NovelEnglish
Chapter 172 Something to fight for
William stared down at the purple tube in his hands. Doris wondered if the same thoughts were crossing
his mind that had already crossed hers. Was it real? Was this happening to them? Were they even ready
to be parents? Doris knew she wasn’t. There wasn’t an ounce of her that believed in herself to be a good
mother when she didn’t know the first thing about children. Did he feel the same?
Did he want to change everything about himself just so he could be better like she did?
Slowly, she noticed his shoulders slacked a little and his body came undone as if he was trying to relax
all of his muscles. When he looked up at her again, his eyes were the ones she saw in her dreams. A
beautiful blue sea that was now her favorite color.
“I left because I knew he would come here if he saw his mother dead. He would come straight for me-
and you. I didn’t want to risk it.” William sat on the edge of the bed. He gripped Doris by her hips and
pulled her closer to him. “I didn’t want to risk you or the baby. It was driving me insane, so I had to go
take care of it before something happened that I couldn’t stop.”
“All you had to do was tell me.” Doris said gently. She ran her fingers through his hair that was caked
with mud and-whatever else. She didn’t even want to consider how much blood was seeped into his
clothes. “I was beginning to think something had happened to you. I almost went after you—“
William’s grip tightened on her. “No. Even if they have me in a cell being tortured, you are never to come
after me like that. I can handle my scars, I can’t handle yours.”
Doris’s eyes watered almost instantly from his words. She bit down on her lip and tried to curse them
silently to stay inside. She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him slow enough to make the world
disappear around them.
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Doris melted against William when he kissed her back. It was strange to hold someone that was now
considered the other half of her soul and be able to fall into them. She felt as if all of her worries could
disappear the moment his put his hands on her and kissed her until everything felt better again.
His fingers trailed along the hem of her sweater as if he was tempting himself with what was underneath.
Silently, her body begged him to go forward. To show her how much he wanted this life with her even
when she wasn’t sure of it herself. His kisses and caresses could make her go blind to all that was wrong
if he stayed with her long enough. 1
His hands slid up her back slowly, but she felt as if his kisses were distracted. When she pulled away, he
looked down at her body as if he wanted a piece of her-but his mind wouldn’t clear enough to take it.
“William… Tell me what’s on your mind.” Doris hummed. He looked up at her again. “You told me that
you would always let me know before you leave-“
“I wasn’t thinking when I left. I just acted.” William stood. He looked as if he wanted to jump out of his
skin from his adrenaline. “I only had to get to Jack and take care of him. That’s all. I didn’t think about
anything else, only keeping you safe and securing the crown.”
“William.” Doris said gently. She watched as he started to pace the small area like a wild animal. “Are you
okay? I know this couldn’t have been an easy decision.”
“I’m fine. I did what had to be done and he would have done the same if he had the chance. He said so
himself before I killed him.” William grumbled. He raked his fingers through his hair then stared at them
as if they were covered in blood. “Now there’s only Martin standing in my way-”
“Are you going to kill him too?” Doris asked cautiously. “I think you should rest for a moment and
consider what has already happened in this war,“
“Dozens dead already on Martin’s side.” William informed her. Doris put her hand on her stomach without
thought. Dozens dead? Those were men and women she had passed dozens of times at the palace, she
was sure. Just a few days ago, they were all on the same side.
How many had died on his side? How many rogues were out there fighting for a better life? Doris
clamped her lips shut before the words could come out. He looked at her curiously as if they already had.
“I meant to think about what happened with your family. I think you need to slow down for a minute and
consider-“
“What is there to think about? I killed the woman that killed my mother and her useless son that always
hated me.” William snarled. He turned away from her as if he refused to look her in the eye. “I don’t
regret it. I don’t care if that makes me a monster in your eyes.”
“That would never make you a monster, William. I’m just worried about you. They weren’t great people,
I’m not ever saying they were but I just want to make sure you’re okay.” Doris reached out her hands to
William but he moved out of her grasp. She tried to hide her hurt but William always saw right through
her. 1
“I have to settle this before you have our child, Doris. What don’t you understand? I have to be set in my
role long before our daughter or son is born.” William said. “I need this war over soon. I have to take the
throne as my own before more enemies are formed.”
“William, even if the war ended tomorrow your father is still alive.” Doris tried to speak as gently as she
could. Suddenly an idea formed and she felt foolish that she hadn’t thought of it before. “I know you
worry for him too. Have you thought about giving him some of your blood like you did to me? I’m not sure
if it will heal him completely, but it might help.”
“If only it was that easy.” William said bitterly. “It wouldn’t work for him like it did for you, we share blood.”
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“What do you mean? Does he have the same special blood you do?”
“No. My blood wouldn’t heal him, it would only injure him further. I tried once when I was younger to
heal one of his wounds.” William sighed. “When I was a kid, I realized my blood healed injured animals
so I wanted to try it on a person. One day, I saw my father had a cut on his wrist so I snuck in his room
when he was sleeping. When I dripped my blood in his mouth, it made the cut open wider.”
Doris’s eyes widened. “Oh my, It did the opposite?”
“Yes. I thought my blood hurt people after that, but then I learned it only had that reaction for those that
share my blood. Later on, I learned that wolves who can heal can’t use that sort of gift on their blood
family.” 1
Doris wrapped her arms around William and rested her head against his chest. “I’m sorry.”
She didn’t know why she expected him to hesitate before showing affection to her, but he didn’t. He
wrapped his arms around her small frame and held her tightly against him. “I will make sure this is all
resolved before it’s too late.”
Doris closed her eyes and let him hold her for as long as he needed to. His chin rested on top of her
head and she could hear the rapid heartbeat inside his chest. She wished he could stay with her for a
while before he let his thoughts take over again.
“I don’t want to kill Martin.” He said quietly. “I know that is what it will come down to.” 2
Doris almost pulled away to look up at him, but he held firm. “It doesn’t have to. You don’t have to kill all
of your brothers to get the throne.”
“They would kill me if I don’t. Except Daniel, I would never let anyone hurt Daniel.” William pulled away
from her. “I have to do this.”
“I don’t think Martin would want to kill you, William. No matter what you’ve done or what you want. He
doesn’t have the taste for war and vengeance like Luna Queen did.”
“He might now that she’s gone.” William said. He turned to the door and all Doris could do was helplessly
watch him leave.
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