The Imprisoned Princess

Adelaide

I awake to feel the calmest I have in a long time. The most relaxing smell is cocooning me. I try to stretch but realise thick strong arms are holding me tight. Then I notice my back is against a warm hard chest. “How you feeling?” a deep comforting voice washes over me sending chills down my arms. “What happened?”

“You fainted, then you had some bad nightmares. Do you remember them?” I shake my head, but I do... I remember every one. I know who’s behind me. And as I accept the fact another wash of calm envelopes me. It feels nice to not fight it. My wolf purrs in contentment at being where she wants to be. “Darling, you were talking in your sleep. Do you remember anything from your nightmare?”

I untangle myself from Wade’s grasp sitting on the edge of the bed. A small amount of fear sets in my stomach. I began to remember certain things a few weeks ago. I couldn’t admit what had happened, Father would be so angry. I can’t get his face out of my head, that scar. I shiver and Wade appears in front of me and knelt down. He wraps my hands in his giant ones, the contact releasing some of the fear. “You can tell me, it’s not your fault what happened.” I shake my head, I can’t admit it. If I say the words it makes it true “I can’t”.

Wade looks gently up to me “OK, I’m here when you’re ready.” I look away from his gaze, I don’t want to look at him. He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear.

“Come on, your father and brother were worried.” I nod, unsure why they were worried. I suppose I did faint. I feel strange how much I enjoyed waking up to Wade hugging me, I’m still not sure he’s the best for me. But he makes me feel... Serene.

We find my family in the private sitting room. “Adelaide, you’re awake,” Marc rises and envelopes my head in a hug.

“I’m fine,” I smile up to him struggling out of his bear hug.

He chuckles “Don’t you faint again! Or I may have to rip his head off.” He nods over to Wade, I look between the pair who are both childishly giving each other evils. Although there was no childishness of the dislike they clearly had for one another.

I shake my head at the pair and look to the sofa, Christopher, sat in Trey’s lap. I beam over to them “Trey! You’re OK.” He laughs.

“Course I am, buddy can I go hug your sister?” Christopher nods and climbs off his lap. Trey stands and he hugs me around my waist. I wrap my arms around his neck and he fiddles with the ends of my hair. A growl reverberates behind me, but ignore it “Marginally thought he’d killed you,” I mutter

“Nah, I’m made of tough stuff. Although... he might if I don’t let go.” He releases me quickly, but a smile set firmly on his face.

I chew my lip, feeling guilty, it’s obvious the pair have spoken, and I can only guess what’s been said. I have to accept Trey isn’t mine to have, he has a mate out there somewhere, and I can’t take that feeling from him. A forced mate is never as good as a true mate. We all know that. “I’m sorry,” I mutter sheepishly to Trey.

“No hard feelings Dely. Friends?” he asks a little lamely. I smile but nod.

“Course”.

“Ela, I found my nice man.” Christopher wraps his arms around Trey’s middle. His clothes almost fit him again now. He had been asking for ‘my nice man’ since we got back home. I had a suspicion it was Trey but I couldn’t be sure. “I’m glad Chris, but you know you don’t need him. You’re safe.”

“So are you,” he says innocently, I smile sadly to him. I’m not, I never will be.

“I need to go train,” I smile at mother and father and turn to leave.

“No, you don’t.” I look back at Father, and fixed my face with my most stubborn expression.

“Well, it’s what I’m doing.” I turn around again but my arm is gripped tightly spinning me round to look at him. “You don’t need to train, you haven’t stopped training in three weeks, you’ve been out there sixteen hours a day. You can take an afternoon off.”

“Daddy, let go,” giving my best Veruca Salts impression, staring daggers into his golden eyes

“No, you need to sit,” he demands, I growl, and so does my wolf.

She pushes her strength into me and I’m able to rip my arm from his grasp. I sprint to my room to change and then sprint from my room. I growl in frustration when Marc and Father stand in my way “I’m going to train, excuse me,” I try to say it politely but it still comes out forceful. They both shake their heads. I can feel the anger bubbling away. I prefer it to the fear and pain, at least with the anger I feel powerful.

“My child, you need to allow your body to heal. You need to allow your mind to heal. Ignoring your pain is going to make it worse.” I start shaking my head, I don’t want to talk about this.

“My body needs to be strong, I need to be able to fight everybody. I’m weak.” Angry tears begin to glide silently down my cheeks “I don’t want to be weak, I couldn’t protect him. I need to be able to protect everybody.” My fists are clenched but my voice quivers.

Father gently wipes my cheek with the pad of his thumb “You couldn’t have stopped it, it’s not about how strong you are. You’re the strongest person I know.” I shake my head not believing him. “I should have been able to stop it. I should have stopped it. I should have fought harder. I should have fought all of them harder.” He pulls me into an embrace. My tears soaking his shirt.

“No my child, you fought valiantly, you were so brave. I didn’t have enough protection for you. The fault is mine. It’s my job to keep you safe.” I shake my head roughly against his shirt.

“Isn’t it the bad man’s fault?” Christopher’s innocent voice pipes up next to us, he grips my fist, uncurling my fingers so he can slip his small hand into mine.