The Beast And The Blessed

Ten: Natalie

Natalie’s P.O.V.

A loud knocking woke me from my dream of running through the forest in my fur, and I groaned as the memory of it vanished just as quickly. I knew what my dream was about, but once my eyes were open I couldn’t picture it any longer. The sights, the smells, the feeling of it… it was all gone.

It had always been my favorite dream, and I had it frequently.

But it was a dream that I had no expectation of ever becoming reality.

Instinctively, my arm slid across the bed, seeking out the warm body that had held me last night.

While I had been waking up every few minutes before he had joined me, once I was in his arms, I had the best sleep of my life. Considering he was still a stranger, it seemed odd that I found that kind of comfort in him.

The lack of his presence made me look to my side, seeing my mate’s side of the bed empty. The blanket had been pulled back smooth against the bed, and the pillow had no indent to show any sign that he had ever been there.

I knew it had been too good to be true. He probably slept somewhere else last night with one of his women, and I had just been dreaming of him being here.

Yet, the memory of him nuzzling my neck and claiming me as his was strong, unlike the dreams that had already dissipated from my mind.

I looked around the room to make sure I was still alone and that no one could see me before leaning over and sniffing the pillow. His smell wasn’t as strong as it would have been if I had shifted, but it was still there. He had been in the bed, holding me.

A smile stretched across my face, and I fell back onto my pillow. The king wasn’t as cold as he acted. He had a soft spot, and if I wanted this to work, I would just need to work my way into it.

Jake appeared in my mind, but the pain that I had felt in my chest from the past two days did. not accompany it as I had expected. I didn’t want to get my heart broken again, but I didn’t have much of a choice. I could either try to find happiness here with

head to glance at the door as the knocking occurred again, the person hitting their knuckles on the wood harder and faster this time,

I yelled as I rushed out of the bed, adjusting my pajamas to make sure I was decent before

the doorframe tapping her fingers impatiently, while her other hand sat

over her shoulder, smirking with amusement as Tobias’s eyes trailed over Joselin’s backside. ”

left little to the imagination, and I figured that Tobias was getting quite the eyeful. “It’s time to start your training. You have

title was exactly how I felt. I knew I had no power as of yet, and would not wear a crown until I was marked. The fact that people were bowing to me yesterday and treating me as if I was something special made me want to laugh. There was no reason for them to see me as anything other than a

to learn what my role in the kingdom was. In my mind, it was a lot of paperwork, and building relationships with members of the court and other countries. The last thing I expected, although I should have based on how she was dressed, was for her to bring me to a giant gym on the

heads turned to stare as I made my way through the rows of machines and

largest room I had ever seen, more than likely spanning the entire bottom floor of this part of

roll-up doors open leading out to the training field where Lycans and wolves were sparring. The men in their Lycan form towered over the women in their wolf form but

may not have been able to turn into the Lycan form, but they appeared to be just as

It was incredible.

obviously heard me. Heat filled my cheeks, but

aware of all the eyes on me. Those who hadn’t

I was not worthy as a human or if they wanted me to impress

for my health, to learn self-defense, or are we actually training for something?” My question was met by a sharp glare

begin.” She said as I climbed on the

until I was working at a jog. There was no way I would be giving up

half an hour before I could no longer force myself to keep going. My lungs were burning, my legs felt hot, and

running on the treadmill next to me, not seeming bothered even though she