Forbidden |18+

XXX: Pivotal

XXX: Pivotal

It's odd, standing inside the main entryway to my parents' home. I used to live here, every moment, shut-in and away as much as possible for my safety and that of our society, more so, our bloodline.

I am no longer being punished for what I did, the full year not up.

How can Eli be so nonchalant about everything? It's as if nothing happened, like...

"Father, mother," Eli calls for them when we are inside, my heart suddenly beating extremely fast the moment they come down the stairs. Their eyes fall on me, their features reflecting the same worry and concern that Eli's did.

I don't understand.

None of this makes sense.

Mother is warm as she welcomes me, "We have missed you so much...I...my heart was broken when we couldn't find you. We don't know what happened." Her hands touch my shoulders, her eyes searching mine, "Oh, my dear...you look awful."

"That's not her fault," Eli adds in the next bit as he stands off to the side, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

Mother catches it as well, yet father is the one to hiss, "Werewolves..." mother is nearly thrown out of the way, though she does appear to step willingly also closer to Eli while father lowers himself to my eye level.

He looks me over, my heart skipping a beat as he questions, "What happened?"

"Can't you tell?" Eli shakes his head, rubbing his forehead, "They captured her...but—"

"No, they did not," my voice comes out strong once again. It's within me, the real me that's been cultivating with the right love and guidance under the Ancient Pride Pack...and my beloved.

Ulric...

Father is staring at me when I say this, arching a brow as he questions, "What are you talking about?" He looks at me hard, slowly lifting to stand to his full height before circling me, "Your blood was discovered at a gruesome scene at Paramount Conservatory. The details were kept from us, however, the royal family let us know there was a chance you could be alive."

"I am only alive because a werewolf saved my life," I tell him, his eyes locking with mine as I stare up at him.

Father halts in front of me, tilting his head to the side before asking, "What?"

"I—"

"We should just be thankful that she's alive," mother cuts me off, looking to father and nodding, "with everything else going on, we shouldn't worry. The royal family will be dealing with this incident. Wren has other things she needs to focus her attention on and forgetting this harrowing experience is probably best."

Father is silent for a moment, though he continues to look at me hard. I'm not sure what he's thinking, though I feel it in my heart that it is far from over with being questioned.

Instead, he clears his throat, his features shifting when he nods, "Prince Rune has declared you as his beloved. Apparently, after taking some time to overview that night of the Dance of the Lilies, he realized that having a beloved with the tenacity that you showed, is stronger than conforming to society."

Huh?

"You showed strength as a ruler should, and therefore, he selected you," mother smiles gently, everyone forgetting why I did what I did...and how they all treated me for it!

"Let me get this straight...you all looked down upon me for the way I escaped from being raped..." my voice trails off as I narrow my eyes at each of them, "...yet when Prince Rune declares that it's fine, then and only then you are okay with it?! Are you serious? You've all lost your fucking minds!"