“Because what?”
She sighs. “When Colin attacked Crescent, I was tasked with keeping the King and Queen’s son safe. I was trusted with their only heir to the throne. My job was to run as fast as I could to get him to safety... When Colin imprisoned me, as bad as that was, it didn’t compare to the fear I had when I wasn’t confident enough to protect the most important being in the entire realm—my best friend’s pup.”
“I couldn’t protect any of them. All I could do was run and hope no one caught up to me,” she says. “I’ve never told anyone this, but even as a beta’s wife and beta to the Queen, I still don’t feel like I truly have a purpose, you know?”
“I know exactly what you mean.”
I really do. Being able to save my own life, time and time again, hardly seemed meaningful without a purpose. To survive was not the same as thriving. I’ve always wanted something more.
“I know, it’s cliché, but I want to be a mom. Always have.” She chuckles.
I shake my head. “Not at all. Being a parent is important. I know what it’s like to grow up without them.”
“What happened to them? If you don’t mind me asking.”
“I don’t really know. I don’t remember much from when I was younger.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
I just nod, so she can keep the floor.
“It’s just... As a little girl, the only thing I wanted to do was to playhouse as the mom and take care of my baby dolls... And then... I don’t know... Something changed when they handed me Evan. I can’t explain it, but the idea of motherhood scared me and something I always wanted, but I started thinking maybe I wasn’t ready for or... good enough for it.”
“All because you can’t fight?”
“Come on, what wolf can’t protect their pup?”
I face her and extend my hand to her. “There’s still time to learn.” I grin. “How about it?”
***
Well. She’s not wrong—Taya can’t fight to save her life.
But she’ll learn in time... I hope. I want her to be able to protect herself, but she’s really struggling.
It’s not because of weakness or anything. It’s because this girl doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. Her not hurting people isn’t wrong. She worries about what that means for her as a mother, but she and Sam balance each other out. I never wanted to be the bad guy. I was forced to be. And here’s Taya, wishing she could be.
I admire Taya for her innocence. I just hope this world lets her keep it. She’s probably the first person I’ve met outside of my herd to not see me as a monster.
I can see why Taya said training was so scary and why Sam worries about her not being able to fight. Protecting someone doesn’t make me feel any less scared if they can’t protect themselves.
“Maybe . . . we should . . . take a break,” Taya says between pants.
I giggle. “Okay. Take a break.”
My wolf picks up on a dominant aura approaching. Everyone bares their neck in submission to him out of respect. I follow their lead, looking down at the ground with my neck exposed to him.
“Taya,” King Dax acknowledges her, and once he does, she turns her head and meets his eyes in return.
I return his regard, giving my full attention and direct eye contact—without a hint of challenge.
It seems that was the right move.
“Where’d you learn to fight?”
I avert my gaze and tuck my hair behind my ear.
I take a deep breath, inhaling the courage to be honest. “I’ve been in a lot of dogfights.”The champion, to be exact.
