His Attempt

Stefan

Walking through the palace, I consider ways to sort this. It’s not like I can go to the Earl to help; he would likely make it happen, so she leaves.

“Stefan,” I hear my mother’s voice and stop. “You realise that your father and I cannot even tell her this, right?” She stands next to me.

“Would it work? Surely she would believe it if it’s coming from you or Father?” What reason would she have not to believe my parents?

“We have no proof. Should Harlyn ask, what do we give her?” She looks at me, and I’m unsure. “I get you love her, but you need to remember that Wayne is her saviour in her mind. She loves him. She won’t just take someone’s word and walk away from that.”

“So what do I do?” I can stop them from leaving. When it comes to them leaving, I can have my guards stop them. The pups are mine, so it gives me a reason.

“Make her see you’re sorry, make her yours again.” Sighing, she looks outside. “Unlock it, Stefan. When you started to push her away, you ignored and blocked out the years before that. Remember them. Remind her of how close you used to be.”

I nod at her suggestions, and she walks away before stopping.

“Oh, and Stefan, don’t make excuses. Accept the blame, accept the guilt, and apologise—no excuses, no reasons. The rest is on you. I can’t help anymore.” She walks away, and I nod.

Stepping into the gardens, I begin walking, my mind going over everything. Sitting down, I consider the past, trying to think of the place or story I can tell her to show her I wasn’t always evil to her.

I know a spot in the garden. We would go there every night; I stopped that night after I heard my mother’s words. Harlyn held out hope for some time and would go every night, but then she stopped.

There was nothing special about the spot; it just became our spot. While there, I could forget about the expectations put on me as a prince, and she should avoid her father’s constant barrage of complaints about her not having a wolf.

Standing, I begin walking towards the spot. I remember the last time we were there together. We were lying watching the moon, and for a while, we just stayed in silence. I then made a promise that I would destroy the next day.

I promised her I wouldn’t hurt her, but I did. She promised that she would never leave me. That was the night I felt deep in my bones that she was my mate, but there wasn’t a confirmation of it until I was sixteen.

My maids and guards stay a fair distance away, knowing that I need the space to think. Nothing seems to help ease the unsettled feeling that grows within me. I’ve no idea how to prove to Harlyn I’m sorry or make her realise I did this to save her without telling her the truth.

I know my mother is right, though. I can’t pass the blame; I can’t make excuses. I need to accept what I did, apologise, and hope for the best. Then I need to try to make her mine again like we were before I pushed her out. Even after that, the years she tried to make me see sense and followed me around.

As I get closer to the spot, I hear a moan; my body stops and runs cold as I hear her voice. Pain seers through me when I see them. She brought him here, why?

Of all the places here? Anger whirls around, and Ghost fights to take control, my eyes staying fixed on them as the pain seems to only intensify. My body moves, and I drag him off her. I saw it.

I saw exactly where his teeth were, and I knew what his plan was; a growl erupted from within me as Ghost raged into war to kill him. I could have possibly ignored it if he was just kissing her, but he was going to claim her!

He was going to claim my Harlyn. Here, in our spot, did she do this purposefully to make me aware she no longer cared about what we had? I’m drowning within my own mind of thoughts and rage.

If he claimed her, she would be gone. The pain of being separated from him would drive her crazy, and she would leave and follow him. He knows that; he knows the bond would drive her to want to stay close to him.

“Stefan!” Harlyn’s screams enter my mind but drown quickly under the anger and pain. I want to laugh at the fact that she called me Stefan and forgot my title. Despite the anger behind her words, they sounded like the nights we spent here.

Our agreement was that once I was here, I wasn’t prince, I wasn’t Your Highness, I was Stefan—just Stefan. My eyes now go to her, and I practically gawk. Her dress is pulled down, showing her bra and stomach.

What did I just stop? My mind screams at me.

“Harlyn, please cover yourself.” I hear Wayne’s words, and it only seems to throw more wood on the fire. He sounds so calm, but his look is so damn smug I want to rip it from his face.

My hands turn to paws, and the one against his side grips him. I hear the crack of his bone, and he fights against me. I will kill him, then what risk is there? There’s no risk. She is safe, and the pups are safe. She may hate me for life, but she will be safe.

He struggles against me, and my grip only tightens.

“Your Majesty.” His words are choked out, but he still has that same look on his face, the one that says he knows what he is doing. I consider how bad it would be just to end his life here and now.

He doesn’t love her; he’s using her, and I can’t let that happen.

“I apologise, Your Majesty, but what have I done to warrant you attacking me?” he asks, still struggling to free himself from my grip.

What has he done? Everything, he’s done everything.