Chapter 28. The Letter

Leighton

I woke with a start, a chill seeping into my bones as I noticed the princess had left my bed.

“Something is wrong.” Titan was awake too, pacing in my head.

Pulling on some clothes I wandered downstairs, it was still dark, the morning sun had yet to start making an appearance.

Greer was in the kitchen, sat drinking hot chocolate, with a sleeping Danica in her arms.

“What’s up?” I asked, knowing her well enough to know it was her pick me up. “She having trouble sleeping in a strange place?”.

Danica was probably my favourite of their children, despite being the youngest she was the most troublesome, which always ended up in some hilarity because her siblings always looked out for her. They all loved her, while as a family they loved each other truly there was often bickering among the others, with Danica getting away scot free.

Greer looked up from her hot chocolate and I could tell from her eyes that I wasn’t going to like what she said next.

“She’s gone Leighton. I think she left something for you.”

My heart sank. I didn’t need to ask who she was taking about. I could feel the Princess had left. The air felt empty without her presence.

She handed me an envelope. I stared at it for a moment before taking it from her. I didn’t want to read it in front of her, honestly unsure of what it would say or my reaction to it.

Would it be some feeble excuse for sneaking away perhaps. I don’t know why I was so devastated, she had been clear at the start that she didn’t want a mate and she would leave I just had been so sure I changed her mind. Our conversation last night playing over and over in my mind.

What hurt the most was I had believed she had changed her mind. I believed every word. That we could do this together. I was willing to leave all my friends and family to be whatever she needed me to be. Still it wasn’t enough. The moon goddess must really f*****g hate me.

She hadn’t rejected me yet, I guessed I could avoid that my never seeing her again. The thought of that caused an ache in my heart. The pain of rejection almost more bearable than then thought of never seeing her again. I almost laughed at the irony. Almost.

“Leighton. She didn’t want to go. If that means anything ?” Lost in my thoughts I had forgotten Greer was still here.

“It’s no big deal.”

My only saving grace was we didn’t actually announced we were mates to everyone, only a few really knew, so I could feasibly pretend that I wasn’t heartbroken. Maybe I could ask Jackson to send me away somewhere for a while, when I came back she would be forgotten.

“I know she is your mate Leighton, and I think she is in trouble.”

I couldn’t hide my emotions from Greer.

“She was insistent that we don’t go after her, that it’s not safe for me, or Danica but… it just doesn’t sit well ….you know… leaving her to deal with it alone. I think we should speak to Jackson… if you want to?”

Did I want to go after her? I honestly didn’t think I could handle the rejection, I think it would be preferable to die. I didn’t know how to answer her.

Piper appeared in the kitchen, sniffing deeply.

“Hey guys where is the party ?” She looked inside like she was looking for someone.

She looked at me for a moment before she clearly realised something was wrong.

“Is everything okay ?” She asked.

Greer answered for me.

“There was an emergency, the Princesses needed to leave, suddenly.”

She looked at the envelope in my hand. “Did, em anywone go with her?”

Greer looked at her sympathetically. “Just Peter and the Princesses, they were in a rush.”

Her eyes lingered on my envelope.

“Okay I see. Em did they say when they would be back.”

“No, sorry, it was just by chance I saw them, they didn’t have time to stop and chat. Shall I make us some hot chocolate and we can wait to hear from them.

I’m sure they will explain once they sort out whatever problem it was.”

“I think I’ll pass thanks.” Piper said quietly before she turned and fled from the kitchen. I followed her but at a slower pace. Folding my envelope I placed it in my pocket.

I found her outside, sat in the dark, her head on her knees as she pulled them close to her. Rocking slowly back and forth.

Silently I sat beside her. Not wanting to talk but equally not wanting to leave her alone, yet something felt so off.

Eventually she stopped rocking.

“He left me Leighton, my mate he just upped and left without a word. I didn’t… I didn’t even hear him leave. How could he make love to me and then just leave?”

She sniffed as she fought more tears.

I couldn’t answer because I didn’t know, there was nothing in this world that could have made me leave Estelle. Hell, even now the biggest part of me wanted to follow her and beg her to come back. If she has asked I would have followed her without question even into the most futile of battles. But she didn’t ask.

“So you know the reason she left had to be big.”

“What was so big that she couldn’t tell us, we are her mate?”

“She is trying to protect us, but that’s our job. You need to go after her.”

I blocked out my wolf, I didn’t need him backing the idea my heart wanted to follow anyway.

“I think they are trying to protect us Piper, I know it sucks but we need to work out why they left.”

“It just feels like they aren’t coming back Leighton, why not wake us ? We would have gone.”

I knew I would have followed Estelle to the end of the earth, clearly Piper get the same way about her mate.

“What if they thought us coming put us in danger, if you were them, what would you do?”

Piper looked away, unwilling to answer. “I would never have left without explaining. They owed us that at least.”

I could see tears flowing down her cheeks.

“Why am I never enough?” She whispered, quickly standing up and leaving before I could answer.

As much as I had stuck up for them, she was right didn’t deserve this. Peter had better have a good explanation when I saw him again.

I remembered the letter on my pocket. It might shed some light on why they went. My stomach churned when I took it out. I wasn’t sure I really wanted to read it. Letting out a shaky breath I opened it up.

The writing was messy, like she hadn’t had much time. That was somewhat comforting so I forced myself to read.

Dearest Leighton,

I write this letter because I couldn’t just leave without some form of explanation. Firstly I need you to know that if I could stay I would. Anywhere that was with you would be heaven for me.

I know you will try to find some sort of fault with yourself, please don’t. You are perfect, I couldn’t have chosen a better partner and I would have liked nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you by my side.

But life didn’t ask what I wanted, I find myself a crossroads where I don’t have a choice. It isn’t even as simple as trading my happiness for the happiness of many but their lives too. I was given a task and the fear of what my failure could lead to is the only thing strong enough to tear me from you.

These last few days have been the best of my life and I will treasure our memories forever.

Please don’t try to follow me. The only thing that makes this remotely bearable is knowing you will be safe.

Leaving your bed was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Forgive my cowardness, I couldn’t bring myself to break our bond and reject you, but please know if the times comes that you need that of me I will find the strength to set you free.

My heart, however will forever belong to you, My King.

Yours, forever

Princess Estelle.

As her words swan in front of me the reality that she has chosen to leave sunk in.

“Trust her. She wouldn’t lie to you.”

It was so very hard to believe her when she was wasn’t here. When in reality I was a beta and she was a princess. Why had I ever expected we could be together.

Somehow, despite the despair I felt at her leaving I felt like maybe all wasn’t lost.

“Good human, let’s get on the same page.”

“But how, she has made it clear she doesn’t want us to follow?”

“Like we are going to listen, your human will get herself into all sorts of trouble. We are going.”

Surprisingly I agreed with my wolf, Estelle wouldn’t have time to plan for whatever the problem was that made her leave. She would likely run into more trouble and I couldn’t stand the thought of her getting hurt. I knew would do anything in my power to stop that.

I wasn’t even considering the Prince problem because that was something that would cause me to spiral and right now I needed to think as rationally, well as rationally as a wolf who mate had just gone AWOL could manage.

I read the letter again, she said wanted me too, all I had to do was convince the others to help me. That would be no easy tala but I knew it might take an army to get her back.

I took a dee breath, there was no point moping about. If I wanted her I was going to have to go to her.

Thankfully I knew someone who might be able ti help with that.

I guessed it was time to prove I could be a King and be worthy of her.