Arabella Toussaint:
For a moment, everything was blurry, and then my vision cleared as I found Alpha King seated beside my bed. He was holding my hand.
A sharp breath caught in my throat. No. My heart slammed against my chest.
No, no, no. I started shaking my head desperately.
Every time he came near me, something bad followed. A punishment. An insult. A brutal reminder of what I was and why I was there.
"No!" I shook my head harder. I couldn’t stop it. Couldn’t control it.
His brows drew together, "Arabella."
A doctor stepped closer, "Miss Arabella. Easy. Nobody is going to hurt you."
The king was looking at me silently with a clenched jaw, and I knew he was angry. He must be. As a slave, I was using this pack’s medical resources.
But my breathing was only getting worse. The king shifted forward slightly, and that was all it took. A frightened scream tore from my throat. I quickly scrambled backward, trying to get away from him.
"Miss Arabella... please stop," the doctor warned me, but I wasn’t listening and fell from the bed. The room tilted, but I quickly pushed myself up on my knees. I knew my place. No feet. Only knees. I was not allowed to stand.
Before anyone could reach me, my hands shot forward, grabbing the Alpha King’s leg, "I’m sorry," I choked on my tears that were blurring my vision. The same words kept spilling out repeatedly.
"I’m sorry. Please forgive me, your highness. I’m sorry... it won’t happen again."
All my life, these were the only words that worked like magic. They always kept me safe.
"Please," My fingers tightened around his trousers as I cried in desperation, "I’m sorry... it wasn’t intentional. That man... he grabbed my ... ass..." I hiccupped, "Please forgive me... don’t be angry. It wasn’t my mistake. I didn’t invite him."
I was waiting for his hands, ready to grab me and drag me across the pack grounds. But nothing happened.
For a moment, I stopped crying. What happened? Won’t he punish me?
Slowly, he lowered himself until he was crouching before me, "Arabella," he said softly. Was it my imagination?
How can he...
I stared at him in confusion and squeezed my eyes. When Vanessa used to be so gentle, it only meant she would hit me right on my face. I knew them better than anyone else.
I tightly squeezed my eyes, waiting for the blow.
Instead, his fingers lightly touched my cheek, and his rough thumb brushed away the tears from my face as if... as if he was scared to touch me, "Arabella..." his voice sounded strangely hoarse, "Look at me."
No, I couldn’t.
"I’m not going to hit you," his voice had dropped to a whisper, "Did someone... try to touch you..." Something dangerous flashed across his eyes just for an instant before disappearing...like he was restraining his beast or his anger.
But I didn’t answer him. What was the use when I would be the one facing consequences?
"No... just forget about it... I ... must have imagined it..." The words coming out of my mouth slurred. I could hardly keep my eyes open. My eyelids felt too heavy.
Goddess. I was getting drowsy.
"Do you want to sleep?" He asked me again, and I couldn’t even nod. Yes. I wanted to sleep. Peacefully. Forever. At that moment, death seemed my only option.
My body swayed, and I was about to drop to the floor when two strong arms not only held me but also lifted me and placed me somewhere.
I didn’t want to know if it was the hospital bed or the floor of the dungeon. I just wanted to sleep and stay like that.
***
"You need to let me in," The woman told me. I looked around in confusion and blinked. Everything was white here, but this was not the same hospital room.
It seemed more like moonlight stretched across the sky. A woman stood a few feet away from me. Her black dress shimmered with every movement, covered in tiny sparkling lights.
The first thought when I looked at her was ... the stars scattered across the night sky. She was so beautiful that I simply couldn’t stop myself from staring at her.
I walked to her and then stopped at arm’s length, "Are you my mother?" I asked her in a small voice, but she laughed softly, shaking her head.
A smile tugged at her lips as she stepped closer, "No, love. I’m not your mother, but still... I’ve been trying to reach you for years."
I stared at her in shock. She tried to reach me and yet...
"You’ve been given so much wolfsbane and silver that I’m fighting for my survival," the stars woven into her dress seemed to flicker brighter, "Be stronger, Arabella. You two are finally together. Just let me in. He’ll help you."
Who was she talking about?
"Are... are you my ... wolf?" I stuttered as I asked the silly question. Of course, she was not a wolf. Then who was she?
"You never tried to reach me," I whispered.
The smile vanished from her face, "Because your father made sure I couldn’t."
My heart skipped a beat. What? My father?
She nodded at me, "Your father kept me away from you. He was afraid of what would happen if we found each other."
How was it possible? My father barely noticed me.
"He notices more than you think," She placed her hand on my arm. Her touch didn’t make me flinch, "You need to let me in, Arabella. Let me help you."
"Help me do what?"
"Survive," her silver eyes held mine, "Because the storms coming for you are far worse than the ones you’ve already endured. And this time I’ll try, you don’t face it alone."
What bullshit was she uttering? Moon Goddess was supposed to give me a wolf, but she let me stay wolfless. And now this human was telling me she was my beast.
Ridiculous.
A distant rumble echoed across the endless white space. The girl glanced upward and took a step back, "It’s time. She wants me back."
"Wait," I hurried after her, "At least tell me your name."
A smile touched her lips, "As...e."
There was an odd whizzing sound that didn’t let me hear her.
Within moments, she transformed into stardust and was carried away by the wind.