The Lycan King’s Healer – Chapter 21

Cathy

The unease I felt in the garden that day continued. I watched as the trees slowly died, the ivy green dwindling to autumn hues, like paint brushes dipped in crimson and orange smudging over the horizon. I often missed the willow outside of the cottage; it was not only beautiful in the fall, but felt like a protector, as if it was always watching over us.

Now, it felt like we were being watched in a different way.

eyes. Eyes in my window, eyes in the garden, eyes in the trees. I often found myself peering around walls I did not care for prior, slowly counting each step and breath walking into a dark room, and jumping each time a servant or guard spoke a word into the silence.

eventually grew accustomed to. Alan, who took his place in that department while he was gone, wasted no time in getting back to battle condition. Once I healed him, he returned right to the training grounds. I hard

th opaque shutters.

see,” I muttered to him at b

over company.”

ver truly wanted to be alone in a big place like this. But I did not want to seem needy.

of Theo time.

the change. Especially the women. Some maidservants were extremely kind, when others gave me dirty looks.

undry, I heard a nasty voice slither past my ear.

the rat you are,” the unknown woman sneered, disappearing into the crowd before I could even turn around.

ho all turned to look at him like he shot a gun at the chandelier.

his outraged, tiny voice: “Anyone who bullies my mommy will pay!”

eyes on me, but now hundreds of real weary ones. I already saw the way they carefully stepped around me after Alan made a show of it, as if I

uck away from the attention, “I don’t need any more attention than I already have.”

that woman was mean to you, mom,” Th

d, exasperated. “Not everyone in life will like you without reason to. Especially when you’re new.”

little lips. “Why wouldn’t they like you?”

t to make him nervous or detect any of my unease, but being cautious of new people would do no harm.

rom the summer was turning darker like Aldrich’s. “I will meet you outside after I change, alright, little buddy?”

iss Dad,” he muttered, turning away to walk out with Alan. He did not even notice his accident.

s with Alan, incredulous. Was it a mistake?

s, one that allowed for me to run and move around with ease, I returned to the grounds. The grass was already mostly dead despite the perpetual landscaping. The breeze was more brisk, and I hugged my

being outside. Theo let out a shrill of laughter as his arrow hit the target, and he had one eye closed.

yelled, jumping up and down in triumph.

into the trees.

Emily

g forgiving Aldrich with her sister, the feminime disapproval of her at the estate, and my favorite part: she was the one behind my rash.

le of harming her. She won each battle, even when I tried to kill her. I was not going to do any

e much more tangible.

what Cathy was doing right now, feeling one of my scars interrupt the way my lips moved.

Cathy, but I could easily