"Don't touch her ever again."

I decided to take Luis up on the offer.

Crazily enough, it was easy to make my way around the castle. Everything was straight forward and easy to reach. I'm mostly happy that people don't stare. I should be insanely grateful since they should, they aren't familiar with me.

I'm a stranger to them.

It was beautiful out. The tree was big enough, sheltering a lot of shade and plenty of space for me to sit among the flowers but I chose against the tree.

It was so calming and peaceful, definitely what I want used to. My mind ran on the people like Chloe and River who I would usually be with. I wonder if they missed me or if they knew what happened.

They were my best friends after all.

I hoped they didn't.

A lot of people from my high school would love it that I nearly died. They probably wished I was never saved. When I first thought about my old life, I couldn't stop and tiredness overwhelmed me. My eyes felt droopy and before I knew it, my head leaned back on the borrow of the tree before I knocked out.

I go to the garden sometimes. It was windy and barely anyone remembered it was there. Mainly because the fifteen-year-old boy who waters the plants is insanely hot and I can't stop looking at him.

I could never get over his sharp jawline that made me jealous. His almost blonde hair looked soft and always messy but it served him right. The dark look in his black eyes had me thinking dirty things but when they show brown in the sun, he reminded me of innocence.

Times I just wanted to walk up to him, grabbed him by the shirt, and kiss him to taste the delicious-looking lips. Then I had to remember he's probably not gay.

But goddess, I hoped he was.

He was perfection at fifteen.

His sixteenth birthday was in a couple of weeks but I'll never know if he's my mate until then. A guy can hope though.

However, today, Enrico wasn't there. I got worried and sad in

disappointment, walking over to the tree to make sure he wasn't there when my eyes fell on her. Everest was leaning on the tree, finding comfort in it while she slept.

How did she fall asleep in the middle of a garden?

I huffed and decided to go get her inside, I'll be a terrible person if I left her here. And my precious Rico wasn't here so it made sense leaving. Should I wake her or take her up to her room?

Would I want to wake her up?

Take her to her room it is, maybe she'll like me even more now. As gentle as I could I picked her up bridal style and luckily she was light as a feather.

No eyes pried while we made it up to our quarter. As expected, her door was locked so I opened it using my tricks. I made it possible while holding her, juggling her on one hand to the other without waking her up.

My eyes kept to her and the bed, not looking around. I gently rest her on the bed. Her top had risen slightly when I placed her on the bed from carrying her. When I was about to pull it down, I noticed the bruises on her sides.

Holy shit, I was familiar with bruises and that looks hell similar to the ones I had with my abusive foster parents.

Is she being abused? I grabbed her hand as gently as I could to check out her wrist. There were faint chain marks around them, mostly healed but still there and barely noticeable.

"Are you going to rape her now?"

My wolf straightened at the sound of the stern and powerful voice. I instantly straightened my back with my hands stiff at my sides. "Your Highness," I respectfully greeted prince William.

"What are you doing here? What are you doing with her?" He softly hissed at me. I gulped hard. Ryrn, my wolf was pacing around my mind in panic.

"I'm sorry. She fell asleep in the back garden and I brought her to her room," I explained, trying to ease the tension. "You broke into her room and was touching her. I doubt you had innocent intentions," he revealed.

"I saw the bruises and was just checking them out, King. I'd never hurt her or take advantage, anything like that," I promised the truth yet he didn't seem to buy it.

"But why break into the room?" He commented. I was avoiding this part. No idea if he would get me in trouble for the ability I developed to open doors using my claws and some friction without breaking the door.

"She had the key so I just used my claws and- it's complicated. I wasn't trying to

"Get out. And don't touch her ever again," the king ordered. My eyes widened and my feet moved towards the door. My mind was blank, all I knew I had to get out of there. I couldn't disrespect him if I wanted my life. When I passed him, he grabbed my upper arm and pulled me back in front of him.

"Stay away from her, Rowan. If you want to go back to your parents, I suggest you leave her alone. Is that clear?" He slowly threatened. Panic filled my eyes and I instantly nodded my head.

After getting proof of my foster parents abusing me, I went to the king. They were locked up and I was put into the packhouse since I wasn't eighteen yet. The possibility of living with them again gave me the chills. It was impossible since they were in cells but being the king, it was possible.

"Yes, your highness," I agreed and bolted towards my room next door. Through all of this, the only thought running through my mind was: Why was he so protective of her when she claimed she didn't even know him. Was he the one hurting her?

I was following him from the second I spotted them across the room. I watched everything, walking to the elevator, breaking in, and checking the rout on the bed. I got furious and blew my cover before I even realize what I was doing.

It was just a thing I had to care for her and find out what she was doing with Bradey. Especially after I realized she was unconscious. I guess I was so paranoid and caring after finding her in the woods in that condition last time.

When I scared him off and was left in the room with her, I knew I had to leave. Memories of them laughing at the breakfast, him smiling at her. Especially, when he frowned when she left.

She's mine.

Thank Goddess I scared him off.

I couldn't help but be possessive over her. I didn't want to be and I had no reason to be but it was my natural instinct.

The more I focused on Everest, the more I forget about Rieka. Bad thing is, Everest doesn't want to be focused on me. I want to be good for her so she could focus on me but I don't exactly know how.

I thought she would be terrible at the packhouse and would be crawling back in no time but turns out, she's fitting in rather well. I stormed out of her bedroom, making sure it was locked first.

Things aren't going my way lately.