Sins Among Royals

In the days following Noah and Leo’s return with the boys Indie barely saw him. The house seemed quiet and sometimes she found herself wondering if anyone else was even there with her.

Leo and Poppy were doing all they could to help and Indie was given strict orders to stay in bed even though she felt fine.

Rising from her bed she sat for a moment just listening. There was no security outside the bedroom door which meant Noah or at least Leo were present.

Walking through the now familiar corridors of the home Indie began feeling at ease. She had fallen in love with Craggy Bluff and waking up to the lake below never failed to leave her speechless.

Emerging out into the large living area Indie noticed the main doors were open and security were milling about, there was an array of food laid on the table. With no appetite Indie found herself walking towards the front door with every intention to walk down to the lake. She’d had enough time laying in bed and now felt lazy and lethargic, the only way she knew how to fix that was to take a walk and fill her lungs with oxygen.

“Miss Indie,” one of the security called as she stepped out onto the veranda.

Surprise washed over her when she looked up and noticed four pairs of eyes staring back.

“You shouldn’t be out of bed Master Noah wouldn’t like you being out of bed.” The man, a large burly man looked extremely concerned but Indie didn’t know if it was concern for her or for himself should Noah find her out of bed and walking around.

“Well Master Noah doesn’t know what’s good for me,” Indie retorted quickly. She noticed the security team grow quiet with her reply but none replied.

“Is there anything we can do for you?” The man asked again.

“I want to go for a walk down to the lake.” Indie stated rather flatly. She was beginning to see that if she wanted something she had to either be dying or change the way she spoke to people and she did not like either.

“I will accompany you then.” They had all been given explicit orders to make sure she didn’t leave the house but Noah had not prepared them for the possibility of her being stubborn and insistent. Besides, Indie would be their boss too one day soon so they would soon answer to her as much as they answered to Noah.

Walking towards to little shed that lead to the tunnel to the track down to the lake all was quiet. Indie could hear birds singing in the trees, she heard a gentle breeze rustling through leaves on branches and soon the faint sounds of footsteps walking behind her.

The more time she spent at Craggy Bluff the more she fell in love with it. This was the place she wanted to call home.

Soon the pair made it down to the forest surrounding the lake, it was light, bright and airy. Everything Indie loved about the forest. In Stoneden and Aspen the forests were thick and full of pine trees that had grown so tall they often blocked out the sun. It was always eerie walking through the forests of home but Indie still didn’t mind it.

“Can you tell me what it’ll be like where we’re going?” She queried gently as the guard behind her pondered the question.

“May I speak frankly?” The man asked quickly.

With a slight nod of her head Indie added, “I’m not royalty, you can be as frank as you want. I need the honest truth here.”

The man nodded his head and pondered silently. Would he give her the honest truth or an edited version?

“I do not wish to frighten you but where you are headed will be filled with people that would wish to do you harm.” The serious tone of his voice and the look on his face left Indie with no doubt that he was telling g the truth.

“And would the security team wish to do me harm?” She asked quickly as she tried to ascertain what kind of man he was.

“Miss Indie,” he bowed quickly as he dipped his head towards the ground, “I was part of the team sent out to the island to retrieve you. When we found you we pledged ourselves to you to make sure you never see harm again.” As he spoke Indie saw the emotion in his face intensify immediately. There was a passion burning within him that made her curious.

“Why?” She asked quickly.

She watched the man clench his fists, his jaw tightened as she heard him grind his teeth. “Master Noah’s actions are unforgivable and what he did to you should be a punishable offence.” He was firm with what he was saying but it only caused more curiosity for Indie.

“But why would any of you care that much? You don’t know me...” she trailed off as the security guard locked eyes with her.

His gaze almost floored her and so too the words that followed. “We are bound by oath to our king,” through his words Indie sensed there was more to his being a guard than she knew. “We are all granted one true mate in life and some unfortunate souls walk through life never experiencing that love.” He fumbled with his waistband as he dug his fingers below the hem of his shirt and pulled it up to reveal a scar on his torso. “Others lose it before getting to really experience it.”

Realising the gravity of his words tears sprang to Indies eyes, “I’m so sorry,” her hand flew to her mouth when she realised what kind of pain he must have been in. The wound would likely have been lethal. “How?” She choked out as she wiped the tears from her cheeks.

The man’s brow furrowed in pain, sorrow, anger and regret. “Hunters,” he replied quickly as he tucked his shirt back into his pants. “Noah saved my life and since then I have been indebted to him.” seeing the pain on his face made her realise why they had pledged themselves to her. “Master Noah not only disrespected you but also showed some of us that the loss we endured, the pain that we still feel is of no importance.”

The man urged Indie to carry on walking, “I’m so sorry for your loss, I couldn’t imagine the pain you must feel.” Her heart broke for him and for others like him. “The other security, have they lost their mates too?”

“Not all,” he replied quickly. “Some were forced by the old king to abandon their mates for service to the crown.”

His words again left Indie speechless as she continued walking towards the lake. “Why can’t their mates go with them?” She asked. It seemed the deeper she dug the more complicated it became. The place she was going to seemed so far removed from where she had come from and she was having trouble associating the two and making things fit.

“It is forbidden.” He stated simply, “mates are considered a distraction to our training and those that have mates are forced to leave them behind or be imprisoned.”

“What!” Indie stopped dead in her tracks and turned on her heel back towards him. “What do you mean forced to leave them behind?” The revelation infuriated an already annoyed Indie. What kind of people were the royal family? She knew they were crazy but she didn’t think they were heartless as well.

“It is written in the old laws that once you join the royal guard you relinquish many of your rights and liberties,” he shook his head quickly. “Unfortunately many don’t know this when they sign up and they are not told until they are faced with conscription or imprisonment.”

“Where do you do your training?” She asked quickly. Indie could already see a list of things she would change piling up in her head. It seemed the royal family thought themselves far above anyone else and she didn’t like that one bit.

“At the royal palace,” the man replied with a shrug.

“Well then add that to the list of things that’ll be changing when I get to my new home.” She was determined. Indie hated inequality and she especially hated those who thought they were better than others because of their position. She had Madeline to thank for her utter dislike of elitists.

“You won’t get too far unfortunately,” he responded quickly as Indie met his gaze again, “Master Noah’s crown is rather a symbolic gesture. Though everyone believes him to be king it’s his father and mother who make the laws we live by.”

For whatever reason he found Indies determination a little amusing as a small smile pressed against his lips.

“You’re joking?” She responded in disbelief. He was supposed to be king.

“Master Noah must challenge and defeat his father in battle in order to gain true control of the title.” It was all he needed to safer Indie to know that Noah had a cowardly streak in him.

“Well it looks like it’s up to me to set an example isn’t it?” The man smiled and nodded his head gently.

“As the mate of the next Alpha King you are entitled to challenge the old King but from what I hear you haven’t shifted in many years. You’d have a lot of training to do.” The more he spoke the more the pieces fell into place for Indie and they’re she resigned herself to her fate.

“I can do it,” she replied full of determination, “I will do it! And I will train with you and the guards!” Her determination was admirable but the man knew he had much to teach her. “What’s your name?” She asked realizing he hadn’t introduced himself.

“Wade Ulwurth,” he responded with a slight bow. He had never before met anyone as determined as Indie and he knew she was serious about wanting to learn. He could sense the fire in her and the desire to want to do better. It was something that made him want to fight for his rights as well.

“Well when shall we get started?” Indie grinned with a renewed sense of purpose.