Chapter 24

Violet

Ben, as Theodore called him, was still growling, panting, heaving, and glaring at me like he was seconds away from attacking me.

"This is Violet," he said calmly. "She's going to be my wife soon. Why don't you tell me what happened."

He growled again but he seemed to be calming down. Theodore’s presence seemed to be doing more than his words, but I didn't let my guard down. The gnawing, uneasy, feeling in my gut remained.

Ben clenched his fists, frustration still simmering in his eyes.

“She looked at me like I was some kind of threat, like I’d attack the children,” he said, his voice rough. “I’m not a rogue anymore—I’m part of Midnight.”

Before I could speak, Theodore shook his head.

“Violet didn’t mean any harm,” he said, his voice steady, almost soothing. “She simply misunderstood the situation because she doesn’t know you yet. Her mother was killed by rogues, so she’s a bit anxious given what I've told her about the settlement."

Ben glanced at me, but he still seemed suspicious. I watched him carefully.

Theodore drew an arm around me, drawing me closer.

"Maybe we could sit down. I'm trying to get her up to speed about what being my luna will entail. Do you think you'd be okay with sharing your story with her? It might help clear things up.”

Ben shifted uncomfortably, but after a moment, he sighed and nodded. He dropped down onto the tree stump without hesitation, clasping his hands and hanging his head.

The anger seemed to bleed out of him and he looked so... small and defeated now. I relaxed, stunned at the transformation.

“My wife… she was raped and murdered by my former alpha,” he whispered, his voice catching and hitching. "My Helen... My mate... She... He just left her there... Just dumped her in a s-shallow grave, like she was garbage." He sniffed and shook his head. "I lost it... I could smell him on her. I could see what he'd done to her. There had been rumors about the things he did to women in town, but nothing confirmed. No one spoke up about it. The few that had ended up dead or exiled." He clenched his fists. "The alpha king either didn't care or wasn't being told, and the pack was so small that he wouldn't have cared even if he had known."

He glanced at me. "I killed him, ripped him apart with my bare hands in broad daylight, and I fled."

His lips twitched. "I'm certain that if I was brought in on charges, he'd ignore my right as mate and husband and have me executed, but I wouldn't care... It was justice."

My chest grew tight. I thought of my father, holding my mother's body to his chest, surrounded by dead rogues and shaking with rage and grief.

I walked around Theodore and kneeled beside him. He flinched, but I didn't hesitate to wrap my arms around him the way I had wrapped my arms around my father that day.

He shuddered and practically melted into my embrace. I stroked his hair, feeling how greasy and matted it was.

"You had no children."

"S-She was pregnant," he sobbed into my shoulder. "I..."

"I’m so sorry,” I said. "For what happened, and for my suspicion... I should not have jumped to conclusions."

He sniffled. "... no alpha's ever apologized to me."

I glanced at Theodore who rolled his eyes. "I believe in admitting when I'm wrong."

"I-I'm sorry I overreacted," he sniffled. "And... for getting your nice dress dirty."

I chuckled and pulled back slowly. "The dress can be washed."

I wiped the dirt from his face. Theodore came over.

"I apologize, Alpha Theodore. It won't happen again.”

“It’s just a misunderstanding. No need to be so formal," he said, waving his head. "Why don't you take a minute, then head back to work?"

He nodded and stood before bowing. "A pleasure to meet you, Luna Violet."

I smiled at him. "A pleasure to meet you, too, Ben."

Ben walked off, headed deeper into the settlement. I watched him go and let my gaze drift over the rest of the camp. Theodore turned to me.

“Ben’s--"

"Falling," I whispered. "He's... stronger than many to not have lost it yet. How long has it been?"

"A few months." I winced at that and bit my lip. "His grief is driving him mad."

It wasn't just his grief. It was the destruction of pack bonds, too.

"Why Shelter?" I asked. "Why not petition to change the pack transfer laws or the law about rogues in particular?"

His lips twitched. "Who would you trust to take Ben in and care for him? Or these children in and not abuse them?"

"Darkmoon... Silvertree, and... Hollowmoon."

He grinned. "Ah, the Noble Triumvirate, makes sense, but does it?"

I nodded. "I see your point."

Silvertree and Hollowmoon had a standing allegiance with Darkmoon. After my mother had been killed, they took hard stances against rogues. Someone like Ben, even though he was justified, would have caused an issue for them.

I took a deep breath. "I'm impressed. The way you handled Ben makes me think I may have misjudged you."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Don't."

"Don't?"

“I’m much stronger than Ben. I could have restrained him easily, but that's not going to help him, and it would be the exact opposite of what I want Shelter to be."

He turned and I fell into step with him.

"Why'd you start this project?"

He looked up. "My mother was once a rogue. If she'd had anywhere else to go, if my father had been an honorable man, if a place like this had existed then, she'd still be alive. Her and thousands of others... perhaps even your mother."

My stomach turned at the thought. It was hard trying to think that the rogues who had killed her might have been just like Ben and just trying to survive on the edges of society.

I couldn't empathize with them, but I understood the point he was trying to make.

Worse than that, I couldn't disagree.

I sighed, shaking my head. "You weren't lying."

"About?"

"Not being as much of an asshole as people think." He laughed. "And it's a pity that you harbor... such resentment towards your father. If you had inherited the crown, this country would’ve been different.”

Theodore’s lips curled into a wry smile. "What did you say about me? It would be convenient to have my help, but you had other options to reach your goal? The crown would make things easier, but I don't need it to lead by example."

“People say you’re a tyrant in the making,” I said, “but now I think you truly deserve the title.”

“What title?”

“The Uncrowned King.”

Theodore burst into laughter. "Please don't call me that. It's campy!"

We headed back. We didn't speak much, but we didn't need to. I was busy marking up the notes he'd given me to make it more appealing. Theodore had surprised me today, revealing more of what was beneath the playboy image. It made me oddly hopeful that maybe this would all work out, and I'd get a good ally out of it for the future.

We headed back to his house rather than the Tower since it was already pretty late in the evening.

After a long, hot shower, I wrapped myself in a towel, ready to collapse into bed. I made it all of a step out of the shower before a sharp, blinding wave of pain cut through me. I couldn't keep my legs under me. All I could do was try to soften the fall to not injure myself. My vision swam as I grabbed onto the railing trying to keep from falling. It ripped out of the wall, sending me crashing to the ground.

I couldn't scream. It was as if every nerve in my body was on fire, burning hotter with every passing second. My heart raced. Fear settled into me as I struggled to breathe.

I choked. My eyes burned.

Someone help me.

The door to my room burst open, and Theodore rushed in, lifting me off the floor with ease.

"I've got you. I can--"

I pushed at his chest.

"No," I bit out. "Don't want--"

"I know," he said, his tone bitter. "I know, but you'll--"

"No," I choked out. "No."

He grit his teeth. "I promised to heed your wishes, okay? But you have to trust me."

I tried to speak, but the pain spread. I felt myself start to shake. I saw the fear in his face. Was it that bad?

The agony was unbearable, but was it deadly?

I could hold on, couldn't I?

"Please," Theodore pleaded. "Please. I promise."

My vision started to go dark. I couldn't hear or see. A bright white light started to grow, and I thought of Darkmoon. I thought of Lily and Kincaid, and every member of my pack suddenly at Lucas' mercy. Tears streamed down my face.

"Help me… please.”