From Princess To Queen

What Drug Is This?

“Clara, your father has been drugged over the years with a drug that only Libby concocted with the help of a witch from her old pack,” Issy said.

“What is it, and does she still have it? Did you get the pictures from Dunken?”

“Yes, but I have been looking for it but do not see it on the grounds. I asked Max and his trusted friend, who is also a good witch from his pack, who is also here; she knows who helped Libby with this.”

“Who did this, and why would they want to do this to my family?”

“A witch was kicked out of Max’s pack for doing dark magic, so he made her rogue several years ago; Felix’s father and Libby took her in. Well, Libby took her under her wing, and they became good friends, and she is here in camp. They used herbs and black magic to make him lust after her.”

“Shit, so can that spell be broken? It was broken when you put a spell, herbs, or whatever into the water system. That is when he changed, but he is resting now in his room.”

“I will have to look into it more because, as you know, he just up and left camp. Libby and her friend are furious so is Felix; they all have been looking for him since he left with one of their vehicles.”

“So if Felix is furious about it, he must be in on it too? Please get back to me with what you find. I have a feeling Libby will be coming back here very soon, and so will Felix.”

“Yep, rumor has it they will be leaving either tomorrow or the day after, be safe and keep an eye out.”

It has been a few days, and King Matthew is running around with the best of them. He went to train with the others, which he had not done in years. He was feeling so good that he had to go and get his wife and kids and bring them back so they could all be a family. Once training was done, he went to the woods, let his wolf come forward, and took off with his clothes in his mouth. They let him through when he approached the pack where his wife and children were. Meira looked at him and could not believe the change she had seen in him. He looked better than he did when they were married. She grabbed him, hugging and kissing him.

“What happened to you? Why are you here?” she asked through flowing tears.

“I don’t know, I honestly do not know or understand; it was like I had been under a spell or something. We were eating dinner, and suddenly, something just snapped, and I looked around, not understanding why I was with a bunch of rogues, especially with Felix and his mother, Libby. I stole a vehicle making a beeline home. Clara cared for me like always, and I rested for a while; now I am here.”

“I am happy you are here, but I do not understand why you would not allow us to stay in the castle all these years. It does not belong to you. Libby (scoffs) has a black witch working with her. She probably put a spell or used something to poison you so that you would fall for her.”

“Huh, I don’t know, but I am here, and I will take you back to your rightful place where you all belong.”

“Matthew, I have changed, and so have our children. You know the boys do not care if they ever take over the throne, and your youngest daughter, she’s a trained witch warrior and pretty damn good at it too. If you were not so caught up in your affair and marking that conniving bitch, you would understand and know your children. Oh, why have you not told Clara about her family? She is dying to know who her family is, and that is your responsibility since you were so adamant about keeping her at the castle so you could raise her. Tell me, why was that?”

Matthew just looked at his dear wife and mate Meira and could not answer her honestly. He did not know what else to say, but he had to tell her the truth.

“Let me tell you something, dear mate; Clara found out about us through my sister, her aunt. You see, the day you threw me out was when my sister took my place, ensuring Clara was growing up the way she should. Clara asked her questions about her siblings and me that she has been coming here to train to be the killing machine she is. HER aunt told her about us, NOT you.”

Matthew could not believe what Meira had just told him. He was fuming but masked his expression. He did not appreciate his daughter going behind his back for training and finding out who her family was. He let it slide for the moment but would question her when he returned to the castle. He could not answer or acknowledge Meira.

“When I returned to our castle, I was in a daze and a little confused, but Clara took care of me and had the doctor look after me. He ran some tests and found that I had been poisoned for a long time. We think it is black magic, and all this time, I had been under some spell all these years, but somehow deep down, I always knew you were my mate. I am so sorry for making you leave our home, Meira.”

Matthew was sincere but weak from years of black magic poisoning his body. Luckily, it did not hurt his wolf as he tried to keep the poison from seeping into his system because he knew he would need to help Matthew heal one day. But by God, Matthew is so stubborn and does not listen to anybody but Libby and her son Felix.

He invited his mate back to their castle for dinner the next day, but Meira was weary about it thinking it must be a trap. She could not risk her life for the sake of her mates, but that was long gone now, and she was moving on. She is still the Queen by rights, and Clara would still have to fight him one day to keep the crown from going to Felix, and his mother and Meira knew it. She also knew Clara would need help preparing her for the crown.

He bid her farewell and left Meria’s home to return to his home. When he returned, he looked at Clara and Xavior, then passed out on the floor. She gasped, running next to her father, wondering where he had been as he was sweaty and felt like he was running a fever. They quickly got him to the hospital, and the doctors put him in a room. They do not understand, as he had felt better earlier.

Dr. Slovick and two of his nurses started hooking up IVs in his arm to give him fluids and taking more blood to run more tests. They were pulling everything out to see what was happening and why. Clara and Xavior were released into the room once they got him stable and sleeping. Dr. Slovick explained what they were doing to her father, and he would keep him in the hospital to do testing and observation.

Xavior lets Max and Issy know what is happening while Clara trains with her brothers and sister the following day as usual. They told her what had happened, and she was shocked to hear what they had told him. She did not know that he had marked Libby at some point. Clara was trying to hold back her alligator tears but could no longer do that. She returned to the castle and skipped training with her warriors, Xavior and Dunken.

Xavior stopped halfway through when he felt a pain in his chest and took off running to find his love. He found her in their bedroom crying. He went to her, picked her up, and sat with her on his lap.

“Princess tell me, what have you in such a state?”

“I...I...” she could not speak, crying hard. Seeing a mate like this hurt, and he could not help her until she stopped crying.

“Shhh, it’s going to be all right. We will get through it all. Remember, we are all in this together, love. I will protect you no matter what.”

She sniffles and rubs her nose on him, and he giggles and rubs circles around her back and on her arms to calm her down. He stays this way for an hour until she is calm and ready to talk, but he hears a light snore coming from her and gets up, moves her to their bed, and lays down beside her to get her rest.

A couple of hours later, she wakes up, rubbing her burning red eyes, and looks over at her loving mate, where she is wrapped tightly around his arms. Clara kisses him lightly, and he moans, opening his eyes and looking into his mate’s red, swollen eyes. He kisses them both, touching her nose and mouth, and hugs her tighter. Moving them both off the bed into the bathroom, he sits her down on the sink while he turns on the shower and undresses them.

He pulls her into the shower with him, takes a sponge, pours some of her shower gel onto it, and washes her back, moving down to her legs and feet back up to her arms. He does not miss a spot on her; she does the same to him as he washes her hair, rinses it, and puts conditioner in it. He washes his hair since he is taller than her.

“Thank you. I feel better now; I am sorry if I hurt you.”

“Princess, I knew you were hurting. I could feel it and rushed in here, but you were so upset I just let you have your moment until you fell asleep.”

“Thank you, Xavior; I needed that kindness and compassion you showed me.”

“Do you feel like talking about it?”

“He marked Libby at some point in his life. He had gone to see Mom and my siblings yesterday, so he collapsed when he returned. Mom said he wants them to return and take their rightful place in the castle again.”

“Wow, that is a lot to take in.”

“Mom does not want him any longer but wants the castle back without him.”

“That’s why you must train to fight him no matter how hard it is for you. He is still not himself and probably will never be.”

“We need to see the doctor again and see if there are any changes in him or his wolf.”

“Let’s eat first, then go over there.”

They finish getting ready and eating lunch, then head to the hospital where her father is. He is pale and still hooked to the machines as they enter his room. Nothing had changed since the day before when he had arrived.