The Beast And The Blessed

Fifteen: Natalie

Natalie’s P.O.V.

I had never woken up to Killian being in bed with me before. He had always been an early riser. He would come to bed late at night and be gone before I opened my eyes.

This morning was different. Maybe it was because he didn’t get any sleep the night before, or maybe it was because he knew I was still mad at him. But as I woke up with my head on his bare chest, his hand started running up and down my spine.

I turned my head, placing my chin against his peck as I looked up at him. He refused to meet my stare and instead, kept his gaze on the ceiling. I smiled with my lips pressed together to save him from my morning breath as I scanned over his features.

The way his eyes and jaw were relaxed made me happy, and my cheek slid across his chest as I turned back and closed my eyes again. I wasn’t going to fall back asleep. I just wanted to enjoy this moment of peace before things went back to normal, with him hating my existence and me feeling so alone in the crowded castle.

The silence didn’t last long as Joselin’s familiar knock sounded through the room. Killian tensed beneath me, and my arm instinctively wrapped a little tighter around his waist. He was the king. If he wanted to stay here with me, he had the power to tell her to go away.

I held my breath as I felt his hand stop moving, and I tried not to vocalize my disappointment as he sat up, forcing me to lift myself off his chest.

Within a minute, he was dressed and out of the room, leaving the door open and Joselin standing in the opening as he brushed by her. He didn’t say a single word to me before he left, but it was his actions last night and this morning that made me feel like I was on top of the world.

Joselin said as she entered the room and made her way to

myself as she tossed some workout clothes

hands on her hips. “Seriously? You got him to apologize?” Her head

fingers running up and down my spine, and I let my head fall back against the mattress. She didn’t need to know that we

as I pulled the blanket back and got out of bed.

them back in their proper

in an effort. Even if it was as small as just staying in bed with me this morning, it was a step in the right direction. I couldn’t have

but I felt stronger than before. When he entered the room an hour later, everyone seemed to stop what they were doing. His presence commanded the entire pack without a single

down here before, and having him watch me work out made me blush with *. The way his eyes burned into me, made me second guess whether he was trying to decide if he still wanted me here or if he wanted to

part of my mind that had me feeling the same way I did the night of my first pack. dinner when

fluid than before. Each strike was also harder as I gave every bit of my energy into my sparring session. Each time I glanced up, his eyes

kick *. If he could just see for himself that I was already stronger than when I got here, then maybe it would

at Joselin’s side, taking her down quickly. The small cheer I let out was unintentional. The room went silent, and my arms dropped as I spun around to see if Killian had witnessed my first victory against the witch. My eyes landed on his back as he rushed out of the room, and all of my energy drained

big to make him leave like that,” Joselin said as she moved up to my side. “He couldn’t take his eyes off you the entire time

as I turned back to her. “It doesn’t