Chapter 81 Smells Good - Aleksandr’s POV
I watched Amelia move about my bedroom, our bedroom now, with quiet grace, her slender form wrapped in clothes that had been brought from her suite at my request. Last night's dramatic shift had left her without clothing, and seeing her in my t-shirt this morning had stirred something primitive in me that Skoll approved of heartily. But for the day ahead, she needed her own garments. Still, a possessive part of me enjoyed seeing her here, in my space, moving with newfound confidence after her first shift. Her hair fell in dark waves around her face as she bent to fasten her shoes, and I fought the urge to cross the room and bury my face in the crook of her neck.
'Mate smells good,' Skoll rumbled approvingly in our shared mind. 'Different after shift. Stronger.'
He was right. Her scent had changed subtly, the familiar notes of lavender and vanilla now underscored by something wilder, more primal. The wolf that had always been part of her was now fully awakened, fully integrated. Kaela was no longer hidden behind whatever barrier had kept her trapped.
"Are you hungry?" I asked, adjusting the cuffs of my shirt. I'd dressed more casually than usual, dark slacks and a button-down without a tie. Today wasn't about intimidating the court; it was about supporting my mate.
Amelia glanced up, those remarkable mismatched eyes meeting mine. "Starving, actually." She looked almost surprised by her own admission. "I don't think I've ever been this hungry before."
"First shift will do that," I said, unable to suppress a smile. "Your body burned through an enormous amount of energy reorganising itself. You'll need plenty of fuel to recover."
I offered her my arm, a gesture that felt both formal and intimate. She hesitated only a fraction of a second before slipping her hand into the crook of my elbow, her fingers warm against my skin. The simple contact sent satisfaction flowing through me.
"I've arranged for breakfast in the east garden," I told her as we left the royal chambers. "More private than the dining hall, and the morning air will do us good."
Guards stationed along the corridor straightened as we passed, their eyes carefully avoiding direct contact with mine but lingering curiously on Amelia. News of her dramatic transformation had undoubtedly spread throughout the castle overnight. The wolfless girl who had shifted into one of the largest wolves anyone had seen, my true Queen. I felt a surge of pride that Skoll eagerly echoed.
The garden greeted us with gentle morning light filtering through ancient oak trees, their leaves casting dappled shadows across stone pathways. Servants had prepared a small table near one of the decorative ponds, where lotus flowers floated serenely on the surface. The table itself was laden with food—fresh breads, fruits, meats, eggs prepared three different ways—enough to satisfy a newly shifted wolf's appetite.
I held Amelia's chair for her, noting how she still seemed slightly surprised by such courtesies. How many years of mistreatment had conditioned her to expect nothing but cruelty? The thought stirred anger in me, but I pushed it aside. That was the past. Her future, our future, would be different.
"How are you feeling?" I asked as I took my seat across from her, genuinely concerned. First shifts were notoriously taxing, even under normal circumstances. And hers had been anything but normal, coming after days of captivity and wolfsbane poisoning.
She shrugged one shoulder, the movement careful, measured. "Tired," she admitted, selecting a piece of fruit from the platter. "Sore everywhere, like I've been running for days. But..." she paused, a small smile playing at her lips. "I'm okay. Better than okay, really."
I watched as she took a tentative bite of bread, then another, more enthusiastic one. Her appetite was reassuring, her body healing, rebuilding strength. After years of being underfed at Frozen Mountain, seeing her eat freely brought me a satisfaction I hadn't anticipated.
"Amelia," I began, my voice lowering instinctively, "do you think you would be able to give a statement today? About what happened?"
Her hand froze halfway to her mouth, tension immediately visible in the line of her shoulders. I hated putting this burden on her so soon, but the political reality couldn't be ignored.
"Blackthorn and Kane will be interrogated today," I continued gently, "in front of the full council. It would strengthen our case considerably if you could testify about your experience." I reached across the table, covering her smaller hand with mine. "But only if you feel ready."
She stared at our joined hands, her expression unreadable. For a moment, I thought she might refuse—and I would have respected that decision without question. Then her fingers turned, intertwining with mine.
"Okay," she said quietly. "I can do it."
Pride surged through me at her courage. "I'll be with you the entire time," I promised, squeezing her fingers gently. "I'm not going anywhere, Amelia."
'Tell her Skoll protect too,' my wolf insisted, pushing forward in our shared consciousness. 'No one hurt mate again.'
"Skoll wants you to know he'll be there too," I added, a smile tugging at my lips. "He's become quite the protective guardian where you and Kaela are concerned."
That earned me a small laugh, the sound warming something deep in my chest. "Thank you," she said, her eyes meeting mine with newfound steadiness. "For everything."
I lifted her hand to my lips, pressing a kiss against her knuckles. "You don't need to thank me for doing what any mate would do," I told her. "But you should finish your breakfast. The council can be... draining."
She nodded and returned to her meal with renewed determination, a fighter preparing for another battle. And she was a fighter, perhaps the strongest I'd ever known, though she didn't see it in herself yet. The girl who had endured years of abuse, who had survived days of captivity, who had broken through whatever had trapped her wolf through sheer force of will.
My Queen. My mate. And today, the council would recognise her as both.