Chapter 7

Sylvia’s POV

The small number of items that were left of my mother; all the photos… the memories… they were all gone. My heart shattered the second I saw the ruins of what used to be my life. Tears spilled down my cheeks before I could stop them; I barely registered Grace’s arms wrapped around me, desperate to keep me together as I fell apart.

Lucian walked around the cottage, his frown deep as he assessed the damage. I knew there was nothing he could do to save anything. Whoever stormed this place did a thorough job at making sure there was nothing left.

“We can’t let them get away with this,” Grace whispered through her own tears. “We just can’t.”

“We won’t,” Lucian said, turning to face us. “You have my word that I won’t rest until the person responsible is punished.”

“I already know who did this,” I said through my teeth, anger filling me. “This reeks of Alpha Marshall.”

“Impossible. He’s been dealt with for the night.”

“You don’t think he sent someone here? This was punishment for what you did to him,” I said, wiping away my tears angrily. “This wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t come here!”

“Syl…” Grace tried to stop me, but I was furious. I pulled out of her arms so I could step closer to King Lucian.

“This is your fault,” I blamed. “You provoked him. You—”

“Saved you from getting raped or worse,” Lucian shot back, his eyes blazing with contempt. “If I hadn’t shown up when I did, who knows what would have actually happened to you. Is that what you wanted?”

“What I want is my mother back. I want her memories… her things,” I retorted. “I have nothing left of her now.”

“That’s untrue. You have one thing. Her locket.”

His words were like a blow to the stomach. I stepped back like he had struck me.

“Wrong,” I said, my voice wavering slightly. “You have her locket.”

“It could be yours if you come with me.”

“Is this your way of manipulating me?” I asked, my heart heavy in my chest. “Typical.”

“It’s my way of keeping you safe. This place is not safe, and becoming a rogue is not safe.”

“Why do you care about my safety?” I asked; it was starting to become harder to breathe as the seconds ticked by.

“Your father, Jackson, was a dear friend of mine. I owe him everything,” he simply replied.

“Why would you owe him? It isn’t like you killed him…”

“I might as well have,” he murmured. “If I hadn’t sent him away when I did, they might still be together. He might have been here to take care of you. It is because of me that you are fatherless, so let me repay that debt and protect you.”

His words made me pause as I stared up at him. I could tell he was serious by the earnest expression on his face, but I didn’t want to believe it. I couldn’t believe it.

I wrapped my arms around my own body like I was trying to hold myself together, but it was a futile attempt. He sighed as he stepped closer to me, invading my personal space. I didn’t move away from him; I didn’t have the energy to do so.

“It isn’t safe here, and you know it, Sylvia. Let me keep my word and protect you.”

“You are the King, can’t you just strip his title of Alpha and appoint a new one?” I asked, my resolve cracking slightly.

“There are rules I need to abide by. I can’t strip Alphas of their title without alerting the Council of Elders first. Believe, a meeting with them is long overdue and will happen soon enough. But for right now, the most I can do is keep him away from you until you agree to come with me.”

I bit my lower lip and nibbled it for a long moment, processing his words. I glanced at Grace; I only agreed to stay here because of Marshall’s threats. I can’t let him hurt her, which meant I couldn’t leave her here if he was going to continue being the Alpha.

“I will go with you if Grace comes with me,” I said, my eyes finding a shocked Grace.

“Go with you?” Grace asked. “But I just got a job here and I’m working to get my own place. I’ll be okay here, Sylvia. It’s not me Marshall targets.”

My heart ached because she didn’t know the truth; she didn’t know of his threats.

I reached for her and grabbed her arm gently; I didn’t want to scare her, but I knew it would only cause her pain and possibly death if she stayed.

“Please, Grace. I can’t go without you. You’re the only one I have left. I lost my mother… and now I’m completely alone,” I told her the truth as tears filled my eyes. “You’re the only true one I can trust.”

Her expression softened.

“If you must work, you can be a maid of the royal palace. I pay better than what you’d make here, and there is a room available in the maid’s quarters. It’s better conditions than the maid’s quarters at this packhouse. You’ll be given meals, free of charge, and everything you might need.”

Grace’s face lit up; I knew that working in this packhouse had been hard for Grace. She makes very little money, her accommodation is crap, and they don’t pay for her meals, so she must use the little money she makes for food.

She looks at me, hope lingering in her gaze.

“Okay, I’ll come with you,” she finally agrees; I let out a breath and nod as I turn to Lucian.

“When do we leave?”

“Dawn,” he replies. “Get some rest for tonight. Would you like me to bring you back to the packhouse so you can sleep in a bed? Your beds here have been destroyed.”

I looked around my mother’s cottage, my heart heavy.

“I’d like to spend one last night here, if that’s okay,” I said softly.

He looked hesitant, but he eventually nodded.

“Very well,” he replied. “I’ll have someone clear out a bedroom and put a cot—”

“No need,” I tell him as I walk towards my mother’s room. “I’ll make do with what we've got. Feel free to leave, though. I wouldn’t want royalty to sleep under such foul conditions.”

My sarcasm didn’t go unnoticed by either of them, and Grace gasped at my audacity. Without another word, I walked into my mother’s room and sank to the ground. As he said, the bed was ruined, but part of her blanket and pillow remained. The scent of her still lingered.

It was uncomfortable sleeping on the ground with only a small fabric to keep me warm, but I was lulled to sleep by the scent of my mother’s perfume. When I woke, close to dawn, Grace was sleeping beside me.

I was grateful she was with me despite my frantic nerves for what would come today.

As I got up, I walked into what used to be the living room, surprised to see Lucian seated on the ground. He looked tired, but alert as he looked up at me.

“You stayed.”

It wasn’t a question.

“I did,” he replied.

“Why?” I asked.

“I wasn’t going to leave you here alone.”

I stared at him for a moment longer before I turned away; I ran my fingers through my disheveled hair, ignoring his heated gaze. I heard movement coming from my mother’s room and soon, Grace emerged.

“Are we leaving soon?” She asked, yawning.

“We are,” Lucian answered as he stood. “Do you have things to pack?”

“All my things have been destroyed,” I remind him. “But we can go to the packhouse and get Grace’s stuff.”

“Your clothes and things will be replaced once we are in Ironclaw,” he assured me. “But yes, we can go to the packhouse to grab some of Grace’s personal items.”

Grace looked relieved by this.

It didn’t take us long to reach the packhouse; Lucian’s men traveled along with us for extra precaution, causing a scene within the pack. I felt watched as we entered the packhouse.

Once Grace had packed her belongings, the carriage sent from the royal palace awaited us.

Just as I was about to step into the carriage, I felt a hand grab my arm.

“You can’t just take my pack members!” Alpha Marshall growled. “She still belongs to me!!”