DILIGITIS // King Alpha

Chapter 16

' Learn '

Catalina insisted on staying with me in the bathroom. Something that made me very uncomfortable. I could at least convince her to turn around when I got in, there were plenty of bubbles to keep my naked body hidden. 

She sat on a wooden stool beside the tub and inspected my arm yet again. The entire bathroom was made out of white and grey marble. It looked too fancy, like I wasn't allowed to be in here. 

I recognised the smell of the ointment. A woman in my old pack used to make them too and put them over my wounds if I had fallen. They caused them to close quicker, so the werewolves did not get annoyed by the scent of blood as I walked by. I trusted Catalina more now. No human would ever share the recipe with a werewolf.

Though I was still fuming by just the thought of him, I had to give it to Aris. He knew which one of his servants I would start liking. Catalina had an old rebellious name, she knew of the strange human medicines and most of all: she reminded me of myself. 

"How long have you been here?" I asked her. She had gotten a piece of cloth and slowly started dabbing away on the bruises. 

"A few years." She answered. 

"Have you always worked for the wolves?" I asked. I could see her tense up by my question. I could imagine how terrifying this must be for her, though I could not think of a way to rephrase anything. "I was with a pack long ago," I told her, trying to set her at ease by sharing information about myself. "Eventually a few things happened and I was forced to leave. Then I joined a group of other humans, and then I had to leave them too, for Aris."

"Your grace," She said, having finished up spreading the lavender coloured ointment on one of my arms and moving to the next. I could tell she was struggling to say something, she kept on glancing at the door like someone would come bursting through it at any time. 

"It's okay," I told her, my voice not louder than a whisper. "I know how you feel, I used to have to serve them as well. Don't say anything that could cause harm to befall on yourself."

Catalina was young, she was still trusting of people. She had kindness in her heart, and that kindness caused her to lean closer to me and whisper. "You have fallen into a snakes nest. The king, he kills and harms werewolf and man alike for disobeying his commands. My queen, if you want to survive, you need to learn."

I looked back into her emerald green eyes. There was something about them, maybe it was the number of people I had lost in the woods not too long ago or the fact that she seemed so genuine. I leaned back in the tub.

"Teach me."