Sins Among Royals

Indie took her time.

The gesture was so unexpected and kind of surreal that she wanted to enjoy it for as long as she could. She didn’t know when Noah would be so kind again.

A slight blush crept across her face as she recounted the run in with him, he had been so awkward. Obviously not used to going out of his way to be nice Indie knew it wasn’t going to fix everything but she was thankful that he was trying.

The relaxing warmth of the water soon began losing its touch as the heat disappeared slowly into the room around her. The water had gone cold and all the rose petals sunk to the bottom of the bath before Indie decided to get out. Wrapping herself in a fluffy white robe she emerged out into the room.

With one deep breath in she sensed that Noah hadn’t been back into the room since he’d left her but the smell of Poppy cometary overpowered her senses. She didn’t know what her friend wanted but Indie dressed quickly and went off to find her.

For her scent to have been so heavy in Indies room it meant she wanted to talk.

Finding her in the large, open living area was no trouble. She sat on the sofa lazily with the remote control in her hands. Flicking through channels in the blink of an eye she turned towards Indie with an expectant look when she heard her approaching.

“I swear to cheese you stomp around like an elephant!” Poppy growled as she tossed the television remote to the side with a serious stare. She soon broke into a smile though as she patted the seat next to her. “I’ve been trying to find you all morning but the way. Where were you? Noah didn’t seem too concerned, said you were busy with something.” Poppy sat expectantly, “so what were ya doin?”

Her enthusiasm was infectious bit Indie didn’t want to give too much away. She didn’t want everyone knowing she was training to one day challenge Victor, the old King.

Indie sat next to her friend with a coy smile, “Well you know that I’m going to be the Alpha Queen one day and I thought it’d be good if I learned how to shift again,” Indie smiled at Poppy. “So I’m starting to train with Wade,” Indie barely let the name fall from her lips before she found Poppy bouncing around excitedly.

“Is that the handsome hunk of spunk I’ve seen you with?” Poppy asked, giddy with excitement as Indie nodded her head slightly. “Is he your replacement for you know who?”

The words her friend spoke immediately brought a slur taste to Indies mouth. “What?” Indie asked a little flabbergasted.

“Oh don’t get touchy!” Her friend protested as Indie felt a silent rage forming inside her. “You and I both know you deserve better Indie. Don’t get mad at me for looking out for number one.” Poppy was rather cocky and confident with her answer which angered Indie more.

“Don’t be so rude Poppy. Not everyone in life is blessed with a mate that’d fawn all over them instantly.” Indie was torn. She knew Poppy was right but the way she had spoken her feelings left Indie seeing red.

“Lucky you mean,” Poppy corrected her quickly. “You could be so lucky if you just ditched him. All it takes is one little rejection.” Poppy seemed adamant in what Indie should do.

“I’m not going to reject him!” Indie stepped away from Poppy. “What’s gotten into you?” Indie couldn’t help but ask as she stared down at a snug looking Poppy.

“Nothing’s gotten into me Indie! Is it wrong to want to want to help my friend?” Poppy tried to defend herself.

“By urging me to get with another one?” She knew her outrage was a little over the top but she didn’t think Poppy would be so against her and Noah.

“Don’t be so precious! You would have taken it as a joke before you got with Noah! Why the sudden change?” Poppy again tried to defend herself but Indie could hear the malicious undertone in her voice and it was not pleasant.

“Me being precious?” Indie countered. “Don’t make me laugh!” She couldn’t believe that this conversation was happening. “You haven’t even given Noah a chance Poppy. I know he and I had a rough start but you haven’t even tried to find out why. You just came in criticising him for everything.”

Indie felt torn and unsure. She had her friend she had grown up with, the person who knew everything there was to know about her sitting there telling her to dump the person she was destined to be with.

Poppy sighed. “Look all I’m saying is you used to be happy when you were alone. Maybe you’re better off that way.”

Tears sprang to Indies eyes as the harshness of what Poppy had just said hit her like a ton of bricks. “Why would you say that?” Indie shook her head and turned away as tears rolled down her cheeks.

To her surprise Noah and Leo were standing behind her and neither of them looked too pleased. Leo shook his head and ran his hand down his face, “Poppy,” he motioned for her to join him. “That’s enough now.” Leo had seen the changes in his mate but it was obvious that neither Poppy nor Indie knew what those changes meant.

“What?” She replied cluelessly. “I’m just telling her the truth.” Joining Leo at his side she looked Indie from head to toe and back again, “I’m just saying if she put a little more effort into her appearance then maybe Noah would be into her a bit more.”

Noah growled as he turned his attention to Leo and Poppy. The third in command clapped his hand over his mate’s mouth. He felt embarrassed for her and the situation she was putting herself in. “I think it’s time for you to get to bed Poppy before you land us both in a prison cell.” Leo looked apologetically towards both Noah and Indie but he knew that wouldn’t make up for the way she had just spoken to either of them.

The pair left the room as Indie quickly returned to hers. Slamming the door behind her she sat herself at the foot of the bed and stared out the window, tears rolled thick down her cheeks as she wiped them away with the sleeves of her shirt. She had been feeling so wonderful after her relaxing bath but now she just wanted to crawl under the covers and never come out.

What had gotten into Poppy?

There was the gentlest of knocks at the door before she heard it open and shut quickly. The soft steps across the wooden floor could barely be heard but Indie knew he was there.

“Why was she so mean?” Indie asked trying to process what had just happened.

“As furious as I am with her try not to hold it against her.” Noah urged his mate gently. Hos words however received a sharp glare from Indie as she turned towards him and studied his face.

“You’re defending her? After she was so horrible?” Indie pressed him for answers as she wiped her tear stained cheeks.

“She will regret what she’s just said. No doubt about it but there’s a reason for her sudden rudeness,” he replied as he looked at Indie with sadness in his heart.

“What reason could anyone possibly have for being so mean?” She didn’t see any reason for anyone, especially her best friend, to ever speak to someone the way Poppy had just spoken to her. It was borderline cruel.

“Well when you get to that time I’m sure you’ll be just as mean,” Noah couldn’t help but smile. “Come the next full moon Poppy and Leo will have their mating ceremony.”

“That still doesn’t give her a reason to be such a cow,” Indie replied with slight annoyance.

“Actually it does,” Noah countered quickly. “Because Poppy was made and not born this has a stronger effect on her. She is irrational, erratic, and will be more than a little forthcoming with her ideas.” A small grin crept across Noah’s lips, “what may be a trivial issue at other times becomes a giant issue during the mating season.”

“Mating season?” She asked curiously, “Does that mean I’ll end up saying things like that?” Indie asked already a little mortified.

She noticed Noah grow extremely quiet and when she glanced at him the look on his face was barely readable.

“Everyone’s different but I don’t think you would be as extreme. From what I’ve seen you seem rather logical to say the least. I don’t think you’d let the extreme emotions get to you too much.” Noah was rather confident of his answer as they sat together in comfortable silence.

“Why won’t your father let your guards have mates?” The question fell from her lips before she could stop it.

Noah sighed and moved to sit at the foot of the bed near Indie. “It’s difficult to explain,” he began carefully. Noah struggled to find words to explain his father and his views. “Well,” he began after a short silence. “My father is a throwback to an age where royalty ruled with an iron fist. He is traditional in most views he holds and believes that because of our status we deserve distinction.” an odd smile crept across Noah’s lips slowly.

“And what do you believe?” Indie asked quickly filling the silence.

Glancing towards her Noah studied her face for a moment before continuing. “Before meeting you my views were set. They were certain and I knew what I wanted and how I wanted to rule.” He chuckled at the thought in his head, “Since meeting you, you have thrown my entire world into chaos and I am struggling to hold it together.”

Indie noticed that he was rather genuine with his words and smiled in return, “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Please do,” Noah responded with a she of his own. “You challenge everything I’ve ever known without doing too much. I don’t think I can go back to not having you in my life.”

At his words Indie felt heat rise in her cheeks as she smiled and turned away. Maybe there was a chance for them after all?