Chapter 27
ANSEL POV
Ansel stormed into his father’s bedroom and slammed the door. “You had no right to pull rank on the keepers of my manor so that they would let Cherry in.”
“Mind your tongue, Ansel,” King David said. “Hot tempered or not, I am still your father and King.”
Ansel’s breath harshened as he worked to control his rage. “I am so sick of this. My life is not a game, father. I am not some pawn that you can use for whatever it is you’re planning.”
“Oh don’t be so dramatic. It was only a visit.”
“From the one person I told you I had no desire to see! I expressed my disgust at the sight of her, and still you are determined to have things your way.” He closed his eyes. “It took everything in me to control my vomit when she touched me today. She crossed a line with what she did to Karin.”
King David scoffed. “You’re still upset about that? Yes, I agree that she may have gone a little overboard in her reaction, but she apologized, and the girl didn’t die, so at this point we all need to move forward. I will say you aren’t helping the situation, however. You haven’t once apologized to Cherry for the ambush of having to find out through gossip that you had some other woman staying with you. I think anyone could understand her pain and rage in the situation, and yet all you seem to be concerned with is Karin.”
“Wow, you’re almost delusional as she is,” Ansel said. “What part of Cherry and I are no longer together and will never be together again don’t you understand? She’s a monster. The only reason that Karin is alive is because I saved her. Is that someone you really want to have as my Luna?”
“Ansel, your fur isn’t as clean as you want to pretend it is. You like murder and slaughter more than anyone should. In that regard Cherry is perfect for you, not someone who won’t even try to defend themselves. A weak link brings down the entire chain, remember that.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” Ansel shot back. “But it doesn’t matter. I’ve already spoken my peace on the subject.”
King David smirked. “If that’s the case then where is your heir? If everything is so solidified, then why isn’t your dear Karin pregnant?” Ansel's body went rigid. “Mhm, seems like everything is not as set in stone as you want those around you to believe. Let’s face the facts, I don’t have that much time left, which means neither do you. Let go of this fantasy of this surrogacy with Karin and get serious about your duties. Cherry is your match, the sooner you realize that, the sooner we can get you an heir.”
Ansel shook his head. “You just don’t get it do you? Whatever happens between Karin and I won’t change the fact that I will never have a child with or marry Cherry. Either accept that or be prepared to hand Edwin the crown instead.”
Two Days Later
KARIN POV
“Thank you for allowing me to finally clean,” Maggie said. “I was certain that by this point you would have been fused to the sheets.”
“Ha, ha, ha,” I say, rolling my eyes. “I allowed you to get me up because you said that the new doctor is coming today to examine me. After I’m retreating to back to bed.”
Maggie fixes my clothes, then brushes the tangles from my damp hair. “I’ll take it, though from what I heard about him, I don’t think he will allow that to happen.” Before I can question her statement, there is a knock on the door. “Come in!” Maggie calls out and shortly a man enters the room.
He’s younger than I expected, with friendly green eyes that peer warmly at me. He was nowhere near as muscular in statue as Ansel, but he had a face that seemed to smile whether or not he was. “Hello Lady Karin, my name is Ethan Woods, and I will be taking over for Doc,” he said.
“Hello,” I reply. I’m not sure what else to say to the person standing in my doorway, but if I’m honest, I don’t want him there. With everything going on, the idea of meeting new people isn’t appealing. Maggie stops brushing my hair and helps me to bed. “Thanks.”
“Of course. I’ll leave you to it,” she says and leaves.
Ethan enters the room and pulls a chair up to the bed. “Is it alright if I start my evaluation?”
“Sure.”
He begins to poke and prod me, and I look up at the ceiling. “How long is this going to take? I’m tired.”
He massages my hand. “How bad is the pain?” I wince and he releases me. “Still hurts a ton, got it.”
“Yeah.”
“Now for the important question. How are you mentally?”
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t seem fine.”
“Excuse me?”
Ethan closes his bag. “I said you don’t seem fine. From what I’ve been told today is the first time in a while that you’ve gotten up from your bed and you haven’t done any of the exercises that were prescribed for you.”
I glared at him. “I guess they also told you I haven’t been bathing either.”
“Absolutely. I’m glad that you opted for a bath today, by the way. I’m a professional, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t have been hard to do my job.”
I try to maintain my glare, but it slowly turns into a smile. “You’re being such a butthead.”
He arched his eyebrow. “Did you really just call your doctor a butthead?”
“Yes, because he’s being one.”
He laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever been called that before. Somehow, it’s more insulting than just being called an asshole.”
I joined him in laughter until a slight pain shot through my ribs. “Don’t make me laugh. It hurts.”
“Progress,” he replied as he wrote on his notepad. He looked back up at me. “I want you to know that no one expects you to be okay. What you went through was horrific and will take some time—both physically and mentally—but that doesn’t mean we’re going to let you give up.”
“I appreciate that.”
“It’s what I’m here for. I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but I understand depression. I’ve experienced some severe cases of it, and I understand that not everyone’s experience with it is the same. We’ll take it one day at a time, and never forget, we’re in this together.”
The Next Day
“Maggie!” I call out in search of help. “Maggie! I really need to pee!” There’s no response, and my irritation grows. “Hello?! Injured person here who needs help walking to the bathroom!” Silence still fills the villa. “Damn my bladder!” I rage as I shake my fist in the air dramatically. “Maggie?” Looking around, I confirm that I’m alone. I swing my body from the bed and slowly get up. Shuffling steadily towards the bathroom, I quickly retreat behind the door.
Hurry before Maggie or Joy comes.
I will myself. Finishing, I carefully wash my hands, then peek out the door to ensure I’m still alone. “Whew,” I say in relief as I exit the bathroom to return to my bed. A yip escapes my mouth when I see a figure in the doorway.
“You little faker,” Ethan chides me with a smirk on his face.
