "Act like one."

So she had. She stopped complaining. She stopped asking. She learned to do things herself. She learned to walk through the palace alone.nShe learned to eat alone.nShe learned to sleep alone. And most importantly, she learned not to cry. Because every time someone hurt her, they expected tears and Ross refused to give them the satisfaction because once they get it, she knew her respect would be gone.

She heard a knock on her door. She frowned. Nobody visited her. "Come in."

The door opened as Nash walked inside carrying two plates stacked dangerously high with food.

Ross stared at him. "What's that?"

"An emergency."

She blinked. "An emergency?"

"Yes." He placed the plates on her table. "I discovered the kitchen made too much food."

Ross looked at the mountain of roasted meat, bread, potatoes, vegetables and pastries. "That is enough food for six people."

Nash nodded seriously. "Exactly. Six people are in danger of starving."

Ross tried not to smile. She failed. A small laugh escaped her.

Nash pointed at her triumphantly. "There! I knew you could do it."

"Do what?"

"Smile."

Ross shook her head. "You are ridiculous."

"I've been told that by several highly respected people."

"Who?"

"My mother."

Ross laughed again while Nash grinned. "See? We're making progress."

He pulled out a chair. "Sit. Eat."

Ross rose up and took her seat. Nash began eating as though he had been starving for days. After a moment, Ross asked, "Why do you keep coming here?"

Nash shrugged. "Because you're my Luna."

"That doesn't explain it."

"Fine." He lowered his voice dramatically. "Because Alpha Knox is terrifying, and somebody needs to make sure his wife doesn't murder him in his sleep."

Ross nearly choked on her food. "Nash!"

"What? I'm protecting the kingdom."

She laughed again while he returned his smile. She was always happy to have him. Around him, Ross didn't have to pretend. She didn't have to carefully measure every word. She could laugh. She could complain. She could simply exist.

Nash told her ridiculous stories about palace servants. He complained about Knox's terrible habit of making decisions without explaining anything. He once spent ten minutes describing how Knox had stared at him after Nash accidentally broke an expensive royal vase.

"I thought I was going to die," Nash said.

"What happened?"

"He said, 'Clean it.'"

Ross stared. "That's it?"

"That's worse than death when Knox says it."

Ross burst out laughing while Nash leaned back proudly.

"My work here is complete."

For the first time in months she got there, Ross felt something warm settle inside her chest. Something simpler. Friendship.

She had forgotten what it felt like to have someone willingly sit beside her. Someone who didn't care whether she had a wolf. Someone who didn't look at her like she was defective. Someone who simply saw Ross.

Once they were done with their food, he brought out his hand. “Love to go for a walk?”

“Of course.” She grinned as they both rushed out and headed straight to the palace courtyard.

Ross was sitting beneath a tree when Knox walked past. Nash stood beside her, telling another ridiculous story. He watched how Ross laughed. It was a genuine laugh as her head tilted back slightly with her eyes bright.

Knox stopped walking and it was Nash who noticed him first. "Alpha." He called.

Knox gave a brief nod while Ross looked over. "Knox." Their eyes met. For a moment, something unreadable passed through his gaze. Then it disappeared.

He looked at Nash. "You're needed in the training yard."

Nash sighed. "Of course I am."

He turned to Ross. "I'll return later."

Ross smiled. "I'll be here."

Knox watched Nash walk away. Then he looked at Ross. "You seem to have found a friend."

Ross held his gaze. "I have."

He said nothing. He simply turned and walked away. Ross watched him disappear. She had spent two years waiting for Knox to notice her but now, she had stopped waiting.

|Later That Night|

A horn sounded through the palace. Once. Twice. Then again.

Ross immediately stood. She heard the entire palace erupted into movement. Soldiers rushed through the corridors. Servants screamed. Doors slammed open. Ross got out of her room and stepped into the hallway.

Nash came running toward her, his usual humor completely gone. "Ross."

"What happened?"

He looked toward the northern windows. His face was pale. "Scouts just returned."

Ross's heart tightened. "Why?"

Nash swallowed. "Enemy forces." The horn sounded again. Louder this time. "They've been spotted near the northern border."

Ross stared toward the darkness beyond the palace walls. Then, suddenly she felt the ancient presence beneath the palace stir. Something seemed to be waking.