The Kings Mate

Groaning I grip the thick, warm cover of the bed pulling it up under my neck. Letting out a sigh, I drop my head deeper into the soft pillow trying to get some well needed sleep. The sheets of the bed tickle against my skin as I twist beneath them, getting wrapped up further in the heavenly warmth.

Small sounds of pain and complainant leave my body as I abruptly sit up in the vast bed that isn’t even mine. I carefully twist my neck, avoiding the tight pinch as I look around the large luxurious room. It’s dark and the only light comes from the small gaps from the double doors on the right of the bed. Memories from last night hit me and I’m not sure of how I ended up in here. I move now to push all the heaviness off the top of me.

Throwing my legs over the side of the bed, I push my body up off the bed despite the screaming pain that I feel in my torso, ankle and the palms of my hands. Holding back cries of pain as I hobble about the large room, I take another look around the room not absorbing any of the furnishings other than another set of double doors hidden in the corner on the left side of the bed. All I want is to get out of here and far away from wherever I have landed myself.

Making my way to the pristine white doors that is more than half way down the wall. I slip out through the small gap that I have made, taking a quick glance to my left. I look out the windows that stretch the length of the walls on both sides of me. My eyes move down the five levels of the immaculate bricked building down to the perfectly manicured gardens below as I watch ten black clothed males despite the still pounding rain exiting from the dark thundering clouds, walk the perimeter, their heads turning slowly taking in all their surroundings.

How am I going to get past all of them?

The room that I am in now is bigger than the last and despite the dark sky not letting a sliver of light through the room is lit by a warm fire that runs along the wall on my right. It is open, the u shaped lounge positioned in front of the fire and large television, takes attention in the big room, shunning the dark desk in the opposite corner of the room to me and the eight seater table in front of me.

Noticing another set of double doors on the opposite wall, I hobble my way over to it. Once I get out of the room, causing pain to my torso as I open the heavy door, I find myself in a wide hall way, turning into a medium sized landing two rooms down further. I continue towards the wide staircase that curls around to the next level down, not worrying about getting caught by anyone who might be walking past.

Peeking a look down the stairs and not seeing anyone I grip desperately at the railing as I hop down the steps, small grunts of pain and light thumps echoing throughout both of the upper levels, the only sound that hints to a human presence as I try to escape form where I’ve been imprisoned.

As I reach the bottom of the stairs, I’m on a wider and more circular landing which leads to the large curved staircase that leads lower again, but on the other side of me is a massive living room with two deep hallways leading off on either side off the room.

There is no exit that I can see. I can’t even map out possible floor plans.

I feel my breathing grow harder as I see two large males stand halfway down the stairs. Large muscles strain against the material of the black cotton short, sleeve button up shirts as they lock their hands behind their backs, their necks turn ever so slightly to watch thin and lean women walk past every now and then, dressed in black dresses and white aprons over the fronts, hair tied tightly in a bun on top of their heads. Maids?

A maid with dark black hair smiles at the guard to the left of the stairs before she drops her head back down with a small laugh as she carries her bouncing body down the stairs to the level below. The ash blonde shaggy haired guard’s shoulders shake as he turns towards the brown short haired ponytailed guard on his right, whispering something before the two of them turn back to look back at the passing people in front of them stopping some as any of them attempt to move up to this level.

Shaking my head knowing that I won’t find my escape that way, I take a step back away from the stairs and the guards. I don’t get far until I am bumping into something hard and warm. Gasping, the shocking tingles make their way up and down my spine spreading throughout my veins, rapidly making my knees go weak. A pair of strong muscled arms wrap around my waist to stop me from dropping to the ground.

The tan muscled arms quickly move from my waist to lightly grip my upper arms pulling me up straight, after a cry of pain leaves my lips at the pressuring contact against my rib cage. The two guards turn at the sound, their eyes dark as they quickly look over me. A light growl coming from over my shoulder makes them move their eyes up to look to whoever it is, giving however it is a slight nod before they turn back to their post.

Throwing an arm back I hit at the hard chest behind me. “Stop, let me go.” I scream trying to fight my way out of the strong grip.

Strong hands turn me around to look into beautiful hazel eyes before I can continue to fight my way out of the grip. My eyes move over the handsomely structured face of the gorgeous male. He stands nearly a foot taller than me but as he looks down at me there is nothing but softness in his eyes as his dishevelled light brown hair falls down in front of them.

“Put this on please.” His sharp jaw clenches as he pulls back after making sure that I am steady on my feet to pull the zipper down on his grey hood.

Slipping it around my body that is only covered in a tight cropped top and shorts, his hand passes over my shoulders, sending shivers through me before they move around to my front pulling the zipper back up. The soft, thick material falls just above the bottom hem of the shorts. It’s warm and smells nice, much better than anything I have ever owned before.

Where were my clothes and bag though. Did he have them?

He is only wearing a pair of basketball shorts now.

The thick muscles of his biceps flex as he carefully watches me. My eyes move over his defined abs the clear and defined lines alerting me to every single, perfectly strengthened muscle under his tanned impeccable skin.

Fighting the urge to take a step forward and run my fingers delicately over the defined v-lines leading me beneath the low slung material of the basketball shorts. Gulping I scrunch my nose dropping my head down, I grip at the material of his hoodie that extends past my hands in length as I take a step back away from him finally looking back up to meet his eyes.

He’s smiling. The way his eyes light up as his pink lips spread over his cheeks showing his straight white teeth beneath. Why is he smiling at me?

He holds his finger up towards me, telling me to stay and I don’t know why but I do as I watch him carry himself down the stairs his back completely straight and poised his height towering over the shaggy haired blonde despite the fact that he is standing a step up from him.

The guard shakes his head as the hazel eyed male whispers towards him. Moments later he is back stood in front of me, the smile still gracing his face in the most charming way that even warms up my insides.

“Now my dear, if you could do me the favour of waiting right here. I have sent for your maid Ellie and she will make sure that you are well tended to, and Maxon and Reynolds will make sure that absolutely no harm will come to you or they will have me to deal with.” His eyes move down my body, his lips pressing together, the smile disappearing, as he takes my shaking hand, hidden beneath the material that is soaked with his scent. “A lady as beautiful as you shall not be harmed in my house. My dear, I bid you fare well, for now.” He finishes with a small bow, my hand in his as a he presses a kiss to the back of it.

Crossing my arms over my chest I watch the tense muscles in his back as he walks down the hallway closest to us. He shakes his head slightly, his hand running through his hair, tousling the light brown hairs more than they already were before as he slips around the corner and out of my sight.

Standing there I am too preoccupied on where the gorgeous hazel eyed male disappeared to that I don’t even notice as the black haired maid makes her way back up the stairs both of the guards following behind her, but at a bit of a distance.

Her blue green eyes that contain little flecks of bright gold never breaking from mine as one leg is placed behind the other and she drops down slightly in a curtsy, the two guards behind her drop their heads.

Why are they doing that? I have no idea who they are or who the man with hazel eyes is.

What am I even doing here, with him?

“Good afternoon, miss.” Her voice is soft and quiet.

“Afternoon?” I question taking a step back away from the group my eyes moving to the ground, not trying to make eye contact with any of them as I pull the dark material of the jumper around me tighter.

“Yes miss. After you were bought back here late last night, your injuries were more major than what we first thought and our doctors put you under some anaesthetic to brace your broken ribs and you have been asleep since then.” The girl whispers back unsure of her words. I can see her head turn to look at the blonde, who has his eyes on me.

Lifting the warm jumper up I look down at my stomach, past all the yellow and deep purple bruises that litter my once clearly slightly tanned skin are fifteen blue stiches holding the skin together over the left side of my rib cage. I drop my hand down onto the swollen skin, taking a sharp intake of breathe as I feel pain shoot through me.

“If you come back up to the Kin- the bedroom, there’s some medication for the pain and to help it heal.” She continues her eyes locked on my hand as I quickly drop the jumper back down so it rests at the top of my thigh.

The three people walk me back up the stairs towards the room that I woke up in. The maid Ellie walks close to my side her arm partially stretched out ready to help me or steady me if I need it, the two large male guards a step behind us.

Suddenly I feel overwhelmed. My hands start shaking under the material of the jumper and I shove them tighter under my arms holding them crossed as tight as possible over my chest without putting too much weight on my injured ribs.

Ellie’s outstretched hand comes down on my lower back as we enter back into the warm and open bedroom, she holds up her free hand towards the two guards and they give her a nod before the place themselves outside the first set of double doors closing them behind them

“It’s ok sweetheart. No one here wishes you harm. Come on, relax, it’s all ok.” Her hand rubs small circles against my back.

Her touch reminds of that something a mother would give there distressed child to soothe them. Ellie can’t be that much older than me, three years at the most. I can’t help but make small eye contact with her, nodding my head in thanks as I even my breathing trying to calm myself. Something her touch tried to do for me but just couldn’t complete. Only one will work. I don’t know how I know but, I want his touch.

Ellie leads me deep into the bedroom and helps me down into a soft seat at the end of the bed. She flicks the light on and a small chandelier from the high ceiling casts a warm glow throughout the room.

When I woke up in this room I didn’t notice anything in the room other than the doors. There are two thick yet soft, grey curtains that stretch nearly the entire length of two of the four walls blocking out the dreary outside wether, that hammers down against the thick glass of the windows.

The bed that is across the room from me is much different than what I imagined it would be. The silver frame of the canopy bed nearly reaches to top of the high ceiling. The bed is against the light grey upholstered panelled wall, the white curtains contrasting with it.

There’s a stone fireplace on the wall near the double doors as well. It’s not lit like the one in the other room though.

Ellie has moved from behind me and over towards the doors on the right side of the room and as she opens them and I see that behind them is a large marble bathroom, seconds later the sound of a steady stream of water, echoes throughout the room as I see the water splash against the thick marble of the lavish bathtub.

“Miss,” Ellie’s quite voice startles me from my thoughts as she appears back in front of me.

“Lottie,” I say my eyes locking with hers for a second before I look anywhere else but into them.

“Short for Charlotte, I’m guessing?” she questions a hint of a smile and confidence coming into her voice now.

Nodding at her, I finally notice her closed hand and the glass of water in her other. As if she notices my eyes on her hands she takes a seat at the opposite end of the dark three seated lounge, in the same material and colour of the upholstered wall.

Taking the glass in my hand she hands me the two small tablets explaining to me that the white one will help with the pain and the other blue one to help fight bacteria from my bruises and the open skin of the cut where they head to set my ribs back in line. After I swallow the both of them down she explains that she run a bath with salts that will relax my muscles and help soothe my body.

“Can I please just go to sleep now? My ribs are hurting” I ask her leaning further into the lounge.

She gives me a small nod as she makes her way back into the bathroom and comes back only a moment later, a pile of clothes in her hands. She asks me if I need any help getting changed a soft look on her face as she does. I get her to help me change into the loose fitting grey tee that is a size smaller than the hole ridden one I had before, I thought I could get into the black cotton tracksuit pants, but I ended up having to brace myself on Ellie to do so.

Ellie helps me settle back down onto the lounge. My eyes snap up to hers when I hear her quietly say that, having her help me like this was nothing to worry about, that she would be my maid and dresser while I’m here. When my eyes meet hers she gives me a nervous smile and makes her way back into the bathroom.

Cluttering noises come from the bathroom, as I begin to think about what Ellie was even talking about. My hands grip tighter at the pillow that I have dropped down into my lap, I regret doing it as I feel a stinging sensation in them, forgetting that they were torn from my fall. Blood begins to sink into the already soaked gauze.

I can’t even begin to add up what she means by what she said. Not one single person has told me what I’m doing here, all that I’ve been told is that I’m safe here. The way the hazel eyed man told me that I would, has left me without a shadow of a doubt that I’m safe here, with him. I still want to know why I’m here and that seems to be something they are all trying to avoid telling me.

This place is better than Carlett. There aren’t any of those snotty girls that thought they were better than me, because they weren’t abandoned in a park, or in that foster home since they were two weeks old. The people here are nice but I can’t stay with them, usually people end up thinking I owe them something if I stay. It’s always the men.

“Sorry miss,” Ellie walks back into the room her hands heavy with more medical supplies, “Lottie, I shouldn’t have said what I said to you before. It was my mistake but, his Majesty is better to explain all this to you.”

Pulling my hand back towards her, she begins to un-wrap the gauze bandage from my hand, looking over the long but shallow cuts that are still red around the edges with a look on her face that I can’t diagnose.

His Majesty?

“Who?” I question out loud her hands frozen in the process of cleaning the cuts.

“Like I said he’s better to explain all this to you than I am.” Her voice stays quite as she continues to wrap my hand now that she’s finished cleaning it and continuing to the other.

Ellie hands me my hand back before she takes the remote from the dark thick wooden square table in the middle of the three lounges. She clicks a button and a flat screen television drops down from the roof facing towards me.

She hands me the remote with another small smile as she stands up facing back towards me.

“Dinner will be served in the next room in an hour and a half. Maxon will come get you, and if you wish to leave the suite, he will need to be informed.” She finishes in a dead voice walking out of the room with a curtsy.

Sitting the remote she handed me down onto the cushion next to me, I get up and follow quietly behind her. She didn’t close the door all the way and I push it open, a slight bit more squeezing through the small gap and watching her leave through the other two doors. I make my way through the room where both dark curtains have been closed over the glass walls. I make my footsteps as quiet as possible and fight down all the pain that I feel.

“El?” a deep husky voice questions in worry from the other side of the thick doors.

“I slipped.” Ellie’s voice comes scared. “I slipped twice. I shouldn’t have said what I said to her. He told me not to say anything, about us, or about her.” she cries quietly before they quickly become muffled.

“Ellie, please don’t worry my love. He trusts you more than anyone with her.” the same deep husky voice reassures.

Another deep but softer voice joins the conversation not as loving to Ellie as the first, more neutral. “We will all slip, even him. He won’t last long, she’s beautiful and with the condition that she’s in, his wolf be pressing at him to tell her. It won’t take him long.”

Scrunching my eyebrows, I walk away wondering what they were talking about after I hear two ‘I love you’ exchanged. They were talking about me. I know that but they were talking about some guy. I know I was here for a reason and I don’t want to meet this guy they were talking about. He sounds like what I fear the most.