"I could hear her screaming from my room last night." I heard someone whisper as a door was shut.

My eyes were barely open; the sun was just peeking into my bedroom through the tiniest of cracks in my curtains. It was too early for any normal human being to be awake, which meant it could only be my maids talking as they prepared my room for the day ahead. In my groggy state I hardly cared, I just pulled a pillow around my head and rolled onto my back, ready to dive back into sleep. But in doing so I pressed my sore flesh against the scratchy material of my bedspread and my eyes burst open. It was then that I realized my maids were talking about me and my punishment. I softly shut my eyes and pretended to be sleeping again, despite my discomfort. I wanted to hear what they had to say about it, if they knew the true embarrassment of the ordeal, or if they had assumed the king had done something more wretched to me.

"Poor girl, but I was speaking with one of the guards and he claimed that many guards offered to go with her when she left. I wonder if she was trying to run away and that is why she refused them." it was the third maid that spoke, the one who was kinder than Lydia and stronger than Isabelle. I believe her name was Jasmine. "If she had taken one of them with her I believe her punishment would be lesser."

"No, she was in the gardens, the furthest place from escape. So I certainly don't understand why she didn't take a guard with her. That surely would've calmed the king down." Isabelle murmured in her usual kind voice.

"Please, did you see the way the king reacted when he thought that someone had been in her room? I doubt that he would have male guards hovering all around her if it weren't proper protocol." Lydia shot back. "From what I heard the king was quite kind to her when he found her. He just punished her to make an example out of her."

And with that the conversation ended. The maids had no more gossip to go off of and all of their opinions countered one another. I had hoped for more. I wanted to know everything I could, even if it stemmed from questionable guards and gossiping. The king didn't seem terribly fond of talking about his ex-wife. Nor did he want to talk about his mysterious war that had been mentioned the first night I was here. He didn't want to tell me about mates or the moon goddess, and my maids were under some kind of oath which forced them to keep their mouths shut, unless they assumed I was sleeping, of course.

However, the maids didn't talk anymore. They all began their duties in the early hours and when I became bored of lying in that bed with my sore backside I pretended to wake up and stretch my body. I couldn't hide under the blankets forever. At least when my maids helped me into my gown for the day- a stunning red dress that was embellished with fine gems- they said nothing about my red backside.

The rest morning was uneventful, but as soon as noon hit two men flanked me in the hallway on my way back from lunch.

"Can I help you?" I asked, though I sensed it was the opposite way around.

"The King's parents requested to meet you." One of them answered gruffly.

It was almost like he expected a fight out of me, though I doubted I had a reputation for being compliant. And in that moment I realized that I had very little authority here, maybe over my personal maids and some sway over James because he liked me but it was clear that the king gave all the orders, not me.

"Oh." I breathed, stunned. It seemed silly in retrospect, especially considering the king and I had talked about his childhood, but I never imagined him really having parents. And I never imagined I would have to meet them. And certainly not by myself. I didn't even know if these people had been at my wedding or how much they knew about my life.

It didn't matter though. The guards made it clear that they were following the king's orders, not mine. I was led out of the castle by the two men and taken to a small manor that took a few minutes to walk to. It felt good to be outside again, and knowing that I wouldn't be punished for it this time felt even better. The sun was glowing in the sky, warming my skin and the air smelt like the flowers that grew nearby. It could've been blissful.

But fresh air and sunshine were not enough to treat my anxiety, anxiety that only worsened when I entered the manor, which looked very similar to the palace from the inside. I immediately prepared myself to be processed much like I had been the first time I entered the palace. I knew rationally that I would not be asked to do such things by a burly man again, or donated to someone new in another trade agreement, yet I couldn't shake the awful feelings, waiting for the worst. But what I expected is far from what I received.

"Queen Willow!" A womanly voice cried out with sheer delight.

A stunning woman seemed to materialize out of thin air as she moved down the hallway with outstanding grace and speed. Her dark hair flowed down her back, surprisingly untamed for someone who had been royalty, and the dark brown eyes that King Archer had inherited were locked on me. Her complexion was dark, tying all of her beautiful, chocolaty features together. And her smile was the most heart-warming thing I had seen since I had arrived at the palace. She was the epitome of grace, beauty, and kindness. Everything a queen should be.

Everything I wasn't.

And she was the first person ever to greet me by throwing her slender arms around me and pulling me tight to her body. A second later I was released and eased away. The sudden movements were enough to make me lose my breath and nearly lose my footing. I took a staggering step backwards before one of the guards cupped my elbow to keep me upright. It was the first time in my life that someone had received me with such happiness and not a sigh of contempt.

"Oh Cora, you're going to frighten the poor girl off." A man chided, walking towards me with the pace of a very noble giant. He was taller than his wife, with grey hair and warm hazel eyes. He was the opposite of the woman. She had a soft presence, but he commanded attention. She was delicate and lovely, he was rugged and strong.

"Forgive me." Cora whispered, bowing her head slightly, "My husband is right, I should act more formally around a queen, I got overly excited about meeting my son's mate." The former queen explained. Even her voice sounded melodic, like she was singing instead of speaking.

"No need to apologize." I replied. My voice came out nervous.

"Queen Willow." The former king announced, his voice filling up the whole entry way as he bowed his head, "It is a pleasure to finally meet my son's wife. My name is Thaddeus, welcome to our home."

"Second wife." I corrected automatically.

"That's hardly important considering that you are mates. Come, let's get to know each other better over a cup of tea." Cora offered.

Cora and Thaddeus led me through a small portion of their home and into their drawing room. They sat together on a sofa like proper husband and wife and I awkwardly sat down in a small, but pretty upholstered chair. I smoothed my skirts, seeing as they were attempting to swallow me whole, but when I looked up at my husband's mother her dress fell beautifully around her, flowing onto the floor like liquid gold and my throat tightened. This was the woman who raised the king. She was as elegant as a goddess, and here I was unable to even sit in a chair. No wonder he struggled to understand me. He had been raised by perfection and had been handed a slave.

"So Willow, tell us about yourself." Cora encouraged enthusiastically. Her kind eyes didn't change when she looked at the servants who served us tea, her smile always remained on her lips, and her hand rested on her husband's thigh.

So what was I supposed to tell these wonderful people? Was I supposed to tell them about my life as a slave? Surely they would think it was awful and gruesome and not at all appropriate for such fine ears, but I knew I could've had much worse. Or perhaps I should enlighten them to the tale of my doting mother who left me to die. Maybe they wanted to hear about the animals that I used to sleep in the barn with, the creatures that I had called my friends for years and the daily chores my pudgy master had me complete. Even thinking the words in my head seemed to leave a bad taste in my mouth and I could only imagine their shocked expressions.

"There's not much to tell." I answered.

Thaddeus opened his mouth like he was going to protest or encourage me otherwise, but Cora squeezed his knee affectionately.

"Do you like the palace?" She asked, allowing the subject to drop.

"Yes, it's beautiful, though not as lovely as your home." I replied truthfully.

"Oh? And what makes you say that?"

"It's so bright. The walls are warm colours and you have fresh cut flowers in every room. You have cheery paints that warm my heart at the sight. The palace is elegant and far better than my former home, but yours is the loveliest I've ever been in."

Cora grinned widely at my comment, "Well thank you. But if you wish to change the place just ask your husband for your bedroom to be repainted and to have some flowers in the rooms. If you behave as a good queen should I'm sure he would be delighted to reward you."

I thanked the servant who poured me tea and took the saucer from his hands before looking at the queen again.

"I'm not so sure the king would do that much just to please me." as the words came out I realized I should've kept them to myself.

"Of course he would. You are his mate. Giving you what you want will bring him more joy than anything else."

I thought about my wedding, one of my demands for staying with the king, and the tight grimace he had on his lips the entire time. It didn't seem like my wishes filled him with anything other than rage. Still, I forced my best smile at Cora and Thaddeus, hoping that they would believe that all was well. That my husband loved me just as much as Thaddeus loved his dear wife. And that he would do anything my heart desired.

"Is that a mark I see on your neck?" Thaddeus questioned, easily changing the subject.

"I'm not sure." I self-consciously touched the scab that was still healing. "The doctors said it was a mark. King Archer called it a mark, but they also said something about it being incomplete. It sounded like it was a part of being a mate."

At my words Cora looked terribly concerned and I feared that I had said something wrong. The saucer began to shake as my hands began to tremble. Oh, I knew coming here was a mistake and now I had already upset the former queen.

"Willow, do you understand what a mate is?" Cora asked.

I swallowed hard, knowing the truth, but not knowing what they wanted to hear. It seemed honesty was all I could give them.

"No."

Both husband and wife tried hard to cover their shock. I tried to drink some of my tea in an effort to act normal, but it got lodged in my throat and I had to choke it down.

"Do you understand what that mark on your neck is?" Thaddeus pressed.

"A bite wound. King Archer attacked me."

"Do you know what that wound will mean to other werewolves or why Archer did it?"

"No."

Cora grabbed Thaddeus's arm tightly in her hands, her eyes moving over his face in a pleading manner and her smile vanishing completely. The knots tightening in my stomach made me sick as I placed the tea cup and saucer down. I had done this. I had come into this beautiful home, been greeted like I was a gift from heaven and I had ruined everything.

"I should be going; you'll have to excuse me." I said hastily as I stood up.

"Yes, of course." Cora said sympathetically, but I was already rushing out the door.