The Beast And The Blessed

Twelve: Natalie

Natalie’s P.O.V.

I felt *dressed in such a stunning gown. It was the kind of thing that made me second guess whether or not I was fit to be here. The fabric brushed the ground, shimmering from a pale blue to a pearly *as the light hit it at different angles.

The deep cut that ran between my breasts left the small diamond-crusted wolf pendant to be on display from its long silver chain. Contrary to human beliefs, which they had to learn the hard way, silver did nothing to us, and I adored the necklace as soon as I saw it.

Killian’s eyes widened as I rounded the corner, and I had to remind myself to breathe normally as he stood tall and proud with his hands clasped in front of him with his feet shoulder-width apart. The crisp black suit was different than what I had seen him in before, and I let my eyes roam over the more formal wear.

He was a fine man indeed, one that any woman would be lucky to mate with. But I felt a brief moment of longing for more, for a relationship. I wanted a man to look at me the way Killian was and for it to mean. something. For him, it seemed to mean nothing, and that was the way he acted as if he wanted it to stay.

The glowing red eyes of his beast forcing his way forward made me want to melt into the floor as he stared at me, and heat traveled up my chest and neck as I blushed. As I looked back up shyly, the red was gone, and in its place were the cold mask and hazel eyes that I had grown frustrated by.

As he turned to face the door, I moved up next to him, gently placing my hand in the *of his arm.

“You’re back to being cold then,” I said softly, trying to keep my voice low enough that others wouldn’t hear. “For a second, I thought you were actually happy that I was joining you for dinner.”

I could feel him looking down at me as I stared ahead at the door. “You look very nice,” I whispered, knowing I was only embarrassing myself further by not keeping my thoughts to myself.

His arm pulled closer to his body, taking my hand with him. My hope that it was a move intended to comfort me vanished as soon as he used the hand of the arm I was holding to adjust his jacket.

held me at night, that he was cold, and that he was rumored to be *to those that opposed him. I had no knowledge of my place in his world

look at either of us, waiting patiently for us to signal

hazel eyes staring back at me. “What am I? Am I to sit back quietly as

to ever mark me. He

with me, and I watched his eyes soften for a moment before he looked back up

hand atop mine and nodded at the servants. They pulled both doors open, revealing the large dining room. The pack sat in row after row of tables. I knew it wasn’t everyone in his pack. There were hundreds, if not thousands more. But having so many eyes on me

Killian stepped forward with his head held high. The lack of introduction for me, was not surprising as I held no official title yet. Even if people wanted to address me as Her Highness in a smaller setting, it was a title reserved for

would become the Queen Consort. I would stand

of the room, pulling out my seat before prying my hand from his arm. Our table held many other familiar faces, but none of which I had interacted with beyond Joselin. I was thankful that she sat to my left and that I wouldn’t be as alone as I felt. She dipped her head in respect before smiling brightly at me, the black lines etched into her skin, seeming to vibrate

I sat, Killian did too, and the rest of

did my best to hide my shaking hands as I took small and careful bites. My nerves were winning, and I hated that there were so many eyes on me. The ones sticking out the most sat at the table directly in front of

green eyes landed on me with a forced smile as she continued to talk, her voice raising with excitement as she continued to tell her story. The more

I was able to hear her, I felt the food I had managed to get down turn to concrete in my stomach. “She cried out for a while, begging for it to stop, but then she just went quiet. I thought she was dead for a minute. Obviously, she wasn’t. I think it was twenty lashes, but she still didn’t shift by the end of it. I don’t think she’ll ever shift.” Mira’s hands moved in the

my flesh like butter as I hung from the post. It was their last attempt at trying to force my shift. The Alpha had said that it would force my wolf to come to the surface, wanting to protect

It didn’t.

story she had told of me. If it

been happy to leave my past behind, but it was catching up to me, accelerating with each passing

exactly what I needed to lift my chin. I could feel the support in

I was to be treated as the queen, even without his mark. I just had to hope he