Chapter 6 Charisma Pov

I can’t stop shaking. What I saw, what I felt in that box will give me nightmares for a long time. I feel vulnerable, exposed and less fierce and more like a beaten down woman. I had only spent a few minutes in that box, whereas my mate…I didn’t know how long he had been trapped inside or how many times he had been forced to endure it. I sit down at the kitchen table, eyeing him as he glances around uncertainly and then joins me. “How many?” I ask him and see confusion on his face. He can’t talk. I exhale deeply. “How many times were you put in the box?” my voice trembles. He looks at my sympathetically. I can see it in his eyes, they look as though they are piercing my very soul. He slowly raises a hand and then shrugs. It causes me to look at him pained. “You were in there so many ties you lost count” I whispered, closing my eyes and resting against the seat. What could it do to a person who saw their worst fears, over and over again, over who know how long? Was it any wonder he had turned mute? How many times had he tried to scream for help only to realize that he couldn’t open his mouth? I wanted to sob some more as I fought to keep my composure. “How old?” I breathed. Another look at his face and I wanted to swear. He put his hands up and then quietly began to tick off his fingers. Eighteen. He was eighteen when they began to put him in the box. He’d been put in that box for years. He taps my hand. I look at him surprised. He gently rubs his stomach. I look at him surprised and then jump up. Given the state of him, he must be starving. I head towards the fridge, but he surprises me again, putting a tentative hand on my shoulder and then directing me back to the chair. He walks over to the fridge and begins to gather ingredients nonchalantly as though nothing has happened. I see eggs and numerous other things before he puts them on the counter and begins to cut up the vegetables, fetching pans and numerous other things. I watch him in awe as he begins to make up omelettes for the two of us, doing it with ease as though he has cooked before. Realization dawns on me. An omega. He’s been treated like nothing but an omega in this pack. I feel slightly nauseas as I continue to watch him. He’s used to performing these tasks because he’s been made to. I want to get back on my feet, but there’s a look of contentment on his face. His expression has smoothed, and he looks almost…happy? Did he enjoy cooking? Was it one of his hobbies? I sighed, my mouth watering despite myself. Between travelling and dealing with this I’ve not had much to eat, and my stomach chooses that time to make a large growling sound. He glances at me and for the first time, I see amusement in his eyes. I giggle. His eyes sparkle as he brings the food over. I glance down at it impressed. The omelette is perfectly golden, the vegetables seasoned to perfection. I take a bite and let out a long moan of appreciation and see him jump slightly. I wonder what’s wrong, pausing in my tracks but he makes a movement with his fork, indicating for me to continue eating. I I finish my food and sit back fully satiated, taking a moment to study him. I had expected him to devour it, but he was taking small bites as though savouring it. He had barely finished half of it when he pushed the plate away, letting out a sigh as though he was full. The portion he had served up would barely feed a small Lycan child. “You should eat more” I told him gently and watched something change in his eyes as he slowly shook his head and glanced away. I sighed and began to gather the plates, ignoring his attempt to stop me, placing the food in the bin and placing the dishes in the sink. I hear my voice being called and turn my head. A guard comes in, holding an envelope with the official royal seal. I look at the item in his hand feeling a slight feeling of dread. My father was not one to mince words. I had been gone awhile now and no doubt he was wondering when I was going to come back and take care of the kingdom from our royal pack. I held out my hand and took the letter, aware of my mate’s eyes on me the entire time, a look of intrigue on his face. “Sorry Highness” the guard said apologetically. I forced a smile on my face. “Don’t’ worry about it. No doubt there is something back at the castle that required my attention. Thank you for bringing this to me.” He bows his head and then leaves the room. I begin to tear open the offending envelope, examining its contents and then laughing hysterically as my mate glances towards the others who are beginning to enter the kitchen at the sound. “Highness is everything okay?” I drop the piece of paper and smile inwardly to myself. I look at my trusted men, all who are eyeing me as though I have lost my mind. “Father has summoned me back in order for a matter or importance” I said slowly “he intends to make me take a chosen mate. He says it’s taken me long enough to find my mate and now the kingdom requires both a king and a queen.” My mate looks worried now. I give him a reassuring smile. “The council demands a contract marriage between me and another.” “But you’ve found your mate now,” a guard said with a grim expression, “so surely they cannot make you marry now?” “They can’t but it won’t stop them trying. I want to finish up here and then go back. We’ll spend the night and then deal with Luna Christina tomorrow before we venture off. Beta Ronald will have to wait.” If my father thought he could pressure me into a marriage for the sake of the kingdom, then he had another thing coming. I already had a mate, and I intended to make sure the council knew it. I didn’t know who they wanted me to marry, but my mate was going to be the future king whether he was mute or not.