Chapter 12

-Trynnian-

Kit crushes me to him as he hugs me back, but I barely even register the tightness as I focus on comforting him. The question his father asked is one which normally, Kit could brush off, but it holds too much weight for him right now.

He’s not alright.

Slowly, he’s physically healing, but he can still barely eat more than a few bites of food, and his back is still painful. Mentally, he’s still traumatised. Kit will always hold the trauma from those horrendous five years.

He eventually lets go of me, but grips my hand in his. “I’m ok,” he says, and not a single person in the room believes him.

Kit realises that he’s never introduced me, and so explains to his family that I’m his husband. That’s weird. Obviously we know we’re married, but being introduced as someone’s husband really sends a jolt through the system.

We’re still taking things slow, which mostly consists of finding out about each other’s lives, likes and dislikes, and cuddling together in bed. We’re both massive fans of that last one. I love getting to know Kit more, but moments of intimacy make my heart warmer than ever.

Kit is kind and gentle, sweet and brave, and so unbelievably strong. Physically as well, but I mean mentally. I feel so proud of him, and I make sure to let him know.

“Wait so...you’re actually a couple?” His sister asks, disbelief running rampant through her tone and eyes. Kit squirms under her scrutiny, and settles for “we’re getting to know each other?” I give his hand a squeeze and smile reassuringly to let him know that I agree with his explanation.

He smiles back, and it’s no longer a sad one, filled with torn memories, but instead, is warm and sunny. Kit talks with his family for quite some time, until my mother suggests she helps him bring his kitten to meet his sister, who apparently shares his love of small animals.

Kit grins enthusiastically, and although I’m a little nervous to be alone in a room with three werewolves, Kit trusts them, so I will try also. As soon as they leave the room, I begin talking. I know for a fact that if I wait for even a second, one of them will lecture me.

But my mother gave me this chance, so I’ll use it well.

“Listen. It’s unlikely Kit will talk about this, so let me tell you about his past five years, because it’s a bigger problem than just him.” That gets their attention. His father nods resolutely, his expression stony.

“I’m sure you already know how shitty the king is, so I don’t need to explain that. But, how the wolves are being treated in the prisons is awful. They are starved and injured continually, and they are terrified. The prisons have broken them, some of them, beyond repair. And last thing,” I say, taking a breath.

“Is that the king doesn’t want peace. He planned to have Kit killed. My mother and I won’t let that happen, but things in Karlisle are a little patchy at the moment. You need to take Kit and go.”

They all stare at me, before the anger in the alpha’s eyes overflows. “I knew that shit didn’t want peace. He dares treat my son like that and then preach peace whilst trying to kill us?!”

Fawn looks about ready to kill me, whereas at least the alpha’s anger is directed at the floor. “Why would you tell us that?” She asks, suspicion clear in her eyes. I sigh, flicking a dark hair out of my eye.

“Because, I might hate most werewolves, I don’t hate Kit. And he doesn’t deserve any of this. He needs time to heal, so does everyone after this war. Let us deal with things on our end, whilst you take care of Kit back home. My mother and I want peace. So does the crown prince.”

Over the past week, I managed to establish that my oldest brother is in the same view as my mother and I, meaning that the only problems within the family are Riccaro and the king. I’ll be damned if I ever think of him as father again.

The door opens again, and I can tell my mother knows exactly what we were discussing, based on the dark mood in the room. Kit doesn’t even seem to realise - he’s happily showing off his little cat to his sister and her girlfriend. Wife? Partner? Mate, I think werewolves call them. Still not used to that, but I’ll get there.

One day, I hope my hatred for their species will fade. These individuals don’t deserve hate for something they had no part in.

After everyone has met the pet, we are informed that the dear king has invited us to dinner. I can’t tell who’s more utterly thrilled at the idea - the werewolves or the humans. At least our mutual dislike is one thing we can all agree on.

Whenever the king isn’t looking, Fawn sends him dirty looks, which I’m pretty sure he deserves every single one of. Whatever podium I had placed him on quickly crumbled once I had a proper reason to no longer put up with his abuse, and now I feel like he has less control over me.

I won’t let my respect and fear for him control me. Still, easier said than done, I think with a grim smile as I shove another forkful into my mouth. It seems that the three werewolves have noticed the tiny amounts Kit is eating, but no one says anything.

He can tell they’ve noticed too, and I reach across beneath the table, giving his free hand a small squeeze, offering him a smile of encouragement. He returns the smile, and attempts another bite. He’s trying, and that’s what matters.

Kit just needs time to heal, and I hope to be able to give him that time.