Tamed – Part ll

"Are they not made properly to your taste?" She asked, even though knew she was losing her appetite slowly.
"They are delicious. But I'm full." Ophelia kindly said.
"I can make you something else. What are you craving, sweetheart?" Cressida asked as she walked closer to her.
"I'm craving for him." She said and Cressida let out a low sigh.
"He is doing this to protect you, dear."
"This is where the misunderstanding is beginning. His beast didn't try to harm me. He merely tried to mark me as his. He was afraid that Onyx would regain control before he had his rightful portion of my flesh." Ophelia informed and Cressida frowned.
"It is unusual that the beast is chasing after the human part of their mate. This has never happened before."
"That is something I have thought about a lot actually. I questioned and searched for an answer. And I did find one. Onyx's beast cherishes me, mom."
"How do you know that?"
"I can feel him now. He meant no harm and this distance Onyx is putting between us is killing him as much as it is killing me. I want to bring him home. Not just Onyx, I want to bring his beast home too."
Cressida had gasped after learning her plan. No one would believe her words after knowing very well how her life was almost taken away by the beast. But through the mark he put on her neck, the beast had been slowly conveying his emotions to her. It frightened her at first and it was though he was pulling her down an ocean with no surface. No matter how many times she tried to escape, he merely grabbed her ankle and yanked her down. For a moment she truly felt as though he was trying to kill her. But each day he pulled her down in the ocean, she discovered the heavenly surface of the ocean the beast had created for her. All she had to do was accustom that feeling and lose the fear of him. Throughout Onyx's whole life, he had pushed his beast away and locked him up inside and when they found her, he pushed his beast away in the name of safety. He wanted to mark her because she and Onyx only pushed him away believing him to be a danger. He only needed her to feel the affection he has for her. The beast simply wanted to be loved, both by her and Onyx.

Ophelia sighed as she massaged Cressida's warm oil onto her sore breasts. She sat down on her bed, placed the oil down on the nightstand, and draped the silk robe over her breasts. She clutched his pillow which had the faint smell of cologne and her eyes closed shut. When a cramp shot through her abdomen, she winced and something clicked in her mind. Her eyes flashed wide, and she sat up slowly on the bed. Ophelia jumped out of bed and dashed out the door.

When someone knocked on their bedroom door, Cressida placed the book on the bedside table. She came to the door and furrowed her brows when she saw Ophelia standing there, slightly anxious.
"What happened, sweetheart?"
After Ophelia had departed, Cressida entered, and Gerbert asked,
"What happened, love?"
"There's nothing serious." Cressida smiled as she slipped into bed with him. "I feel terrible for her. Why is the Goddess so merciless?" Cressida sighed, snuggling into her moon-blessing. Gerbert hummed as he flipped through the files in his hands.
"She is such a sweet child!" Cressida exclaimed once again, and Gerbert hummed. "Onyx shouldn't have departed without saying anything."
"He did it to-"
"-to protect her. I know. That is something I have heard numerous times. But what you males don't realize is that your sheer presence beside your female, a few warm words, is more valuable than any virtuous act like that." Cressida shook her head. "Since he was just a little pup, he had been away from me. It was excruciatingly painful at first, but I gradually came to terms with it. I needed some time to adjust to his absence. But that is not the case with Ophelia. They've only recently mated, and she had to wait and go through a lot before that. Even looking at her hurts. I wish I had the ability to relieve her pain."
"We have no choice but to wait for him to tame his beast. It's difficult for me as well. But all we can do is wait." Gerbert said as he kissed her temple and Cressida looked up at him.
"You know where he is. Don't you?" She asked but Gerbert didn’t reply.
“I don’t know.” He said and Cressida bared her teeth at him.
“Don’t lie to me! You know where he is!” Gerbert sighed and put the file away.
“I do.”
“Tell me where he is!” Cressida sat up and he shook his head.
“I can’t do that, my moonlight. If I tell you, you will tell her and she would run to him. His beast might hurt her again and that would push Onyx into more dismay. We don’t want that. We are trying to protect her.” Cressida couldn't get him to say anything after that, no matter how hard she tried. She went to bed defeated and enraged. Cressida awoke early the next morning, and after getting prepared for the day, she discovered Ophelia waiting for her in the living room.
"Good morning, mom." Ophelia smiled warmly and anxiously at her.
"Good morning, my dear. I have spoken with the healer and she has made preparations." Cressida informed Ophelia as she drew her into an embrace.
"I'm a little nervous." Cressida rubbed her on the back of the head while she spoke.
"Don't worry, dear. I'm right here with you. And if what we're thinking comes true, I swear to the Goddess I'll drag that beast home by the ear." Ophelia smiled and drew back.
"I'm certain you will," Ophelia stated as they exited the manor.