Warrior Princess
Chapter 12

Samanthas POV

I know me and Kasen need to talk things though. I need to talk things through with a lot of people. I am still mad at my family, but if I’m being honest with myself 2 years is a long time to hold resentment. I am so tired of being mad, so tired of hurting. I just want a fresh start. Akira yips in agreement with me.

“I’m not going to make it easy for them though. Kasen or my family what do you think girly?” I ask her. I can feel her giddiness at the thought of making them work for our love, forgiveness, and attention.

As I’m lost in my thoughts there’s a knock on the door and Kasen gives a soft come in. My parents come in first and I see Jake loitering near the doorway. My parents come up to my bedside and look at me asking for permission. I nod my head and my mom sits on the edge of the bed and my dad places his hand on her shoulder.

“We’ve missed you, baby girl.” My mom starts, but she gets too choked up on her tears and emotions. Dad takes the reigns for a bit to give mom time to calm down.

“There is something you must know, Samantha. You are loved. I know about the bullying, and what your brother said, though I’m leaving that part to him. I know about everything you have been going though. But you are so loved, so valued, so worthy of everything this world has to give and more. I love you; your mother loves you; Alpha Aaron loves you. He’s here too! I just wish you would have some to me or your mom sooner about this. You were always so happy and cheerful. We were ignorant and oblivious to any of your problems, but you have to realize we can’t fix a problem we don’t know about. If we don’t know it’s there. I know it’s going to take time to build trust, but me and you mother have loved you since the moment we found out we were going to have you. Heck, I think I was more excited than her at times. We have loved you, we still love you, and we will ALWAYS, ALWAYS love you. We are proud of you, and I for one am proud to say that you are my daughter. Heck replaceing out that all our training I put you through has turned out to be a blessing just these past few days.”

I don’t even know what to say. He’s exactly right. I never told my parents about everything I went through I just assumed they’d know. I guess I am partially to blame for some of my misfortune.

My mom grabs my hand and cups it between hers, while my dad cradles me to his chest and k****s my forehead. I can feel his tears hitting my forehead. I can feel it, Akira can feel it too. They are being honest, they are remorseful, they are exuding love from every cell in their bodies. It’s almost overwhelming.

“I’m sorry for leaving without talking to you. I’m sorry for not taking your calls. I know things won’t get better overnight but I am willing to try.” It is exhausting harboring all of these feelings especially for 2 years.

After chatting with mom and dad for the better half of 30 minutes they leave the room. Now it is just me, Kasen, and Jake here. You can cut the tension with a knife. He looks so timid which is unlike him. He usually oozes confidence and pride.

“Hey, Sammie.” He says while looking down. I can see he is nervous to talk while Kasen is here. I don’t want him to leave, but I know I need to talk to my twin. I look at him and signal my head to the door.

“Are you sure?” I nod and he surprises me by leaning down and kissing my temple. The action isn’t missed by Jake either, but he doesn’t say anything. After my mate has left the room you can see Jakes body relax ever so slightly.

“So you and the king, huh?” he says trying to crack a joke to ease the tension. I just shrug.

“I know saying sorry won’t really change anything, but I am. I never meant a word I said. I regret it, and if I’ve learned anything the past 2 years it’s that Regret is a form of punishment on its own. I was afraid of loosing my friends. I was afraid of what they would think of me. I know that sounds awful, but it is what it is. Another thing I’ve learned is that fear is temporary, and guilt and regret are forever. I got over my fears. Everyone knows where I stand now. I don’t hang out with those guys, heck I don’t really hang out with anyone but Carson, his mate and mom and dad. Other than that, I work eat, and sleep. I wish I could go back to the day you left. I wish I could go back and punch myself for even spitting out those words. I’ve been trying to become a better man and beta because of it. I know you believe that I don’t love you, that I am happy you left, that I was ashamed to call you my sister but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I was an i***t. A giant idiot.”

He is full on sobbing at this point. He sits in the chair next to the bed and holds his head in his hands. “It’s all my fault. If I had been stronger, or a better brother, you wouldn’t have left. If I had just stood up for you, things would be so different. None of what those stupid wolves said are true Samantha. You are beautiful, you are worthy, you are strong, you are the better twin that’s for sure.”

I struggle to get out of the bed. He needs me right now. I can feel all of his emotions and it’s too much for even me to handle.

I get about halfway out of the bed before he realized I’m trying to stand. “No, no, you need to lay down.” He helps me lay down, but I use that to my advantage and pull him in for a bone crushing hug.

His body grows rigid at first, but then he surrenders himself to me. I can feel his body shaking from his cried. We just sit like that and hold each other.

“I may not understand everything or why you did the things you did, but you are my brother, my twin. You are as much a part of me as I am of you. You are human, well wolf, but you get the point. You are allowed to make mistakes. You are allowed to fall apart and lose yourself sometimes. You’re allowed to act like an i***t sometimes. You are allowed to hurt and feel pain, you are allowed to feel happiness. Don’t be so hard on yourself. You grew and learned from your mistakes as have I. Heck, if I hadn’t of left, I wouldn’t have met my mate. I will never forget everything that happened.” He frowned and hung his head at that but nodded.

“But…I forgive you.” His sparkling green eyes lifted, and he smiled. “It will take some time for me to adjust to things, but I forgive you butthead.”

We embrace each other in a hug before he pulls away. “Wait you found your mate?” I just nod. I don’t know what else to say. I don’t know where me and Kasen stand, we still need to talk, but the truth is he is still my mate. For however long though is up to him. The ball is in his court.

“It’s the king, isn’t it? If you had found your mate, you wouldn’t be the type of would let any other male touch you or k**s you like that. Well except a brotherly hug or k**s from me.” I nod again.

“But if he’s your mate, why is he sending you home? I don’t get it. What’s going on with that?” I just shrug.

“I don’t know what’s going on with that. That’s the first affection he’s ever shown me. I plan on talking to him tonight, but he wanted me to see you all first. I don’t know if he has told anyone that were mates. He’s probably ashamed of me so please don’t say anything. I have a feeling that he doesn’t want me. If he did why would he want to just throw me away. But as far as I know no one knows about us. If he doesn’t want people to know or if he hasn’t told anyone, I don’t want to cause more problems for myself. I will handle it and figure it out but just promise me?”

He looks a bit angry about my words, but this is my mate and my life I will figure it out. One thing I learned in the past two years was how to be self-sufficient. I can fight my own battles, and I can solve my own problems.

I yawn and he sees how tired I am. Forgiving people is just as tiring, but it also may have something to do with me almost getting ripped to shreds by a bear.

Jake leaves and Kasen comes in a few minutes later. He looks closed off and deep in thought. He doesn’t say anything just sits with me for a few minutes.

“So, lovely weather out tonight.” I say to help get rid of the awkwardness only succeeding in making things more awkward.

He chuckles but doesn’t say anything. He takes my hand and rubs circles on my palm. His eyes glaze over indicating that he is linking someone and within 5 minutes a nurse is bringing in a tray of food. Right on cue my stomach roars louder than that bear did. Well, that’s just embarrassing.

I focus on eating my food, but I keep stealing glances at Kasen. He is still brooding and looking like he’s lost in thought. Do I have the right to ask what’s on his mind? Do I have the right to k**s his cheek to help ease his problems? Do I have the right to just throw myself on top of him and sniff his intoxicating and holy hell down girl! I do have to admit, he smells so good, and his looks are even better. I can imagine just licking chocolate sauce off his abs. Yum.

“Akira, stop it! Now is NOT the time.”

She chuckles but stops putting the thoughts and images in my head. “Can’t blame a wolf for trying.”

I roll my eyes internally at her. She has become queen of the horn dogs in the past 24 hours.

Kasens POV

I may have left the room, but I didn’t go very far. Is it rude to eavesdrop? Yes, yes, it is. Am I going to stop? No, no, I’m not. But after hearing Samantha question us, I didn’t know how to feel. Yes, I pushed her away. Yes, I still kind of want to, but only to protect her. Am I too selfish to push her away and to keep her all to myself? The answer again is yes. She thinks I am ashamed of her and that is the Furthest thing from the truth.

I know I need to talk to her. I know I need to tell her about why I am the way that I am. Why I am so guarded. None of this is her fault it’s mine. Hell, it’s Marcy and Duke’s fault too. But I will not play the blame game. I am an adult; I can man up to my mistakes. I know when I’ve messed up, and boy have I messed up.

Listening to her talk to her family makes me realize just how amazing my mate is. She is smart, king, forgiving, but also cautious and strong. She is worthy, she is not a mistake. I need to fix this, but I just don’t know where to start. I see her stealing glances at me every now and then. She feels the tension too then. I ordered her some dinner thinking she is probably hungry.

“Talk to her stupid.” Atlas growled at me.

“Who are you calling stupid? Last I checked, We are one in the same, so in your own words you’re stupid as well” I have a feeling if we were ever separated he would take a huge bite out of my a*s just for the hell of it.

“Oh, I would, and it would bring me great pleasure.”

Ugh, this wolf.

Samantha finished her dinner and we have just been sitting here watching the crappy hospital cable. She turned on a movie called Safe Haven. A Chick flick but id do whatever she wanted. I still haven’t done anything other than hold her hand, so it surprised me when she pulled me into the bed with her. She laid her head on my chest and it had Atlas purring like a damn kitten. I felt the pleasurable sparks shoot through me. This is nice. I could get used to this.

“Rest now, mate. We will talk later.” she tells me.

“Yes, we have a lot to discuss, Samantha. Just rest for now.” She sighs completely content. I feel her breathing even out and her body relax. She’s asleep. I k**s her head and rub my replaceers up and down her arm and her back. I see the goosebumps rise on her fair skin. I wonder what she’s dreaming about. Instead of thinking too much longer I shut my eyes and drifted off to sleep as well with my mate in my arms for now.