Fourteen

Caspian was out the door before I had the chance to stop him. I knew exactly where he was headed but I was much too slow to keep up with him. He stormed out the front door just as Magnus and the family were getting in the carriage, and he hurled himself at Magnus, shifting before he touched the ground.

"What is the meaning of this?" my mother cried out.

"Why don't we ask your son?" I heard Caspian's voice rumble deep in my mind.

My mother gasped and suddenly knelt. "W-we don't k-know what you m-mean," she struggled to even breath.

"Caspian, stop it, please."

To my utter surprise, he had instantly let go of Magnus and backed away.

"Sevi – Aurora, what is going on here?"

I gazed at my mother. "I believe this is better discussed at home."

"Let this be a warning. There won't be a second," Caspian growled at Magnus.

Father picked up Magnus and pushed him into the carriage before they high tailed it out of there. Once they were gone I felt like I could breathe finally, but standing next to Caspian's full form, I realized it was my first time seeing it.

Just like his hair, his fur is a sleek black that shines and shimmers in the morning light. His electric blue eyes are intensified surrounded by his dark mane and strong muzzle. He stood at least 7 feet tall, maybe taller with how miniature I become next to him.

I had seen Magnus shift a few times in the past, but even as a second generation Alpha, he wasn't nearly as large as Caspian, a first generation.

"Are you alright?" 

I smiled up at him. "I am now."

~*~

The week went on and there was very little of Caspian to be saw around the palace. I was able to catch glimpses of him when I went for a meal, or if I managed to stay up late enough, but he always told me to go back to bed and left the room again.

I wanted to ask him what he was up to, but was I allowed? I wasn't sure where the line was drawn when it came to the business separation of husband and wife. Even though the relationship between us had improved a lot since I had first arrived, I was still terrified of overstepping and angering him in any way. He could still kill me with the drop of a hat, or his vicious mother who already wanted my head.

I thought it was weird that nothing had happened after it was discovered that she knows of my true origins and insisted Caspian break off our marriage, but he refused. I would think she would retaliate in some way or would turn to me to persuade me to leave – or kill me.

My other concern was Caspian.

I felt he was distancing himself from me because he misunderstood what has happened between Magnus and I in the past. I needed to speak with him and come clean about my past relationship with him and make sure that he isn't thinking the worst.

But every time I try and speak with him, I am told he is busy, or he is gone. At night he doesn't show up until it is well past midnight, and he goes straight to bed.

I had to think of a way to trap him.

"Carlak, could I have your help on something?"

~*~

That night for dinner, Carlak feigned having digestive problems and couldn't be around food, therefore he could not test my food before I ate dinner. Caspian had no choice but to do it himself, since he didn't trust anyone else.

I waited for him in the dining room once he stormed into the room.

"Where is Carlak?" he asked.

"He wasn't feeling well and couldn't be around food, I told him to take a rest."

He scoffed. Why was he so upset?

"I would like to speak with you, if possible," I said.

"Was this all a set up then?" He sat down next to me and dragged the plate over without thought. "What is it you would like to discuss."

"My past," I said simply.

This caught him off guard and he paused in cutting my food.

"What of your past?" he asked quietly.

"Whatever you would like to know. I feel a misunderstanding has formed between us from when my family left."

He chuckled but it seemed sarcastic. "Nothing can get by you, can it?"

"If you mean I'm observant, that is due to survival."

He paused again and put the utensils down. "Will you not eat?"

"Will you not listen to me?"

"Will you answer my questions honestly if I ask them?" He kept challenging me.

"Have I given you doubt that I haven't been honest before?"

"I cannot do this right now," he said and stood up to leave.

I pushed up my sleeve and wrapped my hand around his. "Please, look."

The hairs on my arms started to rise and goosebumps formed all over my skin. My hand started to twitch, and my arm started to tremble. It felt like my skin was crawling from the skin on skin touch, like there were live bugs underneath and I wanted nothing more than to reel back from the contact.

I had tried so hard to hide it, but if he wanted complete honesty, this was what it was.

"What is happening?" he asked when I reeled back as if I caught fire.

"If you would allow me, I would like to tell you about my past, and why it will affect my future with you."

"I only want to know one thing right now – what is your past relationship with Alpha Magnus Emery?" he growled.

I took a deep breath. "He used to sexually abuse me when he saw fit. I was a toy to him when he wanted to release his frustrations and that is the way he usually found release."

I watched as his face turned stark white and his irises ringed red. Maybe it was a mistake to share this information, but he had to know in the end, and I had to take the consequences.

"Carlak!" he yelled.

In seconds, Carlak was at the door. "You called, Your Highness?"

"Get my things ready, we're going to the Rafina Pack."