The Prince and The Rogue

11: Alone Time

|Samantha|

The following morning I forgot where I was when I woke up. A sudden surge of anxiety woke me up as I completely forgot. I couldn't remember if yesterday was all a dream or if I was still in the dark cell. My anxiety woke me right away and kick started my day. Yet, it wasn't. It was all real and so was this heavenly bedroom.

I stretch out my body hearing my bones crack and I get out of bed. What today held in store was a mystery to me, but one thing that I did know was that I was safe. I was safe from my old rogues and safe from the thunderstorm brewing outside.

I headed towards the closet and simply grabbed a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. I step outside of my room and already see Theo and Rosabella awake and talking in the hallway. When Rosabella sees me she smiles and walks by me.

"Good morning and good luck," she tells and hurries on her way.

Just knowing the young Princess for a few days she is rooting for us. She probably left so we could have some alone time.

"Where is she going in such a hurry," I ask.

"Class," he tells nonchalantly.

"And what do you have planned for today?"

"Work."

That sucks.

"You can join me if you'd like. I can show you my office and workspace. There are books in there if you'd like to read them."

"I'd like that."

"Wonderful," he says with a smile and offers his arm. In which I take and wrap mine around his.

He takes me down the hallway where we see Rosabella quickly disappear into a room. He holds open the door to his office and follows in behind me.

His office had large windows to the outside and bookcases lined that wall and the one next to it. A fireplace was placed behind his dark wooden desk. Two plush armchairs were placed before it and a table between them. In the middle of the room was a sitting area with a coffee table and some coffee table books. The room was a dark blue and the same dark wood for the floors. Above the fireplace was a portrait of him and Rosabella when she was just a baby. Other art lined the wall like their family crest and artful swords.

"Wow," I think out loud.

"Thanks. Decorated it myself," he responds in a teasing tone.

"How old were you two in that picture?"

"Oof," he laughs and rubs the back of his neck. "I was probably a few years old and Rose was just a few months old there."

I truly admired how much he admired his little sister. It was cute. He was so protective of her.

"You truly love her, don't you?"

"Well, duh she is my little sister. But yes I do love her and admire her for her strength. She has gone through so much in life and only keeps getting more thrown her way. She adapts well to situations. It's admirable, especially doing it all without her wolf."

"What happened to her?"

He shrugs. "We don't know. She can't feel her or contact her. She's like in a deep hibernation in her head."

"Kind of like mine."

He nods sadly. "Yes, like yours. Unlike yours though, as hers was never present to begin with. She's always been asleep."

"Do you think she'll return?"

"Hopefully. I have been in contact with a group of scientists and they believe once you are marked by me, she will return. They believe she was scared into hibernation when the palace was attacked and she was their target."

This makes complete sense as she left when I rejected him. It would only make sense for her to return once the bond is returned. By marking me we are recognizing we are mates and meant to be. I truly hope that theory works because until then I can't shift or even mind link. That is dangerous if I can't contact my mate or shift if I am in danger.

Stupid girl.

I am so stupid. If I just went with him and accepted the bond, who knows where we'd be today. We could be marked and mated by now or at least establishing a mate bond. His parents would probably like me and not frown upon what pain I have inflicted on their son. I know they do not like me and are only being nice since I am their son's mate, rejection or not. They do not want to go against their son's wishes of wanting to house me and keep me close.

Although they are not as bad as I have been told, they are still quite rude. Rosabella on the other hand is exactly what I have heard her to be, a big sweetheart and shy.

Theo rises from his desk noticing my facial expressions and takes a seat beside me on the love seat. His hand finds mine and he rubs it softly.

"What is wrong, Samantha," he asks, genuinely concerned.

"It's nothing," I brush it off.

"Now I know that is a lie. I've grown up with Rosabella and when a woman says it's nothing, it's something."

I grin. "Do your parents hate me?"

"Why would they? You have given them no reason to."

I raise a brow. "Seriously? I rejected you!"

"Just a bump in the road. Don't worry about it too much. Is there anything else wrong?"

I shake my head.

"If anything is wrong you know you can come to me. Okay?"

And yet I don't think I could, I wouldn't. My problems are just a burden that I need to carry and figure out on my own. Theo doesn't deserve to be pulled into my messy life. I wouldn't wish that upon anyone. I don't even feel like dealing with my problems, but I have to since I made them.

I nod. "Okay."

He stands up and leans down, placing a soft kiss on my forehead before going back to his desk and working on his mountain of work. I sat in shock. That boy did it with no hesitation, yet here I am still trying to process it.

~~~

Happy Thursday everyone! My first week of fall semester went pretty good. I am only doing one in person class and the rest are online. I chose to do ASL in person as it would probably be hard for online.

Hurricane Ida hit my area hard so that was fun and I had two days off as there was no way to get onto Campus. A lot of down trees.

I hope you a have a safe and wonderful weekend!

~Becca, The Queen of Beans