The beast and the blessed novel by Ashley Breanne

Twenty-Four: Killian

Killian's P.O.V.

Never in my life had I been terrified of a woman. I bowed to no one and demanded the respect I had earned.

But as my little sister's face turned red, and I watched as the vein in her neck started to hammer against her skin, I was positive that it was my last day on Earth She had always been a delicate- looking little princess until it was time for battle. Then the bloodshed seemed to fuel her soul, and she thrived in any fight.

She may have been shorter than me, younger than me, and could not shift into the Lycan state, but by the Goddess, she was terrifying when she wanted to be.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Killian?!” She yelled as she placed both palms on the table and leaned toward me. I had yet to take my seat, and after noticing the steak knife touching her pinky, I had no desire to join her at the dinner table.

“Contain yourself, little sister,” I warned as I felt my eyes burn the familiar red of my Lycan in warning of her disrespect.

"Oh, shove it, Killian. Don't you dare pull rank on me!” She shouted with a growl, and I tried not to flinch as she slammed her fist on the table. Oh, if Natalie or Joselin could see me now. They would be having the time of their lives. “I expected more from you!”

“I know what happened between dad and mom hurt you. They damaged me too. But you are not dad, and Natalie is not mom. You need to let go of their past and start looking toward your future.” My hand tightened around my fist as the memories surfaced, and I swallowed my bite of food harshly.

Their screaming would ruin every moment of family time we had. Meals were the worst because I couldn't just get up and leave whenever I wanted to. I remembered how excited I was when my nanny would come to get me for my lessons or a nap. I hated being in the same room as my parents. They had no shame in airing out their dirty laundry in front of Charlie and me. But to the rest of the kingdom, they were a united front, a force to be reckoned with.

My mother had been chosen as my father's mate. She had been the strongest of her pack and was selected to produce my father's heirs. She was a breeder. I had never seen a woman resent a man more in my life than my mother did my father. He gave her everything she could ever want and ever ask for, but it was never enough for her. She always wanted more, claiming to be a prisoner and demanding her freedom.

He tried so hard to make her happy and loved her with everything he had, but it wasn't good enough for her.

I had done as much as I could for Natalie. I filled her closet and dresser with the finest clothes and the most luxurious jewelry. She had the freedom to roam the castle and our lands as long as she had her guards with her if she left the walls. I had given her everything I could, but I would not make the same mistake my father did by giving her my heart.

A small part of my beast got angry at my denial. I knew deep down that she had already stolen a little. piece of me with the way she would look to me for approval when she did something she thought I would be proud of, how she fiddled with her fingers under the table while maintaining the composure and posture of a queen, the way she pulled my hand up and held it over her heart while she was sleeping in my arms...

The rest of my heart I had to protect with everything I had. Otherwise, what else would be left of me?

“I will be nothing like our father. When the time is right, I will mark Natalie and she will be crowned the queen. But I will not risk my people over a woman.” I watched as Charlie rolled her eyes.

"You're pushing away your soulmate because you're scared she will break your heart like mom broke dad's. I think you're forgetting that dad broke mom's heart too. They weren't supposed to be together, and they both knew it. You and Natalie are. You are meant for each other, hand-chosen by the Goddess to love and worship one another in this and every life before and after. You are the one hurting her.” Charlie

had a point, but it was hard to accept it when I had seen for myself the detrimental impact a woman could have on a man.

I cut another piece of my steak, staring intently at the meat as the metal sliced through it smoothly. Joselin had said roughly the same thing, but hearing it come from Charlie seemed to hit differently. She had been there with me through every low of my childhood. She had the same damage that I did from our parent's failures.

I had the option to be better than my father, but that didn't make it any less terrifying to open myself up to Natalie.

Perhaps I would test the waters first.