Leighton

39 Losing the Faith.

Estelle

I stormed away from Leighton, fighting tears of frustration. I knew it was my fault I got myself in a situation to be marked. I didn’t need him making me feel worse about the situation.

The mark on my neck ached, I hadn’t dared look again at it. I hadn’t thought of myself as a vain person but Leighton distaste of my scent, along with this angry mark on my neck made me feel repulsive.

Izzy’s betrayal had also opened up all my old scars from losing Lucia. Even my father was acting out of character and it had thrown me. I wanted to crawl up somewhere safe and hide from it all. Somewhere like the safe I felt in Leghtons arms.

What was it about wolves and all these secrets. I didn’t know any of the story about Ara. In fact when they walked in I had wondered if there was history between her a Leighton at first. However, it was fairly obvious that he held no interest to her. Her eyes followed Jackson at all time.

I didn’t think I could have beared to look at someone who clearly regarded me with such contempt. It was the only time I had seen Jackson unable to fully control his emotions. Whatever had happened must have been pretty bad.

“Ara hasn’t given us any reason not to trust her?” Raine said curiously.

I knew that she was having troubling deciding who to trust. Izzy’s betrayal, Dad seeming to support Leighton, it was as though my world had turned on its axis.

“If our mate doesn’t trust her, does that change anything ?” I asked her.

“I don’t know. Right now I feel like he is the only one we really trust.”

I knew what she meant, he was the only person with the power to clear my mind. I hadn’t appreciated how much better he made everything. I knew I was directing my frustration at him, because I just wanted him to hold me like before. Before my scent repulsed him.

“I don’t think I can take another look of disgust from him. Let’s go see Peter. You still trust him ?”

Raine took a moment. “As much as we can anyone, but we did trust Izzy so I guess we just need to be careful. No one ever said being Queen was going to be easy Estelle.”

Great even my wolf was disappointed in me now.

I didn’t know what I would do if Peter wasn’t on my side. He has been the only person that had never wanted anything from me. I needed that right now. I couldn’t admit to Leighton how much his words hurt me, because I knew they were true. At least Peter wouldn’t judge. As it was turning out he was the only person who had never let me down.

I walked slowly down the corridor that led to the dungeon. I still couldn’t believe my father had locked him up here. I was confident that he wouldn’t have harmed him and my worries were eased when I saw him sitting in a cell, looking stressed but unharmed.

“Princess, thank goddess you are okay?” His first thought was of my wellbeing.

“Define okay ?” I tried to joke, moving my hair so he could see ugly mark. There would be no mistaking it was a forced mark. Normally they would heal instantly leaving a distinctive mark imprinted in the skin but mine was still red and angry and would remain so unless I accepted it by marking the Prince in return.

“I’m sorry, I should have ran before they got me.”

“How did you escape ?” I asked him, Izzy words echoing in my head.

“I knocked out my guard and I guess I just got lucky, they must have been on a shift change or something, I didn’t hang about to find out what was going on ?”

“Hmm.”

“Did Izzy get out with you, they didn’t lock her up with me.” He asked.

“Izzy is the reason we were there. She betrayed me, us I guess. Prince Alonso is her mate.” I watched him carefully for his reaction and I knew that what I was saying was news to him.

“What ? Why?” I could see the disbelief on his face.

I unlocked his door, father clearly wasn’t too worried as he didn’t even have silver cuffs on.

“He is her mate.” I repeated.

“F***, is that how it was so easy to escape ?” I could see his brain putting the pieces together.

“Izzy implied she had something to do with that. I was kind of hoping it was simply that she wanted you safe?”

“Or she needed me to come here, she knew this is where I would go. Who did they need from here at Abaddon ?”

“I can only assume my father, he hasn’t passed the Kingdom to me yet. But if he were gone then I’m the only heir. If they want power he probably is one of the only things in their way.”

“But you are getting the Kingdom do why not just wait? Why go to all this effort ?” He thought out loud.

I walked into his cell and sat beside him.

“If only I knew, maybe they just didn’t want to wait any longer .” I signed. It was so frustrating to feel like I was always on the back foot. Like everyone else had a plan and I was always the last to know.

“Penny for them?” Peter put his arm around my shoulder letting me rest my head on his shoulder.

“You need more than a penny.”

“You can talk to me you know. I know I’ve not been here this last few years but I was making sure I was what you needed.”

“What is it I need ?” I was curious how he thought he had me all figured out when I didn’t even myself.

“Someone who will be there for you now matter what, someone who is happy to let you lead. Let you be Queen. I needed to be away from you to know I could do that.”

“I have Leighton for that.” I mumbled not quite liking how this conversation was going.

“Then why are you here?” I could feel his eyes watching me as I lifted my head from his shoulder. His dark gaze watching me intently.

“I needed my friend.” I told him.

“Friend ?” He gently pushed my hair away from my face. His touch was comforting but it wasn’t Leightons. While the gesture was sweet, it was too intimate.

“Leighton and I had a fight, I think.” I told him, hoping he would understand.

“What about ?”

“This.” I turned my head so my mark was on his face. “Trusting my judgement, letting me make my own decisions.”

“I see.” He paused his arm still around my shoulders, squeezing tightly. “You don’t need him you know.”

“I think you will find she f***** well does.”

I shot out of my skin when I heard Leighton voice. His face a barely concealed mask of fury as he looked down at me. Peter didn’t move his arm and I wriggled from under it before he could pull me to his side.

“I think that’s her choice ? Don’t you ?” Peter replied while I was too busy staring at Leighton.

His eyes hadn’t left mine but as Peter spoke I saw a flash of panic amongst the anger. Did he genuinely think I would choose Peter over him.

He didn’t respond, his eyes trained on me. My initial shock in seeing him had worn off, now I could feel my anger at both building in my chest. Looking between them both I snapped.

“I don’t need either of you. I just for one moment wanted someone on my side. Someone who didn’t want anything from me but was just there.”

I pushed past Leighton and he didn’t make an effort to stop me. Marching out of the castle I could feel tears pouring down my face and I was glad none could see them.

“Leighton was just jealous, give him break.” Raine whined in my ear as I walked further away from our mate.

“Please just be on my side right now? I don’t know what to do or who to trust and I can’t bear to be near him when he looks at me like that.”

“Like what ?” Leighton’s voice sounded from behind me. I jumped in fright that he had snuck up on me again.

I must have spoken out loud in my frustration at Raine.

Without turning round I hung my head.

“Like I disgust or disappoint you. To be honest I’m not sure which is worse.”

He didn’t correct me but at least the wind carried his scent towards me so it washed over me like a balm. I took a deep breath, drawing strength from him, ready for his answer.

“We need to talk.”

I took another deep breath, I my experience rarely did this conversation starter convey good news.

Pull your self together Estelle, you are a princess. You can handle this.

I gave myself a talking too.

“Just trust them Estelle. He isn’t going to let you down.”

Raine was 100% team Leighton. I wished I could share her faith.