Chapter 47

Celia

The passing hours have turned into days and the passing days have turned into weeks. I have been stuck inside of Soren’s lakeside villa, being forced to watch as the world passes me by while I remain stuck in place, a princess with no power inside another man’s pack.

The few times that I have seen Soren, I have asked him about being transferred to the hospital to get out of his hair but he has refused my request every single time. Even when I tried to find a loophole with one of the Healers, especially with my own mentor Healer Anderson, Soren has found a way to smother the flame of my reluctance to stay.

I sit in bed and stare at the television. A news report of my appearance as the Lycan princess is on display for all of Soren’s pack to see. The location and information about my condition and whereabouts are kept a secret, though, which I suppose I should be appreciative of but I can’t help but feel like it has set up a wild goose chase for those who wish to harm me.

A she-wolf Healer walks past me, holding a gold tray of herbs and natural remedies that I have worked with before. Most of them are used to help clean my wound and to make for sure that no unwanted bacteria gets inside whereas others are there to help he with the pain of a stab wound.

My wound has healed nicely in these past few weeks. According to Healer Anderson, my intestines were not nearly as destroyed as he originally thought they were and he, alongside another surgeon, was able to get me back into the best shape imaginable while repairing my insides.

It is a gnarly thought to have about my own surgery, how they were able to stitch me back together. I have usually been on the other side of the blade, being the one to pass it to Healer Anderson instead of being underneath it. It is a weird thought to have.

“Excuse me,” I speak out and catch her attention, “has there been an update on my transfer?”

I knew to request one when Soren informed me that he would be gone because of a negotiation with a smaller pack on the outskirts of his land. He has left his Beta in charge of everything, who has been known to delegate power to the higher ups who know nothing of Soren’s true intentions such as keeping me inside the villa.

“It has been denied, your highness,” the Healer can barely meet my eye as she speaks.

“What? Who denied it?” I sit up in bed, the pain almost nonexistent now that I am almost fully healed.

“The Alpha King has denied it,” her eyes flicker to mine before diverting once again, “you are to stay here and—”

“I wish to see him,” I interrupt her and fall back into bed, crossing my arms over my chest. “I don’t care who you need to tell but I demand to see him right now!”

“I don’t know when he’ll be back from—”

“That won’t be necessary, Healer Susan,” Soren’s Beta says as he enters the villa.

I shoot up in bed, eyes widening, as his Beta walks towards the bed, looking down at the tablet in his hands before turning to look at me. He offers me a kind smile and puts his hands at his side, bowing his head to me.

“He will be here tomorrow morning, Your Highness,” the Beta speaks in a calm voice. “I will ensure that he sees you first thing in the morning.”

I narrow my eyes at him. With the time I spent with Soren during our contracted relationship, I have spent the same amount of time with his Beta. I know him as much as he knows me.

“You’re lying,” I boldly claim, “Soren is home. He doesn’t want to see me.”

The Beta flashes a smile before turning back to his tablet, typing in something with ease. He glances at me and shakes his head, softly chuckling.

“You have always been smart, Celia,” he comments, “would you like me to see if he is willing to come?”

I pause and slowly think things over inside my head.

Soren won’t come if he thinks it is about me being transferred to the hospital. He will come, though, if he thinks it is about something else.

“Tell him that I wish to speak with him about an urgent matter we were discussing,” I relax into the bed and and hug a pillow to my chest, watching as his Beta nods and leaves.

Not even an hour later, just as I was about to call it a day and watch something on the television, Soren enters through the doors with a fire lit beneath his steps. He approaches my bed and sits down beside me, his face twitching as I roll over to look at him through the mass of blankets and pillows.

“Soren,” I greet him.

“You said you wished to talk, Celia,” he gets straight to the point.

“Why are you keeping me hostage?” I ask, cutting straight through the fat of the conversation. “I don’t want your generosity if you think it is going to make up for the things you have done in the past.”

“Is this what you wanted to talk about?” Soren rolls his eyes and stands with a huff. “You wish to leave?”

“I do, yes!” I sit up on my knees in bed, placing my hands on my hips. Soren looks down at me with one eyebrow perked up. He crosses his arms over his chest.

“Celia, you know I can’t do that.”

“And why not?”

“Because there are people who wish to kill you and they won’t hurt you here,” Soren’s response is instant. “The Duke and I agreed to this. You’re going to have to get used to it until we are able to fully assess the threat and handle it properly.”

I go quiet and fall back onto the bed, the soft blankets and pillows cushioning my slow descent. I watch as Soren moves back towards the bed, looking down at me. It is a quiet moment between us, one that is for us and us alone with nobody else in the room.

My eyes move to his hands, his fingers twitching and flexing as if he wishes to reach out to me and close the distance. I sigh and look away, unable to meet his gaze because I know that what he is a saying is true.

I don’t want to die. Maybe being under Soren’s protection will be a good thing.

“You will be moving into my home now that you have healed,” Soren begins. I gasp and my head snaps to look at him. “You will be safest there with me and my soldiers who are always on duty.”

“Soren, I can’t—”

“Your grandmother approved this plan before she went back to sleep, Celia,” Soren’s gaze leaves mine for a brief moment before returning. His shoulders slightly slump “Everything that is happening right now is to benefit you. We all want to keep you safe and alive. This is the best course of action and you know it.”

I do know it to be true but I can’t even begin to imagine how awkward things will be between Soren and I if things go wrong between us again.

“You will be moving in next week, Celia. I will see to it that your belongings are moved—”

“No,” I interrupt him, “I will handle my belongings. It is the least you can do for me.”

Soren nods. I turn away and sigh, sinking underneath the layers of blankets to hide from him, unable to verbally say that his plan is the best one.

“Call me if you need anything, okay?” Soren asks. I give him a thumbs up, unable to watch him as he leaves the sanctity of the vila.