Warrior Princess
Chapter 13

Samanthas POV

I woke up and looked at the clock it was 4:30AM. I could feel light breathing on my neck and Akira Purring groggily.

“Traitor.” I mutter.

“You know you like him too don’t even lie to me.” she snaps.

We both aren’t the happiest morning creatures. I try to peel out of his hold as slowly as possible to not wake him. I feel like a light switch flipped for him. What happened to the cold, arrogant, icy bastard? What happened to the ‘I don’t want a mate, you’re not my mate, blah blah blah?’ I’m not saying I don’t like it, but we seem to have skipped some vital parts here.

After using the bathroom and washing up I go back in the room to replace him sprawled out over the entire bed snoring softly. He looks a good 5 years younger when he’s asleep and not constantly scowling.

“You should lick him.” I think we have all discovered my wolf is secretly a freak.

“Well, what does that say about you? We are one in the same.” Ugh, this wolf.

While I’m mid internal battle his eyes flutter open. He looks at the clock and sees how early he has woken up. Flopping back on the pillow he grunts. “Morning.” his voice is husky and gruff and I’m replaceing myself loving it all the more.

“Hi.” I twiddle with my thumbs unsure of what to do. I am a warrior, I am strong, confident, and a badass but put me in front of my mate to have some serious discussions and I tuck my tail and hide in the corner like a little b***h.

Him sensing my internal struggle scoots over and pats the bed. “I owe you an explanation and a heart to heart don’t I?” I just nod in response as I climb into bed.

A few minutes go by and I start to get worried that he won’t open up as promised. “If you’re not ready, we don’t have…” I start, but he cuts in.

“My issues started right around the same time as yours did. 2 years ago, a part of me broke and I was sure that I wouldn’t be able to get it back.” How ironic.

“Im sure Josh has explained that I live here at the palace and my parents and my sister occupy the same floor as well in their own apartments?” I nod. He runs his hands through his hair. He seems torn. I place my hand on his thigh and take my other hand and force him to look at me. Using the mate bond to calm him and open up to me may be cheating but if it works who cares.

And it does work, he closes his eyes and breathes deeply a few times. Slowly opening them I look into those icy blue orbs. Im close enough to see they have grey and gold flakes in them and a dark blue ring around his iris. Truly beautiful.

“I was in love before, or I thought I was.” I feel my heart drop and I remove my hands from him. There’s someone else. Of course, he wouldn’t want me, there’s someone better.

He sighs. “key word there was. I haven’t opened up much about this to anyone. You’re the first person I have told in 2 years besides my Beta and Gamma and they only know because they were there. Josh wasn’t always my Beta. He used to be my Gamma. My beta used to be my younger brother.”

He has a brother? I never knew.

“What happened?” I decide to ask seeing where this is going.

“It’s easier if I just show you.” he places both hands on my head one on each side and places his forehead on mine. “close your eyes and focus on me. Stay calm. I have you.”

Doing as instructed I feel myself relaxing. I feel tingles and then I feel myself being pulled somewhere. After a bright flash of light, I can see we are in Kasen’s room. Kasen is next to me holding onto my hand tightly as if seeking comfort and support when suddenly the front door is opened and Kasen walks in. what?

“I brought you to my memories. No one can see us or hear us. But this is the best way I can think of to show you why I am the way I am. Why I am closed off from everyone. Why I hardly smile. Why I wanted so badly to push you away. Just don’t judge me and don’t ask questions. Save them for after ‘the show’.” he says using his fingers to quote.

Memory Kasen stiffens and lifts his nose in the air and his posture is ridged. I see him looking around in the kitchen, living area, bathroom. Obviously not replaceing what he’s looking for he goes to what I’m guessing is the bedroom. I follow him with the real Kasen dragging his feet behind me.

What’s behind this door must be very painful for the King of Werewolves to not want to see. The door is opened, and he doesn’t move, doesn’t say anything but his facial features twist to that of shock, anger, and betrayal. I hear a squeal and him saying to continue and not mind him watching. I step through the door and replace a woman in his bed naked with what looks to be a younger version of Kasen, except his eyes are brown.

“Is that your brother?” I ask timidly? He just nods and his jaw twitches.

I take a look at the scene playing in front of me. The woman must be his old lover that he spoke about. She is beautiful. Tall, tanned skin unlike mine, long blonde hair, blue eyes, she looks flawless. No wonder he fell for her. But he was betrayed by the woman he loved and his own brother. I hear them arguing and then I hear the words “Pregnant” oh my goddess.

“You have a pup Kasen?” he turns red with anger and after that I knew. How could I not? His brother knocked up his lover.

“You’ve been sleeping with my brother for 4 months?” I hear in the background. Well geez that didn’t take long. I hear bones cracking and see he’s shifted into his magnificent looking wolf. I do need to meet atlas as well. Akira perks up at this even though she’s been focused on these memories as well. Growling harshly at those who have hurt her mate.

The room suddenly fills with 2 other people. Both of them looking exactly like the brothers except the woman has Blue eyes and the Man has the deepest chocolate brown. They both have soft lines of aging, but they are gorgeous people. I recognize them as the previous reigning king and queen. Kasen’s dad separates the two while Their mom slaps the naked woman.

After twenty minutes of arguing and slaps and shock I see Kasen’s wolf walk over to his shredded clothes and pulled out a velvet box. A Pretty little box that every girl dreams of. Akira his fuming that he was going to marry another that wasn’t his mate, but I feel pity for him. His face is full of anguish.

Suddenly I’m being jolted, and I am back in the hospital room. His hands have remained on my face and he has unshed tears in his eyes. I can feel them in mine as well.

“My brother, my beta at the time, slept with my then girlfriend. I was going to propose to her that very night. She had the pup her name is rose. I still haven’t met her. I can’t bring myself to. I cut off all contact with them both and kicked them off and forbade them from stepping foot in the castle again. You have to understand it had been a year since my first s**t and I still hadn’t found you. I was beginning to think I wouldn’t ever replace my mate. I was so lost and alone and then Marcy showed up and helped put me back together in a sense. I wish I would have waited. I wish I would have just held on a little bit longer. We were together for a year after I found her and for the last 4 months she was sleeping with my brother and we also found out there was three other people involved, but that’s not the point. My trust was broken not only by someone I thought I loved but someone I should have been able to count on. Not only my Beta but my brother. We were so close, did everything together. People often said we acted like twins. I felt so betrayed and if I couldn’t even trust my own family who could I trust? I became closed off, I started messing around to get out my frustrations, I was never the same after that. I pushed you away because I know I am broken inside. I didn’t want to hurt you. I still don’t want to hurt you. I can’t give you the old me. That Kasen is gone. I don’t know if I will be able to be the mate you deserve. I wasn’t trying to break you or hurt you. I simply wanted to protect you from myself. I have always wanted my mate and I always will, but if it comes down to your heart being safe and being with me, I will always, ALWAYS choose to save you instead. But having you around me, the bond between us growing, it is making me selfish. I don’t want to be, but I want you with me. I am a broken man…”

He trails off, and I can feel the tears falling down my face. The dam broke a long time ago. He takes his thumbs and wipes them away only for them to return shortly after. He wasn’t trying to be mean. He was just hurting.

“Be honest with me. Did you push me away for fear of getting hurt again? Did you push me away thinking that I would do to you what Marcy did? Did you think that I could hurt you further than you ever were?” he sheepishly nods.

“You’re my mate. If I let you in it would be 100% you would have all of the control. Which means you could easily shatter me the rest of the way. I was scared. Hell, I still am scared, but I don’t want to hurt anymore.”

I can’t even fathom it. “Ever since I was a little girl, I have dreamt of replaceing my mate. My parents were my inspiration. Their bond is so strong, and they always act like puppies in love. After 30 years of being mates, they still love each other. Every birthday when I blew out the candles on my cake, I would always wish for 2 things. One was being the best warrior known to werewolf kind, the second was to replace my mate and live a fairytale romance forever. Cliché I know, but that’s what I wished for. I have dreamed of replaceing my mate. Don’t for once second think that I would risk losing you or hurting you. If you hurt, I hurt. If you are happy, I am happy. That’s how mates work. Like twins, I would be able to feel your emotions, feel your pain. For one, I wouldn’t subject myself to pain. It may be selfish, but I genuinely don’t like pain. I know my past few days here don’t account for much considering I seem to be living in this hospital, but you get the point.”

He smiles. A genuine smile. The first one I’ve ever seen and I know it’s real because his whole face is lit up like a Christmas tree.

“It may take time, but I am willing to put all of this behind me. Start over. As long as that is what you want, Kasen.” He doesn’t even respond he just pulls me in for a hug and I tuck my head under his chin. Taking in his scent puts me in a state of euphoria. He rubs circles on my lower back, and I can feel him taking in my scent.

“Kasen?” I pull back to look at him.

“Hm?” god, that gravelly voice sense shivers down my spine.

I lay my head back against his strong chest and ask. “Can I meet Atlas? I will let you meet my wolf Akira?” when he doesn’t respond, I look up and see his eyes are black instead of their normal blue.

“Hello, little mate.” the voice sounds like a mixture of Kasen’s and a deeper Baritone. If I thought his sleepy voice was sexy, Atlas’s is just as good.

“Atlas.” I say breathlessly. He cups my ace and k****s the tip of my nose.

“You are just as beautiful as I have seen before. You scared me back there little one. Taking on a bear by yourself? Although I will say watching you fight gave me quite a good amount of pleasure.” The way he says that sends a jolt of heat to my core. Oh, momma! I am sure my cheeks look like a lobster. I can feel the heat radiating off of my blush.

“Is what Kasen said true? Does he really want me?” he shakes his head and I freeze. Did he lie?

“No, it’s not true. He doesn’t just want you. He needs you; he craves you; he knows hardly anything about you but is falling for you as we speak. We both want you, we BOTH want you Samantha. You and Akira. Although I will say I was never afraid to want you from the start. Does that get me brownie points?”

I slap his chest playfully. I see Kasen has his hands full with him. I see him roll his eyes. My guess having a stern conversation with Kasen about his comment. He blinks a few times and those icy blue eyes that mesmerize me are back.

“That damned wolf.” I chuckle but lay my head on his chest, and I feel his posture relax.

“Want to play 20 questions?” he says sure as long as I go first. Such a gentleman. “What made you want to be a warrior?” I think about it.

“There are so many things to be honest. I think watching my dad while I was growing up and having a brother helped. But I think I just got tired of people telling me I couldn’t do it, so I wanted to prove to them I could. So, I did.” He processes my answer and nods in satisfaction.

We ask so many questions just to get to know each other. I found out his sister’s name is Gemma, his favorite color is Green, and his favorite thing to eat is Fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy. Boy, he is in for a treat when he replaces out I know how to cook! I found out he likes All genres of music like me. I’ve learned he hates violence but will use it if necessary. We have so much in common but are so different at the same time. I see good things to come and I am excited to see where it goes.

Kasens POV

I’ve never walked someone through my memories but I figured this was the easiest and best way to show her the truth. She stayed true to her word. Didn’t pass any judgements, and didn’t look at me with pity, she looked at me like a normal person which was refreshing.

Laying here playing 20 questions with her is something I never did with Marcy. We never had the type of relationship that we could just be in each other’s presence and not do anything but enjoy the company of each other. I found out her favorite color is Mint Green, she likes all food except fish, she likes all music except rap but tolerates it. She loves to sing and dance even though she says she is horrible at both.