Cora Queen of All Werewolves

Cora- Chapter 8

I thought it would take forever to fall asleep, but it didn’t. The room stayed warm, and with my mate beside me, our bond calmed, too. I don’t know when I fell asleep, but it didn’t take long.

I wake up outside my home. Well, my old home. It looks empty now. There’s no light shining through the windows. There’s no laughter coming from within. My wolf, however, is curled up on the front porch.

“Hera,” I say softly, rushing to her. I throw my arms around her as she lifts her head. “I’ve missed you. Why did you leave?”

It’s been so long since I’ve seen her. I’ve heard her a few times, and I could feel her when we first saw our mate, but she wasn’t truly there. Not like she used to be.

“You were weak,” she tells me. “You couldn’t have shifted if you tried. We did what we had to do to help our sister.”

I blink at her as my heart beats rapidly. I thought she was upset. I didn’t realize I had weakened my wolf. I close my eyes as I realize that Prince Joseph has been right. Has his wolf known how much I hurt Hera?

I squeeze her neck. “I’m sorry,” I tell her. “I didn’t realize.”

“It is alright,” she tells me. “We have our mate, and we have food now. Things will be better soon enough.”

“Will I be able to shift at the moon?” I ask her. It’s about a week away, and I don’t know if Prince Joseph will allow me not to shift. Perhaps he knows I can’t, but I didn’t even realize. I stayed home with Helen during the full moon by choice. How had I neglected my wolf so much that I didn’t know?

“We will see,” she tells me. “Take care of yourself and stay close to our mate. The bond makes me feel stronger.”

I sigh. I know it makes us both feel stronger, but I feel uncomfortable when I’m near him. “He’s not very kind.”

“He’s not been mean,” she points out. “He didn’t know the dress meant so much to you. He didn’t mean to scare you when he marked you. You have to give him a chance.”

“I know,” I tell her. I’d never admit it to anyone else, but this is my wolf. Even while weakened, she knows every part of me. “I’m nervous.”

Hera nuzzles against me. “We will get through this. He’s not the mate you expected, but he’s what you have. You must learn to care for him, or you will be miserable.”

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“Good morning, Mate,” Joseph says as I wake. It startles me. I sit up and find him leaning against the bathroom doorframe again. This time, he has a toothbrush in his mouth as he smirks at me.

He’s shirtless, which seems to be what he prefers. His hair is already combed back. It looks nice, though I prefer it when he sleeps and it hangs in his face. Hera’s warning that I should learn to care for him rings through my head. It could be worse, I remind myself as I take in his appearance. It could be far worse.

“Good morning,” I say softly, giving him a shy smile. I can try harder, and for Hera, I will.

“I have a call to make before breakfast,” he tells me. He turns back into the bathroom before returning without his toothbrush. “I’ll join you in the dining room in an hour.”

He grabs a shirt and pulls it on, beginning to button it. He unbuttons his pants to tuck it in, and I look away quickly.

“Don’t be shy now,” he chuckles. “I caught you peeking last night.”

My cheeks flame. “I did not,” I tell him.

“Look at me, Mate,” he demands. Slowly, I look up, meeting his dark eyes. He’s so beautiful that it nearly takes my breath away. “You are allowed to look at me. I’m your mate.”

I nod slowly, not trusting my voice. I know we are mates. He’s already marked me. Still, something about wanting to look at him feels forbidden.

“Does it feel wrong when I look at you?” he challenges. “Does it feel wrong when I touch your skin?”

“Yes,” I breathe out, admitting it.

Prince Joseph becomes tense at my words. He turns quickly to grab his suit jacket and pulls it on. He’s angry, and I don’t know what to do.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I’ve never…” I pause, letting my words hang.

He rushes across the room to me and roughly grasps my chin. “Neither have I, Mate. Are you so weakened that you can’t even feel the mate bond?”

I don’t answer him because, honestly, I don’t know. I barely even felt my wolf when I first saw him. He squeezes my chin tighter, and I quickly realize that not answering him isn’t an option. “It’s not strong,” I admit. “It is growing stronger, though.”

“Did you even know I was your mate when I marked you?” he asks, finally releasing my face. He doesn’t step away, though. Somehow, he gets closer, towering over me as I’m stuck sitting on the bed.

Slowly, I shake my head. “Not really,” I whisper. “I figured it out, but I barely felt Hera.”

He steps away from me, eyeing me carefully as if he’s been burned. “Her name is Hera?”

“Yes,” I tell him. “I saw her last night. She is getting stronger.”

“How long has it been?” he grinds out.

I shrug and look away. “It has been a long time.”

Anger rolls off of him. I can feel it without even looking at him, and it’s terrifying. “How long did your parents let you waste away and damage your wolf?”

“They didn’t know,” I say softly.

“Do you truly believe that?” he growls. “Your father admitted to me that he knew your wolf was weak because there was not enough food. I’m certain your mother knew. HOW LONG?!”

I jump as he shouts, pushing back into the headboard and pulling the blanket up as if it will protect me. “I don’t know,” I tell him. “I started to give her my food at least a year ago. She was too small, and I wasn’t sure she would live.”

He shocks me as he sits on the bed and gently places his hand on my leg. “That wasn’t for you to fix. They should have taken care of all of their children.”

I sniffle, still unwilling to meet his eyes. It’s embarrassing to admit how poor my family was, especially to someone who has so much. He can never understand how desperate we felt. “They tried. They did their best with what we had.”

He reaches up and takes my hand. The contact between us is warmer than it should be, and I realize it’s the bond. I’ve not felt it like this before. I look into eyes that are more kind than I’ve ever seen them. He looks concerned. “Should I remove your sister and send her to an orphanage to care for her?”

“No!” I exclaim, quickly moving so I’m on my knees. “Please, keep them together. They never hurt me. There just wasn’t enough food. She will be fine if they are at a pack with more money.”

He nods and stands. “If you’re sure, Mate. I’ll see you at breakfast.”

He leaves me, and Hazel enters with a worried look. “How much did you hear?” I ask.

“It does not matter,” she says. “All your secrets are safe with me.”

I sigh, frustrated that someone else knows how damn poor we were. Hazel seems kind, though, and I need to hold on to that in this place. Few things have seemed kind in the palace.

“Why wasn’t Prince Joseph’s butler here this morning?” I ask as she curls my hair.

“He is not always required,” she tells me.

I gasp softly. “I’m overworking you, aren’t I?”

“No, ma’am,” she smiles at me through the mirror. “The men have a choice, but shewolves do not. You are seen as far too delicate to care for yourself.”

I arch an eyebrow. “I’m a shewolf, so I’m too delicate to dress myself, so they send another shewolf to help me?”

Hazel giggles. “It is the way of the world,” she says as she pins a hair in place. It’s on the top of my head again, and I don’t like it. “Sometimes it is easier to let them think what they wish to and surprise them when necessary.”

“You think I should play along?” I ask.

She nods. “Yes. If he knows you can do it on your own, he will remove me. I know we aren’t friends, but you’ll be all on your own then. The queen can be tough, and I’d like to think I can help you through it.”