Chapter 188

Carol’s POV

“The hell she is!” Aiden growled, completely forgetting that he was speaking to the Alpha King. However, the King was quick to remind him of his place. Even I could feel his Alpha powers washing over the entire room, willing us to bow in submission.

“I wasn’t asking you,” The King growled in return. “As the Alpha King and Carol’s father, I’m ordering her to return to my empire with me.”

“You are hardly my father,” I said, folding my arms across my chest in defiance. I admit, I was acting like a child, but he was literally pulling me from my home against my own will. It wasn’t fair and I wasn’t going to leave without a fight.

He turned his icy gaze towards me, and I shuddered when our eyes locked.

“You will not disobey me, Carol,” he hissed. “You have a power so great that it could be destructive if not trained properly. You allowed people to take advantage of you and kidnap you from your own home. You were unable to use your powers because of the drugs you allowed them to put inside of you.”

“I didn’t allow anything!” I all but shouted.

“You did!” He shouted back, only his shout was fiercer and practically shook the entire hospital room. “By not fighting back, you allowed it. I will not have a weak offspring. Whether you think of me as your father or not, you need proper training if you want to protect yourself and your pack.”

I was shocked by his words; I was expecting Aiden to go off on him, but Aiden seemed speechless as well. He opened his mouth to speak, but then he quickly closed it. I could see the turmoil in Aidne’s eyes, and I wondered if he was actually believing what my biological father was saying.

Did he think this was a good idea? Did he truly want me to leave?

The thought sent a pain to my chest, and I touched my belly. I was pregnant with Aiden’s baby; how could I possibly just leave like that?

“You have a baby to think about now, Carol,” King Bennet said, his tone softening and his expression sobering. “You need to protect not only yourself but your unborn baby as well.”

“I can’t just leave,” I whispered.

“I’m only asking for a couple of months,” the King told me gently. “I’m not trying to take you away from your friends and family forever. You will also be allowed to contact them whenever you want. This is for your own good, Carol…”

I shook my head as tears threatened to spill out of my eyes. I couldn’t believe this was happening; he wanted me to leave with him tomorrow morning. I was going to live in the King’s empire for a couple of months.

I wrapped my arms around my body, desperate to hold myself together. I refused to let myself fall apart right here in front of everybody. I bit my lower lip and tried pathetically not to cry.

“You can’t just take her away,” Fiona said, tears falling out of her eyes. She didn’t care if she appeared weak in front of others. Fiona was filled with emotions and couldn’t help but show them.

“It won’t be forever,” the King assured her. “I only want her protected. She would be under the best protection in the world while in the empire and she would be able to train her abilities so when she returns, she will be able to protect herself properly.”

I looked up at Aiden, waiting for him to protest on my behalf, but he looked almost clouded like he was actually thinking about it.

“And it would only be for a couple of months?” Aiden finally asked, making my heart drop deep into my stomach.

The King nodded.

“I wouldn’t keep her away from her mate for long,” he assured Aiden. “Plus, she’s the Luna. I doubt your mother wants to continue doing Luna duties for too long.”

Aiden nodded and then he looked at me; now, I had tears in my eyes and my bottom lip was trembling as I fought the urge to burst into tears.

“Aiden…” I whispered, unable to say anything other than his name. Did he really want me to leave? Was this really happening? I just returned to him and now I was expected to leave with my biological father? To live in the King’s empire?

I felt completely sick to my stomach at the very thought.

“It’s not fair; we just got her back,” Fiona whimpered; almost mimicking my thoughts.

“I think it might be for the best,” Aiden said softly as he turned to face me, his eyes showing regret and remorse as he looked at me. “I’m so sorry, Carol. I love you so much. But you need to be protected and learn how to protect yourself.”

“I can learn here,” I said firmly, hating that I was showing how desperate I was to stay.

He shook his head and took hold of my hands.

“You know it wouldn’t be the same,” he whispered.

“He’s right,” the King agreed. “There are things you can't learn here. It’d be best if you came with me. Please, don’t fight me on this, Carol.”

“But what about my Luna duties?” I asked, my eyes never leaving Aiden’s. “What about you?”

“I will miss you like crazy,” he told me, cupping my head between his warm and strong hands, forcing me to look at me and keep a steady gaze on his eyes. “Between Fiona and my mother, your duties will be handled just fine. I’ll let everyone know that you are safe and being taken care of.”

“But…” I whispered, my voice breaking, making it impossible to finish my sentence.

He leaned down and pressed his lips against mine, giving me a gentle and passionate kiss. When he pulled back slightly, my cheeks were flushed.

“I will miss you,” I whispered hoarsely. He gave me a gentle smile and pecked my lips again.

“I will call you every day,” he assured me. “And I’ll come see you when I can. I promise.”

Tears left my eyes finally and ran down my flushed cheeks.

Oliver returned to the room with a glass of water.

“Look who I ran into on my way to get water,” Oliver said and then he froze when he saw that I had been crying and hugging Aiden. “Sorry, am I interrupting?”

Fiona got out of my bed and went over to hug Oliver. As she did so, she whispered in his ear what had happened, and I saw him tense.

“She’s leaving?” He asked in a loud whisper.

“Just for now,” Fiona whispered back, burying her face in his chest.

“Who’s leaving?” I heard a voice behind Oliver.

My entire face lit up upon hearing that voice.

“Mom?” I asked, peeking around Oliver.

My mother and father walked into the room with worried expressions, but when they saw me, the worry melted off their faces and they were gushing with happiness and relief.

“Oh, thank god,” my mother said, rushing to my bedside and wrapping me in her arms. “I had been so worried.”

“I can’t believe you came all this way here,” I murmured against her.

My father was next to wrap me in his arms.

‘How are you feeling?” My father asked, patting my back.

“A little better,” I told them. “The medication helps.”

“We had been so worried about you, angel,” my father said, giving me another squeeze. “For a minute, I thought I would never see you again.”

“That’s never going to happen,” I assured him.

“What were you guys talking about when we arrived?” My mother asked, looking around at the room and seeing everyone’s serious and almost somber expressions. “Did we interrupt something?”

“We were just discussing that I think it’s best if Carol came home with me for a while,” King Bennet told my parents.

My mom furrowed her brows.

“Went home with you?” She asked him.

He nodded.

“She needs to learn her powers and how to better protect herself. Plus, I think it would be good for her to get some space and be surrounded by those who can protect her properly.”

I felt Aiden stiffen from beside me and his eyes darkened, not liking the King’s blow.

“You’re taking our daughter away?” My father asked, straightening his posture as he stared at the King.

“I know you raised her, but she’s also my daughter,” the King reminded him. “I only want what’s best for her.”

“He told us it would only be for a couple of months,” Aiden added almost sheepishly.

“And you’re okay with this?” My father asked Aiden.

“I want her to be protected and truly learn how to use her powers so she can come back stronger and better than ever,” Aiden explained. “I never want something like this to happen again.”

My father nodded thoughtfully and then looked back at the King.

“And I can trust you to take care of her?” He asked him.

The King nodded.

“Of course,” he said with a faint smile. “I would protect her with my life.”

My father nodded and then looked back at me.

“Just be safe, Carol,” he told me.

“Yes, we will miss you terribly,” my mother said, wrapping me in her arms.

I felt completely numb to this conversation; did I really not get a say at all?