Chapter 31

Uselessly, I weep in my hands in pure frustration at the situation. I am woman enough to admit that he did protect me with his body, but he didn’t defend me when his mother stated I and the children we would have would be a problem.

I have heard that my whole life, from my father, then the werewolves. She defended Jane, and even though King Harvey rebuked that, it wasn’t with any evidence she wanted. If anything, I just look like a long one-night stand.

I can’t stand every downcast gaze of a werewolf because I am human, and King Harvey seems to be different.

No, I know he is, and that is why his silence is such a shock to me. My heart cracks open and bleeds. I continue to cry in my frustration, wishing I could slap him in the face just once.

I never expected King Harvey to stay silent when I was slandered. His mother is right, our children would have half-breeds. Would he stay silent while our children are mocked? I wouldn’t.

Does he even love me?

He has never said it, I have never said it. I feel safe and loved with him but now what?

I have spent the whole night sobbing and that doesn’t even feel enough to make me feel better.

My eyes burn and hardly open as I let myself lie down and feel weak.

“Elena.” King Harvey’s voice comes from the front door.

I don’t care to open my eyes.

I sniffle at the sound of his voice and find myself crying harder.

I feel him lay down beside me and wrap his strong arms around me silently. King Harvey pulls me to his chest and holds me close. His calloused hand soothingly rubs my back and I explode into violent sobs.

“Elena.” King Harvey’s voice cuts through my sorrow sternly. “Elena, I am your protector. I have been to war. I would have killed for someone to stand in front of me at my height of fear. Do you understand?”

“I don’t want to argue!” I am spent emotionally.

“I simply am asking if you understand, Elena.” King Harvey’s voice strains against his anger.

I look up to see his face, and his brown eyes are weary. There are bags under his eyes, and stress lines highlighting his face.

He is suffering with me over this.

“….no, I don’t, King Harvey. I have been treated like trash my whole life! And you let it go!”

“Did I?” King Harvey rumbles darkly. “I said there was nothing wrong with you. Did that not cover everything? Did I not protect you with my very body? Or was that Beta Tom?”

Twisting animalistically in his grasp, I force him to sit up and I remain sitting but in his lap. Rearing my hand back, I slap him across the face as powerfully as I can muster.

King Harvey doesn’t even move a muscle due to my slap. He looks down at me, with no emotion on his face whatsoever.

As a matter of fact, he grins at me.

“My whole life! I have been nothing! You allowed one line to get through, but every single jab needs to be deflected and protected, King Harvey! Protection of your body is every hour, every second! Have I failed you, even once?!” My voice strains against my pain as hot tears trinkle down my face.

The coy smile on his face makes me want to scream. There is no shock in his face from the slap. It doesn’t matter to him.

“You forget she wanted to kill you, Elena. I cannot have a wife if she is dead, Elena! You cannot carry our children if you are dead.”

“…you still want me after all this?” I whisper.

“I stayed silent to not aggravate her further. I did not wish for your first meeting with her to be one of violence. I… care for you, Elena. Deeply.”

“Do you want me, King Harvey?” I press on and take his face in my hands.

Mutely, he nods. I realize he is bowing his head at me, and I freeze.

“I have wanted you since the moment I saw you, Elena.” King Harvey whispers gently.

“I am human, and she is right, our children will be half-breeds. That doesn’t worry you?” I question.

“The first human luna in history, and the first half-bred children are royalty. What is there to dislike?”

My heart stops at his words and simplicity… would we be a good example for others? And those outcasted children his mother mentioned?

I stay silent, wondering what to say next. I am drowning in all my thoughts.

“Your humanity doesn’t bother me, Elena.” King Harvey speaks to close the cold silence between him and I. “It never has. I would have not pursued you, Elena.”

“…would she have killed me?”

“…she would have hit you. Mother is very protective of her image as a mother and wife, even before her royal lines.”

“I would have been mad too… Did I aggravate her?”

King Harvey laughs coldly, and I drop my hands to his chest and stay there, enjoying the warmth of his body.

“You simply being human is enough to aggravate her, and Father… unfortunately.”

“I was under the impression that your parents were like you, King Harvey! You couldn’t warn me?”

King Harvey watches me closely. “Elena, I am in constant contact with my parents. In our calls, they seemed at least slightly understanding.”

I exhale heavily. “King Harvey… I don’t know what or how I feel about all this.”

“Mother can be difficult, Elena. She is not an enemy…”

“You said she would have hit me!”

“Elena,” King Harvey’s patience is running thin, his voice is tight like a wire. “She would not have laid a single hand on you. You have not seen me in battle. No one will harm you. I will put your life above a few insults, Elena. We are all insulted in this life.”

“What?” I breathe in my confusion.

“I have been insulted since the day we met. And?” King Harvey replies flippantly.

“You didn’t tell me, King Harvey. I am sorry.”

King Harvey nods at me. “I do not care what they say, Elena. You are here with me, and that is all I need.”

“Are you mad at me?”

“Yes. And you are mad at me, Elena.”

I exhale heavily. “I felt unprotected.”

“You were not.” King Harvey says coolly. “You can take a couple unpleasant words.”

“It sounds as if you don’t care!”

King Harvey’s eyes are now shimmering silver. “I would have allowed her to kill me, Elena!! If you think that is not worth a few mean words, I have no idea what the hell you are thinking!”

I place my face in my hands to try to think but come up empty. King Harvey leaves the room in lethal silence.

I hear a woman speaking and it takes a moment for me to understand it is King Harvey’s mother.

Clearly, I hear. “Darling, we need to speak to Harvey and that human…about marriage.”