The Broken Wolf
Chapter 128

“You seem uncomfortable, Molly,” Dr. Shain says to me as I sit in a chair across from her.

I bite my l*p nervously. “I’m sorry, I’m just a little nervous.”

“This isn’t the first time we’ve met,” she says, and I know she’s right, but I can’t help it.

“It’s the first time I’ve met you without Seth,” I say, knowing that it sounds silly.

She smiles at me a little. “Ahh, so you feel more comfortable when your mate is here?”

I nod to her, trying my best to look more relaxed, but I continue to pick at my nails and avoid making eye contact.

“Why do you think that is?” she asks me, causing me to finally look up.

I think for a moment, unsure of how to answer her. I know it’s silly, but I feel more nervous today than when Seth and I first met with her together. “He protects me,” I say softly.

“I know it was Prince Seth’s idea for you to meet with me,” she says, placing her notebook in her lap. “But do YOU want to meet with me? Or do you just want to please him?”

“I do,” I say, feeling bad that I gave her that impression. “I’m just worried I’ll say something I shouldn’t, or that you’ll replace something that’s wrong with me.”

“Molly,” she says, smiling softly at me. “When we met before, Prince Seth made it clear that anything you say to me is not to be shared. I understand that there are matters you may need to discuss that could be delicate. I’m here to help YOU.”

I nod, knowing that he DID say that. “I didn’t have a wolf growing up. I always had to hide behind someone else. Then I met Seth, and he became my protector. I got my wolf, but she’s tiny,” I tell her nervously. “There was a situation last week that became dangerous and I had to shift. Seth’s wolf literally stood over me.”

“That sounds scary,” she says, lifting her notebook up. “How did it make you feel when that happened?”

“Safe,” I tell her with a smile. “I got hurt, and he was protecting me until Benjamin could get me somewhere safer.”

“Benjamin is your biological father, correct?” she asks and I nod. “How did it make you feel that HE was getting you somewhere safe, instead of your mate?”

“I was fine with it,” I tell her. “My mom went with us as well. There was a dangerous fight going on and Seth had to stay.”

“Dangerous? Has the danger passed?” she asks and it throws me. I hadn’t really considered that.

“The immediate danger has,” I tell her after thinking about it. “But we’re all still in danger.”

“So your biological father and adopted mother took you to safety. How is that working out?” she asks, scribbling on her papers.

I nod to her. “They seem to all be getting along fine. Benjamin has had to let go of a lot, but he seems to be alright.”

“You said you’re all still in danger. Is it all your parents? Or Seth’s?”

I smile, realizing that I haven’t told her, so she doesn’t know. “Seth and I are expecting. Twins!”

She smiles at me. “You seem excited about that. Congratulations!”

“I am!” I tell her and place my hand on my stomach.

“And is the Prince excited?” she asks me.

“He is,” I tell her, a huge smile across my face. “He’s possibly more excited than I am. Seth is sure one is a boy and Benjamin said the other smells just like me, so we are pretty sure it’s a girl..”

“How exciting for you both,” she says, a genuine smile on her face. “The kingdom will be so happy. Twins are so very rare.”

My face falls at the mention of the kingdom being excited. “I don’t know about that. We believe that the girl has my magical abilities.”

“Ahh,” she says, writing something down. “I assume this is playing into your concerns about danger.”

I nod at her. “We’re both very worried. It was one thing when my abilities were all we had to hide. Seth wants to tell the kingdom. Lily was against it.”

“Interesting,” she says, writing something else down. “And how do YOU feel about it?”

“I…” I begin, stopping to think for a moment. “I really don’t know. I see both sides of it. I just want to do what’s safest for my family, but I don’t know what that is. I have so many people to protect me, but I don’t think that Lily feels that she does.”

“Benjamin would protect her,” she says to me and I nod.

“He would,” I tell her, certain of that.

“If he had to choose between the two of you…” she says, letting the sentence hang.

I stop, unsure how to answer that, and I think about it for a bit. “I don’t think there would ever be a situation where he would. I will always have Seth, and my parents, and my entire guard. There’s no reason that Benjamin would have to protect me instead of her.”

“Perhaps,” she says, and she doesn’t say any more. I’m confused, because there’s not a chance that I would be left alone with just the two of them. Seth would make sure of that.

“So, tell me more about your relationship with the Prince,” she finally says, changing the subject.

“It’s been really good,” I tell her with a smile. “He’s a really amazing mate. I’m lucky to have him.”

“Even though he was with other she-wolves?” she asks, looking up from her notebook. “Even though he tried to replace you?”

Geez, she’s really digging today. “It hurt, especially when I first found out. I’m alright now, though. I understand what he was thinking, even if he was an idiot.”

“And you really think he will be completely faithful now?”

Goddess, I’m about done with this woman. I think I may have to tell Seth we need to replace another therapist. “Yes. I’m absolutely sure he will.”

“Why would he?” she asks me. “What do you feel that you bring to the table as a queen?”

“Compassion, understanding, patience. All the traits that I possess in abundance that he is sorely lacking in,” I tell her, becoming really irritated.

“And the King is alright with the situation between you two?”

Huh? “I’m sorry. I don’t understand…”

“He killed your brothers to be sure your mate would take the throne, Molly,” she says plainly, no compassion to her statement. “Do you truly think that he trusts you to become queen?”

“Yes,” I tell her, but then I start to feel unsure. “I think he does. He’s been very kind to me since the truth was discovered. I know he feels terrible about the choices he made previously.”

“I’m sure you do feel that way,” she says. “But you seem to see the best in everyone, even when it’s not exactly true.”

“I really don’t like the tone of your questions,” I tell her, feeling very uneasy. “You’re making statements about situations that you know nothing about.”

She shakes her head and puts the notebook down again. “I’m just trying to present things at a different angle for you. To help you think about things fully.”

“King Peter has been very kind to me,” I tell her, furrowing my brow. “Even after he found out about my parentage, he’s been kind. I know the situation isn’t the best for me, but it’s also been difficult for him. While not exactly the same, he’s welcomed me into his family and encouraged me when I’ve needed it.”

“But how can you be sure that he truly is sorry, and he’s not just biding his time,” she asks.

“Because he offered to take a b***d oath not to harm me,” I snap at her.

She looks up quickly, scratching yet another note down on her papers. “He took a b***d oath?!”

“No,” I say to her, irritation very evident in my voice. “He offered. I declined.”

“Why would you do that?” she all but shrieks at me.

I place my hand over my stomach. “I’m sorry, but I’m not feeling very well,” I tell her and stand, immediately leaving the room to go replace my mate.