Her Unwanted Mate On The Throne
Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Chapter 53 You could be free here.

Sleep caught Doris within seconds of laying her head down. She wasn’t sure how long she slept. It couldhave been days or hours but she knew that her body was thankful for it. Not one person interrupted heror woke her abruptly like they usually did in the palace. 3 When she finally woke, she felt ready to facethe day and all the secrets she had yet to unfold. Her mind was conflicted with Enzo’s speech about therogues and what they believed in. On one hand, she had been kidnapped and tortured by members ofhis own pack. On the other, she knew there were always black sheep in a pack. Ones that wanted totake control of things on their own terms. She had seen some of that in the palace firsthand Food andwater was left for Doris by her door. She filled her stomach with fresh bread and oats before sheventured out into the snow to replace Enzo. It felt good to be able to breathe fresh air. She felt determined.She felt…brave.

You could be free here, “Ah, there she is.” Doris found Enzo almost instantly when she stepped out ofher room. He was surrounded by Eliza and a few others who eyed her curiously. It was better than beingglared at, she supposed “Were you waiting for me to come out?” Doris slowed her steps as sheapproached them. “Oh, no my dear. I came to grab Eliza and she lives across the way from you. Are youfeeling better?” “Yeah, my shoulder doesn’t hurt that much anymore.” Doris ran her fingers over thebandage but she felt as if she wouldn’t need it for much longer. Still, she was afraid to look at what wasunderneath. A knowing look passed between Enzo and Eliza. He turned a smile towards her and heldout his arm for Doris to hold

“May I show you around?” “Oh, yes, thank you.” Doris gripped his arm. Her eyes went to the two shehadn’t met yet. “Don’t mind them, they haven’t met many outsiders. This is June and Eli. They’re amongthe younger ones in the pack_” “We’re 17, not that young.” Eli was quick

You could be free here. to point out. He held out his hand and Doris shook it. He brought the back of herhand to his lips and gave her a chaste kiss. “Pleasure to meet you, my lady.” “Who said rogues couldn’t

be gentlemen, eh?” Enzo grinned and knocked Eli’s hand away from Doris, Doris laughed and followedhim down a path. She waved goodbye to the group and began to scan her surroundings.

The camp was rather large. It had so many cabins spread out, she would have called it a village.Perhaps Enzo enjoyed the comfort the word ‘camp’ offered, but it was no small camp. There was atavern near the edge, a butcher and store. More than enough people to fill a village as well Everyonethey passed turned to stare at her. Enzo listed off each of their names but there were too many toremember. A group of men near the tavern watched her with a more intense stare, part of her wanted tohide against Enzo’s side. But she didn’t. She raised her chin and walked right past their glares as if theyweren’t burning right through her. 3 “Some of the rogues in the village weren’t happy to hear about Julesand

You could be free here. Darrell’s punishment.” Enzo spoke quietly as they walked. “They might hold a bitof resentment for you, please let me know if they approach you at all.” “What was their punishment?”Doris asked, she glanced up at him. His face darkened a little. “Nothing for you to worry yourself over.They won’t be coming near you again. Or any other innocent women. Doris swallowed and nodded. Hepatted her hand and led her on. Two small children rushed through the snow laughing. They paused andwatched them hurry by. “Hi Lord Enzo!” They shouted as they passed. “Hello, little ones. Be kind to ourguest.” He said in a voice that sounded like a fake demand. They stopped and bowed. “Hello, prettylady.” They said together. Doris realized they must have been twins. One boy and one girl. Doris smiledand curtsied. “Hello there, how’re you doing?” “Well!” They laughed before rushing off and waving theirgoodbyes. Doris watched them leave. “How many children live here?” “Oh, more than I can keep trackof. The

You could be free here. males here can’t keep their paws off their wives so there’s always one poppingout. Wolves can’t control themselves sometimes.” Doris felt her cheeks heat. A flash of William enteredher mind. She shook her head and tried to forget the night he pinned her to the wet grass. If she wasn’tcareful, her shame would rise with it. Briefly, she wondered where he was and if he was okay. She wassure he was, Enzo would have told her otherwise. Word seemed to travel fast to him. A stunning tall

woman dressed head to toe in black walked straight towards them. Enzo straightened at the sight of her.“Elena-” “Lord Enzo,” she nodded her head and smiled. She shifted her gaze to Doris and she noticedher smile faltered a little but not completely. Doris dropped her grip from his arm quickly. “You must beDoris. Come, Sir Anthony would like to speak to you.” Doris glanced up at Enzo with a question in hergaze, he only smiled at her. “You’ll like him, don’t worry. I promise he doesn’t bite, he’s too old for that.”“Ah, don’t let him here you say that, Enzo. He’ll show you just how hard his

You could be free here. bite is.” Elena smirked. Enzo watched her tumn and lead the way with his gazedrifting lower to take in her body. Doris blushed and looked away until he snapped out of it. “This way,”He said. She followed him towards one of the larger, more fancy looking cabins. Of course, it was hard topass off a cabin as fancy out here but this one sure looked it compared to the others. It had an elegantdesign carved into the wood that looked like flowers and art on the walls of glorious places she’d neverbeen. An old man was seated by the roaring fire with his back to them, Enzo gestured for her to sit onthe couch. When the old man turned to look at her, recognition flickered in her mind. “Oh, I know you!”Doris said. It was the old man from the cell in the palace, the one that healed her wounds when PrinceJack had beat her nearly to death. He smiled. “Doris, I’m glad to see you’re okay. Although, I had hopedyou would’ve had a few less bruises.” His eyes roamed over the marks on her face. Doris quickly turnedto look at Enzo.” You! You were the masked man, weren’t you? That’s where I know your voice

You could be free here, from!” Enzo held up his hands. “I would have saved you too-if I had known youwere this lovely at the time.” Elena glared at Enzo and stepped on his foot. He winced. Sir Anthonychuckled. “Nonetheless, I am glad you’re alive, Doris. I haven’t stopped thinking of you since the day Imet you.” “I never got a chance to thank you for healing me.” “No need, my dear. No need.” He wavedaway her words. “Sir Anthony is the founder of the rogues. One of the men from the kingdom had takenadvantage of his kindness and kidnapped him to bring back to the palace as if he was a prize. I thought Iwould be the hero that I am and rescue him that day we met.” Doris raised her brows. “Founder of therogues? Oh my,” Perhaps she was wrong about them after all. The founder had healed her wounds inthe cell and the leader had rescued her from kidnappers. These were not actions of beasts, they were

actions of good men. “I apologize we couldn’t get you out that day. When we went back for you, youwere already gone and at your trial.” Sir

You could be free here. Anthony leaned forward slowly to pat her hand Doris offered a smile and shookher head. “You did enough for me, please don’t worry yourself about that.” “I was showing Doris aroundthe camp to get a bit of an idea of how we really are and how we live. We’re not complete animals.” Enzoleaned against the mantel and crossed his arms. “Oh and how are you liking it here?” Sir Antony askedkindly. Doris hesitated. “I… I suppose it’s nice. It’s not at all what I expected.” “Were you expecting wildwolves and bonfires?” He asked. Doris laughed a little. “Something like that.”

“Stay awhile and I’m sure you’ll see one or the other.” Sir Anthony smiled. “You are free to stay with us aslong as you

wish.”

“I–I have to return to the palace. I’m still a maid there.” “Not if you don’t wish to be. You could be freehere.”