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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.