TWENTY-ONE

Rhett, Nadia, and Vino were trailing me.  I am so angry at Knox.  How could he be so cruel?  Putting his parents and a little girl in the dungeon is unforgivable.  I was about to enter the elevator of the palace when Rhett stopped me.

"My Queen, the King is not in his office." Rhett informed me.

"Where is he, then?"

"Uhhmmm, in his playroom."  He answered.  I know that room.  I locked myself in that room when I ran away from Knox and Yara.  I was re-entering the elevator when Rhett stopped me for the second time.

"Not in the playroom that you know, your highness.  He is in a.....um.... different playroom."  He bowed as if embarrassed.  I do not like the sound of this.

"What other playroom?"  I raised my voice.  "Bring me there!"  I commanded.

"Re-think about this, Lyanna.  You have been through so much.  Why not let us talk to the king again on your behalf?"  Nadia suggested.

"I know my own body.  I am fine.  Emotional, but fine.  Do not stall anymore, take me to him."  I demanded.

We walked a few flight of stairs downwards from the lobby.  From the foot of the stairs we could already hear loud party music.  My temper sizzles!  If he is with other women and they are doing the nasty all hell will break lose!

I walked faster but Vino grabbed my right arm to slow me down.  His eyes were pleading as if saying calm down, calm down.

When we reached a big door at the end of the hall, the music could pop my very ear drums.  I nodded to Vino to open the door.  When he opened the door, on reflex I covered my ears.   I scanned the room and there on some plump pillows, Knox is lounging with a bottle of wine on his hand.  In front of him, three scantily dressed women where dancing and crawling by their own iron poles.  Well, at least they were five meters away from my mate, but who am I kidding, how did he intend to end this party?

Rhett quickly moved to the sound and lights system and shut them immediately.  The dancers stopped moving and Knox growled but I growled louder.  I commanded, "GET OUT!  EVERYONE!"  Six people were moving out with their heads bowed.    I took a deep breath and moved in front of Knox.

"Who do you think you are?  Leave me and my entertainers alone.  I do not want to see your face!"  Knox sneered.

"You do not want to see my face?  Fine, give me the keys to Harper and your parents' cell and we will be gone in your life as you wish!"  I challenged.

Knox quickly stood up and held my right arm.  His eyes glitter with hate.  "You will not leave this castle ever.  I will not let you!  My pup is in there."  He touched my tummy but I swat his hand with disgust.

"What has happened to you, Knox?  How could you imprison your parents and my six-year old sister in the dungeon?  They are innocent!"  I turned to look at the state of the room we were in.  "Is this were you have been, partying, while I and the baby were fighting for our lives on the hospital bed?"  I looked at him with utmost disgust.

"You did this to me, Lyanna!  You broke your promise!  You put yourself at risk.  You almost left me!"  He accused me and yet his voice was laced with despair.  "As to your sister, I did not put her in jail, she insisted to stay with my parents.  She practically begged me not to separate her from them."

"Still, how can you show cruelty to your parents in the eyes of a child who looked up to you.  My sister must be so traumatized by all this.  First her kidnapping, then your wolf attacking me, and this!  You imprisoned the couple she loves.  How could your heart take this, Knox?  YOU are going to be a father soon, is this the kind of father you wish to be, the one who terrorizes the innocent?"  My heart was really breaking.

"Get out!"  He shouted.

"SET THEM FREE NOW!"  I shouted back.

"You will not meddle with my decisions!  Go back to the hospital, Lyanna!"

"I will not leave here until you give the order for their release!" I stood my ground.  Everything was intense that I did not notice that my left arm started to bleed heavily.  I would not have noticed it if not for the ambivalent look Knox threw.  He was looking at me with rage then with concern.

"Your arm is bleeding!  Let me get you to the hospital."  His tone significantly mellowed.

"Don't you dare touch me!  I do not care if I bleed to death again.  Release Harper and the former king and queen!"  I demanded.

Knox lifted me in his arms with my right arm to his chest to free my injured arm from pressure.  I definitely protested against it.  His closeness, though, brought comfort for me.  His scent and his warmth softened all my will power to resist him.

"Stubborn!  Foolish!  Reckless!  Annoying!"  Knox chanted on and on as we make our way to our chambers as it seems.

Upon passing a guard, he commanded, "release the Alpha, Luna, and the girl this instant!"

Hearing this I released a long breath.  He gave in.  Thank Moon Goddess!

Knox placed me down on our bed and started walking to and from like a mad man.

"Knox, are you alright?"   I had to ask.

"I was never alright from the moment you left this castle."  He answered back but still walking and not looking at me.

"Forgive me, please, my love."  I conceded.  I cannot bear to see him like this.  I miss my mate.

"You are free to ask for forgiveness but you cannot expect immediate forgiveness, Lyanna.  I am hurting and I am still angry. The doctor is close.  He will treat your bleeding."  He left me again.  How can he leave me so easily?

The doctor did come and mended my wound.  I was given a mild sedative and pain reliever that were okay for pregnant women.  I slept all my woes away wishing it was all a bad dream and tomorrow will be a pleasant day.

But the days turned to weeks.  My arm has fully healed.  Alpha Magnus and Luna Amanda stayed in the palace.  They knew Harper and I needed their support and guidance especially when Knox is being absent most of the time.

Knox remained distant and cold towards everyone, especially me.  He slept in a different room on the same floor as our chambers.  He soaked himself with alpha tasks, trainings, and pack visits.  He avoids me as much as he can.

I could not stand this anymore.  I gave him space.  I respected his need to nurse his hurt and disappointment.  But now, I wish to take action.  I know how to get his undivided attention.

I went outside the garden, stripped my clothes off, and shifted to my wolf.  Shifting during early pregnancy stage for a she-wolf is fine but most males would rather not let their mates shift just to be on the safer side.

I ran rather slower than my usual making sure the pack members and guards saw me and report me to the king.

I was nearing the royal pack forest when Knox's black wolf jumped in front of me.  He was snarling at me.  I simply wagged my tail at him.  He growled louder.  I licked my side seductively.

Knox shifted back and I was ogling his body.  I missed him, shamelessly.  I need him.  I feel my lower body burn with desire.

"Knock it off, Lyanna.  Shift."  He ordered.  I obeyed without fuss, anyway I needed to talk to him that is why I did this.  Knox pulled from the trees some clothes, covered me first, then covered himself.

"When will your recklessness stop?  Do you really not think of the pup's safety?"

"I am not putting my child in danger.  You pushed me to do things like this, you know?  If I did not shift, would you have come to me?"

"What do you want?"

"I want you."  I moved closer to caress his chest but he stepped back.  His rejection bites.

"I am busy.  I have no time for your games."

"I need you.  I want you.  Do I need to bleed or be very sick or dying just to know if you still care a damn about me?"  I am fed up.  I want the truth.

Knox's face turned sour.  He grabbed my arms and forced a kiss.  It was a harsh and punishing kiss.  A kiss meant to mock.  I pushed him away and wiped my lips.

"Isn't this what you want?  I was ready to take you here on the ground,"  he mocked.

I shook my head in disbelief.  Here is the truth I seek.  The man who once looked at me with love and pledged to protect me is now a cold hardened man who hates me.

My self respect could not take it anymore.  I shifted back to my wolf and this time ran as fast as I can into the woods.