I had been bickering ever since Axel has led me to a room to change. I had not had a good shower in days and my bandages needed a change to. I could not help myself. I did not know for how long I was sitting on the bed but I could not move. Nemesis was in a coma state, Dax was lost and god knows where. It made me worried sick. My stomach kept twisting and I felt like I had to throw up.

The lynx was a problem too and It would take days, maybe weeks until Pavrax would send over knights to help. I knew the wolves could handle most things that will cause trouble to the packs. While this was a different story. Even I am not certain what I saw. Those creatures matched the description of a caligo knight. What if they cause more trouble? The wolves could never beat them. Even if that meant that all the packs would form an army just like they did when Liontara called to them. But how many would die?

I was lost in my thoughts that I didn't even hear someone entering the room. ''Didn't you want to wash up? You have been sitting here for over an hour?''

The warm voice of Axel made me turn my head around. I was still kind of nervous around him but the safety I felt was also comforting. I was fidgeting with my fingers. I did not know what to say.

''Hey? Are you okay?'' Axel asked walking towards me.

I don't know, was I okay? It used to be okay? God, I was overthinking everything. Nemesis would just command me, so I was not used to this. I shook my head.

''No, I guess. I don't know.'' Axel gave me a knowing look. He knew what I was talking about. He walked towards the bed and sat down next to me.

''I can't imagine what you going through but maybe starting with a warm shower will help. I can ask Raelyn to help you if you want. After that, I can help you change your bandages.''

He was referring to the blond girl from earlier. Which was not a bad idea considering that I could not move my right arm and my wing.

I nodded. I felt tired. My eyes felt heavy like I could have a winter sleep. I looked at Axel. His blue eyes were hiding his emotions. He was debating about something but before I could figure out what he was thinking, he stood up and left the room. In return came Raelyn back.

''Hey there. I'm here to help you. Shall I help you get your gear off?'' The voice of Raelyn reminded me of my mother. When she was still the sweet person that took care of me. It made me hesitant. Memories flowed through my mind as I closed my eyes. I saw the memory becoming present.

Sunlight came through the window although the window was decorated with a big plant that had many white flowers. The scent of sweet vanilla swirled through the air. I looked up at the ceiling, a stone ceiling with a lion carved into it. ''Nova, my little solea.'' I heard the soft voice of my mother. She picked me up out of my crib. My hands trying to reach for the lion. ''You like what daddy made for you?'' She pushed her warm nose against my cheek. ''I like it too.'' She whispered. ''It's Liontara, our savior. The one that protected the balance when our ancestors couldn't.'' She rocked me back and forth humming a soft song I could not remember the words from. ''Nova, my little solea.''

I was brought back when I heard my name again. Raelyn looked at me. Her eyes questioning it I heard her. Their nice Nova, caring. I thought to myself when I finally gave a small nod to the blond girl.

Raelyn removed my shoulder protection and the shirt that I was wearing. I stepped into the bathroom. The bathroom was quite big with a bath on the right and two sinks made of black colored marble stones. I looked in the mirror, kind of shocked to see a skinny and tired being in front of me. Of course, I lost weight. I had not eaten probably and I slept either too much or too little. I could not stand looking at myself. I turned around and stepped inside the bathtub. Raelyn followed quietly behind me.

Raelyn did not say anything and just helped me shower. Warm water flowed over my shoulders, washing off the blood and dirt that was sticking to my body. I felt my shoulders relax for the first time in days.

First the lynx, then the storm, and those weird creatures, and now I am, somehow at the palace of the South Whisker pack. This is all going way too fast. Not to mention that something impossible happened. I met my soulmate. Something that should not have happened and yet I knew that it meant so much more.

The gods were never wrong. They helped us stay on the right track, evolve, and protected us in hard times. Like they called Liontara, or when they created the first knight. The longer I thought about it the more confused I would get. Dax and I met both of our soulmates. The creatures we saw matched the description of the Caligo Knight the one that tried to murder all the knights and destroy the gods. If that was even possible.

All these things happening did not make any sense to me. I was called from my thoughts when Raelyn appeared in my sight.

''Sorry, what did you say?'' I asked.

''I'm done washing you so I can help you with the towels, after that I get you clothes and Axel will come back. Is that okay?''

''Oh, yes that's fine.'' I was still getting used to their motherlike behaviors. Caring and soothing. Like a mother when there baby has just been born. It had been a long time to remember a feeling like this. It made me hesitant and I did not trust it.

Raelyn came back with a few towels. One for my hair the other for my body. The towels felt soft against my body. Raelyn was careful not to touch my broken wing.

We left the bathroom and came back into the big bedroom. I sat down on the bed as Raelyn dried my back. I gave her a small smile when she looked up at me. Asking permission to touch my legs and later she dried my wings. My legs were covered in bruises. It was a miracle that I had not broken them.

Raelyn went on in the room. She went to a dresser in the room. Drawing clothes from cabinets. The bedroom was very big. Dressers were placed against walls with no windows. So the space was equally divided. Not to mention that behind the bed at the foot end was a seating area. It looked like a whole living room. It had two cozy big chairs. They were dark beige colored and a wooden table had been placed in the middle. Opposite of the chairs was a couch of the same colour.

I took in the bedroom while Raelyn brushed my hair and made a few braids into it. We were silent the whole time. She did everything I normally did for myself. Was did what it meant when you were born into a royal family? Having everyone do things for you instead of doing it yourself? Axel must have a nice life like this.

''Raelyn, can I ask you a question?'' I was curious. Was she poor? Did she have to work to provide for her family?

''Yes of course Nova, what is it?''

''Well, I hope it's not too personal. But why do you work here?''

She let out a laugh. ''You mean why I serve the king and his family?''

I nodded. She talked about it like it was nothing.

''Because I like to take care of people. I love to do some one's hair or help people who can't help themselves. Most of the time it is in a mother wolf nature. But I haven't met my mate yet so I take care of the king. King Axel did not want a lot of people in the castle. So most of the time it is just me.''

''So you're not like, poor, or something?''

Raelyn grinned. I looked over my shoulder. Her eyes shined bright. Happiness swirling in them. ''No, Nova, I'm not poor. I know Axel my whole life. We went to the same academy. Axel had really set his mind that he did not want a whole serving team in the castle. So I offered to take care of him, his beta, and Gemma while I was still here.''

''Wow, so you know Axel for a long time? That is weird. You knew him before he even was king?''

Raelyn smiled and nodded. ''And now, I even met his beautiful mate.''

I felt myself turn slightly red. ''I, what. No. We're not really like that.'' I said, trying to defend myself. While Raelyn answered only with;

''Yet.''

Raelyn walked around the room cleaning up everything around us. She had helped me wash, did my hair, and got me dressed. I was totally refreshed. I breathe in different scents around me. Raelyn was moving around jars with herbs. Outside of the door were people walking and I caught up on the small conversations.

''Are you sure that Tygra found him?''

''I'm sure Cadoc. Besides, Tygra is the best tracker we got. Him... are on the move to Amatorea.''

''How did ... even got out?''

''Well, she has something like ... powers. Just, extremer?''

I could only hear a few parts of the conversation. Every now and then they lowered their voices, but even if they did I could still recognize the voices of Axel and Cadoc. They were talking right outside the room. The conversation stopped as one of them walked away. My eyes went to the door when someone knocked on it.

''Raelyn, are you done?''

''Yes, you may come in.''

The door opened revealing Axel on the other side. His shiny golden eyes met mine, something that was common for wolves was changing eyes colours for different emotions. Golden represented his wolf, and his wolf would only come to the surface in a few situations. One of them was seeing the soulmate. My face heated up when I realized it was because of me. Axel softly smiled. He knew that I knew.

His white hair was braided on his left side. When he set foot in the room I could see more details of his tattoos. He was wearing a shirt and some simple pants. The muscles in his arms moved under his skin when he let go of the door that closed behind him.

''Raelyn, would you mind leaving us alone? Tell Cadoc that we'll eat later.'' Axel said as he walked towards us.

Raelyn nodded and walked towards the door. As she opened it I looked past Axel's figure to watch Raelyn leave. I waved a small goodbye when she winked at me. I was pretty sure my head was a tomato by now.

I looked up at Axel who was now standing in front of me. My cheeks were flushed and I did not know what to say. The corner of Axel's mouth pulled up into a small smirk. I kept my eyes focused on his daring him to say something about my red cheeks but he kept his mouth shut.

Instead, he asked; ''I hope she was of good help?''

''She was,'' I said, my voice soft.

Axel walked to the jars that Raelyn had prepared. He moved everything on the tray and then moved to the bed to sit behind me. I did not know what to do so I kept still and let Axel do his work. Raelyn had not removed the bandages because my wings were also covered in bruises. Axel softly touched it. The bandages were dark red and very dirty. They should have been renewed earlier. Alpha Leonardo had sent me to the South Whisker pack immediately after I was awake there was no time to change the bandages. Next to that, my wings were very big and heavy so I could not do it myself.

I winced as Axel peeled off the old bandages. The skin underneath looked raw and tender, I could not help but let out a small whimper. I felt the pain grow starting in my right wing and climbing up all the way to my back muscles.

''Sorry, Sorry,'' Axel's voice was soft and comforting. ''I'm almost done''

I nodded. ''It's fine.''

I bit my lip trying to keep myself from crying out loud again. I was grateful that Axel offered to do this but it felt too intimate. I felt vulnerable. He was softly dapping the wounds with a cloth. He dipped the cloth into one of the jars that Raelyn made. It stung a lot, like alcohol touching a wound. But I knew this was not alcohol, otherwise, I would have smelled it.

Axel worked fast but carefully, his fingers gentle as he wrapped fresh bandages around my wings. Everywhere our skin touched I felt sparks fly. Reminding me that we were now bonded for life.

''Okay, all done'' He said. ''How do you feel?''

''Better, thank you'' I said, I gave him a small smile.

''It takes a few minutes but the herbs that Raelyn made will make you a little bit numb.''

''As long as it takes away the pain,'' I said. I felt it. My wings started to hang and my head felt heavy. This was a weird feeling. I felt high.

My body started to relax as I leaned my back against Axel. I felt warmth spread across my back. It was a natural response. Axel kept quiet which I was grateful for. Talking was hard enough already. He let his hand rub my cheek. It was a small sign but it felt like a big step already. Our bond was starting to grow. We would learn so much about each other. The peace I felt was comforting. This could be my life. I just had a little taste of life without only trying to survive.

I was starting to feel excited but I also knew that it was dangerous not to mention that I was scared. All my plans and the different powers I was studying were put on hold. So sooner or later I had to get back, but Axel was here now. Was there a reason to continue my search?

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