“And if you don’t let me leave,” she warns. “I will leave another way.”
I swallow hard, that thought too dreadful to imagine. If she took her own life, I would never forgive myself. I would be right behind her, following her to the afterlife.
“They are under the King’s protection,” I say with my body feeling unsteady. “Anyone who harms them will answer to my wolf.”
“Good,” she says. “I trust you. I don’t know why, but I do.”
That’s a good sign. It’s a start at least.
“You’ll have dinner with me?” I ask.
She smiles shyly. “Okay. I’d like that.”
“Very well,” I say, taking one last breath of her. “I will see to the females. My chamberlain will show you to your quarters.”
I stare at her for a moment longer, studying her beauty, still unsure if this is real.
“My queen,” I say, bowing my head before turning away and marching to the great doors. I don’t look back. I know I would not be able to stop myself from returning if I saw my mate’s stunning face once again.
I burst through the doors and call for Brutus, my beta commander. I order him to return every human female to their homes, unharmed.
“I mean it, Brutus,” I warn in a sharp tone. “Unharmed.”
“Yes, my Alpha,” he says, bowing low.
Next, I order the keeper of the purse to give each female a sack of coins worth one year’s labor. He nearly balks at me until he sees that it’s not up for discussion.
“Yes, my Alpha,” he says, rushing away to fulfill my command.
I order the chamberlain to get my mate’s room ready and provide her with a hot bath and the highest quality dress the kingdom has to offer. I also tell him that I will require a private dinner in my quarters with something a human would desire.
After delegating all of the commands, I head out to the courtyard and warn each member of my royal guard to treat these females like royalty. It’s important to Morwen, so it’s important to me.
After they’ve all left, and the sun begins to set, I look up at the stone tower to my private quarters where I will be hosting my mate soon.
Alone.
Within a few paws of my bed.
I exhale long and hard, fighting the intense urges ripping through me.
Three weeks.
I must wait three weeks before I can touch that heavenly body.
I do not know how I will survive.
But I will.
Because when the moon finally rises full and bright, when I am at last allowed to claim what fate has placed in my hands, I know one thing with absolute certainty.
She will be wortheverysecond of the wait.
Chapter Six
Morwen
Ihave never worn anything like this before. I didn’t even know it was possible to make such gorgeous material.
