Page 13 of The Silent Mountain (Under the Werewolf Crown #2)

thirteen

Trust Issues

*ALANA*

I spend almost the whole day helping Cassie and Frederick while Elio stays with Maggie. Favian made sure that Elio is freed from most of his responsibilities, so he can spend time with her. I know they told Elio the basics, so it won’t blindside him when his surrogate mother passes away, but he doesn’t seem to have registered how sick she truly is.

No, maybe he has, but he is trying to ignore it.

He will lose another person close to him soon, and it breaks my heart that none of us can protect him from it.

I make sure to visit Maggie the next morning to see how she is doing, happy to see that she looks livelier than the day before. Cassie managed to put together a potion, with Frederick’s help, that will give her some strength, although it won’t heal her. Her body is past the stage of healing. While I chat with Maggie, she is feeling well enough to poke questions at me about Favian and my relationship.

“Please tell me you have accepted each other as mates,” she says.

“We are far past the stage of not accepting each other,” I admit.

Maggie smiles. “He deserves someone like you, someone brave, intelligent and strong. Someone who is not scared of him and his strength, and won’t be afraid to tell him her opinion. And you deserve someone like him, equally brave, intelligent and strong, a serious young king with a kind heart.”

“It’s undeniable that he is a catch,” I admit.

“So are you,” she chuckles. She looks at me, and I’m well aware of what she wants me to say. I decide to do her the honor of not beating around the bush.

“I’m starting to fall for him,” I admit. “It scares me that I do, but I can’t deny it. The mate bond pushes me to him anyway, but it’s more than that.”

“You are going to be his queen one day,” Maggie says with a contented smile.

“I’m not sure how to approach him,” I admit. “It would have been easier if I’d met him now, then I would have let the mate bond do its magic. But we agreed to progress slowly when we met for the first time, and now I have no idea how to take the next step.”

“Just be honest with him,” Maggie reassures me. “He has been ready for you since you came here. He is just waiting for you to give him the sign that you are too.”

She is right, he is flirty with me, and he is more and more seeking my touch. “I will keep your advice in mind,” I reassure her.

A knock at the door pulls us out of our talk. “That’s Elio,” Maggie says. “He wanted to visit after breakfast.”

Indeed, the young dragon prince peeks into the room. “Good morning, Maggie!” He beams at her. “I brought you your favorite book. Theo is here too.”

Theodor looks into the room as well and smiles.

“You two know my eyes are tired,” Maggie says softly.

“That’s why I will read for you,” Elio promises.

“What a lovely idea,” Maggie says, her eyes lighting up in joy. “Come, Theodor, help me up. I want to go to the living room to listen to Elio’s reading.”

Theodor doesn’t argue with her and helps her up. I assume Favian has given his orders by now that they are to follow Maggie’s last wish. I leave the three of them alone to give them some privacy. Maggie’s words are still in my mind, however, and I decide to seek out the Dragon King, who is so heavily invading my thoughts recently.

I bump into Barbara on my way, who was looking for me. She and Ludwig still take their guarding task seriously and try to make sure one of them is always accompanying me, although by now, they are aware I can defend myself. I’m not mad, though, it’s always better to have a second person with you in case of an attack.

“How are things going with the mare?” I ask. “You are responsible for guarding the area where he is kept, right?”

“Everything’s going well so far,” she says. “The silly little witch is there doing a lot of research on him.” She laughs. “She is a mess, but a cute one.”

“I think she was just forced to grow up without any guidance,” I say.

“I agree.”

My own words have stirred something in me. Cassie needs guidance, and while Fred is doing what he can, he is not a witch, he is a dragon shifter and healer, but not a witch. It just spurs me on further to find Favian. To my relief, I don’t need to search for long. He is discussing something with Ludwig and Stefan when I approach him. “My king,” I greet him, trying for a teasing tone.

I can see him tensing in shock at my words, while Stefan raises his brows in amusement, and Ludwig stares at me. Barbara just giggles.

Favian recovers quickly, though I can see a glint in his eyes. Seems like his beast likes me to address him so formally. “Princess?” he asks in return.

“Women,” Ludwig mutters. “They are scary sometimes.”

“Watch and learn,” Stefan teases.

“He is right,” Barbara laughs.

Favian has had enough of listening to their banter and offers me his arm to lead me further away. “Let’s walk a bit,” he offers.

An offer I readily accept. Once we are on our own, with no one around us who can pry or listen in, he finally talks again. “Is everything alright with Maggie?” he asks softly.

I sigh. “Well, as alright as it can be, I guess. Elio is with her.”

When I mention his name, Favian’s face clouds over. “I have no idea how to prepare him for what’s going to happen.”

“Does he know?”

“Yes, I told him, but I don’t think he has accepted the severity of it yet,” he says. “It’s going to be sooner than later that we will lose her, and I don’t know how to stop his heart from breaking once it happens.”

“He will need you then,” I say quietly. “Just be patient with him and be there for him.”

“I will,” he reassures me. “But losing Margarete will hit him hard. She is the one who provided him with a safe life, his only stability during the years of war. He became this kind and sweet person because of her.”

“And because of you,” I add. “Because you made sure he was protected.”

“Maybe, but when she is gone, it will devastate him, and then I will be the only one who is left for him.”

“That’s not true,” I say. “There is also Theo, who is like a second brother to him. Then there is Cassie, who’s already befriended him, and I am here too.” I look at him. “And I have no intention of going anywhere.”

Favian’s eyes light up. “That’s good to know,” he says.

“Talking about Cassie,” I say. “I have a suggestion that I know you won’t like.”

“You mean aside from her pulling my brother into her shenanigans?” he asks. He tries to sound annoyed, but I can see the hint of amusement in his eyes. Secretly, he is happy that Cassie is here to distract his little brother.

“I had a spontaneous idea,” I say. “I think Cassie is actually quite capable, but she lacks guidance, since she’s never had any.”

“And you are thinking of adding someone to guide her?” Favian asks with a frown. “You are right, I don’t like that suggestion.”

“I know you are wary of witches,” I say. “I can absolutely see why, but how about we invite someone we have relations with? Someone kind, a bit older, someone who can actually mentor Cassie to become a useful witch for the clan.”

Favian seems to be wary, but humors me, nevertheless. “Who have you been thinking of?”

“You know the werewolf kingdom has a palace witch?”

He nods. “She helped us win the war.”

“Actually, she has a relative. She lives in one of the packs, not too far away from here, and she was a great help to my sister-in-law and protected her. She taught her how to meditate and how to connect with her mind. It’s because of her that Azadeh was able to reach out to you, which was the first step of freeing the dragons.”

I know I’m laying it on thick here, playing with his sense of duty and his guilt.

He knows, too, and he doesn’t look happy.

“I don’t want to push you,” I admit. “I just think it would be a smart decision.”

“It’s just…” he groans.

“What’s wrong? You can tell me.”

“Can I?” he asks, eyeing me thoughtfully.

“You will say something I won’t like,” I say. “But I want you to likewise talk freely to me.”

“You are a werewolf,” he says. “A werewolf princess. I don’t care what you are, you are mine either way. But are you sure your heart is beating for the dragons? Are you sure you have our best interests in mind and not think as the werewolf princess of the royal pack?”

My initial reaction is to lash out at him for the audacity of his words. All I’ve ever wanted to do here is to help the dragons. Lucky for him, I don’t have a bad temper, or there would be blood seeping out of his nose now.

“I upset you,” he says.

“Yes,” I tell him bluntly.

“Having you here is a gift I will forever be thankful for,” he says. “But I need to think of my people too, and I need to know if you are loyal to us.”

“Seriously?” I snap. “This is the first time since I met you that I want to punch you. Yes, I do have the dragons in mind. I am here, if I may remind you. I love my home, my family, and the royal pack, yet I am here with no intention of leaving. I’m working hard to mingle with the dragon shifters, and I’ve made some wonderful friends here. I like the Silent Mountain clan and feel at home here. Have I ever complained? Did I ever say anything that put the royal clan down? Did I ever sabotage anything? What else do you want me to do to prove ‘my loyalty’, as you call it?”

For a moment, we just stare at each other.

“I have trust issues, it seems,” he admits after a while.

“You don’t say,” I huff. “You know, I think I’d better go to train with Barbara now.”

He takes my hand before I can leave. “I’m sorry, please stay,” he apologizes, shocking me once more. This whole talk has been a whirlwind so far. First, he mourns Maggie and worries for Elio, then he gets all dark and broody and questions my loyalty, now, he apologizes. “I know my inability to trust anyone is a weak point. And you are right, all you’ve done so far is help us, and it’s thanks to you we have achieved so much in such a short time.”

Eye to eye, with him being so apologetic, my resolve to remain angry crumbles. Goddess, this man! But I can’t help but like, that he is able to apologize and admit he’s wrong and that he isn’t making any excuses for being shitty.

“The witch you mentioned,” he says when I stay silent. “You think she might be able to help us.”

I battle with my pride for a moment and wonder if I should stay stubborn, but ultimately, the safety of the dragons is important to me, even if their king just pissed me off. “I think she might agree to come here to mentor Cassie. I don’t think she would necessarily want to move to the clan permanently. She is a kind woman of slightly older age.”

Favian takes a deep breath. “I don’t have it in me to trust witches,” he admits.

“I know.”

“Cassie is an exception because she is chaotic and young,” he says. “But I wouldn’t go as far as to say I trust her.”

I sigh deeply. “I know, and I can see why. No one expects you to trust any witch anytime soon. But we might need them. I don’t think Cassie made much progress with the mare. It’s too difficult for her.”

Mentioning the creatures seems to trigger something in Favian because he nods. “You are right. We need more help. Can you contact this other witch?”

“Yes,” I say.

For a moment, we stay silent until he offers me his arm. “I have a surprise for you. I hope it will help you forgive me.”

“Just for your information, I’m not too keen on jewelry.”

“I guessed that much already.”

“I am also not someone whose forgiveness can just be bought.”

“I know,” he smiles. “That’s why I have a much better surprise than anything you can imagine.”

His words raise my curiosity, and I take his arm. “Still mad at you, just so you know!”

“Of course,” he chuckles.

While he leads me back to the castle, there is a loud fluttering noise above us. We both raise our eyes to the sky, noticing a huge flock of birds flying above us, in the direction of the ocean. “Is this normal?” I ask.

“Not at all,” he says with a frown. “Birds don’t move around this time of the year.”

“It’s the birds again,” I say nervously as they pass us. The screeching and the sound of their wings are filling the air. Barbara, Stefan and Ludwig have stopped their talk too, staring up into the sky.

I can see Stefan’s worry and Ludwig and Barbara’s shock.

“The birds are the key,” Favian says. “I am going to retract completely, Alana. You were right, completely so, and I was wrong. My trauma is no excuse. Please contact the witch you know. If you trust her, I will trust her too.”