So Similar

Stefan

I stand staring at the pups in disbelief. How is this even possible? Even though I know it was them, Harlyn lying and taking the blame has thrown me and placed doubt in my mind.

She never lies, but even I feel like this is a lie. I keep my eyes on them, the similar glow they have in their eyes like mine. Still, how did they do that to Diandra? They are too young to be able to. They are too young to be Lycan’s. Most don’t change until their eighteenth birthday.

“Don’t be so foolish and try to mock me!” King Fredric shouts, unable to accept that it is true. “You pups must love your mother to take the blame and be willing to die for her.” He scoffs and glares across at them.

He’s not hurting them. I stand silenced, though, because it isn’t possible. That’s why no one believes it. It shouldn’t be possible.

“She had already hurt my Mummy. So I hurt her.” One of the boys steps forward, his eyes glowing, and Harlyn reaches for him and misses.

I move and kneel in front of him as he moves to attack Diandra, his hands grip my shoulders, and I hold in the scream, shit. Okay, they aren’t lying.

“Thorin, darling, don’t please.” Harlyn pleads with him, but his eyes are set on Diandra. My hands hold him as his nails somehow dig in deeper.

“Son, are you okay?” My dad moves towards me, his eyes widening, and I raise my hand.

“I’m fine.” I’m not, this hurts. I have to calm him, though. “Thorin, right?” I look at him, and he doesn’t respond. Harlyn nods at me. “Look, you don’t want to attack her again, so you know what helps? Instead of seeing her, make your mind see someone else, someone you care about who you wouldn’t want to attack.” I speak and wait.

I don’t doubt Diandra deserves it, but this needs to end. I watch as he calms down, his nails releasing on me. He glances at me, confused.

“I’m sorry.” His words are quiet, and I laugh.

“It’s fine. I heal quickly, see.” I move my shirt and show him the cuts are already healing. “Lycans heal faster. Remember next time, if you don’t need to attack or want to, picture someone you care about until you calm.” I stand and step back. After that, I now believe that they attacked her.

“Can we sit inside and discuss this, please?” My mother looks at everyone, wanting to move this from the entrance to a more comfortable place, but King Fredric refuses to move. His head is shaking.

I don’t know what he is hoping for. I get it, though. The shame that Diandra was taken down by pups is terrible, but is it any worse than him making Harlyn agree it was her and a human taking her down?

He hasn’t considered that; it’s clear he hasn’t, as he’s set to make Harlyn take the blame so Diandra doesn’t feel shame for getting beat by the pups.

“So you’re saying you attacked Princess Diandra?” Samuel looks at them, and one of them moves to unwrap the bandage off Harlyn’s foot.

“Yes, she already hurt Mummy, see! So we hurt her.” The other boy points towards her foot. Was that Diandra? I turn and look at her in shock. Why would she do that?

“What rubbish!” King Fredric growls and laughs loudly. “You’re trying to ridicule my daughter. I won’t allow it!” His eyes go to Harlyn, and I step closer to her.

Samuel now moves with me in a protective stance to protect her.

“Please calm. King Fredric, we will get answers and the truth. Luanda, my love, what happened?” Father looks towards my mother. She wouldn’t lie.

“I already explained. It was a misunderstanding, and I can handle it in court. There is no need for you men to be involved,” Mother says loudly. I know she is trying to protect Harlyn and the pups. She won’t punish her for hurting the princess if she handles the situation.

“That is, if less, you would like to explain the full story of what happened to Princess Diandra? The truth, including your part.” Mother looks at her, and it’s a look that says, please do it and make yourself look like a fool.

We stand and wait. Lucy is glaring at Diandra, and I get she hates her, so seeing her hurt would have been highly amusing. Sighing, I look between the women.

Had King Fredric given up, this would have been sorted. Now it’s up to Diandra. Will she continue to have this argument or accept letting my mother sort it out? If she accepts, she will be told she deserves it and will leave it alone.

“Daddy, it’s fine.” Diandra looks at King Fredric, “I do not want to...”

King Fredric cuts her off. “No! I won’t let you step down from this and accept that someone hurt you and is now trying to humiliate you. That is wrong!” he shouts, and his anger only seems to grow.

He’s the opposite of Earl Harold—overprotective and stupid. I sigh and look at my father. I may be king, but I’m on trial, and I know he will be the one to deal with this if it goes to court.

“I apologise, Your Majesty.” A woman appears from around the corner and looks at King Fredric. “Your daughter has already been humiliated; to continue this argument only increases it.” She smiles at him and walks forward.

Who is this? I stand confused. She’s in guard wear, but not my guard wear.

“You see, your daughter here was taken down by one of the pups very easily, two, and well, she was immobilised; what could be more humiliating than that?” She asks, smiling at him. Her eyes go to Harlyn, and she smiles at her.

Diandra becomes restless, her head shaking quickly as she realises her mistake. Her quest to push to have Harlyn punished at the start now means people will find out that she was beaten by what? Are they seven? It’s been eight years, so they are seven.

It’s laughable, really, and it would be an embarrassment if it was heard of, but they don’t know that the pups are different.

I stand waiting, seeing if Diandra will speak up and try to stop this or continue the argument.