Stepping out of the seven foot long shower. I slowly dry myself off with the softest towels I've ever used.

My mind couldn't stop thinking on Jason's words. I can't see him lying about the Princes past. Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I stare at myself in the slightly fogy mirror.

Forest green eyes stare back at me. A slight spark could be seen in the top right hand corner of my eyes. They do that when I'm happy. Turning to the side I look at my not so slim body. Curves graced my alright figure. Nik and Theo drilled into my head the beauty of curves. How certain men love them.

Would the Prince love them?

Groaning I palm my face. Stupid Claudia, now isn't the time to think on that. Now is the time to think on how you are still rurally pissed at him for sleeping around and why the heck did you kiss him? He probably believes you've forgiven him.

I won't let him get off that easily. He will work for my trust and love. Not that he has to work hard for my love. He's had it for years now. I won't be telling him that anytime soon though.

Walking to the door after dressing and brushing my hair, I slowly open it. Peeking out I spot the Prince standing in front of the open French doors. A slight breeze touched my skin, making tiny goose bumps pop up.

"What he said was true you know. Jason isn't the type of guy to sugar coat it," he states. His hands clasped behind his ramrod straight back.

"You were listening?" How could I have missed him being awake? He didn't move one bit while I was lying next to him.

"Of course. My body instantly woke me up moments after you started to speak with Jason. Hearing you express your feelings for me-" Running his fingers through his hair, he takes a deep breath.

Standing behind him, I can't help but admire his strong shoulders and back. What would it look like without clothes on?

"- it warmed my heart. All these years I've feared you hated me. Now I know even with my screw-ups you care for me. Love me even." Turning around his sky blue eyes sear into mine. "I don't know where to start with you Claudia. Every time I go to speak I end up causing a fight between us."

"Well how about you ask what my hobbies are, or what I love to eat? Start off with small questions," I say while sitting down on the edge of the bed. Braiding my long black hair I watching him pace towards me leisurely. Him hearing me say, I love him shot that whole make him wait out the window.

"How about I show you?" Smiling he reaches his hand out towards mine.

Should I take it? I'm still angry at him.

"Take it. We need to build a bridge before we can cross it," Annabelle expresses softly in my head. "Plus I want his hands touching a part of your body."

"Stop being so horny will you? I have enough on my mind, without you nagging me to push him against the wall and dry hump him." Rolling my eyes, I do as she says, I slowly place my hand in his.

Silently sucking in a shallow breath, I let the sudden pleasure of his fingers wrapped around mine course through me.

"I asked Jason to come to our room once he felt you awakening." Tightening his fingers around mine, I feel his body tense next to mine. "I figured you would want a few answers once you woke up. Knowing how badly we've treated each other, I figured you might be able to speak to someone other than me."

He was right. It was super easy to lay there and listen to Jason speak about the Prince. Maybe I should listen in on other's speaking about the Prince. Would his parents speak the truth to me or sugar coat it because he is their son?

Nodding my head I stay silent. What do I say to that? I felt more relaxed speaking with your best friend then I do with you? No, I don't' think that will go over too well with him.

Walking in silence we end up in front of the dinner room doors. Looking into his eyes I raise my eyebrow, questioning what we are doing here. Surely it's past the dinner hour. I could clearly see the moon high in the sky in the window to my left.

"Wait and see." The smile he gives me warms my cheeks. I've never seen him smile like that before. Usually it's a fake, I don't want to be here with you kind of smile.

Hearing the doors open I bring my attention back to them. Within seconds, my fingers are yanked out of the Princes. A male body is crushed against mine, bringing me up and spinning me around.

"Taylor!" I scream out in joy. It seriously has felt like years since I've last seen my older brother.

"Don't you Taylor me, young lady. I haven't seen you in two days." Setting me back down on the ground he holds me at arm's length. "Nice bite mark." My hand twitches to smack the smirk off his face.

Instead all I can do is glare at him, until a throat is cleared. "Why don't we head in? I'm sure your parents would like to have a hug as well."

Not knowing what to do, I go with the flow and allow Taylor to drag me to our awaiting parents. We passed by the royal table, which I believe has one hundred and fifty seats. Usually the royal family uses one end of the table when it's just them.

As we reach the end of the table I see the worry gracing my parents faces. Without a second's thought, I throw myself into their open and warm embrace. "I've missed you to so much." Exhaling I snuggle into the distinguished scents.

"As have we, my little girl." Stepping back, I smile up at my dad. "Remember what we've always told you darling." Brushing a lock of hair out of my face, he kisses my forehead. "Let's get this started. I don't want to keep the royal family waiting on us."

Nodding, I blink the tears away. I didn't realize how much I've missed my family until they held me in their arms.

We turn to the three royals standing behind the table. My father and Taylor bow as my mother and I curtsy. Standing up, I see a small frown on the Princes face.

Did I do something wrong? Aren't I supposed to curtsy in front of him and his parents?

"Why don't we sit down and start the meal," The Queen gracefully said. "Please take a seat."

Guessing I'm sitting next to my parents, I head towards one of the seats.

"Claudia, darling. Why don't you sit next to Caden? I'm sure that your wolves will be content with the close proximity."

Curtsying once more, I do as she bids.

"Oh darling, you're my daughter-in-law, there is no need for curtsying in private." She smiles with warm.

Stepping around the table I reach to pull out the chair I believe to be mine. Instead the Prince is one step ahead of me.

Nervously I give him a small smile. Thanking him.

"Claudia dear, I hope you enjoy dinner. From your letters, we had this meal prepared." My eyes bulge at the Queen's words.

She read my letters? Dear goddess, please save me. My cheeks turn bright red with mortification. Those letters were meant for the Prince and his eyes only.

"Honey I believe we've embarrassed her." I can't look up at the King as he speaks. No way. "Claudia, we meant no harm. By the time we found your letters Caden was going insane with need to be near you. Caden, Jason, Nik, my wife and myself all took part in reading the letters."

Palming my face, I close my eyes. This day couldn't get any worse, could it? No...no it couldn't. I hope.

"Father, please." I nearly groan at the Prince's pleading voice. "May we change the subject? I fear we might frighten her away if we continue on with the reading of the letters." He was desperate to keep me by his side.

Not that I could go anywhere, mind you. I didn't miss the four guards following us down the stairway. I believe they are for my own safety, but also to keep watch on me in case I try to escape.

I don't believe I'll be able to sit here and listen to them explain my letters to the group. Those were meant for Caden's eyes and his eyes only. I had written personal details about my life. Things no one other than my mate should read.

"Alright, we won't speak about the details of them. Instead let's discuss the punishment of the traitors who kept them a secret." A pounding on the table brings my face up. The king's face is red with rage. "Because of their greed for power you two were kept apart longer than you should have been."

I know what they do with traitors. You are taken deep down underground. Nearly six flights of stairs down. Your shoved into a cell with other traitors, with a blanket and change of clothes. Your kept in the dark until your punishment has either ended your life or your sentence if up.

You're given the scraps even the dogs won't eat. The cells have no heat. During the winter I've heard that the prisoners die from hypothermia

Rumors run throughout the castle. Maids who had seduced the cell guards would describe the horrors of the cells. How they smelled of rotting flesh, vomit, urine and mold. Generally no one makes it out sane. If they make it out at all.

"Father, do you really believe this is the time to speak of that?" The Prince rumbles. His body tensing with anger.

"It's alright, my Prince. I desire to know what shall come of her." At my words, I feel the Princes hand grip mine tightly. I may have kissed him, but I won't let him off the hook. Gently pulling my hand away I feel him tense up. He clearly didn't want to lose contact with me.

"Who?" My mother openly questions. They've wondered as well why the Prince continued to sleep around after years of receiving my l letters.

Gazing at my family I realize they do not know who stole them.

"You know who was stealing them, but you did nothing to stop her? Why write them then?" The Prince demands with confusion. He turns to me, staring me down. "Why not inform Nikolai of her theft? Surely as your companion he would have intervened at least." Standing abruptly his chair is pushed to the ground.

Silently groaning, I want to slap myself for my previous words. I would now have to inform them they were clueless of the secret tunnels throughout the castle walls. Looking around us, I realize no servants are in the room with us. I wouldn't want word to get out of the tunnels. The royal family would be in danger if they were.

"Might as well tell them Claudia," Taylor says with a hint of sadness.

Smirking at him, I realize he doesn't want to give up the tunnels. Our secret room may be taken over by the King and his council members. I pray not. It's our tiny sanctuary. We have too many memories down there to be taken away.

"Tell us what, my dear?" The King questions. "Did you know about Jessica and her coward's?"

Silently I lean forward on my forearms. Here goes nothing. "There are secret tunnels which span throughout the walls of the castle, my King." Bowing my head I peek through my dark eye lashes to gauge his reaction.

"I knew it. I just knew it," comes the Princes voice to my left. In the blink of an eye my chair is pulled out and my body lifted off the warm cushion. "I felt you watching me in my room. All those night I would wake up with Marcus howling in my head for you. I figured it was my imagination conjuring up your presence. It wasn't was it?"

Staring deep into his sky blue eyes I feel as if I'm being sucked into a black hole. Nothing and no one could pull me out. But do I want to be pulled out? Could I live with this feeling for the rest of my life? The one where I feel whole? As if everything I've ever dreamed of is within my grasp?

"Probably, my sister is a peeping tom," Taylor laughs, breaking the spell between the Prince and I.

Stepping back, a blush tints my around cheeks.

"Is that so?" Quickly scanning the Prince's face I see a smug. "Did you like what you saw?"

Taking one more step back, my eye wide in disbelief. Is he hitting on me in front of our families? Gross!

"You don't know how many times she came back to our room blushing up a storm from seeing men in all their glory in their bedrooms." Horror struck my face the instant Taylor uttered those unbelievably stupid words.

"Taylor," I hiss, sending angry daggers at him.

"You what?" The Prince roars.

Flinching at his blackened eyes, I try to step away from him once again. Instead my legs hit the chair and I fall into it.

"You went searching bedrooms for naked men? Did you find pleasure in going to them instead of confronting me?" His anger scares me. Recoiling, I remember the night of his birthday ball. His promise of flogging. This is the man I'm afraid of.

"Caden, stop it this instant. You're scaring your own mate. Look at her. Look at her face. Do you want her to run from you again because you can't keep your head on straight?" The Queen sternly demands. Taking a split second to peer at her, I see her face red with irritation. "I've raise you better than that, young man."

"She went to men's rooms to gawk at their bodies, mother?" He roars to her, never once taking his eyes of me. "Why didn't you come to me? I would have let you scrutinize my body whenever you so desired."

"Maybe you were too busy screwing your mistresses for her to scrutinize you." Taylor opens his loud mouth once more. "Plus why would she want to regard your body after you banged them? I for sure wouldn't want that memory logged into my head of my mate." Sneering he stares the Prince down.

"Why you little-"

"You have no right to become mad at me or her. You're the one who screwed Jessica for a year. I kept telling her to pick out a male she liked and to screw him to kingdom come." What is wrong with my brother? Does he want a death wish?

Glancing in between the two males I tense for them to break out into their wolves and fight to the death. Already knowing who would win sends chills down my spine. I couldn't lose Taylor.

"How dare you, I am your Prince!" Quickly rolling out of the chair, I force myself to stand up. If he tried to attack my brother, I would get in the way. Getting bitten is nothing compared to losing my own flesh and blood.

"How dare I? What would you have done if she had gotten pregnant? You would have had no choice but to reject Claudia and marry Jessica. How do you think Claudia would have taken that? She already attempted suicide because of you. Is that what you wanted her to do? Kill herself because you couldn't keep it in your damn pants?" Taylor screams. His fists pound against the hardwood table. Leaving a slight dent.

Gasping, I blink back the tears. Did he have to tell the royal family I'm suicidal? They will probably place a female guard on me at all times now.

A loud roar pierces my ears enough for me to cover them. Clearly the Prince didn't agree with Taylor's words

"Enough!" A booming voice silences the Prince's complaints. "Insulting your mates brother will get you no where Caden. You hurt him, you hurt her. Do you want to hurt your mate? Do you want to push Claudia away from you, possibly into another man's arms?" He demands. His voice lost his anger. Slowly turning into a fatherly tone.

"No of course not." Facing me, the Prince takes my hands. "Please forgive me. I spoke out of line. This is all new to me. I'm not sure on how to react. Hearing about you gazing upon other men-" Closing his eyes, he bites his lip, drawing a slight amount of blood. "It sets my blood to fire. I feel even Marcus threaten to jump through my skin and slaughter any competition for your heart." Placing a calloused hand on my cheek, I feel his thumb rub circles against my soft skin. "Please bear with me as I learn how to deal with all this new information."

Freaking out on the inside all I can do is slowly nod my head.

"Now, I warn you Taylor. If you provoke my son once more I will not hold him accountable for his actions. He has been denied his soul mate for eight years. You going and flaunting how Claudia checked out other possible mates is only stretching his already thin control," the King warns Taylor.

I pray he takes the Kings advice. For the Prince and I to work out, both our families will have to support us.

"Dinner is ready and I for one am hungry. If you will all have a seat I'll call for the food to be brought out."

Bowing my head towards the King and Queen I step away from the Prince and sit softly in my seat. Grimacing considerably at the minor pain in my shoulder.

"Sweetheart, are you alright?" My mother softly questions. I can tell she is shaken up. Being a servant I have no idea how Taylor had the gull to threaten the Prince. My parents clearly are still scared for him and I.

"It's my shoulder. It throbs," I utter faintly, not wanting to draw attention. The opposite reacted occurred. The Prince stands up and comes to my right side.

"May I?" He asks.

Nodding my head I feel his fingers, smoothly pull my hoodie away from my skin. The small amount of room giving him efficient space to see the blood leaking out of the wound. Seconds pass until I hear a breaking of wood. The chair broke at the top from by his fingers.

"The doctor is on his way and I sent a maid to gather you a tank top and another hoodie," he says, barely keeping in a low growl.

"Claudia would you like us to wait to eat until your wound is patched up?" The queen softly questions me with a slight smile gracing her lips. She is a beautiful lady. I wish I had nearly an inch of her beauty.

"Oh no my Queen. It surely will not take the good doctor long to patch my shoulder up. Please start." Smiling, I grip my arm as a tiny pain stabs my arm.

"What have I told you, young lady? Call me Shantell. You are my daughter."

Smiling I bow my head vaguely.

Within seconds the first course is brought out. The main doors open shortly after, bringing in a hurried doctor.

"The wound has reopened my Princess?" His questioning eyes stare me down.

"Yes, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do it. It just sort of happened." I grimace at the small tug of skin at I shrug of my shoulders.  

"Do not fret, my Princess. Accidents do happen." Standing on my right side he shuffles his feet. "Would you like to go to the corner, give will give us more privacy."

A small growl could be heard from beside me.

"Yes, please." Pushing the chair out I slowly stand to my feet, not wanting to disturb the wound too much. "Prince if you would like to come sit next to me while the good doctor here treats my wound, your more than welcome."

Without waiting for a reply I head to secluded corner in the room. Four chairs and a coffee table made the areas seem homey.

Going to take my hoodie off, a hand stops me. Looking up I notice the Prince is holding a lose tank top out for me. "Please put this on before you take that off. I do not want to cause harm to the doctor for seeing you nearly naked."

Doing as he asks I slip the tank over my head then under the hoodie to cover my chest before taking the old one with blood on it off.

"Alright dear, it doesn't look too bad. Though I am going to have to stitch it back up. Would you like a shot for the pain?"

"Yes please."

Within moments the shot took effect and he stitched me back up. Reminding me to be careful for the next few weeks.

We continued the dinner after he left, all seven courses. I don't believe I was that stuffed in all my life. It was a peaceful dinner. The King and Queen asked my parents a few questions here and there about their lives. Other than that, we kept to ourselves.

I enjoyed it. I was able to finely relax for once. Not having to rush out meals or worry about getting to bed in time to wake up in the early morning to do chorus. For once I felt...free.

Is this how it feels to be of royalty? Am I truly going to enjoy being the Princes mate? I guess only time will tell.

"Would you like to have dessert out on the back patio? The stars will be bright by now." Caden asks with hope. His eyes were pleading silently with me to agree.

If I wanted our relationship to go anywhere I would have to try things out. How could I learn to trust him if I didn't take a leap of faith.

"I would love to." Picking up my full glass of milk I place it between my two hands as we walked out the back door to the beautiful patio. I was too afraid he would try to hold my hand. Holding the glass of milk insures he won't be able to.

Flowers of all kinds lined the cobble stone flooring. A gorgeous wood carved fence separates the patio from the actual backyard. Vines traveled up the castle walls. With the candles twinkling in the night, it truly became a romantic setting.

Sitting down in the love seat, I pray the Prince won't sit next to me. I don't know if I could handle it. During dinner, I felt Annabelle surface quite a few times. All she has wanted to do is hump the Prince in her wolf worm. I pray she doesn't because we will be the laughing stock of the castle.

I didn't realize I had been holding in a breath of air until he sat opposite of me. Not that it was that far. There was nearly four feet between us.

Before either of us could speak two kitchen maids brought out several delicious smelling desserts. "My Prince is there anything else you desire?" The blonde's salty voice purrs softy. Her eyes glance at me for a second with a harsh glare. Stepping forward she hands him a piece of cake. Her hand seductively brushes his.

I couldn't believe he was allowing this slut to touch him in front of me. Standing up, I place the milk down hard on the coffee table. Splashing it all over.

"Juliet, stop it this instant." I could hear the anger and fear clear in his voice. "If you continue with your act I will have you punished and not the way you desire."

Not wanting to hear another lie out of his mouth, I quickly head out towards the forest. Wanting to be by myself for an hour or two. 

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Chapter Questions:Will Caden follow her or stay with the slut?