Wolf Prince

by Stephany Wallace

  Tonight, when I thought she was going to cut off the heads of Kyle and his friends, the hold I had on my trauma cracked. It had been only a split second, but it was all it took for it to assault me once again.

  Trauma was such a sneaky thing that way. Sometimes the damage from the stuff we went through never truly left us, it just lay at bay, hiding in the darkness within us, and waiting for the best moment to strike again.

  “Death cannot be the only solution,” I told Zelin, forcing myself to breathe deeply as she stepped before me. “There has to be another way.”

  It took one look into my eyes for her to know what I was holding back at that moment. I was repressing my emotions so furiously that not even she could feel them at that moment. Shutting off our connection completely and blocking my emotions until I became numb was the only way I could manage it while growing up.

  Zelin could never feel me like this, I couldn’t let her.

  Her eyes filled with pain when I left her out, but she nodded in understanding. “I’m sorry.”

  The words were barely a whisper, but I accepted them, pushing the darkness that threatened to surface as far down as I could manage, and walked with her to my bedroom while the knights opened a path for us.

  I didn’t believe in sexism. I knew we all had up and downs, strengths and weaknesses, regardless of our sex. Being a man didn’t automatically make me stronger in body or spirit. My father had taught me that. After everything my parents went through together, he avowed that any ability he possessed as the Iron Knight, could never compare to the strength of my mother’s spirit, and he was in awe of that.

  Still, in moments like this, I hated that what I had been through weakened me in this way, brought me down, when all I wanted to do was stand strong for Zelin. Be the man she deserved.

  Entering my room, I gave myself a mental shake, and forced a deep breath down my lungs. I couldn’t let this get the best of me.

  I was stronger than this.

  “You can move past this, son. I know you can. Scars doesn’t make you weak, they make you who we are. Your wounds and imperfections are your beauty…”

  My mother’s words returned to me, she’d shared them one too many nights, when I woke up screaming with night terrors of what I went through with the RavenWolves.

  Another settling breath made its way through my lungs, and I walked to the bathroom, leaving Zelin behind me. Her soft presence pushed against the block in my mind, silently reminding me she was there for me, but I wasn’t ready to let her back in yet.

  I reached for the hot water nozzle of the shower, but her hand covered mine before I could move. Our fingers turned on the water together, and she guided me to face her, standing in front of me. Silently, she reached for the bandages around my torso, and cautiously took the clip off, pulling the dressings away.

  Her gentle touch reached the space where the slashes had been, while my eyes intently followed her every movement. The torn skin had finally mended together—though I could still feel the inside wounds restoring themselves. The blood-stained bandages fell to the floor and she leaned down, her lips tenderly kissing each spot where the silver had pierced me.

  My eyes fell closed, fingers curling around her hair, as her soft lips travelled over the sides of my ribs, slowly, until she was all I could feel. Zelin’s lips grazed my abs, brushing my skin on their way up my chest. They left whispered kisses on my neck, on until they closed over my mouth.

  Her kiss was tender, deep, and lingering as her lips moved over mine, and the haze she created took everything else from me.

  The steam from the shower swirled around us, almost enclosing us in the moment we shared, and I was hopeless but to let her take me deeper into this trance she’d created. Her fingers tugged the edges of my waistband, and my pants fell to the floor as her lips danced hypnotically over mine.

  My eyelids lifted, eyes dazedly focusing on her bottomless black irises while her suit fell to the floor too, joining my sweat pants. Holding my hand, Zelin took us into the shower, guiding me in until my back pressed to the tile wall, and she closed the glass door behind her.

  Zelin’s lips closed over mine once more, and her soft body pressed against mine. Caring arms wrapped around my neck, pulling me closer. Our heads tilted when we deepened the kiss, tongues dancing together. A wave of emotions crashed into me as I inevitably opened myself to her again, inundating my being with everything she felt for me.

  The kiss was deeper than anything we had shared since we first kissed, and it carried within a thousand powerful words. Everything Zelin couldn’t say but wanted me to feel.

  I was at her mercy.

  When her lips left mine, we were both gasping for breath. She was my oxygen, now more than ever. My eyes remained closed while her emotions continued to flood my being, and the strength of the love pouring into me humbled me. I held her to me, fiercely, my hands gripping her waist and back, afraid she would slip away through my fingers.

  Zelin guided my head to her neck, and I nuzzled the tender skin of the curve just below her ear. Her scent slammed into me, rousing my wolf, and bringing it to the surface. Instinctively, my canines extended—ready to claim her as mine—and I nibbled her neck while the warmth of her body against mine healed me.

  “Mine…” I whispered in her mind a second before my teeth pierced her skin, and she moaned.

  A few drops of her blood reached my tongue, locking in the bite, and I realized what I had just done. I had started the claiming. Taking a deep breath, my canines receded, while I tried to blink out of the haze she had me trapped in. Her hand cradled my head then, keeping me in place before I could move away.

  “I’m sorry. I know you need time; I didn’t mean—”

  “Shhh… I don’t want to think right now. I want to feel you like this.” Her hands travelled over my broad back, melding me to her. “Don’t leave me… not yet.”

  My hold tightened around her with the words, bringing her impossibly closer to me, until we were flushed against each other. Need flooded my being, but it wasn’t carnal, it was far deeper than that.

  Our bodies hummed together, the energy mixing as our essences flowed freely into the other. We stood there, silently holding each other under the soothing cascading water, while time ceased to exist.

  I rested my face closer to her neck, breathing her in, and realizing once and for all what a secret part of me knew all along…

  Zelin was everything.

  The beeping sound of my phone startled me awake, and I forced myself to blink, trying to focus on my surroundings. The sun was rising on the other side of the curtain, but its shining light seeped through the small gap between the fabric panels.

  My gaze shifted beside me, finding Zelin snuggled closed against me, my arm still wound around her back, holding her to me while her cheek rested on my chest. The refreshing feeling of calm flowing through me, confirmed I had actually had a restful night sleep for the first time in months.

  Zelin had slept in my arms. No unwelcomed claws, no ripped sheets, or body hanging half off the mattress. I had slept peacefully. Zelin was my peace.

  Her soft breasts pressed against my skin as we lay naked on the bed, yet, nothing carnal had happened between us last night. What we experienced together had been far more intimate, and pure, than making love. It had been spiritual.

  Leaning closer, I lifted her chin with my fingers, and brushed my lips against hers, needing to kiss her. Placing a soft kiss on her lips, I caressed her cheek.

  The phone beeped again, reminding me of the reason I had awoken in the first place. Carefully letting go of Zelin, I turned to the nightstand and reached for my phone, seeing a text from Sarah, except it wasn’t really from her.

  “Gustav, it’s Brandon. We are outside.”

  My chest filled with concern as I stood, walking to the dressing room to pull on a new pair of sweats and a t-shirt. With one last look at Zelin, I left her sleeping in my bed, and went to answer the door. My abs and ribs still fel
t tender, but I could tell the worst of my injuries had already healed.

  The house was still asleep as I strolled barefoot through the halls, taking the stone path along the front garden, finally arriving at the entrance. When my hand turned the knob, I found Brandon standing on the other side of the door with Sarah, who seemed distressed. He looked at me with deep dark circles under his eyes, and a mixture of worry, and anger in his brown eyes.

  “Are you okay?” Sarah asked with tears in her eyes, hugging me. “What did Logan do to you?”

  My brows gathered in a deep frown, as I held her to me, caressing her back soothingly.

  “I didn’t know what else to do,” her dad admitted, carefully observing us. “She kept saying something bad had happened to you. That she could feel it.”

  Concern slammed into my chest almost as strongly as I could see it in Brandon’s eyes. Sarah had felt me?

  “It’s okay. I’m okay.” I continued to caress her back soothingly, hoping it would help. “Please come in. I’d love for you to join us for breakfast,” I offered, taking Sarah’s hand in mine, and opening the door wide for her father to enter.

  With a dejected nod, he followed us all the way into the house and to the family room, where Ms. Elizabeth and Audrick were waiting for us, having already awoken.

  “These are our guardians, Ms. Elizabeth Smith, and Audrick Von Reinheit,” I introduced when we reached them. “They are in charge of the ‘kids’ while we are away from home,” I half joked, turning to Brandon. “This is Brandon, Sarah’s dad.”

  “It’s an absolute pleasure,” Ms. Elizabeth answered with one of her warm smiles and a hug. “Would you like some coffee? I can put on a pot.”

  “Yes, please. That would be wonderful,” Brandon answered, while shaking Audrick’s hand, who stood there in one of his pristine suits already.

  “Coffee, my prince?” Audrick asked being extra formal in front of the guests.

  “Gustav,” I reminded with a scowl that would have made Zelin proud. Audrick loved using titles in front of others. “Actually, could I have some orange juice, please?”

  Audrick’s eyes widened in surprise. “Slept well last night?” I nodded. “Glad to hear. I’ll be right back. Please make yourselves comfortable,” he offered to Brandon and Sarah, and left with Elizabeth towards the kitchen.

  “I’m sorry we showed up like this,” Brandon offered the moment we sat on the sofa. “She’s been upset since you left last night to get Logan away from our house. I had to do something, and her mother suggested that maybe seeing you were okay would help her.”

  I nodded in understanding. “No need to apologize, you can visit us whenever you want. You are always welcomed here.”

  Hopefully not while Olis is walking naked around the house though. I thought to myself.

  My attention shifted to Sarah, who sat by my side seemingly calmer than when she arrived. I guessed seeing I was okay had worked, but how the hell had she felt I was in trouble?

  Reaching for her I hugged her to me, kissing her temple, while my hand caressed her back soothingly once more. I realized then that my protectiveness always came to life with Sarah. It was as though my wolf nature sensed she needed me to keep her safe.

  Zelin walked into the space then wearing leggings and a long shirt. Greeting Brandon, she seated by Sarah’s side as we exchanged a loaded glance. I knew that whatever was going on with Sarah, Zelin could feel it too—the need to protect our human friend was clear in her gaze.

  She reached for Sarah’s hand, and brought her into her arms instead, sharing a tender moment with her, like I’d seen her do with the children back in our kingdom.

  I sat there, trying to rationalize what was happening, while Brandon’s questioning gaze remained on me.

  What had my essence done to this poor girl?

  11

  “Hey, Dude!” Kevin called from our regular tables in the campus’ dining hall.

  I entered with my Monkey on my back, and the knights walking around us. I smirked, giving him a small nod, and then smiled widely at Sarah, who sat in between him and Zack.

  It had been about six weeks since the fight with Logan and his lackeys at the park, and things had been surprisingly calm since then. I guessed he and his friends had finally learned who Zelin truly was, taking her death mark seriously.

  The magic possessed by an Eisen Ritter’s silver sword, made the death mark permanent. Its scar remaining on the sentenced, even after their shifter healing had taken place. It only disappeared with an Iron Knight’s pardon, or by the execution of their sentence.

  The most likely option, however, was that the Alphas were keeping them in line. Either way, there hadn’t been trouble between us, even though our paths had crossed a few times, here on campus, and in the Kindness Tower. I spent most of my afternoons working with Hannah and the other counselors—trying to help as much as I could.

  The work I did there made me feel like maybe everything I had been through had a purpose, and I could help others like me. That gave me hope.

  Placing Zelin down at the table, I clasped hands with Zack, pulling him in for a half hug, and kissed Sarah’s cheek. Len, Ivo, Rod and Emory went to get the food for everyone, and the rest of the knights took their places at the tables. Sarah stood, changing seats to be by my side, while Zelin sat at my other side.

  “How was your test?” I asked Kevin, while my hand warmly stroked Sarah’s back, and my other hand rested on Zelin’s thigh under the table—she held it, intertwining our fingers.

  “Aced it,” he answered proudly, but his attention wasn’t on me.

  He offered an apple to Zelin, and her eyes dangerously narrowed at him. She suddenly snatched it from him, her lips twitching in amusement as she took a large bite to hide her smile.

  Kevin grinned, and guilt slammed into me. He liked her, and I couldn’t blame him for that. Zelin was an incredible woman, but she was mine. We’d been together since the night we kissed, “dating” like humans normally did, but no one other than us knew about it—well, and Zack.

  And to think that at the beginning of all this, I had stupidly thought she might even date Kevin.

  I was so stupid.

  The mere memory made me growl.

  “Are you going to Hannah’s party tonight?” Zack asked, pulling my attention away from Kevin, and his flirting with my girl.

  “Yes. We’ll be there at six. You?” I asked, my gaze returning to Kevin as the guys placed the trays with the chicken quesadillas before us.

  “Of course. Can Kevin and I catch a ride with you guys? I don’t feel like driving.”

  “Sure,” I answered absentmindedly.

  Zack’s lips pressed together, trying to repress the smirk when he picked up on my slight growl—so low it was only noticeable by shifter hearing. He took the first bite.

  “You have to tell Kevin she’s not really your sister, and that you like her.”

  Zack sent to me through our new pack link. We had created one for all of us since technically our group qualified as a new pack—but he left Zelin out of his comment. I passed a lemonade from the tray to Zelin, and a soda to Sarah, who smiled sweetly, and began eating.

  “I mean, it’s not like he’s in love with her,” Zack continued, “but is not fair to the poor guy.”

  He chuckled at my mental growl.

  “Hey, look at it this way,” Zack added, “he hasn’t specifically called dibs on her, and the Bro code is clear. Rule #4: Never date a Bro’s ex, his sister, or a girl he’s called dibs on—or specifically told you he liked. He hasn’t done either, so Zelin is still fair game.”

  I scowled at him.

  “Okay. She was fair game when you claimed her. Better?”

  My shoulders slouched as I sighed. I hadn’t really claimed Zelin yet because I’d promised to give her time. I bit her one night, carried away by the way I felt with her, but for the claim to take effect she had to bite me too, claim me, and she hadn’t done that yet.

  Besides,
I hadn’t exactly broken up with Sarah because I had no idea how she was going to take it. Lately she seemed fine, as though my “charm” was wearing off, but she was still “attached” to me, needing to be close. I couldn’t understand why.

  Sighing, I stood. “Kevin,” I called, interrupting his conversation with Egon, and nodded for him to follow me. I walked a few steps away from the tables, to the corner of the room, turning just as he reached me.

  “What’s up?”

  “You like Zelin?” I asked, going straight to the point, though a growl overwhelmed my words.

  His eyes widened and he cringed. “Shit. Listen, dude—Okay, I mean, have you seen her? She’s like a freaking goddess. Those legs, and those perfectly round—”

  “Yes or no answers please,” I snapped, hands fisting—my wolf’s possessiveness coming to the surface and making me want to smash his face. This was not going well.

  “Eyes,” he sputtered, his own eyes widening. “Those perfectly round eyes.”

  “Kevin…”

  “Okay. Okay… Maybe.”

  “You are killing me here, dude. Yes or no!” I growled.

  “Okay, yes. But here is the thing. I know she’s your sister, and the Bro code is very clear. Rule #4: Never date a Bro’s ex, his sister, or a girl he’s called dibs on,” he quoted just like Zack had.

  My amusement returned as I watched him. I could see why they were best friends. They were two peas in a pod—one human and one a shifter, but still.

  “So,” he continued. “Yes. I like flirting with her, but I would never do anything to jeopardize our friendship. I mean, Bro’s before—”

  “Be very careful how you finish that sentence,” I warned, and he grinned mischievously, using the famous quote just to mess with me.

  Sighing, my hands rubbed over my face, then fell to my hips. “Okay, here is the thing. Zelin and I grew up together, but she’s not really my sister. We are not related.” There I said it. I was still missing the most important part, but at least that was a start.