Chapter 223

The next morning, we receive an invitation from Gladys to accompany her for a walk in the gardens while the ballroom is being prepared for the gala. As we need to gather information anyway, and can’t do that tucked away in our room, we decide to take her up on the offer.

The gardens are tucked behind the estate, but they are massive, stretching between two wings of the manor and all the way back to a forest nestled on the back of the grounds.

Many of the flowers were in full bloom, giving the otherwise green space a rainbow of colors, and the scent of so many different flowers filled the air with sweetness.

Gladys accompanies us, with one of her other servants in tow. The butler is missing from her side, but this new man looks no less a soldier, tall and broad with a shorn hairstyle and an alert gaze.

So far today, Gladys has been accommodating – even somewhat nice. Leading us through the gardens, she stops us frequently to direct us to observe a specific flower.

“You truly have a beautiful collection,” I tell her.

“I know,” she says, and laughs somewhat.

Maybe in another world, one not on the cusp of war, she would have been a kind of person I could have even been friends with. That feels impossible now, with her ties to the rebellion and the hostility toward Caleb, the man I love. She is far from the perfect step-mother-in-law.

It’s a nice thought though, that somewhere in some other life, things could be peaceful.

While I focus on the flowers and following and listening to Gladys, Caleb seems entirely elsewhere. Occasionally he with either hear or scent something I cannot discern and his gaze will shoot in a different direction, giving that new direction his full attention.

This time, he stares in the direction of the woods. While Gladys ushers us forward, he stands totally still. When I notice, I’m quick to stop right at his side.

“Caleb?” I ask softly.

Louder, to Gladys, he says, “I scent the trails of many wolves passing through this forest, very near to your home.”

“Yes,” Gladys replies. “You would and should. The pack often comes through my lands on their freedom runs.”

“What’s a freedom run?” I ask.

“Are they called something different where you are from?” she asks, looking at me with curiosity. “A freedom run is where every werewolf in the back shift at once. We give into our wolfly urges of running and acting wild. It’s liberating, and a good bonding experience for the pack.”

“Ah,” I say. I suppose that makes sense. As a human, I’ve never participated in anything like that, but I remember there being something similar back in my own pack, even though it’s called something different.

“Perhaps you both would care to join us on the next freedom run,” Gladys says. “I think you would both enjoy the chance to let down your inhibitions and be your true wolves for a while.”

As Caleb remains silent, I speak up to keep us from appearing rude.

“Oh, well, I’m just a human,” I say.

Caleb looks at me.

Gladys’s eyes go a little wide. “The King’s favored consort is… a human?”

Did I say something wrong? I look at Caleb for reassurance, but he’s staring at me blankly, not revealing a thing one way or another.

Perhaps I should have continued to let Gladys think that I’m a werewolf, but if she is in contact with Samuel, he would know the truth. Surely he would tell her as much.

I’ve never made my lineage a secret, though to Gladys, it seems to have taken her off-guard.

“I don’t have a wolf,” I tell her.

She continues to look at me with curious surprise, before her face hardens slightly as she looks at Caleb. Caleb is still looking at me, ignoring her.

“You’ve made some questionable choices over the years, King Caleb,” Gladys says, her tone becoming more serious and less friendly. “Your father and I have tried to be understanding, knowing you needed to find your own path as the kingdom’s Alpha. But this?

“You’ve cast aside your harem, denied a bond with a very nice werewolf Annabelle… You’ve thrown every other perfectly acceptable wolf woman to the side… All so that you can stay with a human?”

As she lectures, I freeze a little. I didn’t realize this is such a point of contention. I’d thought Caleb would receive some gruff because of my lack of status, not because I don’t have my own wolf!

“Do I need to remind you of your proud bloodline?” Gladys continues. “You come from a long line of strong Alphas, in part because they were paired with strong female wolves. For you to cast that aside now is an insult to your lineage and your kingdom as a whole.”

“Spare me,” Caleb snaps. In a flash, he looks away from me, glaring now at Gladys. “Who are you to talk to me like this? About my lineage and my forefathers? My father didn’t even tell me about you. Your opinion could not matter any less to me. You are no one.”

His words and tone are harsh, and Gladys straightens, her face stricken from the sheer insult of it all. Yet, she doesn’t reply right away. As she composes herself, she stays utterly quiet.

“Yes, well,” she says, clearing her throat. “If you will excuse me, I must attend to some preparations for the gala. Please continue to enjoy the gardens.”

With that, and a tight-lipped smile, she turns toward the house. The servant who has been her shadow stays as our shadow, likely so we don’t get ourselves into any trouble.

He’s within earshot, so we can’t discuss or plans or what’s to come. But, I don’t think it’s too private to talk about what just happened. After all, as the consort, I would be concerned about the opinion of my step-mother-in-law.

“Gladys hates me,” I say, feeling a little put out by it. I know I shouldn’t. I have no real urge to impress this woman, her opinion matters very little to me, and she’s actively trying to capture or kill Caleb and me. Still, I don’t like being judged in this way, for reasons that I can’t control.

If she was going to hate me, I want it to be for my merits and actions, not because I’ve never been graced with a wolf.

“It has nothing to do with you,” Caleb says, his voice steady and calm, his eyes filled with patience as he gazes at me. “Her anger is towards me. She would be determined to hate you, even if you were a noble-born werewolf. None of this is a reflection of you or the person you are, Harper.”

“Well,” I say, smiling a little, already feeling much better. “I suppose so long as you like me, that’s what matters.”

Caleb lifts his hand and cups my cheek. “You can be assured of that.”

The servant who was watching us, turns his back, giving us a shred of privacy. Taking advantage of it, Caleb leans down and kisses me.

Bethany doesn’t need to clean Harper and Caleb’s room, and the pair is busy with Gladys. She’s not used to having free time, so she’s not sure what to do. She sets off in search of Cameron.

Yet, just as she arrives to the kitchen, she hears Gladys returning from the gardens. She’s speaking to someone, the butler, Bethany thinks, and he’s clearly annoyed.

“Not even a werewolf! What is this kingdom coming to,” she says. “We need to move our plans forward. Samuel can have that brat for all I care, but the sooner we act, the better it will be for the entire kingdom.”