Chapter 32

I fling open the cabin door, my father standing there, clearly expecting me.

“Why didn’t you tell me you knew PENELOPE?!” His lips twitch, fighting back a smile.

“We didn’t get a chance to talk about it.” I start pacing, the small space suddenly feeling even smaller. Frustration washes over me.

“You knew we were close to her territory. You should have told me. I’m a female warrior, for crying out loud! Meeting Penelope is like a dream come true and I almost attacked her! I bit her in the face.”

I drag my hands down my face. My father chuckles softly.

“We’re not near her territory, sweetheart. We’re on her territory.” I freeze, staring at my father, my mouth hanging open.

“She... she let you build a cabin on her territory. Wait, are you part of her pack? Oh my Goddess, my father is part of the Bloodmoon pack. WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME?!”

My father chuckles again, heading towards the bunker door.

“Let’s get you some clothes first, then we’ll talk.” I nod, my mood lifting instantly.

I’d give my right foot to be trained by Penelope!

Her story is legendary. Her mate was a monster who abused her.

So Penelope started training and one day the Goddess herself blessed Penelope with the strength to stand up to her mate.

Injuries that should have killed her barely left a mark.

Rumor has it her mate was so terrified of Penelope that he killed himself, hoping she’d die too.

But the Goddess protected Penelope, the wolves whispered, even from death.

If you ask me, Penelope fought her way out.

In her first year as Alpha, she was challenged by Alphas from all over the world. She defeated them all but didn’t kill a single one.

As the years passed, fewer and fewer wolves challenged her, and they all fell at her feet. Now she lives in peace.

Wait...

I quickly dress and step out of the small bathroom.

“Why did she let you build a bunker? What’s happening?”

I’m suddenly not so sure about this.

Penelope lives in peace. Letting us stay here could disrupt that.

My father gestures towards a chair and I sit down.

My mom looks worried and I have a feeling I’m not going to like what’s coming.

My father grabs a chair and places it in front of me.

He sits down, too close for comfort, but my curiosity—or maybe it’s concern—takes over.

“When they thought I’d killed your mother, we needed a place to stay. Penelope’s father took us in and hid us for a while, before we went our own way.

“Penelope was just a kid back then; she’s only a few years older than you. When we needed a place to hide again, I reached out to her. I taught her how to fight in exchange for building here.

“Her mate couldn’t find out, so we had all kinds of protection and cloaking spells on this place.”

“Wait, you knew her mate and you didn’t kill him?” My father shakes his head, his face filled with regret.

“At first, I didn’t know how bad it was. She always hid it well, and we never really interacted with her mate. When I found out, I offered to kill him.

“But she was training for that. She wanted to handle it herself.” I nod.

I get that. I’d want to be the one to look him in the eye and kill him too.

“Anyway, when she heard you were mated to the Prince, she reached out again. She’d asked the king for help when she first found her mate; he didn’t help her. She’s hated him ever since.”

That sounds like something our ‘beloved’ king would do, yes.

“I don’t see the connection. What exactly are we supposed to do for her?” My mother’s worry is clear in her voice. She won’t look at me, her gaze fixed on the floor.

“She wants you to kill the king and take his throne.” Holy shit...

“We can’t just kill the king! That’s my mate’s father! And if I kill him, Honora dies too. And if Honora dies... Oh Goddess, Roman would kill me.

“The king will have extra protection now, and he has a witch. I’M NOT GOING TO KILL THE KING.”

And yet, a part of me whispers that I should. After everything he’s put me through, after what he planned to do to his own son.

“He’s losing his mind, Kat. He used to be a good king. When he found his mate, his father immediately crowned him. His father never really wanted to be king, but Matteo did.

“He wanted to be king so badly, to do better for everyone. But soon he realized that the Alphas could handle their own packs. So the king expanded his territory.

“He killed all the nearby Alphas to take their packs and their lands. It stopped when he was attacked a few years ago. He lost a lot of people that day, and rumors are he almost lost his son too.

“He doesn’t want to protect, Kat. He wants power, pure power.”

I stand up and start pacing again. This must have been when Roman lost Accalia.

Jess warned me about the king when I entered the tournament. I think back on the few times I’ve seen the king.

I haven’t seen him much, but every time I did, my body told me to run and my mind was filled with fear.

It’s like an instinct telling me something is wrong.

Oh God, what am I going to do?

“Roman told you to leave, Kat. He’s been trapped there much longer than you. Maybe... maybe he was just trying to protect you.” I stop pacing.

I never considered that he might have been trying to protect me. I thought he didn’t want me anymore.

My insecurities getting the best of me.

He was always there for me. Even when I wouldn’t let him in or when I lashed out at him.

How could I be so stupid?

“I need to see Penelope,” I declare, my voice leaving no room for argument. Mom and Dad simply nod, moving in to wrap me in a comforting embrace.

“You don’t have to do this, sweetheart. No one would blame you if you didn’t,” Mom whispers into my ear. I don’t respond to her.

Maybe I don’t have to take down the king, but I absolutely need to see Roman. And there’s no chance the king would let me anywhere near him now.