The Lycan Series
The Lycan King’s Breeder Chapter 41

Avalyn's

POV

Letting out a sigh, I curled up against the pillows in the bed and felt impossibly alone. I hated how much my life has changed. Yes, it had its moments when things were wonderful -but I still felt so complicated about everything. A knock on the bedroom door drew my attention toward the entrance. "Yes?" I called. "Miss Avalyn. It's me, Elizabeth, your servant. May I enter?"

Servant?

"Uh... yeah, of course." Slowly, I slid from my position to sit up and propped a pillow behind my back. I watched the door open and a petite blond-haired girl with large blue eyes stepped in, carrying a large tray with silver-domed dishes.

"I brought you food, Miss," She said softly, walking towards the bed and placing the tray on a nearby table. "Alpha Talon indicated that you were under doctor's orders to rest, and I've been instructed to fulfill your needs from now on until Miss Lydia releases you from that order."

I was taken aback and shocked. They had assigned Elizabeth as my personal servant.

"Uhm no, I think that will be okay." I stuttered out, feeling completely out by the situation. "I'm grateful for your help, but you really don't have to do this."

Her blue eyes widened in shock as she looked up at me. "It's an honor, Miss Avalyn. Please you don't have to thank me -it's my duty to serve those above me."

"Hey look, I appreciate you," I said with a smile. "You don't have to fear judgment when you're around me. I'm just not accustomed to having people serve me like this."

"Of course, Miss. Is there anything else I can get for you?" She replied, giving me a small smile.

"No, it's fine. Thank you for everything, I'm sure that this is perfect." I assured her, gesturing to the platter of food on the bedside table.

"Oh, and one more thing, Miss. What color do you prefer?"

Her question caught me by surprise and I was a little uncertain as to why she was asking such a thing.

"What do you mean?" I asked softly, confusion painting my feature.

She hesitated for a moment, but then she smiled. "The King is having a small dinner to welcome the princess back to the pack, and I'm helping Miss Dawn take care of you. I was curious as to the color you prefer so that I may get a dress ready for you since you were invited as well."

"Oh..." The hesitation that filled me lasted for a moment while I composed myself. "Let me think about it. Is that okay, Elizabeth? I don't know if I'll be able to attend..."

The surprise that crossed Elizabeth's face only lasted for a second before she nodded her head in understanding. "Of course, Miss Avalyn. Please just let me know and I will get something ready for you."

I watched as the woman turned from me and exited the room. I sat back on my bed, the stress of the whole situation weighing down on me. The food was sitting there next to me but I had lost my appetite. Even though I knew I needed to eat, I decided to give myself

a few more minutes. I watched the blue sky outside of the window and was once again I was reminded of how drastic my life has changed, how I had gone from a starving and maltreated girl to this.

I sighed, turning my focus back to the untouched food. Even if I didn't want to eat, I had to for my baby. Before I could force myself to take a bite, my bedroom door burst open once again, revealing the face I saw in my dreams day and night.

Talon...

He stood in the doorway, his eyes rested upon me as if a calmness had overtaken him at the mere sight of me. I hadn't expected to see him anytime soon, considering that he had too much going on, but his presence was warmly welcomed -I would take every chance to be around him that I could get.

"How are you feeling?" He asked for the second time this morning as he took steps closer to me. "I see that the girl was able to bring you some food."

"Uhm... Elizabeth." I corrected him gently, watching him with a smile. I couldn't help myself, he was here and that just made my morning.

Talon looked at me for a moment, confused. And so I elaborated.

"Her name is Elizabeth -the maid, that is. She's very nice, thank you for having her help me. I appreciate it."

He seemed almost stunned at my response, and simply nodded his head. "Did you already eat yet?" He asked, taking a seat on the bed.

"I was about to," I replied.

I watched as he lifted the silver lids, my eyes widened at his action -and at the amount of food that has been provided for me, as well as drinks.

"I wasn't sure what you liked."

"It's all amazing, thank you," I whispered. My reply was so soft and when I looked up at him, I found that he was staring at me with a glint of something in his eyes that I wasn't sure of. "Fruit would be lovely though," I added.

Talon kept staring at me for a long moment -and then suddenly, he snapped back to the present. He frowned, hesitated for a second, and then murmured, "Of course, here."

He lifted the white bowl of fruit, and as he handed it to me, our fingers brushed together gently. The feeling of his skin on mine made me want so much more of him, but I knew that wasn't possible. He belonged to someone else.

I would have his baby and he would expect me to leave once I was done. I would have to leave him, and I would have to leave my child. The thought broke my heart.

"How old are you again?" Talon finally asked, breaking the silence between us as I fed myself a strawberry.

I looked at him, clearly surprised at his sudden question. "W-What?" I stuttered.

"How old are you, Avalyn?" Talon asked again, wiping away some berry juice that had dripped down the side of my lips as he maintained eye contact. "Nineteen..."

"You're really beautiful." He said softly.

A small chuckle left my lips upon hearing his compliment. His gentle and deep voice made my insides tingle, he made me feel loved, something I'd never felt growing up.

"Thank you," I replied with a smile. "I'm happy I'll be able to give you a child, someone for you to always love and guide in life."

My words stopped him, and instinctively, he reached out his hands and laid them against my stomach. "Yes. I will protect this child with my life." He said.

The way he looked at me when he said those words made me feel as if it was an unsaid promise he was making to me, that even though I would be gone, he would ensure the child was always protected. And even though the sentiment warmed my heart, I wished more than anything that I could alter my circumstances slightly.

I didn't want to leave. I wanted to be with him.

"Will... will you come back to visit me again?" I stuttered. "It's just... I enjoy having you here... with me."

He froze. For a moment, he just stared at me. Then, he arched an eyebrow, as if he couldn't imagine that his company was pleasing.

"Please... I feel safer when you're around." I added. My confession came out of nowhere. I immediately realized that subconsciously, I had actually wanted to say it, but when I had said the words aloud, I realized that it wasn't my place to even think about it. Talon was a mated werewolf. What was I thinking?

But Talon didn't seem to mind though, his fingers took my chin and lifted my gaze from my hands to his eyes. Then slowly, he leaned down and captured my lips with his own. The kiss was soft and gentle. If I could have deepened the kiss, I would have, like a greedy child wanting more of a good thing. I wanted more of him, always -but at the end of the day, he wasn't mine to have more of.

As his lips left my own, I saw a dark, hungry swirl of emotions lingering in the depth of his eyes that made me want more.

"I miss you..." I whispered. It was so low that I could barely hear it myself. My face burned as realization set in on what I had muttered.

'Damn, Avalyn, you're getting bold,' I chastised in my head.

But I couldn't help it, I did miss him. It had been a while since he touched me in the ways that only he could, and I couldn't deny that in my dreams I longed for him.

A hint of surprise flickered across his face and he let out a small chuckle. "You have to rest, Avalyn. We still have a long day ahead of us." He said softly, planting his lips on mine to give me a chaste kiss before getting up from the bed. "I'm heading back now, you want me to escort you down?" He asked, looking back at me.

"Yes please, I was going to meet up with Dawn in the garden after breakfast," I replied.

Talon quirked his brows before smiling and nodding his head. "Are you sure you want to be down there?" There were a few people down there already but I was tired of being locked up in here.

"You can always just stay up here, then you wouldn't have to socialize with them."

"I would really like to if that's okay with you," I replied softly. I had promised Dawn I would come back down, and I really could use a stroll around pack grounds.

At the quiet sound of my voice, he nodded his head and smiled. "Very well then."