Nova’s pov
“Raoul, take the file to my chamber,” Prescott let out, disengaging from the hug, “you follow me, Czar.” he gave an order to the two men, he spun his feet and walked away from me.
I smiled, wiping my tears with my palms before turning to face the maids who stood with their gaze on the floor.
“Everything is going to be okay,” I flashed out a smile, trying to sound as reassuring as possible. “The King is here to help us, not to harm us. Please don’t be afraid of him,” I continued, my voice gentle and soothing.
I hoped my words would help to calm their nerves and ease their worries. I gave them my most encouraging smile, hoping it would help to put them at ease.
I pushed past them, walking towards my parents’ building with both Rezso and Shayna trailing behind me.
“You know…” I spun on my feet, making them hastily stop on their track. I smirked, staring at Rezso with my eyebrows raised. “You know it’s not necessarily for you to keep following me around?” I asked, crossing my arms around my chest.
“Um, Your Highness,” Rezso said hesitantly, his voice barely above a whisper. “I have to ensure your safety back to the royal villa.” He seemed to struggle with the words as if he was unsure of how I would react.
I took a deep breath and met his gaze, receptive to his understanding that I wasn’t angry or upset. I was only trying to give him some breathing space.
“I know you’re just doing your job,” I said, smiling warmly. “I appreciate your concern for my safety. But we are in my pack and my father’s palace, no one will dare harm me, no harm will befall me here, so be rest assured that nothing is going to happen.” I moved closer to him and patted his shoulder with a warm smile plastered on my face.
“Someone please escort the royal guard to the visitors’ building,” I ordered, a maid stepped out and walked up to us.
“I will escort him to the visitors building.” the maid whose I’d never seen her face before bowed to me, turning her face to Rezso to lead him to the building.
“I will come to see you in the morning. Sleep well, Your Royal Highness,” Rezso uttered, his head bowed respectfully. Then, he turned and followed the maid out of the front yard, to have a nice sleep at the visitors building.
I stood still for a moment, watching them go. As they disappeared down the corridor, I felt a sense of calm wash over me.
“Finally, it’s time to see my family!” I exclaimed with a grin. My feet were already moving towards the door as if propelled by pure happiness. I couldn’t wait to be reunited with the people I loved most, to share this short moment with them.
“Wait up, my Princess!” Shayna chuckled after me as we ran through the door.
“Princess Nova is…” the guard at the door was trying to announce my presence when I pushed the door open, rushing inside our living room at a light speed.
I saw Mom, trying to walk up the stairs with Dad sitting on the couch with his head bowed.
“Mother?!” I yelled out to her, rushing up to her.
Mom turned upon hearing my voice, her eyes lit up with a smile upon seeing me running up to her.
“Novalie, my darling girl,” my mom said, her voice full of wonder and joy. She hurried over to me and wrapped me in a tight embrace, squeezing me as if she would never let me go.
I was enveloped in her warmth, feeling the love radiating from her in waves. I closed my eyes, taking a moment to savour the feeling of being home, of being loved. I felt like I could stay like this forever, lost in the safety and comfort of my mother’s arms.
“Princess!” my dad exclaimed, jumping to his feet.
I flung my eyes open to see Dad, standing to his feet with his jaw dropped in shock and surprise to see me.
His eyes were wide with surprise, his mouth forming a perfect O of astonishment. I could see the happiness radiating from him, and I knew that he had missed me as much as I had missed him. I felt like I had come home like everything was right in the world again. At that moment, I knew that I would always belong here, with my family.
My mom let go of me, and I immediately threw myself into my dad’s arms, my arms winding tightly around his neck. I hugged him with all my strength, feeling my heart swell with love.
I couldn’t stop the tears from falling as I clung to him, feeling safe and protected in his embrace. My dad’s arms enveloped me, holding me as if I was a small child again. I felt like I had been transported back in time, to a simpler, more carefree time.
“Oh, I’ve missed you so much, Dad!” I cried, burying my face in his neck. I felt his strong arms wrapped around me, and I sobbed even harder.
It was like I could finally breathe again like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I felt safe and secure in his embrace like nothing could ever hurt me again.
I held onto him as if my life depended on it, and I knew at that moment that I was truly home.
“Mom, how have you been?” I got out of Dad’s embrace, facing Mom once again.
“Are you okay, Princess? How is it at the royal villa?” Mom asked, brushing off my question.
“I’m fine, the royal villa isn’t as bad as I had thought.” I blurted out, my cheeks heated in a charming smile.
“Greetings, Alpha. Greetings, Luna,” Shayna greeted, making her presence known. Her voice was full of reverence and respect. She bowed low, her head bent in submission.
“Shayna, dear, are you doing okay?” Mom smiled, and she gestured for Shayna to come forward.
“Thank you, your Majesty, I am doing okay!” Shayna returned the smile as Mom pulled her for a brief hug.
“Where is Tamsyn?” I asked, moving my gaze around the living room, but I was unable to see her anywhere around the room.
“She is…” Mom trailed off, moving her gaze towards the stairs as if Tamsyn has been standing there all along.
“She must be in your room.” Dad saved the situation by chipping in.
“I’m coming mom, need to see my sister.” I beamed, rushing up the stairs at a light speed.
“Oh, dear!” Mom gasped, seeing how I was speeding on the stairs to get to my once-upon-a-time room.
I got to the door and pushed the door open.
“Tam!” I exclaimed, rushing up to my sister who was standing by the window with her back to me.
Tamsyn turned upon hearing my voice, I threw myself at her, her bump pushed me back and I chuckled lightly.
“Hey, how are you doing?” I said, taking her shoulders in my hands and giving her a once-over.
I couldn’t help but smile as I looked at her, seeing the beloved face of my sister. I felt like no time had passed, even though so much had changed since I asked her to run away to escape her horrible fate of marrying the Lycan King.
“Good.” she groaned, grabbing my hands and slapping it off her shoulders.
I smiled, unable to comprehend her mood. Well, it might be her pregnancy mood. So I guess.
“I have missed you so much. How is the baby?” I moved my eyes to her bump, couldn’t believe my perfect sister would be carrying her little pub in her arms soon, in a couple of weeks.
“Are you now close with that beast?” Tam asked, her gaze hardened and it felt like cold water was poured on me.
“Huh? What do you mean?” I hitched my neck, unable to bring myself to talk about the Lycan King.
Tam smirked, crossing her arms around her chest, staring down at me with a look I couldn’t read.
“I saw you,” she paused, puffing out air as if she was being suffocated by staying in the same room as me.
“I saw you hugging him, right over there.” she looked stared at the window, and then it dawned on me, you could see everything that was happening in the front yard, through my room window.
“Oh,” I mumbled lowly, my head bowed in submission.
“Are you two close?” Tam asked, moving away from the window.
I traced my eyes to her, she walked over to my closet and pulled it open.
“You’re being so frustrating! Just answer me already!” Tamsyn huffed, her voice tinged with irritation. I could tell she was getting impatient, that she was dying to know the answer.
“No, we’re not close,” I insisted, stepping closer to her. “It was just a mere hug of gratitude. It was a sign of my appreciation for what he’s going to do for our pack,” I explained, hoping she would believe me.
It was important to me that she knew I wasn’t being shady to her, and that my impression of the Lycan King remained the same.
“A gratitude hug, huh?” she chuckled, pulling a silver dagger out of my closet.
I moved back in shock, couldn’t make sense of why she would keep a dagger in my closet.
“W-what… what are you doing?” I stuttered, my breath coming in short gasps. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, my pulse racing as I watched her approaching me with the dagger in her hand.
The fear was building inside of me, my body frozen in place as I tried to make sense of what was happening. I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, couldn’t even think straight as she got closer and closer. It was as if my brain had shut down, unable to process what was happening.
“I’m going to kill that beast, and you’re going to help me.” Her words hit me like a physical blow, my stomach lurching as I struggled to process what she had just said.
I felt like I’d been punched in the gut, unable to breathe as my mind reeled from the implications of her words. I had always known that she hated the Lycan King, but I had never imagined she would be capable of such violence. My shock and horror were so great that I was left speechless.
“You want to kill his Majesty?” I gasped, staring at her with tears streaming down my cheeks.