Chapter 115

Dylan POV

Without even missing a beat, I bolted to the RV door and threw it open, only to be met by John who had a slightly elevated look to him. He huffed slightly as if he had ran over here from god knows where, and he looked at me before delivering his news.

"That man, the one who was forcibly marked... He's awake." Now I was curious. We were told from day one that a forced mark was a death sentence, and yet this man had survived it...

"Lead the way!"!

I needed to see this man in order to understand what had happened. He logically shouldn't have survived, especially with the amount of blood he lost, but he had, he was alive and so it was imperative for me to speak to him. I guess I felt like it was partly my fault that he had even been marked without permission in the first place. If king Josh hadn't have announced that his intention was to do the same thing to me, then nobody else would have even had the gall to try it.

I walked with John to the medical tent in silence, the day was still calm and the sun was still blurring. I was already exhausted, however I couldn’t deny that I was happy, everything that had happened with Lewis was still playing on my mind and every time his lips on mine popped into my head, I smiled and blushed at the same time.

My thoughts were indeed cut off however as we finally got to the tent.

“Do you mind if I go and see him alone, I just really need to…” John nodded his head and smirked. He didn’t mind at all, I guess he must have understood my thought process.

I didn't waste any time in entering, and walked straight up to where the man was previously being treated. What shocked me the most however, was the fact that he was sat up in bed, reading an old book, completely unfazed about the fact he almost died a couple of days ago.

"Um... Hello..." I waited for him to meet my eyes so that I could speak to him, except he barely acknowledged my presence.

"I thought I told the doctor I didn't want to speak to anymore god damn mutts." Oh, he was my people. I smiled at his attitude and nodded my head ever so slightly, impressed with his attitude, I understood the man completely. After what he had been through it would have been difficult for him to determine that not all lycans were the same. Hell, I was only just starting to understand it myself.

"I assure you, I am not a wolf." He sighed and quickly lowered his book long enough to look in my direction. As soon as he did it was his face that showed shock, he immediately closed his book, keeping his finger in between the pages he was currently reading so he wouldn't lose his page.

"Queen Dylan!" His voice rose as he spoke my name along with my unwanted title, however at this stage I was extremely fed up of telling people to stop saying it only for them to continue to do so every single time they saw me. "I can't believe you are really here?"

"Neither can I in all honesty." I chuckled dryly and walked over to his bed before sitting down on the chair next to it. "How are you doing?"

"I'm very well, your grace, I'm feeling stronger than I ever have." Hmm, I wasn't sure if that was concerning or not though.

"Has the doctor explained anything to you yet?" I asked him, my curiosity getting the better of me, I just felt the need to know everything about his situation.

"He's explained enough. I guess it makes sense as to why I'm so full of energy." He chuckled not seeming all that concerned about what could possibly happen. Whereas for me, all I could think about with this guy, was what could happen next. I mean he miraculously survived the bite, but at what cost? Is it true that he could potentially shift during the next full moon? Had the forced mark truly changed his human composition? How could he not be worried about the plausible consequences? He must have read my mind or at least he must have read my facial expressions, because he quickly sighed. “I’m lucky to even be alive right now, so whatever happens, happens. I don’t intend to waste my days. I’m going to enjoy whatever time I have left, especially when I have the energy to do so.” He was a very optimistic guy, more so than I was. It was quite admirable in all honesty.

“I’m sorry…” I genuinely was really sorry, this man had gone through something even worse than I had, he was upbeat, and lively, but his eyes held more pain and betrayal than his words could confess. “I can not imagine what you must be going through, right now.” He met my own orbs in shock at how sincere I was being, he must have been unfamiliar with receiving empathy, and on that note, I could definitely relate to him. “The choice to be marked… well, that is the only thing that we have a say in, it’s the only thing in our power to control, but that was completely taken from you.”

“It’s my own fault for letting my guard down. I was starting to accept her slowly, if she had waited a few more months, I don’t think she would have had to force me.” So even this man found it difficult to deny his bond with her.

“Never blame yourself. You are supposed to be able to let your guard down with the people you like. You shouldn’t have to fear the possibility of being attacked by the person who claims they like you. None of this, is your fault.” The entire time I was speaking to him my sight wandered over to his shoulder, my curiosity eating away at me to discover what a non consented mark bite, looked like. I doubted it would take on a slight pattern like a typical marking would.

“If it’s spoken by you, your grace, then I will just have to believe it.” The admiration in his eyes was enough to leave me slightly shocked. I still couldn’t understand why some people thought so highly of me. I hadn’t done anything except be a human punching bag, and yet the support some people showed me was the most honorific thing I could have received. “Can I ask you a question, your grace?” I frowned, unsure whether his question would be one that I was able to answer.

“Of course, after everything, I think the least I can do is answer a question or two.” I let a friendly smile grace my lips, as I looked at the man. He swallowed thickly and gripped his book slightly tighter in his grasp before speaking his query.

“How did you do it?” I had absolutely no clue at all what he was talking about, again, he must have sensed my own unspoken inquiry. “How did you reject him, how did you deny the mate bond for so long? I mean… You escaped, you found your way here. So how did you do it? How did you stay yourself while being with him?” I had no idea what he was talking about, denying the king wasn’t difficult at all, in fact, I’d go as far as to say it was the easiest thing I had to do while residing in the palace.

“I’m not sure I can answer that.” My fingers quickly began to fiddle its each other as I began to explain my aversion to the question at hand. “For me, Being with the king was never a question or a possibility, it was actually pretty easy to reject him and his ideals.”

“But how? Whenever I’m around my mate, I’m disgusted by her, and yet my body longs for her. She may be a wolf, and I may hate her, but god do I want her.” I frowned again, it was never difficult, not once did I want to be in his presence, I never wanted to even say his name, the very word used to bring bile to my throat. “Did you never feel… I don’t know how to describe it…” The man must have been confused, surly if you hated someone so much you would wouldn’t have any longing for them at all. “When he touched you, did you not feel the electric shocks, like your body’s would merge together if you stayed connected for too long? Did he truly never make you feel elated?” He frowned, almost as if he couldn’t understand me at all, while I began to drown in my thoughts.

I’ll be the first to admit that There were some mild sparks between me and the king, but never to the extent of what this man was describing. In fact if I had to give someone that description it wouldn’t have been the king at all, it would have been Lewis.

Whenever I would touch Lewis, all those little barely there sparks that I had completely detested with the king, would feel both stronger and a lot more amazing coming from the ex beta, whenever he was around I felt safe and secure like nothing the king could do would hurt me…. actually, thinking back, it was Lewis that I was instantly drawn to back in my schools corridor.

“I’m sorry, but I never felt anything like that with the king. His grace only bought me pain.” If everyone I know felt so connected to their mates, then why didn’t I?

“Maybe it’s just me being an idiot…” It wasn’t, I think it was actually to do with me.

“From what I’ve heard, most people find it difficult to deny their mates….” So why didn’t I? “I’ll let you rest and read your book. If you take a turn or begin to feel different, then please tell someone.” He nodded his head, and frowned on confusion at me.

“Ok… So where are you going now then?” Where was I going? Well today was my birthday, so far a lot had happened and I fully intended on getting some answers.

“I think it’s time I found out whether the moon goddess actually exists or not.” Time to take Lewis’s advice, and see if she’s at all forthcoming with her answers. “Please, get some rest.”

I didnt wait any longer, the sun was still high in the sky, however it was slowly descending and created a warm red glow, I just loved it when the sky looked like that. I didn’t even know how to broach the subject of trying to contact a nonexistent benevolent, but I had to at least try. I suppose it would rule out the possibility of me being blessed by her.

I walked straight to the lake, it always seem quite sacred somehow. I had noticed the moon always shone directly on it whenever night fell across the sky, and so I sat down, crossed legged, on the grass by the water and waited for the moon to rise. Slowly but surly the full orb shone onto the lake creating a beautiful view of silver. I sighed, already finding this idea really stupid, as I looked at the full moon.

“Ok… I’m here, Goddess Luna!” I knew that was what Lewis called her and so I decided to give it a try. “If you’re real, then I need some answers…” Maybe I was doing it wrong! Did I need to join my hands like Christian’s? Or maybe I had to kneel before the moon itself? “Please?!”

One large flash of light flew across the water and instantly, I was blinded!