Lenora's Pov
"Jasmine?" I called her name in surprise. It was more than a jump scare to see her behind me, pinning Simon to the floor with her eyes shooting daggers at him.
"What happened?" I asked, with a perplexed look on my face. My legs reacted quicker than my body as I rushed towards Simon, watching him lie flat on the floor without moving. His wounds appeared to have reopened, and his bandage was drenched in blood. By now, Jasmine had already stood up from his body, but he was still lying flat on the floor.
His wounds should have healed by now, and I can't seem to point out why it was taking so long to heal; it's shocking that there would still be any signs of blood on his bandage. Could the venom from my claws have caused it, or could it be something else?
I didn't care about the uncomfortable pain that I felt in my waist area or the little extra attachment in my tummy when I bent to meet him on the floor, carefully lifting him up with my arms around his shoulders, even though he did more of the work.
"Can't you see that he's badly wounded?" Why would you pin him to the ground like that?" I asked, scolding Jasmine. Her eyes weren't burning with rage anymore but had quickly changed into her usual doe eyes.
"I'm sorry, your highness." She apologized, dusting her dress while her brows furrowed in confusion.
"You should apologize to him, not me," I added as I patiently waited for her to apologize to Simon, but her hesitation was suspicious.
I have no clue as to what the bad blood could be between them, but there's definitely something wrong somewhere. Even though I've known Jasmine for a few days now, I haven't seen her lose her temper or act irrationally; therefore, something must have happened to make her react that way. But what the hell could have happened with Simon? He's badly injured and can't even hold a fight.
He just laid flat on the floor, not moving or fighting back.
I was curious to know what could have transpired between them—what could have fueled this bad blood in Jasmine—but my curiosity can wait till after Jasmine apologizes. The tackle appeared to have weakened Simon even more because he hasn't said anything since the incident occurred; instead, his face held a puzzled emotion that I can't seem to unravel, even though something inside of me wants to decipher his emotions piece by piece.
"I'm sorry…" Jasmine apologized, but before she could finish, Simon abruptly turned his back on both of us and walked away, heading for the pack house without looking at me.
"Simon!" I called for him, hoping he would answer me, but it seems as if my words fell on deaf ears. He didn't answer me, nor did he stop in his tracks. He only kept on limping forward as he made his way to the pack house.
Slowly, I tilted my head to look at Jasmine. She also had a perplexed look on her face as she turned to bring her eyes to mine before giving me a slight bow.
There's definitely something wrong with Simon, and at this point, I don't think it's about the wounds on his body, nor was it the fact that Jasmine pinned him to the ground. Thinking of it all, I can now tell that something about Simon has drastically changed, and it all started from the time he claimed that I was raped by that monster in Latvera.
I want to know what exactly has changed about him, but I'm so scared that I think it might just be best for me to remain oblivious.
ALARIC'S POV
"Your highness, she's not in the pack house." A maid said, rushing towards me with her apron swinging around both sides.
"Don't return to me until you find her," I roared, causing her to shake as she stormed away in search of Lenora.
I hate it when she leaves without letting me know her whereabouts. How could she have just left the house at a time like this without leaving any words for me?
"Fuck it!" I cursed, running my fingers through my hair, as I prepared to search outside the pack house and interrogate every single wolf that might have seen her this night.
"Your highness, it has been confirmed that she's in the garden," Josh said as he walked closer to where I was standing, leaving just enough space between us with his head bowed.
Ever since he admitted to that crime, it has been hard for me to look at him the same way without thinking of him as a traitor. I knew he must have had something to do with Jenny; his feelings were all over the place, and it was obvious to the blind that he liked Jennifer, but I would have never expected him to know of the evil deeds she was doing yet support her regardless of his oath of loyalty to me.
"Do you want me to bring her here, your highness?" He asked, and his voice cracked mid-sentence.
"I'll go to her myself," I said, brushing past him as I walked away from his presence. I should be furious and angry at him; I should be punishing him immediately; hell, I should have killed him already, but I just can't bring myself to hurt him, no matter how hard I try to let myself know that he betrayed me.
I hate the fact that he holds so much power over my emotions, and I hate the fact that the more I stare at him and remain in his presence, I tend to forget that he should be six feet below me already. Why did he have to betray the trust I have for him and toy with my emotions this way? For so long, I have seen him as a brother, and I have treated him as such. Why did he have to succumb to his fleshy desires and go against me?
"Yes, your highness," he answered, walking slowly behind me and leaving enough space between us.
"Don't follow me," I commanded. He immediately obeyed, but as I continued my steps, a familiar voice called my name.
"Alaric," the voice called, and it didn't take me long to recognize it as that of Diane, my mother.
"Mother!" I called. With a smile and her arms stretched wide, she gracefully made her way towards me, requesting a hug.
"Why is she here at a time like this? Could she have heard of Anselm? Shouldn't she be mourning over the loss of her husband?" I asked myself, and different questions lingered in my mind as I wondered what could have brought her to this place on a day like this.
"What brought you here?" I asked as she wrapped her arms around my neck, hugging me and placing a peck on my cheeks.
"Won't you at least hug your mother back? Even if you hadn't planned on attending your father's funeral," she said, avoiding my initial question. I still find it weird for her to be in this place at this time, and when was a hug a necessity for us? But at the same time, I felt a need to apologize for not being with her at Adolph's funeral, but I had my family to tend to and protect.
"Forgive me," I pleaded, hugging her back but releasing myself from the hug in no time.
"You're my son. No matter what happens, you're forgiven." She said it with a smile as her hands caressed my cheeks. This is new, but I'd assume the loss of her husband took a toll on her and is making her more affectionate.
"Thank you, make yourself comfortable, and I'll be back in a few," I said, making my way past her, but was immediately stopped by her hands firmly on my arm.
"Wait!" She exclaimed.
"I'll inform the servants to tend to your every need, and I'll be back in no time," I said. Urging her to release her grip on my arm
"Wait…"
"I need to be with my wife..."
"Congratulations on finding Lenora! I also wish to meet her, but I need to tell you something," she said, her grip on my arm still very tight as her eyes never left mine. Something is definitely wrong with her new behaviour.
"Can this something wait?" I inquired.
"I'm afraid not," she replied. With a sigh, my eyes fell on Josh. For a few seconds there, I almost sent him to get Lenora for me, but I don't think I can trust him around my wife. I just have to listen to what Diane has to say, and then I'll get Lenora. It must have been very important for her to leave the headquarters and come to this pack house.
"Did anything happen?" I asked after giving her all of my attention.
"Son, would you rather lose the throne or the lives of yourself and those of your family?" She asked.
"What sort of insane question is this?" I roared, my anger rising. A question like that should never leave the lips of anyone, especially not her, as it is considered treason.
"Please leave your anger aside. This is for your sake."
"Such words shouldn't be leaving your thin lips." I glared.
"Can you just listen to me for once?" She pushed, her grip on my arm tightening.
"I wanted to listen to you, but if you're only going to spew out such nonsense, then I'll pretend I never waited to listen to you for your own sake," I said through gritted teeth, glaring at her to let go of my arm. I would hate to use force on her because she is still grieving the loss of her husband.
"I don't want you to be in danger," she cried.
With a sigh, I placed my hand on hers for comfort.
"I know you might be scared that Adolph died untimely, but you have nothing to worry about for me. It's not your job to worry about me. It's my responsibility to worry about myself and about my people..."
"Can't you just let go of the throne for the sake of your unborn child?"
"Diane, you're crossing a thin line." I growled at her. It is one thing to be scared, but it is a completely different thing to speak nonsense and to bring my unborn child into this conversation. She might be my mother, but if she continues with this act, then I might have to treat her like a criminal.
"I'd cross any line to save my sons." She yelled, and beads of salty tears streamed down her cheeks. There was a plural in her sentence; she wasn't talking about just me. She knows.
"Did Anselm send you here to threaten me?" I asked, and I tried to pull myself together, but deep down, I could feel every cell in my body breaking apart at the mention of Anselm's name. I can't afford to be a coward at a time like this.
"Your brother doesn't want to harm you or your family; he just needs you to give up the throne. Please," she begged.
"Fucking let go of my arm!" I yelled, yanking my arm away from her grip and almost causing her to lose her balance.
"You've wronged him, and letting go of this throne would be the best way to atone for your sins." She said, grabbing my arm with her hand once again, but her actions were doing nothing but increasing my anger.
In my entire years of being alive, no one has been a threat to my throne, and no one has dared threaten me with giving up my throne, but here she is, my mother, standing before me with her face soaked up in her tears, telling me to give up my throne. If she were to be someone else, then the moon goddess knows that she would have kissed her life goodbye the second she mentioned that godforsaken word.
"Alaric, the only way for you and Lenora to survive is to give up the throne," she added.
"Did Anselm send you here?" I asked again, and this time my voice sounded like a roar, forcing my aura on her as she bared her neck in submission.
"He doesn't have to send me here…" She said, tears streaming down her cheeks, and with every drop of tears that landed on the floor, I impatiently waited for her to finish her sentence.
"Did he fucking send you here, Diane?" I roared again, and my aura pressed against her.
"He doesn't have to send me here," She paused.
"He's here," she said. A deafening silence followed as my eyes widened in bafflement at the sudden echo of a thunderous clap.