Acela POV
The events of last night have rocked not only The Vale but the human realm, the attempt on my life again has been talked about constantly, TV, radio, and newspapers have plastered my face with the Lycan I now know called Rudo.
Rudo is Lucius's son and my supposed half-brother, he had thought my existence was an 'abomination to Lycan-kind'.
Kane, the King had tried to kill Rudo after we all made our way back to the Palace, if not for Lucius being able to hold Kane back, Sudo would be long dead with nothing but a pile of blood left. The attempt not only on my life but on Sora's had Kane murderous with intent to kill every single one of them.
After Lucius had stopped Kane, Lucius had told us it was his duty to end this, Lucius is a King and I had been told by Caelan, once a family member of one of your people had committed a sin or act of treason, the punishment was ruled out by that realm.
Sora had survived, thanks to the mate bond with Kane, as soon as he touched her she began to heal rapidly, but she came incredibly close, so close that Kane refuses to leave her side, not even trusting his own people to care for her, he almost lost his mate and Caelan also most his mother.
Lisla and Caelan are currently visiting their mother in her wing of the Palace, Sora was fine the moment she was healed but Kane refuses to let her leave the bedroom until Rudo is dead.
Rudo will die tomorrow, execution by beheading by Lucius, it will be a private execution with no witnesses but only the family of Rudo and Lucius.
Lucius has three other sons, all which are half brothers. Tomorrow they will be here to witness the death, it is their way and it's how they do things...
I just hope they don't see me as some kind of threat and want to kill me...
Ever since my transformation into Lycan and killing someone, I have had the taste of metal haunt my tastebuds, along with the face of the Lycan I had killed, every time I close my eyes I taste blood and see the look of horror on his face as the life drains from his eyes.
If I can avoid it, I never want to experience that again, taking another life had come too easy for the Lycans that had tried to kill me, but to me it made me feel dizzy and sick, I feel like I'm going crazy, everyone around me has killed someone more than once.
The door to the bedroom opens and I sit up on the bed as I see Caelan come into the room and shut the door. He looks the same as last night, with the same expression Kane had.
Anger, frustration, and exhaustion.
Caelan comes over to me and takes his jacket and shirt off, he doesn't say anything as he comes next to me and lays beside me, wrapping his arm around me and bringing me close to his chest, he released a deep sigh as he relaxes to my scent.
"How are you baby?" Caelan asks tiredly and I hum.
How am I? I don't even have words for what I'm feeling right now.
I turn in his hold and look into his face, he looks at me with a frown. "I can't believe this is my life now." I say, closing my eyes and breathing out heavily. "Will it always be like this, always scared for my life because I'm a hybrid Lycan?" I say quietly as I open my eyes to look at the beautiful man in front of me.
He sits up and scowls at me. "Acela, you shouldn't think like this, this is not your fault, that fucking piece of shit is getting it easy." He says angrily as his eyes flash red. "No one is coming close to you ever again."
I look up at him confused. "You can't keep me locked up in here forever Caelan." I say with a frown.
He shrugs. "I just want you safe, you are my world Acela.. I almost lost you and my mother, Rudo won't be the last to try this shit.. Once I'm King it will only get more dangerous for us."
I rub my face with my hands. "I can't do this Caelan, I'm not like you or Kane and Lucius, I'm not made for this world." I say stressfully as I groan out.
Caelan tenses and frowns at me. "What does that mean? Do you want to leave me? Acela I am not letting you go again." Caelan says roughly as he clenches his fist at the thought.
He just doesn't understand, I've mentioned this before, I didn't want to be queen, but it's looking more like I don't even have a say anymore, nobody is giving me a chance to speak, and if I get a word in its like nobody is hearing me.
"I just know I am not made for this Caelan, I want a normal life, I don't want or need any of.. this... it's not me, this is your world, not mine." I say slowly as I try to explain how I'm feeling.
He growls warningly. "This is our world, not mine, we are together Acela, if it any doubts you have, stop it, you are in your head so much you don't even see what everyone else does." He huffs out annoyed.
"You are so fucking amazing, yet you always put yourself down, just because it's hard doesn't mean you can't do it, I refuse to fucking let you doubt yourself." He says angrily as his nostrils flare.
I look up to him and frown. "I'm sorry.. I... I just, it's a lot.. I can't believe this is all happening.. who I am, Lucius.. Olivia and Rudo.. when does it end? I feel like I'm cursed." I say quietly as tears threaten to escape my eyes.
Caelan frowns and moves closer to me and wipes the tears from my eyes with his thumbs. "You are far from cursed, you are a gift to the world Acela, you don't need to be Queen of The Vale for people to see that, they already see you as what I do, you're passionate, caring, and brave, I feel so blessed I get to be your Mate." He says softly and my heart throbs at how much he believes those words.
I'm so weak, I want to believe these things Caelan believes I am, I want to be able to believe in myself as much as Caelan believes in me.
He sighs and kisses me on my forehead, I look up to him as I sniffle back my sobs, he smiles softly at me with tired eyes.
He pulls me from the bed and in the direction of the bathroom then smiles at me. "Come, let's get ready for bed before I punish you for doubting yourself." He says with a wink and I laugh softly.
*****
Today is the day of the execution and the three other sons of Lucius has just arrived.
I have not seen them yet as Lucius has just excused himself to collect his sons from the palace main door.
Caelan and I are walking around the gardens inside the Palace grounds until the execution, Caelan had tried to stop me from going but I need to see this, or else I will always be shielded by the things people think I can't stomach, last nights talk with Caelan made me think about a lot of things.
If I am to become Queen, and it's looking more likely every day that it will happen, I need to see this execution, I need to watch Lucius do his job because someday that will be Caelan in Lucius and Kane's place, as King.
Caelan takes me by surprise and spins me around and kisses me on the lips, his strong arms lift me up and squeeze me as he spins me around, making me slightly dizzy, not just from the spinning, Caelan always smells so good, and his kisses make me lightheaded
"W-What was that for?" I ask with a laugh as I hold back my blush.
He shrugs and grins at me while he still holds me. "I just love you, do I need a reason?" He says looking up at me in awe.
I chuckle. "I love you too, but um, people are watching.." I hint as we aren't the only ones in the garden. Garden workers and palace staff aren't close but they can definitely see us, one thing I hate about my new awakened Lycan abilities is that I can hear extremely well, from far away.
A simple sneeze from the other side of the Palance and I can hear it, it's insanely annoying.
"I don't give a fuck, let's give them a show." He says, wiggling his eyebrows up and down with a grin.
I snort and was about to say something but I was interrupted. "I'd prefer PG 13 thank you, Caelan." Lucius says humorously and I look to who is behind him.
Three men, all different in appearance stand next to Lucius but they all have something similar, Lucius's height and piercing eyes. These must be his sons.... my half brothers?
Caelan puts me down and I look awkwardly at the men as they all look at me with interest. "So this is the famous Acela Shaw, you look a lot taller on TV." One of the guys say. "I'm Leo, the most handsome brother of the four." He says with mischief in his eyes as his brothers glare at him.
Lucius clears his throat. "Let me introduce you, these are my sons, Leo, Christophe, and Maximus." He says politely and I smile and wave awkwardly at them, feeling uncomfortable with all these stares all of a sudden.
I smile at the three. "Hello, nice to meet you all." I say shyly, I feel Caelan wrap his arm around my waist.
Caelan looks at the four men in front of us with a serious expression. "It's time, we should all head back in." He says and the three brothers frown but nod.
We all follow Caelan back inside and I start to feel tense at what is about to come, I'm about to watch someone die for the second time in the span of two days.
As we all make it to the room where the execution will take place, Caelan leaves my side for a second, not before kissing me on the forehead and telling me he will be back as soon as possible as he heads over and speaks to his father Kane, one of the brothers catch my attention as they stand in front of me.
Christophe looks uncomfortable as he smiles at me, slightly awkwardly. "Uh, this is odd right? I promise you, Maxi and Leo will not harm you, Sudo has always been entitled and a brat, this is not the first time, I just want you to know, you shouldn't feel sorry for him or blame yourself." He says softly and I smile appreciatively.
"Thank you, uh- I know, I've just never.. you know.." I mutter out awkwardly as I hint towards the stage where the execution will take place.
His eyes go wide as he nods his head, also looking at the stage with me. "Oh, I see. It will be fast and painless, which is far from what he deserves." He says coldly as he stares at the empty stage.
He clears his throat and puts his hand in his pocket, he looks suddenly serious as he grabs something."I wanted to give you something." He says before he hands me a letter, on the front is handwriting I would notice a mile away.
I take it and look at him confused. "How did you get this? This handwriting is my mo-"
He interrupts me. "Please do not say you got it from me, I should sit, uh.. sorry." He says awkwardly before he walks away without looking back at me as I start there gawking at him.
What the hell?
I open the letter with my heartbeat racing wildly in my chest as I skim over the words, this handwriting is definitely hers, my mother's.
But that's not what shocks me.
"To my baby girl, if you get this it's because I'm alive.I just want you to know how sorry I am. As I watch you now, doing your homework... My heart breaks. I wish I did not have to leave you. You may never forgive me for leaving you. Just know I did it to save you and I will never forgive myself. I have people hunting me that won't stop. I had to keep you hidden and safe too, I'm sorry. I'm staying with someone I wanted you to meet so bad.
Maybe you know by who by now? His name is Lucius.
Acela, I miss you so much and I'm looking at you...I love you so much baby girl, keep smiling am watching over you every day, praying for the day can be together as a family again, until then please be safe, stay strong and never stop smiling, momma loves you.
-Brianna Shaw, your loving mother."
"You've got to be shitting me." I mutter out angrily as I grip the piece of paper.
What the hell is this supposed to be? Some kind of sick joke? I buried my mother's body, I saw her body being put into the ground, she's gone.
I look around the room and try to find Lucius, I see him just coming into the room as I walk over to him, gripping the piece of paper in my hands with force, my hands turn white at how much I'm trying to hold back my emotions in the room full of people.
Lucius frowns when he sees my expression as I stand in front of him. "Acela, what's wro-"
I interrupt him by shoving the latter into his chest, he takes it and frowns as he turns it over to read it.
Upon noticing how fast his expression changes, I would say I am being made a fool of. "Is she alive?" I ask him deadly silent.
Lucius shifts uncomfortably on his feet and sighs as he rubs the back of his neck with a frown on his face. "Where did you get this?" He asks and I growl out.
"Is she alive Lucius? Tell me." I ask again, this time louder and people heard me.
Caelan comes to my side as I ask him again. "IS SHE ALIVE?" I shout out angrily as he closes his eyes and rubs his face.
He nods his head twice and I feel sick, she's alive and he knew.
He fed me some crap story in the hotel about missing her funeral and how much he missed her, yet he always knew she was alive, she's god damn probably living with him.
So while I was trying to rebuild my life with no family, friends, home, or money, she's faking her death and playing Queen Lycan with Lucius, who most likely knows everything.
"Acela, it's complicated, I didn't want you finding out like this, let's talk after th-"
I interrupt him angrily. "Go to hell, the both of you." I say deadly seriously as I turn and head out of the room, Caelan following behind me confused.
"Acela what the fuck?" Caelan grabs my arm and turns me to look at him.
The tears fall from my eyes and I can't stop them anymore, I'm so mad and I feel so betrayed, my own mother lied to me, hid everything from me and pretended to be sick! I had no life because I was 'looking after' her, I feel like a damn idiot.
Caelan frowns then wipes my eyes with his thumbs. "Shhh, please don't cry, fuck Acela, tell me what happened before I go in there and fucking kill him." He says angrily as I full-on cry.
I hiccup as I try to get the words out and I feel my heart breaking all over again, I can't believe she would do this to me, this is not happening..
I really am cursed.
"S-She's a-alive, my mother.. t-they lied to m-me Caelan, L-Lucius knew!"
Caelan closes his eyes pissed off whilst trying to calm his wolf Rion, I hear shouting coming from inside the room where the execution is taking place, Caelan stands up and slams open the door, immediately upon opening the door I see Lucius trapping Christophe by the throat, I see Kane pull him off him with a snarl.
What the hell is going on.