Problems

Harlyn

I reach for Thorin, but I’m too late. I watch as he attacks Diandra, and she falls down screaming. He took her off guard. He shouldn’t be able to do these things yet, and she didn’t expect him to have such strength or his wolf properly yet.

The pups do; they could shift at a young age and pretty soon learn how to partially shift, which most don’t learn or manage to do until they are adults.

Thorin’s speed was impressive, however. She didn’t have a chance to block his first attack, and he struck her on the arm, where she got me. Her wound mirrored mine.

I watch her stagger to her feet, and I move to protect Thorin. She launches her attack at him, and he moves effortlessly, his hand moving and slashing across her face where she had hurt me.

“Thorin, darling, no!” She’s a princess. He can’t do this! I begin to panic, and he turns to look at me. My head shakes, and I see her lurch for him.

Thorin turns to attack, and I see Isaac appear in front of her, and his hand scratches along her ankle

“That’s for yesterday,” Isaac says and glares at her. My hands pull him away from Diandra before he can hurt her anymore. I know they want to defend me, but she is a princess, and the consequences that will fall on them from her father and the king of whatever place he is from won’t be good.

“You can’t stop me.” Diandra laughs and runs for me. Thorin’s hands grip her shoulders, and his nails dig in just as hers did on me.

I hear her loud scream, and she cries out.

“Don’t touch Mummy!” Thorin growls loudly in the hall, and it echoes around us, drawing everyone’s attention. I watch my mother and the queen run through to us.

Lotta and Lucy coming through as well. Lucy looks relieved when she spots Isaac with me.

“What is going on?” The Queen walks in and looks between me and Diandra, and the princess falls to the floor and begins crying like a crazy woman. Of course, she is playing hurt; her wounds will heal fine, and mine will take forever.

“Her children!” Diandra stutters. “They are demons! Seriously, something evil and horrid, they come from hell!” Her words hurt, and I pulled Thorin to my side.

Isaac’s eyes are glowing red, and Thorin’s are an icy blue as they glare at Diandra.

“Mummy?” Lotta looks at me and runs to me. “Mummy, you’re hurt.” Her hands grab mine.

“She hurt Mummy.” Thorin growls and goes to step towards her again and attack. My hand stays on his shoulder, stopping him from doing it.

“You hurt Mummy?” Lotta turns to her, I don’t have enough hands! Right now, I wish Wayne was here. He could stop them instantly. Lotta’s eyes glow orange, and I panic.

“Lotta, can you hold my tiara, please?” Lucy kneels beside her and places it on her head. “Don’t worry, she won’t get away with it,” Lucy whispers, and it seems to settle Lotta. I watch as she stays holding Lucy’s hand while wearing the tiara.

I don’t know how to feel about this. Part of me feels ashamed that I was too weak and slow to defend myself or see her hits coming. Then, part of me felt grateful that I had been blessed with the pups.

Another part of me is almost crippled in fear. The pups shouldn’t be able to do these things so young, and now, it’s clear they can, and there’s nothing I can do to hide that fact.

“Mummy, I’m sorry.” Thorin looks at me with tears in his eyes. Kneeling down, I kiss his cheek.

“You did nothing wrong, Thorin darling, I promise you.” I try to reassure him.

“I went too far and didn’t sense her coming back.” His eyes show regret, but he’s too young to have that.

“No, you’re not to blame. Do not worry, Thorin, please.” I smile at him.

“I’m sorry too, Mummy.” Isaac and Lotta say in unison.

“We promised Wayne we would protect you.” Isaac hugs me.

“No, you don’t need to apologise. You did nothing wrong. Settle down, please.” I smile at them. I hate how guilty they feel for not being here to protect me.

“But I took your guards, Mummy,” Lotta says, and I nod, smiling.

“Those guards couldn’t have done anything sweet, Lotta, not against a princess,” I whisper, knowing their hands were tied. They couldn’t attack her back.

The pups shouldn’t have either, and I am still fearful about the consequences when Princess Diandra’s father returns.

“How bad does it hurt, Mummy?” Isaac asks.

“Not much, don’t worry.” Kissing his cheek, I smile and stand up. I face the Queen, knowing that I need to answer her questions. I can’t avoid this, and I will take whatever punishment Diandra’s father sees fit.

“What exactly happened?” The Queen looks at us and waits. I go to answer, and my Mother walks over to me, a gasp leaving her lips as she looks at my wounds.

“I’m fine, Mother, do not worry,” I say, unwilling to let anyone else get involved in this. Lucy stands and looks at me, then turns to Diandra.

“What possible reason could you have to attack Harlyn?” Lucy shouts, her voice quivering with hurt.

“Your Highness, it’s fine. I am going to my room here, getting cleaned up, and ready to leave.” I smile at her and turn.

“Sammy, please, can you get the doctor? Harlyn needs her wounds checking.” The Queen speaks, and I grab the pup’s hands, walking slowly towards the door that leads to the room I am meant to be staying in.

I hear the loud voices outside, howls and cheers. Before I could even get through the door and escape the incoming party, they flooded the room and stopped suddenly. Everyone waits, but surely they wouldn’t be so happy if they failed or anyone was hurt?

“It’s a victory!” I hear someone call and watch as the men flood in and hug their mates. Lucy rushes to Samuel and embraces him. Relief floods her features, showing just how worried she is for him. She didn’t need to be. He would always be safe. I highly doubt Stefan would let Samuel get hurt.

I watched as Diandra fake limped towards Stefan. He stops and looks at me, and I watch as he takes a step towards me.

Diandra cries out, and Stefan turns confused. He walks towards her.

“What happened?” The fo King and her father look at her with concern. Stefan rushed over and looked at her wounds.

“Who did this? Who hurt you?” He asks, looking around the room. I push the pups behind me. No one is touching them.

“Harlyn, why are you hurt?” Samuel looks at me, shocked, his eyes taking in my wounds. He rushes to me. “Who attacked you?” Samuel looks between us all worriedly.

“Did some of the rogues get through?” Father looks at my mother.

“No rogues got through. This was just...” The Queen stops and looks around. “It’s simply a...” She sighed as if she were stuck on how to explain this.

“Harlyn did it! Daddy, Harlyn attacked me!” Diandra cries out loudly. Her father, King Fredric, I believe his name is, looks from her to me with disgust. My father glares at me and steps forward.

“Wait? Harlyn attacked you?” Stefan looks at her wounds, then at me. He laughs slightly. “That’s a lie, and it’s impossible. There is no way Harlyn could create those marks.” Stefan states, defending me.

I don’t want to be defended when it will fall on the pups if I don’t take the blame.