Chapter 27

Elena’s POV

King Harvey grabs Jane by the back of her shirt and throws her into the wall behind us with medium strength. I can tell he is restraining himself. Jane collides into the marble wall with a dense thud and groans in pain.

This was only enough to give her pause, I can tell.

“That blood on your face, Elena.” King Harvey notes factually. “Better be Jane’s not yours.”

I open my mouth to answer as he helps me up, but Jane’s pitiful howling stops me. She shakes her bleeding head as she tries to stand from being thrown into the marble wall. She slumps over on the floor, panting. She then throws herself on all fours as King Harvey steps in front of me protectively.

“Beta Tom! Teach Elena!” King Harvey says suddenly.

King Harvey steps to the side, enough for me to see.

Beta Tom walks behind a half-way transforming Jane. Jane is on all fours, her human flesh now a dark fur color. Her hands are now paws.

She glares at me with a lowered head, eyes glowing silver.

Beta Tom shows me his hand, thumb and first finger close together. He pinches the back of her neck strongly, and I can hear the muscle in her neck crunch.

Jane howls and whimpers but doesn’t fall over.

A least ditch effort, Jane attempts to lunge at me again, but with every faltering step, she loses more and more fur. Her paws evaporate as she collapses in front of me on her side. She twitches on the floor, out cold and drooling. Her eyes are open but see nothing.

“Beta John! Take her off my property!” King Harvey calls for another Beta that does just that, a man appears, taking Jane over his shoulder and walks away.

“Thank you, King Harvey, Beta Tom.” I bow politely to both men, who smile at me.

King Harvey turns to Beta Tom. “Did you not protect my wife, Beta?”

Freezing at the word wife, and paling with Beta Tom, I know it is best to speak up. Beta Tom is kind, and I did push him to step to the side, he should not get in trouble because of me.

“King Harvey. I told him to allow me to fight.”

“Which is foolish! Elena does not give orders!” King Harvey huffs and runs a hand down his face. His reply is to me, even if he is looking at Beta Tom.

Beta Tom bows his head out of respect.

“King Harvey,” I reply firmly. “She threatened my sister. This is my blood. Beta Tom did exactly as he was told, I told him not to! You can direct your frustration at me!”

King Harvey whirls around to face me. “That was reckless, Elena!”

“Then teach me how to properly fight, King Harvey. Body to body. You have shown me in small bits that I can win, so teach me! She threatened my sister, what did you expect me to do?”

“Elena, you have forgotten you are human!” King Harvey glowers at me.

“King Harvey, if you have forgotten, I would do anything for my sister!”

“How is that fair, Elena?”

I huff at him. “What do you mean fair, I love her!”

“You are fighting werewolves!”

I roll my eyes at him, and he glares at me, I see two fangs beginning to pop out his upper lip. He is restraining his anger at me. The energy in the room doesn’t feel bad, I am not scared of him. We are both frustrated with one another and that is fine.

Maybe if we get this out of the way the honeymoon will go smoothly.

“King Harvey, you could make me armor, or a special weapon and train me more.”

King Harvey sighs heavily and I can see for the first time, pure stress and worry on his handsome face.

He puts his hand on my right shoulder and leans down to look me in the face. He leans into me and presses his lips to my forehead. “My stubborn mate, my stubborn bride… Beta Tom, you are forgiven, having done nothing wrong. Please forgive my anger. Now, please leave us alone.”

“Yes, King Harvey, please forgive my negligence regardless.” Beta Tom replies hurriedly in fear.

King Harvey waves him away with one hand, then runs that hand through my hair.

“King Harvey. My sister needs protection.”

“I know, Elena, I was going to lead with that. Jane and her father are planning something sinister.” King Harvey says quietly. He pulls away from me and sighs heavily again. “Emily needs a bodyguard."

“You do it.” I say quickly. “Emily must live no matter what.”

King Harvey stoically shakes his head no. “I will not allow my mate to be alone and be killed. Which Beta do you trust?”

“I only know Beta Tom, decently, King Harvey. Who else do you trust?”

King Harvey stares at me. “There is a reason he is my right hand-man, Elena. I do wonder why he listened to you, though…”

I laugh. “Am I not your mate?”

It is surprising when King Harvey picks me up and lifts me up. I gasp in shock, and he just looks at me.

“Are you?” King Harvey questions coolly.

“King Harvey… look at what we have been through!”

“We are not yet mated.”

“We will be in days, you have said.” Dangling my feet back and forth, he puts me down with a rare grin.

“Would you like me to move Emily in the castle? I could protect you both that way.”

I sigh. “I would love that, King Harvey, but I do not wish to disrupt Emily’s schooling. I know Beta Tom the best, so if he is open to the position, he can have it. Do you promise me how to teach me how to fight a werewolf fully?”

King Harvey nods. “Yes, in these last days before we do the mating ceremony.”

I offer my hand for him to shake. “Very fair, King Harvey, thank you.”

Instead of taking my hand and shaking it, King Harvey lifts it to his lips and kisses my hand.

“Thank you, Elena.”

“I want to learn that pinch first, and I must memorize those body parts you showed me and…” I say to him as I make a list in my head.

King Harvey stares at me, stopping my sentence. “Armor, Elena.”

“Yes. I could maybe match you.” I blush at my idea, but he looks as if he would howl with delight.

Beta Tom suddenly stands in the doorway of King Harvey’s study and looks at us.

“Forgive me, King Harvey.” Beta Tom bows lowly at King Harvey. “I heard my name.”

“Yes, we would like you to protect Emily, Elena’s sister.” King Harvey addresses Beta Tom with firm authority.

Beta Tom places a hand over his heart. “I would be honored, King Harvey, Elena.”

“Beta Tom, my sister is a very kind, loving, smart and hard-working woman. You must treat her with the upmost respect and protect her with your life.”

Beta Tom smiles then nods respectfully. “I understand.”