The Broken Wolf
Chapter 147

“Hey, Molls,” Oliver says as Michael opens the door for him.

“Princess Molly,” he corrects him gruffly and I can’t help but laugh at the face Oliver makes at that.

Oli shakes his head at him. “No, I won’t be doing that.”

“Michael, this is my best friend, Oliver. This is my home pack” I tell him with a smile, hoping to thaw his icyness. He has been stone faced all afternoon, not cracking a smile even once. The only thing he has said at all has been correcting people for not using our titles.

“No,” he responds and looks at both of us, stopping at Oli. “You will show the princess the respect she deserves.”

Oli c***s an eyebrow at me and I just shrug. “What did you bring me?” I ask, walking over and taking the tray from him. Only for a second, though, as Michael quickly takes it from me. I note that there are two plates and I smile at Oliver and how thoughtful he can be.

“Beef wellington, potatoes, broccoli,” he says looking at me. “I didn’t bring you dessert because you made a whole a*s pie earlier but if you want something, I can bring it up.”

“It’s perfect, thank you!” I tell him with a smile. “Can I come help with breakfast tomorrow morning? I’m bored.”

“You may not,” Michael states, taking a bite out of my food.

I shake my head at him. “Seth said I can’t eat in the dining room, but he didn’t say I couldn’t be in the kitchen. I’ll be fine.”

He looks like his eyes may pop out of his face, but he doesn’t argue.

“I’d love that,” Oliver tells me, a huge smile on his face. “5? Or is that too early with the pups?”

“I’ll be fine,” I say, giving him a hug. I can see Michael’s entire body stiffen at seeing us hug, but I ignore him. “I’ll see you then.”

He leaves us, closing the door behind him. Before I can even turn around, I hear him in my head he’s cute!

I smile, turning to the grumpy man and sitting down at the table. He steps back, taking his intimidating stance with his arms behind his back once again and stares at me. “What are you doing?” I ask, unhappy with how this is going

“I’m guarding you, Your Majesty,” he says simply.

I shake my head. “No,” I tell him, frowning. “This won’t do. He brought you dinner, too. And we’re locked in my home where it’s safe. There’s no need for these formalities. Sit down and eat.”

“I can’t do that, ma’am,” he says, his face not changing one bit.

I stare back at him for a moment, trying to understand what is happening. “Did Seth order you not to eat?”

“Prince Seth,” he corrects me, casually before continuing. “He did not. But it is my job to guard you, not eat.”

I blink at him, not even sure where to begin. “He’s my mate, not my Prince. I will not refer to him as such unless I’m in public,” I tell him, annoyed he’d correct me. “I can give you a royal order to sit down and eat, or you can just do so. This isn’t OK, though. You also have to eat, and I’m not in any kind of danger here.”

He doesn’t say anything, but he does slowly move to sit across from me at the plate that was brought for him. He starts to eat, his eyes barely ever leaving me, but at least he is eating.

“So, Michael, are you the new head of my guard or are you just babysitting me for now?” I ask him, hoping he’ll talk to me.

“It is not babysitting, Your Highness,” he says, looking offended. “It is an honor to guard you. I will be one of your guards but the head has not yet been selected. Prince Seth will do that soon.”

“Really?” I ask him, surprised. “I guess I just assumed Gus would.”

“Gus will give his opinion, no doubt,” he tells me, taking a sip of water. “Prince Seth will not let anyone else have a final say about your security, though. Even Gus. He takes it very seriously.”

I can’t help but chuckle at that. “Oh, I’m well aware.”

He doesn’t seem to enjoy talking to me, but knowing that he’s trying to make a good impression for a job, I don’t push him. I notice his eyes glass over and his entire body goes stiff. He looks up at me and stands quickly.

“I’m sorry, Princess,” he says, taking the fork from my hand and placing it on the plate, lifting it. “I must get you into the safe room.”

“Again?” I ask surprised and he nods. “Alright, just let me put my shoes back on.” He heads straight to the door and is waiting for me as I stand.

After putting my shoes on, I run to the bedroom and grab my pillow for this time and meet him at the door. I’m surprised to find two other men waiting there for me. I somehow end up between them all as I’m escorted quickly downstairs and back into the room. Michael joins me and the blonde guard as they close the door and lock it, leaving the other man standing outside.

Michael sets the plate down on a table for me and stands against a wall, leaving the blonde man by the inside of the door. “So,” I say, looking over at the new man. “What’s your name?”

“Toby, Your Highness,” he says with a small nod.

“And you’re to be in my guard as well?”

He doesn’t say a word, and just nods slowly. I sit down and finish eating my dinner, realizing that I didn’t grab my pie and pouting about it.

“I’m guessing neither of you will tell me what’s going on… “ I say and neither of them say a word, making me frown.

Do you know why I’m back in the safe room?

No clue. They’ve not sent any of us elsewhere. Rob isn’t in the dining hall, though. Oliver tells me, making me worry. Something must have happened with Lily.

I grab the book I had been reading earlier and lay down on the couch, trying to get comfortable. I place my hand on my stomach and feel a tiny, little thump, causing me to stop and smile. I can never tell Seth that I felt it first, but I smile at the thought of him returning home and feeling our babies.

I’m not sure how long we’ve been locked in here, but it feels like it’s been hours. I wiggle around, feeling uncomfortable from the old couch when, suddenly, I feel a sharp pain in my side. It lasts just a second, and then it’s gone. It’s odd. It feels like I should be in pain, but the pain is gone and I sit up, feeling my side.

Michael steps forward, a clear look of concern on his face. “Are you alright, Princess?”

“I think so,” I tell him when I suddenly feel the same type of sensation in my left leg, causing me to wince.

“Princess?” he asks, kneeling down in front of me. “Do you need anything?”

I shake my head at him, realizing that while I am fine, it is my mate who is not. “I’m locked in here because someone has attacked Seth, haven’t they.”

He looks shocked and looks over at Toby. “We know about your bond. I assume you believe the Prince to be hurt?”

I nod, chewing my l*p. “He is.” There’s a pain in my back, and then my side again, and again. I lay down and curl up into a ball, taking deep breaths and hoping that Seth is alright as the pains continue.

Michael doesn’t move, still kneeling before me, worry etched across his face. His eyes glass over for a moment, but he never tells me anything. The pains seem to have stopped but I didn’t move, feeling scared for my mate. A few tears escape my eyes as I reach down for the blanket.

Michael notices and pulls it over me, nodding to me in a way that I know he’s asking if I’m alright. I just return his nod, pulling the blanket next to my face and close my crying eyes.

I’m awakened by Michael gently shaking my shoulder. “Princess, the Prince would like to speak with you,” he tells me, offering his phone to me.

“Seth,” I say into the phone, reaching up to rub my eyes.

“Hey, Love,” he says and he sounds terrible.

My heart squeezes at the sound of his voice. I can’t recall a time when he’s sounded this vulnerable before. “Are you alright?”

“My wolf is healing me, I’ll be fine. I’m sorry that you felt it. Are the pups alright?” he asks and I realize then that Michael must have linked him, or someone near him, to tell him the situation.

“I’m fine,” I whisper. “They’re both wiggling around, happy as can be.”

“Good,” he tells me with the hint of a smile in his voice. “Molly, I’ve f****d up so much. I’m afraid I made the situation even more unsafe for the pups.”

“What happened?” I ask again, sitting up and pulling my legs to my chest.

“Oh, Molly,” he says, and he sounds absolutely distraught again. “I should have listened to you. I gave the she-wolf they caputured the wolfsbane like you said not to. Molly, she was my uncle’s mate.”