Chapter 155

Chapter 155 A wild confession William hadn’t come for her at night. He hadn’t sent word that he wanted her to join him or that he intended for her to be anywhere expect her room. Now she knew how Melody felt when William didn’t send for her night after night. It infuriated her. Didn’t he want her next to him like she wanted him? Did he spend his stubborn night tossing at the absence of her body near his? Melody was desperate for his attention, but Doris could go her whole life without it if he wanted to play that sort of game. Now that she wasn’t a maid anymore-was she allowed to leave? She was tempted to. She daydreamed about packing her things and leaving the palace forever. Especially when she spent the night tossing and turning and wondering where he was and why he wasn’t there with her. Those sort of weak thoughts made the fight or flight part of her mind fall into action and it terrified her. She didn’t want to become dependent on a man that was utterly unpredictable and always knew how to agitate her at any moment he wished. The next morning, Beth insisted on brushing Doris’s long hair and setting it in a high pony along with a few strands to frame her face. She didn’t accept it when Doris told her she didn’t have to do things like that.

Beth clearly wanted to do these things for Doris. She no longer had to have crazy night shifts and work in gruesome places. She only had to serve Doris-and Doris wasn’t very demanding. “Your hair has gotten so long! It’s almost past your mid back. Have you ever thought of trimming it?” Beth asked as she moved onto her makeup. “Or cutting it below your shoulder? “No, I suppose it hadn’t crossed my mind. Do you think I should? I think the last time I got a haircut was when I was 16.” “I think it would look wonderful whichever way.” Beth smiled. A bit of light returned to her friend since Doris had returned. It lifted a bit of the weight off her heart but she knew she was still sad to be at the kingdom when she had meant to be free. Was it selfish that Doris knew she couldn’t survive without her friend? She was grateful she was still here, but it wasn’t fair. “I think your mate loves your long hair.” Beth teased and bumped Doris right out of her distracted thoughts. “I don’t know about that. He’s never commented on my hair.” Doris touched the end of her hair. William had run his fingers through her hair so many times, but did he like it? Doris pushed the thoughts away. She didn’t care if he liked it or not. “He stares at your hair all the time! Have you not noticed?” Doris looked at her friend as if she was crazy. “No he doesn’t! Beth, honestly you need to cut back on your romance novels.” Beth rolled her eyes. “They teach me more about men than anyone around here.” She huffed. “Don’t think I didn’t notice you moping around here because he didn’t call for you!” Doris’s cheeks flamed. “You’ve gone mad. I don’t care if he calls for me or not.” “I see you‘ve returned to me as a liar, Doris!” Beth grinned and patted Doris on the head. “It’s okay to miss him. It won’t kill you to admit it.”

“It might.” Doris mumbled. Her inner wolf grumbled inside her as if she agreed with Beth. A light knock sounded at the door, Beth hurried to answer it and returned a moment later with a small letter. “This came for you.” Beth sang before she hurried to make the bed Doris had spent all night tossing in. It was strange to think how something so comfortable could become the opposite the moment her thoughts were upset. Doris tore the note open and immediately blushed. Perhaps Beth wasn’t completely wrong.

“Meet me in the library before the hour is up.” The note read. Doris glanced at the clock by her desk and saw she only had seven minutes to make it there. “I’ll be back later, Beth. Don’t wait up!” Doris grabbed her cloak and hurried for the door. She rolled her eyes at the sound of Beth’s laughter. “I knew he would call for you!”

It wasn’t until she reached the library that she realized her mistake. The cursive on the letter, though elegant, looked nothing like William’s handwriting. The second she stepped into the room, it only confirmed her suspicion. William would have never had her meet him in the library. It was tainted with his brother. “Doris.” Martin stood the instant he saw her. Doris took a small step back towards the door. “Pri-

Martin. I thought the letter was from William.” The large door closed behind her and startled her out of her skin. “You shouldn’t have written me, you know how William feels.” “I just wanted a moment of your time and I will leave you be.” Martin crossed the room to near her. She backed all the way against the door. “I know you have been announced as my brother’s lady, but I had to let my feelings be known.”

“Martin…” Doris silently screamed for him to stop, to not say what he wanted to. It was cruel of her to wish he would keep his feelings to himself, but it was cruel of him to place them on her when he knew her situation. “Doris. I know you can’t be happy with someone like my brother. He’s vile and rude-he has no use for women other than using them for his own pleasure before he discards them!” Martin reached for her hands. “I have known him his entire life. Not once has he proven to be a man that deserves a woman like you.” “Martin-“Doris felt as if her words were lost again. She hated that feeling, she hated the idea that someone had made her speechless in the worst way possible. “Martin, you’re married. How do you figure that you’re a better match for me? How do I know you wouldn’t discard me the second you found a prettier maid?” Martin looked surprised, as if he hadn’t expected her to have a mind of her own.

“… my marriage was arranged. Neither of us are truly happy-“ “Even so, how is it fair to me to be a mistress while you carry on a false marriage?” Doris pulled away her hands. “You don’t know William as well as you think you do. He has so much more worth than you claim.” “Doris, I didn’t mean to upset you.

I just needed you to know my true feelings before it was too late…” Martin sighed. He looked so defeated, a part of her couldn’t help but feel bad for him. She hated the soft part of her that always wanted to please everyone around her. “Perhaps I should have been honest with you before you left but I wasn’t sure yet. It wasn’t until you were gone that I realized how much I cared for you. I thought about you every second and imagined you in my arms every night.” Doris felt her cheeks heat at his words.

“You have a beautiful wife waiting for you in your room… it isn’t right to think of another like this.” “I suppose it didn’t matter when William had a lady back at the palace waiting for him?” Martin said with a touch of annoyance. It shocked her. “Melody lied to be his lady. She wasn’t the one he was looking for, I was.” Doris said and took a step back. “I would have never let him lay a hand on me if she was his true lady.” Martin’s eyes widened a little. “So it’s true. You are Prince William’s mate?” Doris felt as if she had just took the wrong step. She just admitted to Luna Queen’s son that she was William’s mate. Now it felt as if a wider target had just been set on her back. “I should go. We shouldn’t be here, what if William finds us? I don’t want you to get hurt because of me, Martin.” Doris moved to open the door, but he shot out his arm and held it closed. “Doris, this hasn’t gone how I thought it would. I said everything wrong and-let me start over.” “Martin, there’s no need for you to start over. The outcome isn’t going to change.

I’m with William, we can’t be together.” Doris patted his cheek lightly. “You’re a good man, Martin. I always thought so.” Carefully, she moved his arm and pulled the door open. She didn’t allow herself to breathe until she was far down the hall and away from a man that she feared she’d just broken the heart of.