Chapter 7

Elena’s POV

King Harvey nods at my words but says nothing.

My heart freezes. Unable to breathe, I shut my eyes. To say I am surprised is an understatement, my knees are weak and almost buckle.

King Harvey takes a long look at me then silently opens the door to my room, ushers me in and closes it. Throwing myself on my bed, I find myself unable to cry. I bury my face in my pillows and have no courage to scream.

King Harvey is aloof. Why would he care what a weak human pleads of him.

I close my eyes against the fear surging through my body. I am going to be sick if I keep replaying my morning over in my head. I take a sip of the lukewarm water left for me at my bedside.

My stomach lurches at the water slipping down my throat and I rush off to the bathroom to puke.

What a beautiful mate I will make…

King Harvey’s POV

Walking into my red study, I pull out my cellphone. The cellphone weighs nothing in my hand and for a moment I stare at it. What an odd piece of technology. I know I don’t need it, but Beta thinks it is good for emergencies.

He is correct, but I find it taxing.

I pull up his number on my phone, careful of my claws breaking the screen. I have done that twice previously.

He picks up in one ring.

“King Harvey,” Beta greets confidently. “I have done as asked, King Harvey. I have found Elena’s father. He was hiding out in the Shine casino.”

My blood boils.

To beat Elena in my own home! I am sure he has heard the rumors that Elena is to be my mate. He beat her badly. Was it to kill her? Or enrage me?

A distraction?

“Have you banned him from all casinos in the land?”

“Yes, King Harvey.”

I nod. “Very good, Beta. The next step is to take him to the front of the casino and beat him as he did Elena. Be sure to understand this is from my hand, and that my rule will be upheld.”

“I understand, King Harvey.”

There is a moment of silence and shuffling.

The sound of Elena’s father gasping and lying through his teeth that he didn’t hurt Elena fills my study as I put my phone on speaker.

My eyes spin as my claws begin to grow in response.

I feel that I failed Elena.

“Beta.” I command.

I know Beta is outside the casino with Elena’s father. I can hear the faintest trinkling of chatter outside the casino and the cars driving by.

“Quiet! King Harvey has demanded silence!” Beta yells at the crowd.

All the obnoxious noises from outside the casino stop at once as Beta takes my command to heart. He clears his throat and speaks loudly outside the casino.

“This human has harmed one of the members of King Harvey’s pack.” I speak into the phone.

Beta repeats with ease. “This human has harmed one of the members of King Harvey’s pack.”

“Now, he will pay for his crimes.”

“Now, King Harvey demands that his crimes are paid for in full!” Beta says to the crowd.

Elena’s father begins to shout in protest but is not given the chance to finish.

Taking a seat at my desk, I listen intently to the sounds of Elena’s father being taught his lesson. Punch after punch.

When my phone buzzes with a photo, I decide not to look.

I do not want to see Elena’s mangled father every time I look at her. I don’t want to worry about what she thinks of all this, I must protect her.

A stressed mate will not produce healthy children.

“Thank you, Beta. That will be all. Place him in the rehabilitation center.”

The rehabilitation center is a very kind word for jail cell.

He will never see the light of day again. He will never harm Elena again, or her sister.

I have already given Beta instructions to bring Elena’s sister to her so they can reunite. I must calm myself down, and with the heat I am battling, that may take the rest of this night.

I will check on Elena when I can.

Elena’s POV

I exhale heavily into my hands. The weight of being King Harvey’s mate is killing me. I am horrified! I am only human; how can I withstand his physical strength?

The door behind me opens and I freeze, fearing it is King Harvey to have his way with me.

Slowly, I turn to face the door and I see my sister running in.

I barely remain on my feet with the shock, I bend my knees to not fall over.

“Sister!” My sister Emily yells as she throws herself into my arms.

I cling to her with all my might and kiss her face over and over.

“I thought I would never see you again!” I sob into her neck as she hugs me tighter.

She is in her medical scrubs, so I know she’s still in school to be a doctor for the werewolves. They must have pulled her out.

“Sally told me what has happened!” Emily says quickly.

“I have bought her over.” I hear a man say.

Turning to see him and seeing the golden sash across his chest I see he is King Harvey’s Beta. I bow slightly and my sister follows.

“What else is going on Emily?”

“Beta told me King Harvey has paid off all my education and has transferred me to the best medical school in town! It is a 10-minute walk from here!”

I am free. Emily has everything she needs. Father is done for. I am no longer a maid.

Just… King Harvey’s mate.

The indescribable mix of relief and fear overcomes my body as I tip over. Emily places me on my bed with a soft laugh.

“It is going to be okay, Elena.”

I never expected King Harvey to help me like this.

“Doctor, tend to the human.” Beta calls into the bathroom and a doctor in full scrubs walks in. Emily helps me lie on my back and holds my hand.

“Your wound is bleeding again because of your father’s attack,” the doctor informs simply. “This is the very first time I have seen King Harvey care so much about a woman.”

Beta clicks his tongue. “The she-wolves want to rip you apart. They all tried their best to seduce King Harvey, but he has thrown them all out.”

The doctor nods. “Foolish. King Harvey is as stubborn as he is loyal.”

The doctor is gentle and kind. He is not treating me with the same disdain as the other werewolves and that makes me feel calm.

“Maybe he just needs me to help him get rid of his heat.”

Emily studies me a moment then smiles lovingly. “I have been tending to werewolves in my doctor practice tests. They are not all bad. They are actually very kind, once you get to know them. I believe King Harvey has taught them well. Since he is their teacher, doesn’t that give you hope?”

Shakily, I nod at my sister’s wise words, but fear remains.

Beta and the doctor look at each other for a moment but I have no clue what they are thinking.

My heart falls because of the unknown, but what else can I do? My heart shakes.

I can’t help but think King Harvey is different from the legend. Look at everything he has done for me.

He can’t be as cruel as I have imagined.

My peace is shattered when Emily is sent away hours later...

Night of the full moon.

All the peace and fantasy die as the maids pull me from my bed and shove me into a petaled bath. Roses. It is the night of the full moon.

The rough brushes do nothing for my sanity and wounds. I silently shake in pain.

“Stupid human, you are so weak, can’t stand any pain.” One maid says.

Another adds, “I bet she will not survive tonight.”

I shake as my mind spirals; I will be having sex with King Harvey soon.

Will I survive?