The Beast And The Blessed

Twelve: Natalie

Natalie’s p.o.v.

I felt ridiculous dressed in such a stunning gown. It was the kind of thing that made me second guess whether or not I was fit to be here. The fabric brushed the ground, shimmering from a pale blue to a pearly white as the light hit it at different angles.

The deep cut that ran between my breasts left the small diamond-crusted wolf pendant to be on display from its long silver chain. Contrary to human beliefs, which they had to learn the hard way, silver did nothing to us, and I adored the necklace as soon as I saw it.

Killian's eyes widened as I rounded the corner, and I had to remind myself to breathe normally as he stood tall and proud with his hands clasped in front of him with his feet shoulder-width apart. The crisp black suit was different than what I had seen him in before, and I let my eyes roam over the more formal wear.

He was a fine man indeed, one that any woman would be lucky to mate with. But I felt a brief moment of longing for more, for a relationship. I wanted a man to look at me the way Killian was and for it to mean something. For him, it seemed to mean nothing, and that was the way he acted as if he wanted it to stay.

The glowing red eyes of his beast forcing his way forward made me want to melt into the floor as he stared at me, and heat traveled up my chest and neck as I blushed. As I looked back up shyly, the red was gone, and in its place were the cold mask and hazel eyes that I had grown frustrated by.

As he turned to face the door, I moved up next to him, gently placing my hand in the crook of his arm.

"You're back to being cold then," I said softly, trying to keep my voice low enough that others wouldn't hear. "For a second, I thought you were actually happy that I was joining you for dinner."

I could feel him looking down at me as I stared ahead at the door. "You look very nice," I whispered, knowing I was only embarrassing myself further by not keeping my thoughts to myself.

His arm pulled closer to his body, taking my hand with him. My hope that it was a move intended to comfort me vanished as soon as he used the hand of the arm I was holding to adjust his jacket.

It was the first time we were being presented to the pack as a united front. Yet, I still knew nothing about Killian beyond how he smelled when he held me at night, that he was cold, and that he was rumored to be cruel to those that opposed him. I had no knowledge of my place in his world and felt butterflies swarming my stomach.

doors stared straight ahead, refusing to look at either of us, waiting patiently for US to signal that we were ready to

staring back at me. "What am I? Am I to sit back quietly as your chosen, or am I to

mark me. He didn't exactly seem

eyes soften for a moment before he looked back

sat in row after row of tables. I knew it wasn't everyone in his pack. There were hundreds, if not thousands more. But having so many eyes on me made me feel like I was back in my old pack, tied to the whipping post with the entire pack watching in satisfaction as I begged

as I held no official title yet. Even if people wanted to address me as Her Highness in a smaller setting, it was a title reserved for members of the royal family beneath their ruler. It was not and would never be my title unless

Queen Consort. I would stand at my king's side as

respect at the same time, and Killian guided me to the

be as alone as I felt. She dipped her head in respect before smiling brightly at me, the black lines etched into her skin, seeming to vibrate against their pale background. It would have appeared ominous to anyone who did not know her. To anyone that did,

and

careful bites. My nerves were

continued to talk, her voice raising with excitement as she continued to tell her story. The more she spoke, the quieter the room seemed to get, and the tenser Killian

felt the food I had managed to get down turn to

wasn't. I think it was twenty lashes, but she still didn't shift by the

as I hung from the post. It was their last attempt at trying to force my shift. The

It didn't.

the first story she had told of me. If it was, Killian never

been happy to leave my past behind, but it was catching

the heat of his hold burning through the fabric of my dress and into my leg. It was exactly what I needed to lift my chin. I could feel the support in his touch and knew without words that this was my moment to establish