**Soren’s POV
Through the darkness, I swore I heard Rosalie’s sweet voice.
But I knew it’d be my foolish hope. She was afraid of and hated for what I’d done. That’s why she ran away, and she had every right to.
But if I ever saw her again, I was going to make it up to her.
I didn’t care how long it took.
“Soren....” The sound of my na calling again pulled from the darkness.
Slowly opening my eyes, I saw a white ceiling. Since I was no longer in the woods, that probably ant that I was alive after all.
I noticed that soone was sitting next to and I was hoping to see the angel who appeared so many tis in my dream.
However, when I turned my head, I was disappointed that she wasn’t the woman I had been longing to see. Regardless, this was still soone I knew.
I managed to smile at my ex-subordinate. “It’s been a while, Seraphine.”
But she didn’t seem to be too happy to see . “What are you doing this far north, Soren?” she asked coldly. The heavy concern was clear in her words.
“As you can see, running for my life,” I answered honestly as I looked around. “Where am I?”
“You’re in our territory, the Winter Forest pack.” She looked down at . “But you do not belong here.”
I smiled bitterly. “Believe or not, I didn’t intentionally co here, Seraphine. How did you find ?”
I could tell that Seraphine wasn’t happy with my reply, but she answered my question. “We found Thomas, and he pleaded with us to help you.”
Thomas! He didn’t go back to the island?! That b*stard didn’t listen to !
“Where is he? Is he okay?”
Seraphine replied flatly, “He’s fine. When we found him, he was injured severely, but he is alive. He’s with others who are wounded.”
I let out a deep breath of relief.
To make the conversation easier, I tried to pull myself up, however, it wasn’t easy. Seraphine sat there and watched, but she didn’t offer help. Obviously, she was trying to keep her distance.
When I was finally able to pull myself to a sitting position, I was out of breath.
Turning to face the woman I had once relied on heavily for Rosalie’s care, I smirked, “Seraphine, you know, I was quite hurt when I found out you betrayed ...”
“I didn’t betray you, Soren,” she interrupted. “It was you who didn’t tell all the truth.”
I shook my head. “No, let finish. I ant to say, right now I am really glad that you did what you did.”
“You know, I find that hard to believe, given past circumstances. Now, tell what you want from Rosalie?”
My heart skipped a beat hearing Rosalie’s na. If Seraphine was this alert and was so protective... the only explanation was that Rosalie was nearby!
I took a few monts to comprehend my situation, then I tilted my head and smiled. “If you are so sure that I am up to no good, then why didn’t you leave in the forest to die? Why bring back here to Rosalie?”
As expected, she didn’t deny that Rosalie was around. Taking a deep breath, she sighed, shaking her head, “Because regardless of what you have done, she would never be able to watch you die.”
Oh, my dear sweet Rosalie.... The thought of her brought light and hope. I never knew soone could ever make feel this way.
“How has she been?” I finally asked after a mont of silence.
Seraphine’s expression softened when she talked about Rosalie. “She couldn’t be better–without you.”
I chucked bitterly. “Seraphine, you know, sotis words can really hurt.”
“Soren, be honest with yourself. You tricked her, and you abused her trust. After finding out about her bloodline, you even stole her blood! Yet, when you were injured, she used her own blood to save you without a blink of an eye. She didn’t owe you anything, and you brought nothing but trouble to her.”
“She... she saved ? And she knew I took her blood on purpose? You told her?”
“I didn’t need to. She figured it out on her own after knowing what her blood could do.” She looked in the eye and warned , “She is our queen.”
It took a few monts to digest the information. Rosalie beca the queen! I gasped, but at the sa ti, I wasn’t that surprised. I already knew about her bloodline, and she indeed was the lost princess....
Seraphine continued, “Everyone here loves her and will protect her with our lives. If you ever try to do anything to hurt her again...”
She didn’t need to complete her sentence. I knew what she ant.
“I’m not here to hurt her.” I recollected my thoughts. “I promise! I just... want to apologize and make it up to her.”
Seraphine retorted, “Why would I believe you? You’ve been trying to use her and our prince to help you win the war...”
I let out a bitter smile and provided my explanation. “Because the wolves that tried to kill were Kal’s n and because the West Kingdom has lost the war. I am no longer useful to Kal, nor do I have a place to go. Now,” I asked, “when do you think I can see her?”
Seraphine still didn’t give in. “I wish never. The best thing you could do is to leave her alone.”
“Co on, Seraphine. That was a bit too harsh.”
She sighed, and concluded, “However, it’s not up to to decide whether she forgives you or not.”
She stood up and left the room. However, soon, Seraphine returned. She didn’t seem to be happy, but I didn’t mind. I was simply happy to be alive and knowing that Rosalie was within my reach....
I smiled at Seraphine. “Hello again, I thought you’d nev–”
I couldn’t finish my sentence because I saw the person following Seraphine into the room.
Beautiful red hair, gentle gaze, and mild smile. She was my angel.
I grinned ear to ear. “So glad to see you again, Rosalie!”
Her na leaving my lips was a welcoming feeling. I didn’t realize how much I had missed it until she was gone.
Seraphine accompanied Rosalie back. The midwife certainly did not trust to be alone with Rosalie.
“Hey, you,” Rosalie replied softly, looking at my body. “It seems you got into so trouble. Glad you are awake.”
“Not any more. Thank you for saving ,” a small chuckle left . “You know... Once upon a ti, I was saving you in this state. And now it is you who has saved .”
She paused for a mont, thinking over what I said before she smiled. However, her words were quite blunt. “Except, I wasn’t the one who caused you to be beaten up to begin with.”
She had every right to say that, it was just that I did not expect a blunt response like that from her. All I could say was, “Rosalie, I want to apologize to you for everything I did in the past. Please allow to stay and make it up to you.”
She didn’t comnt further. I was apprehended because I couldn’t tell what her attitude towards was at all.
It had been only a month since I last saw her, yet, I couldn’t read her like I used to any more.
She said slowly, “Soren, whatever that happened was in the past. I don’t think it’s necessary for us to see each other again. I am glad to see you are safe, but you may leave now.”
I shook my head. “Rosalie... I don’t have a place to go. My uncle and his people wanted dead.”
“I’m sorry to hear about it, I–” she replied calmly, but before she could finish her sentence, Seraphine jumped in. “We don’t have an obligation to provide you a place to stay here, Soren! We’ve already saved you, and we are even now!” She then turned to Rosalie, “Your Majesty, he is too dangerous to keep around!”
“Your Majesty?” I leaned back, trying to get used to Rosalie’s title, looking at her, appreciating her beauty, “I have a crucial piece of information to exchange for my stay. This is about your safety.”
I didn’t expect to earn Rosalie’s forgiveness that easily. It would take ti, but I first needed to figure out a way to stay close to her.
Rosalie shook her head. “Soren, I appreciated everything you’ve done for in the past, regardless of your motivation. However I don’t know whether I can trust you again...”
But this ti, Seraphine was imdiately nervous and questioned, “What do you an?” Then she lowered her head to Rosalie, “Your Majesty, please allow him to finish.”
I smiled, but I didn’t answer Seraphine. My eyes were still on Rosalie, “Your Majesty, do we have a deal? May I stay?”
Seraphine hesitant. Rosalie glanced over her, and she looked at .
I was ready for her to nod her head, but her words took by surprise. “Soren, you asked for my forgiveness, but I really didn’t feel your sincerity right now. You really haven’t changed.”
I watched as she was about to leave.
“Rosalie, don’t leave!” The whispered plea that left my lips caused her to pause. I couldn’t tell what the emotion was in her eyes, or there wasn’t much emotion at all. That made even more nervous.
I’d rather she be really upset and hate than such a plain reaction... as if she just didn’t care. It felt like she was simply treating as a stranger who she randomly encountered and happened to save.
Suddenly, I wasn’t confident that she would really forgive any more. I only knew that I didn’t want her to walk away from , and I had a feeling if I let her go this ti, I would forever lose the opportunity to win her back.
“Okay, I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have talked to you like that... I shouldn’t have tried to manipulate you again! I’m sorry!”
I swallowed hard, and my brow was furrowed. “Please, just give five minutes, Rosalie. I do care about you. Let finish this, and I promise I won’t stay if you don’t want to!” I reached out to her hand, but she pulled it away before I could touch her. I stared into her eyes, this ti, eagerly searching for the forgiveness that I craved.
She stopped in her tracks. I knew she was willing to listen.
I let out a sigh. “I’m sure you already knew we, I an, the West Kingdom, has lost the war.”
She nodded.
“You heard that Ethan was banished and disappeared?”
She lowered her gaze and remained silent. I took it as a “yes.” As the queen of the far north, she must be up to date on the major news out there.
“However, do you know the reason why Jas banished him and wanted to turn him to Kal?”
This ti Rosalie frowned and she said, “Because King Kal was seeking revenge for your father, and handing over Ethan would end the war.”
It seed that she didn’t want to continue the topic of Ethan, and she questioned, “What does it have to do with ?”
I managed to lift my hand and waggled my finger. “Yes and no. The true reason was because the Luna Queen is with child now, and she could conceive because of you!”
“My blood?”
I smiled. “Bingo! So Rosalie, sooner or later, they will figure out the source of your blood, and your identity will put you in danger! I know you don’t want to see right now, but please, let stay. I know so rogues. I still have my source of intel. I could be helpful.”
This ti I didn’t lie. Every word I said was from my heart.
She stood there for a mont, but it felt like it lasted for hours.
Finally, she said, “Thank you for letting know. Seraphine, please tell everyone that Soren is my guest, and he can stay here while he recovers.”
Seeing her continue to walk towards the door, I shouted before she had the chance to walk away, “Rosalie! Do you hate ?”
Her body froze mid-step, and I watched as she exhaled slowly before her eyes turned back to mine. “Hate is a strong word to use, Soren. No, I don’t.”
I laughed at myself bitterly.
She didn’t hate for what I did to her. That was probably because she’d never loved .
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