When Worlds Collide

Fifteen

I apologise for the long hiatus! I just could not find time nor energy to write! If you're still with me, I thank you! Nice long chapter with some spice at the end. Enjoy!

-H xx

The journey to Oakwood was mostly silent save for the rhymical clopping of the horses' hooves, the birds singing in the trees and occasional guffaw from a warrior behind us. It was a beautiful day, the gentle spring breeze flowing through the few escaped hairs from my braids. We kept pace as a leisurely walk, for which I was quite thankful for as keeping up a steady trot proved too tiresome for my legs. I was not used to the consistent muscle use, not when I spent most of my days stood still in front of an oven, or using my hands and arms to bake. Bella seemed to prefer this method of travelling too, her ears pricked forward with each new sound and she felt relaxed and calm beneath me. 

The few times I sought a glance at Callan he was staring blankly ahead with his posture iron straight as though he did not feel he could relax. His shoulders were tense, his hands clasped tightly in the reins and I noted how his horse danced beneath him, the muscles coiled as though he was ready to spring. I knew that animals could feel our emotions, and Donte was surely telling me that something was on Callan's mind. 

I frowned to myself, the good nature in me immediately wanting to ask if he was okay, but I reminded myself that he was a Lycan and a King no less. I was sure he did not want a lowly human to pry into his matters. I had to remind myself that I did not care, not really. After all, if I allowed myself to care about him, then it would make attempting to leave much harder. No matter how kind he had been, I knew that Lycans' were smart creatures, and ultimately had an ulterior motive. Pursing my lips together, I could not quite piece together what Callan's motive was. What exactly did the King of Inhatia want with an innocent village girl? If he had wanted to act out any sordid and unnatural pleasures, then surely he would have by now? I wished I had paid more attention in school about Lycans and their mating practices. Callan may have called me his mate, but I did not truly understand what that meant.

 I sighed, blowing a tuft of hair away from my face as it had begun to tickle my nose. At this noise, Callan turned and furrowed his eyebrows down at me.

"Are you alright? Do you wish to stop?"

I looked up at him, surprised to have heard him speak, "Oh your majesty no," I rushed, "I was just thinking." 

"How many times must I tell you?" 

I bowed my head, "I'm sorry, Callan," I corrected myself. "You must know, it does feel awfully strange and it goes against so much of what I have been taught. You are my King, I feel that I simply must address you as such." 

"I may be your King, but you will soon be my Queen and you will be beside me rather than beneath. You must learn to use my name as it will set you aside from the other nobles and members of my pack. If they hear you use my name, with my permission, you will automatically gain their respect, for they will know that you are my equal." 

"Callan..." I paused, wondering if I should even reply with the thoughts that had been plaguing my mind.

"Yes?" 

"I do not know how to be Queen, I do not even know how to be a noble," I confessed, my cheeks warming pink with my embarrassment. 

Callan laughed and I immediately felt unsettled, looking down at Bella's mane to avoid seeing him laugh at me. He stopped suddenly, "Hey, I'm sorry, I'm not laughing at you," He said gently, "Of course you're not ready yet, but I have people who will teach you all you need to know. Besides, I trust in my Goddess and she would have not have given me someone who is not capable of ruling beside me. I have every faith in her and so I have every faith in you."