Her Unwanted Mate On The Throne
Chapter 126

Chapter 126

Chapter 126 What’s love if not anger

“Are you sure about this?” Doris asked the moment they were alone. It was strange to be in the villagewithout the people she used to see everyday. But, it was better having them far from here in case thingswent wrong. 1 She only hoped they weren’t mistreated for being on Enzo’s side-if they still were, that is.

William and Doris were allowed to go to their old cabin and clean up, but William was expected back outthere soon. She wanted to wrap herself around him and stop him from ever setting foot out of the dooragain. 1

William turned to her with a tense jaw. “Of course I’m sure about this. I’ve never been more sure.”

“A blood promise is dangerous, what if they trick you—“

“I’m not one to be tricked, Doris. They wouldn’t dare.” William moved into the bathroom and shut the dooron any of her remaining questions. She glared at the wood and felt the urge to kick something.

Doris nervously picked at her nails and she realized how long they had gotten since they first came here.She fought the urge to bite them down when her anxiety tried to crawl up her throat again.

She knew he could handle himself more than she could, but her stomach was in knots when she realizedhow worried she was about him. If they worded it strangely or added something he didn’t expect, it couldlead to his death.

Doris gathered her new clothes and waited for him to leave the bathroom before she went to clean upherself. When she came out, he was seated on the bed staring at the roaring fire as if he was lost inthought. The warm light caressed his handsome face like a kiss, a shadow was already growing acrosshis chin.

“I don’t want you to be there when I make the promise.” William said suddenly. A small part of her heartpierced at his words.

“Why not? I won’t try to stop it—“

“I would rather you didn’t be there.” He interrupted. “I don’t want you to see the process of it. I wouldrather you stay safe inside here and sleep during it all.”

“I can handle a little blood, William. You don’t have to be alone during this.”

William stood, his eyes barely looked at her. “I won’t be alone. Patrick will be at my side.” He brushedpast her to the door. Even though the blood promise wasn’t until dawn, Enzo and the rest required hispresence to talk more about the deal. He didn’t want her there for that, either.

“William—”

He closed the door without a response. She clenched her hands into fists and had half a mind to followhim out the door and scream at him. After all they had been through, he always pushed her back. Shedeserved to be a part of the decisions, didn’t she? He was always there when she was the center of thematter. 1

Doris angrily pulled on her coat and gloves before she ventured out into the snow. It felt good to haveclothes that weren’t dirty or ripped. She still felt the cold through her thick clothes, but not as harshly asthe night before. Perhaps her body was finally starting to get used to the dreadful cold.

Doris ignored the stares from the rogues as she walked out behind the cabins and towards the frozenlake. There was no where else to go, no one to talk to

“He sure does like to fight, huh?” Cordelia said inside her. Doris almost jumped at the sound. It was easyto forget she had a wolf inside her when she spent her entire life without one.

“I knew it wasn’t a good idea to get close to him.” Doris grumbled. “He drives me insane most of the time,I almost chased him down just to scream at him.”

“Isn’t that what love is?” Cordelia teased. It only made Doris more angry. She sat herself down on a fallenlog by the lake and wrapped her arms around herself.

“That’s not what I expected love to be. All the books I ever read were much more—“

“Boring?” Cordelia filled in. Doris rolled her eyes at her wolf.

“No, normal. The men were sweet and treated their women with respect. They didn’t try to irritate themevery chance they had. They… they loved them and it was obvious.”

“Hm, sounds boring to me. In case you forgot, you’re not a normal girl, you have a wolf and it’s normal tobe attracted to his difficult side.” Cordelia said almost gently. Doris expected her to make fun for feelingthe way she was. “He is certainly attracted to yours. He likes it when you argue with him, I can tell.”

“It shouldn’t be this hard to love someone, no matter what I am inside.” Doris whispered. “It should aseasy as breathing or falling asleep. Lately it only feels as if I’m about to suffocate.”

“Are you okay? A familiar voice said from behind her. Doris turned to see Joseph standing a few feetaway with his hands shoved deep in his pockets and dark circles under his eyes. He was one of the lastpeople she ever wanted to see during a time like this. Or ever.

Part of her was glad he wasn’t dead, but another part of her wanted him far away

from her. Doris stood quickly and brushed off the snow from her pants.

“What are you doing out here?” Doris asked. Her eyes flickered to the camp behind him.

“I saw you leave your cabin and you looked upset. I thought I would check on you.” He took a small steptowards her. Doris narrowed her eyes at his kind smile. What did he want from her?

“I’m quite alright, thank you. I don’t need your assistance, you can go back to the camp. I wouldn’t wantMr. Hugh seeing you out here with me.”

“Look, Doris—I’m sorry for what I did—“

“You mean when you shoved me in a hole and locked me in a dark cell? I’m sure you’re very sorry, but Idon’t have time for this.” Doris started to walk back to the camp but he stepped in her path.

“I had to do those things, Doris. You know as a servant that we have to listen to the commands no matterhow much we don’t want to.” Joseph held out his hands as if in surrender. “I haven’t stopped imaginingyour screams, they’ve haunted me. I don’t know what I can do to make it right with you, but I want tomore than anything.”

“I’m glad they’ve haunted you, Joseph. You deserve it.” Doris moved again, but he gripped her arm thistime.

“I heard you talking to your wolf. I heard what you said about William—“

Doris yanked her arm free of his grip. “That’s none of your business. Hasn’t anyone ever told you that it’simpolite to eavesdrop on a lady?” “You want to be with someone who is easy to love and doesn’t driveyou crazy, I know you do—“ He continued as if she hadn’t spoken. A lick of rage flamed inside her.

“Oh, and you’re about to tell me that that person is you?” Doris laughed and stepped back. “I don’t thinkany of your recent actions would make you easy to love. As harsh as William is, he hasn’t thrown me in ahole.” 1

“No, just the royal cells for you to be abused.” Joseph said with a sneer. Doris closed her eyes for asecond and took a deep breath. He wasn’t worth this much energy.

“He is the reason I got out of that cell. You were ready to let me rot.”

“I was going to let you out! I couldn’t stand you being in there for another second—“ Joseph took abreath and ran his fingers through his hair. “Come with me, Doris.”

“What?”

“Come with me. We can leave right now and get far from here before anyone could notice.” He reachedhis hand out to her.

“Joseph, you don’t even know me.”

“I know you feel trapped like I do. I know that you want something better for yourself and you want aneasier life, I can give you that.”

Doris glanced down at his hand as if it was a bug. She shook her head and took another step back. “Youdon’t know anything about what I want. How could you when I’m not even sure?”

“Doris,” he said impatiently. “I made a mistake at Life Pharmacy. I let my emotions rule over my actionsbut I would never treat you that way again. Come with me and we can be free of all of this.”

“I don’t think she’s going anywhere with you.” A deep voice said. 3