Chapter 75 Food and Bath
Simon clenched his fists. He wanted to run to Melva, to take her away from the pain she had endured, but fear rooted him to the ground. Not fear of the matebond—fear of himself. Fear that if he embraced it, there would be no turning back.
Still, he couldn’t ignore the truth. If he kept resisting, if he kept trying to live between two worlds—his desire for Riela and the pull toward Melva—it wouldn’t just break him. It could destroy Melva too.
And deep down, Simon knew one thing with certainty: Riela would never be his. She had made it clear—she only saw him as a brother, just like she did Gavriel. On top of that, the Alpha King had already given him a direct command to take Melva as his mate.
With that truth weighing on him, Simon finally gathered himself and asked to see the Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother lifted her gaze in surprise when Simon was announced at her door. It was unusual for him to seek her out, and even more so at this hour. “Simon?” she said, brows furrowing. “What brings you here?”
Her eyes widened when Simon suddenly dropped to his knees before her and declared in a steady but desperate voice, “Melva is my fated mate. Please, release her. I’ll take responsibility for her and keep her under my control and care.”
“Your fated mate?!” she repeated, as if she couldn’t believe what she had just heard. “What kind of joke is this Gamma!!!”
Simon lowered his head, his hands clenched into fists. “I tried to fight it. I knew she was from Cain’s pack and I thought I could resist. But when I found out she was beaten and thrown into the dungeon…” His voice broke, raw with emotion. “I can’t ignore it anymore. It’s driving me insane.”
The Queen Mother’s lips tightened as doubt flickered in her eyes. “Is this Gavriel’s doing… or that witch Althea’s scheme?!”
Simon quickly looked up and shook his head. “No, Alpha Gavriel didn’t even know. He wasn’t aware Melva was my mate until this very moment. This is on me, not on him. Not on Lady Althea either.”
Well, what he said was true. Even if Lady Althea hadn’t begged him, Simon knew that in the end, he would still go to the Alpha King and confess that Melva was his mate and ask for his help.
The urge to protect her was something he simply couldn’t fight against. It was the same pull that had driven him before like when he risked himself to save her during the attack on the Shadowthorn Pack and Cain’s residence before.
The Queen Mother’s lips tightened, her sharp eyes narrowing at his plea. She leaned back in her chair, fingers drumming lightly on the armrest as silence pressed down on the hall.
“So,” she said slowly, her voice calm but cutting, “you dare to beg before me for her release?” Her gaze flicked toward the girl, then back to him. “Do you truly understand what you are asking, or are you blinded by desperation?”
Her tone held no warmth, only cold scrutiny.
“You would take full responsibility?” she repeated, as if testing the weight of his words. A faint, humorless smile touched her lips. “Be careful what you promise. Responsibility is not a burden so easily cast aside once taken.”
Then her smile faded, her voice heavy, “That woman could end up being your downfall, Simon.” Her words cut through like a blade. “You think you’re saving her,” she continued, low and deliberate, “but you may very well be handing her the knife that will pierce your back. Do not let pity—or that damned mate pull—blind you.”
Simon’s voice trembled with strain. “There is nothing I can do, Your Grace. My inner wolf is going mad the longer I know she’s suffering in that dungeon.”
She gave an annoyed chuckle, bitter at the memory. “Who am I to lecture, though? My own son trudged through the same mud. Women will stab you in the back given the chance.”
“Please, let me take her,” he continued pleading.
The Queen Mother’s face hardened. “Fine. Take her. But mark my words: the moment she commits any act that endangers the kingdom, especially my family, I will end her myself.”
Simon bowed deeply. “Thank you for your mercy, Your Grace.”
He let out a long, shaky breath as he rose and took his leave from the Queen Mother’s presence. Relief washed over him in cold waves—the kind that makes your knees feel weak and your hands tremble.
Then he moved fast until he reached the dungeon entrance.
“Melva is to be released into my custody,” Simon told the guard, voice steady though his heart pounded. “Do it now.”
They hesitated only a beat before obeying. The heavy iron latch clanked, and the corridor filled with the damp, metallic smell of the cells. Simon’s breath hitched when he saw her.
Melva sat on the straw at the back of her cell, clothes torn and stained with dried bloods. Chains bound her wrists and feet, and her shoulders slumped but when her eyes met his, her eyes quickly lit.
“Simon?” she whispered with a weak smile and that caught him offguard.
He crossed the short distance in two strides. The matebond thrummed through him like a second heartbeat, sharp and impossible to ignore.
“I’ve got you,” he said, voice low. “I’ll take you out of here.”
The guards worked quickly to free her. The shackles gave with a dull clank. Simon helped Melva to her feet, supporting most of her weight as she swayed. She leaned into him without shame, allowing him to steady her.
“Can you walk?” he asked.
She simply nodded, but he kept his arm around her, guiding her through the corridor. When they were finally out of the dungeon gate, she murmured, “Ahh, finally… I’m so hungry.”
Simon blinked in surprise. He had expected to find Melva in the worst condition after hearing how brutally she had been beaten. Yes, she had healing abilities, but that wouldn’t work with iron bars around and iron shackles on her skin.
Yet her only complaint was hunger?
Pushing aside his confusion, he led her back to the North Palace, straight to the Gamma Cottage where he was staying within the palace grounds.
Inside, he noticed Melva’s belongings had already been transferred. He helped her into the nearest chair before turning toward the door. “I’ll ask the mage healer to check—”
He froze when Melva’s hand closed around his wrist.
“There’s no need,” she said softly. Her smile was gentle, almost sweet. “I’m fully healed. I just need food and a bath.”
Simon frowned deeply, his confusion only growing.