Her Unwanted Mate On The Throne

Chapter 197 So much lost time

“Doris, wake up.” Doris flinched right out of her sleep when William touched her shoulder. He stood

above her with a golden letter clasped in his grasp. Something about his eyes shot a new wave of worry

right through her. “What is it?” Doris sat up quickly. William raked his fingers through his hair as if he

didn’t know what to do or say. A hole started to form in her chest at what might come out of his mouth.

“My father called home for me. He wants me to return by nightfall.” William said as he seated himself on

the side of the bed. Doris moved up and wrapped her arms around him. Slowly, she released the breath

that tried to strangle her. “Are you alright?” Doris whispered. “Did it say anything else?” “When I got the

letter… I thought it was going to tell me that he was dead.” William glanced back at her. A glaze of

sadness in his eyes that she wasn’t used to seeing. It pulled at her hollow chest. “I didn’t think it would be

from him.” “I’m glad it’s not what you thought.” Doris brushed his hair to the side. “We should go to him.

He must have something important to talk to you about.” Doris knew that she didn’t need to remind him

that his father was sick. She didn’t need to mention that he might die soon, it was clearly already at the

front of his mind. He needed to see his father as soon as possible. William nodded and pushed himself

up. “I will gather everyone to pack up. We can leave ahead of them and get there within a few hours

time.” Doris watched him leave with the weight still on his shoulders. She frowned a little at the sight. She

couldn’t imagine the sort of fear that went through him when he thought his father had died instead of

being the one that wrote to him. The mind was a dangerous thing when everything around them was

uncertain. As quickly as she could, she got up to get ready and packed up all of their things. Beth came

in soon after and brought a try of food with her. “I heard we were going back to the palace!” Beth grinned.

She gripped Doris by the arm and made her sit and eat. “It’ll be nice to sleep in a real bed again. The cot

has really torn into my back. I can’t imagine how you must be feeling sleeping out here in a tent every

night. I would lose my mind if I was pregnant.” Doris shook her head at her friend. “You heard right. We

are returning to the palace, the king has called for William for a meeting. He wants him back by tonight

and I think we will be able to make it.” Doris said as she started to inhale her food. Beth laughed at the

sight of her. “As for the idea of returning to our real beds… it’s all that keeps me going.” “Have you felt

your wolf wake up yet?” Beth asked lightly. Doris froze mid bite and closed her eyes. Her wolf felt as if

she was resting rather than sleeping, but at least she could feel her again. It had been a long minute

since she remembered to check up on her wolf. There was so much happening, she wasn’t even sure

how she remembered to get dressed every day. “I think she should be waking up soon. It feels as if

she’s starting to already.” Doris wrapped her arms around her stomach. “I miss her. I hope the drug they

gave me doesn’t have a bad effect on the baby. I don’t think Martin knew I had a child in me—otherwise I

doubt he would have risked it.” “Oh my, I surely hope not! I hope you feel your wolf wake up soon and

reassure you, I’m sure she would know better.” Beth smiled sadly before she stood and cleared the

plates. After she was done, she finished packing for Doris. Once they were finished, they carried their

things out to the carriage and William stalked up to yank the bag out of her hand. “What are you

thinking? You shouldn’t be cleaning any of this up or lifting anything.” He shoved her bag in a nearby

guard’s arms and helped her up into the carriage. The camp around them already looked ready to be

taken down, the rest of the guards worked swiftly to get it all done. Beth climbed in beside her before

they were joined by William. “Will Enzo be joining us?” Beth asked casually. Doris turned her head

quickly to stare out the window so no one would see her grin. “He rides with the rogues. They will meet

us back at the palace by nightfall.” William said distractedly. He hit the top of the carriage and a moment

later, it took off through the snow. Doris lightly patted Beth’s knee when she saw her friend blush. Beth

glared at Doris and crossed her arms over her chest. Doris bit down on her lip as hard as she could to

keep in her laugh. When she looked up, William had been watching them with a blank expression. It

immediately sobered her up and cut out any sort of amusement she felt in that moment. It wasn’t the

time to be joking with her friend when her mate was in pain. The carriage ride felt as if it stretched on and

on. Doris stared out the window and saw them pass through the areas that were clearly used as part of

the battlefield. Ripped clothing and torn ground were all that were left behind. No sense of death or

decay remained and for that she was glad.

The palace soon came into view and left a strange feeling in her chest. She knew that once she walked

through the doors, it wouldn’t be the same as it always was. Even more so than when they returned from

the north. There would no longer be Martin lingering in the library-would she ever be able to return there?

It would feel strange, like she didn’t belong there anymore even though she used to love it. For some

reason, her mind wanted to block out the place and strip it from who she used to be. It only brought back

memories she didn’t want to face. Luna Queen and Prince Jack would no longer wander the halls and

look for people to ridicule. Perhaps many guards and servants would be gone because of the war. It

didn’t matter how she changed or how the people changed around her, the palace would never be the

same. But still, her heart also felt a strange sense of home. For so long she despised the palace as if it

was a rotten tomb, but now her heart longed for the familiar walls. She wanted to walk up the familiar

steps and sleep in a familiar room. It’d been a long time since she considered somewhere her home like

that. Even with all of the toxic past it held her with, perhaps she was finally ready to let all that go.

“It’s about time.” A groggy voice said from inside her. Doris almost flinched out of her skin. William’s eyes

snapped to her as if he sensed something and she smiled at him that she was okay. “Cordelia! I thought

you were still asleep.” Doris said silently. “I was, but your thoughts were so loud they woke me up.”

Cordelia grumbled. Doris wanted to roll her eyes but she knew that William was watching her. “What did I

miss?” “I’ll catch you up later. We’re about to return to the palace for the first time since this war started.”

Doris eyed William who gazed out the window as if he was lost in thought. Perhaps his wolf was trying to

convince him everything would be fine. “I’m glad to know you see this place as your home. We need a

place to be safe at. We need a home, your baby needs a home.” Cordelia whispered. The carriage came

to a stop in front of the palace

steps.

“Is… is my baby going to be okay?” Doris asked as the door opened. Beth was helped out first. “Of

course it will. As long as you don’t stress yourself to death.” Cordelia muttered. “A baby with a mate

always comes out healthy and perfect. I wouldn’t worry about that now.” “It’s hard not to with all that’s

been going on.” Doris sighed. She slid across the seat and William helped her down. He held on tightly

to her hand and led her up the palace steps. Doris waved goodbye to Beth who hurriedly went towards

her room. William didn’t let go of Doris, he led her straight towards the king’s quarters.