Forbidden Lovers

Family

Evelyn wasn't there for dinner. And of course, how could she be in the same room with Robert without trying to kill him. Arthmael felt like a fool for even believing he'd find her here.

He should've gone to her room instead of being angry at her all day long. She was right, the fact that what she had said hurt him to the core didn't make her words less true. On the contrary, she had been the only one brave enough to tell him the truth right to his face.

He was a hypocrite.

And now, looking at his Alpha, it was the first time that he felt like he was looking at a complete stranger, at someone he had never known. Perhaps he had only known what Robert had wanted him to know. Perhaps he had been blind to the man in front of him his entire life.

"Arthmael, come, sit with us," Estelle dragged him from his own thoughts, however, today, after thirteen years, it was the first time he felt like he didn't belong here with them at all. It was the first time the people he called family felt so much like strangers.

Evelyn wasn't there, she wouldn't be there in front of him while they'd silently eat their meal, she wouldn't look at him with that longing in her eyes she so much tried to hide, so he didn't want to sit down at all.

Arthmael didn't belong here, he didn't belong in the table with a man that forced himself upon young women, with a man that had tried multiply times forcing himself upon his mate. The image of the all respected, powerful, fair man was all shattered in Arthmael's head. And maybe, things would never be as they were from now on.

"Arthmael." This time it was Julian who called. "We're waiting for you."

Silently, Arthmael joined them, not speaking a word the whole time. There was absolutely nothing to say to Robert, or his children for that matter that were even more blind than him.

"Evelyn didn't join us for lunch too, where is she?" Estelle asked her father, however he didn't respond. He kept eating silently as if his wife was the last thing he cared about in this whole world. 

No, Evelyn, not his wife. Arthmael would never allow himself to call her his wife, she was much more than that.

"I'll go check on her." Julian made an attempt to get up from the chair, but Robert raised his hand, stopping him.

"You won't go anywhere, young man," he said coldly. "What would people think, seeing you go inside your young stepmother's room?"

"Stepmother?!" Julian narrowed his eyes at his father. "Evelyn isn't my stepmother, I've had only one mother and she's dead. Evelyn's my best friend, and what people think doesn't concern me at all, father. What concerns me is her well-being." And without waiting for an answer, or an approval, he walked out of the dining hall, making Arthmael sigh a bit in relief. At least she wasn't entirely alone, she had people who cared about her.

Even if these people didn't include him anymore. Evelyn hated him now. His little mate hated him.

A few other minutes were spent in complete silence, at least until a furious Julian walked inside, a deadly look in his face, his eyes black and his wolf right under his surface. It was maybe the first time Arthmael had seen Julian like this. Julian had always been the joker in the family, the one who made everyone laugh.

Now though, in front of Arthmael wasn't the Julian he had known since he was a kid.

"What did you do to her?" Julian growled to his own father and instantly, Arthmael knew it had to do with Evelyn. He had to swallow the lump in his throat and remind himself he had to stay in control, however he didn't know how much he could really do that if Evelyn was hurt. "What the hell did you do to her, father?"

Robert kept silent though, but still Arthmael saw the clench of his jaw.

"What happened, is Evelyn alright?" Estelle asked her younger brother, worried.

"I don't know, let's ask our dear father here. She was crying and she doesn't open the door. She told me she isn't herself anymore, that she isn't an elf anymore."

Arthmael couldn't understand what was going on, but the urge to run to her and take her in his arms was overwhelming. She needed him. His Evelyn needed him yet here was, not even able to go to her.

"What happened, father?" Estelle asked, yet Robert kept eating silently. "Tell us."

Julian growled again. "Father!"

"I did what I should've done way earlier." Robert's hands had turned into fists above the table, but he was still in control of himself. "She used her powers on me once, I forgave her. Now this is the price she has to pay for doing it twice."

Arthmael body started to shake uncontrollably as he tried inhaling and exhaling deeply.

"What price? What did you do?" Julian asked.

"I collared her off her powers."

"YOU DID WHAT?" Arthmael hit the table so hard, some of the plates ended up broken on the floor, causing a disturbing sound. He felt shocked gazes upon himself, but he didn't care one bit. Not after what Robert had done to his mate, no.

"Arthmael!" Robert growled, warning him off.

"How could you do that to Evelyn?" A primal possessive growl tore from his throat, his wolf fighting for control, for blood. "HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO HER?"

Robert slammed his hand on the table too, growling. "BETA!"

"ALPHA!" For the first time ever, he openly challenged his Alpha, but this wasn't enough, not even close. "You'll go there and remove the damn thing off her neck."

What happened next left everyone dumbstruck. Robert punched Arthmael in the face so hard, the rings on his fingers caused blood flowing down Arthmael's cheek. "Are you f*****g giving me orders now? Did you forget who you are speaking to? Is this how I taught you to show your respect and obedience to your Alpha King?"

"Father!" Estelle cried out.

"Stay out of this, Estelle."

Arthmael wiped the blood with the back of his hand, spitting blood on the floor too. And if it was another man right there in front of him, he would've tore him apart. "If you demand respect this bad, you should go and remove the damn thing off her neck first."

"Why, Arthmael, why do you care this bloody much about her?"

"BECAUSE SHE'S FAMILY." Arthmael froze at his own words that had easily escaped his mouth, too. She was family now, but he hadn't meant it like that. He had meant it like 'she's my only family,' but he prayed in his head his Alpha or his children hadn't picked up on anything. "Don't we care about each other on this family, don't we protect each other?" He tried making it better. "We don't collar each other on this family..." he trailed off, letting out a bitter chuckle. "...Or do we, your highness?" 

It was like, finally, Arthmael had seen the true face of the one he had seen like a father for years; like a savior. Yes, this was why he had always worshiped the man this much... in his head, in the head of a kid who had just lost his mother, who had never had a father, Robert was his savior. 

And now, finally, he let himself see... and it were Evelyn's words that echoed in his head. He had wanted to be blind all along.

"Collars aren't only made of gold and witch spells, are they?" He looked Robert right in his eyes as he spoke. "Maybe sometimes they're made of words and lies, too."