Chapter 7 A Stronger Belinda

• ~After A Week~
• Maeve laid on her bed, her back facing the ceiling as her maids helped her massage her back. She smiled and shut her eyes as her maids worked wonders on her body.
• Soon, there was a knock on her door. “Rat-tat-tat.”
• “Arghhh. Who wants to ruin this perfect moment for me? I hope it isn’t about that girl, I’m so tired of hearing her name. It’s annoying.”
• “Should I get the door, Luna?” One of her maids asked.
• “Who is it anyway? If it isn’t Cephas, then the person can go back. I don’t want to be disturbed.”
• “Is that how much you hate your own sister, Maeve?” A lady answered from outside the door.
• Maeve’s eyes widened and she sprang up. “Maisie, is that you?!”
• “The one and only.” Maisie answered.
• “Oh my… Someone should grab the door already!” Maeve uttered out of excitement. She grabbed her robe and wrapped it around her body, awaiting the entry of her sister.
• “Sister!” Maisie called, and Maeve stood up.
• “Hey baby!” She called as they ran to each other. Maisie jumped on Maeve, and Maeve was strong enough to lift her.
• “Oh… I missed you so much, Maisie! I thought you’d never come and visit me. How many years has it been?”
• “Seven years, eight months!” Maisie answered, and embraced her again.
• “Why did it take you so long to come here? You always said in your letters and text that you will visit me soon.” Maeve sulked.
• “I’m sorry, okay? I may have been enjoying my pack and kingdom way too much.” Maisie answered.
• “Oh please. You left me to go to another pack just to have fun?”
• “C’mon, you were the one that left to marry a man from another pack. You are a Lichen wolf from birth. Love made you disown us, and now you belong to another pack.”
• “Don’t say it like it’s a bad thing. When you fall in love, then you’ll understand I didn’t just act out of the blue.”
• “About that… I have something to tell you. I was so excited that I had to come all the way down here to tell you myself.”
• “Really?”
• Maeve looked at her maids and gave them a sign, telling all of them to move out.
• After they were out, they sat on the bed and looked at each other. “So, tell me about it.”
• “So, sister, have you heard the name Prince Damon?” Maisie asked, and Maeve shook her head.
• “No, who is he?” She asked out of curiosity.
• “Well, His full name is Prince Damon Bennet, the son and heir of King and Alpha Talos Bennet of the Moonlove pack and kingdom…”
• “And?” Maeve’s curiosity couldn’t let her rest.
• “Relax, sister. I’ll tell you everything. So, there has been news across kingdoms, for months, that this gorgeous and sophisticated Prince is in search of a wife. Though, many packs and kingdoms have been taking their daughters and Princess to him but he has been refusing all of them. But…” Maisie took a pause and watched her sister almost faint out of curiosity.
• “Why did you stop talking?! Go on.” Maeve uttered out of frustration, and Maisie broke out of laughter.
• “Okay… So, Our king heard the news and he decided to pick five most beautiful ladies from our kingdom to walk before the Prince. And well… I am one of them!”
• “What?! Are you serious?!” Maeve asked in surprise, coupled with excitement.
• “Yes! I was so shocked when I saw it! I was busy cleaning my house, when the society papers got delivered to my doorstep. I read through and realized I was number two on the list. We will be appearing before him in two days' time.”
• “Wow! Congratulations, Maisie! I’m so happy for you! I’m not surprised you are one of them. You are damn pretty!”
• Maisie hid her face as she flushed. “But… we can’t be too happy. He may as well reject me, just like he always has been doing. He has never given any woman the chance.”
• Maeve shook her head anc took Maisie’s hand.
• “Listen to me, Maisie. He said no to others so that he can be with you. The other women, after walking before him, they give up when he rejects them, but you… you won’t give up, because we never give up!”
• Maisie smiled widely and bounced her head. “I knew I’d be motivated when I talk to you. I have always had a crush on him. He’s so pretty.”
• “Look at me, Maisie. That man is yours, okay? We’ll do anything to make him yours. You won’t give up until he becomes yours, okay?”
• “Hmm.” Maisie answered and hugged Maeve again.
• “I love you, sister. Thank you so much.” She said, and Maeve planted a kiss on her head.
• “I’m very happy for you. This is good news. It’s been a long time since I heard one.” Maeve scoffed.
• “Why? what’s wrong?”
• “Oh, nothing serious. Just a drama in our pack here.”
• “Really? No wonder, I could notice something off when I came in. I was so scared they would pounce on me. Thank God Alpha Cephas came to my rescue. What happened?” Maisie asked with concern.
• “It’s the slave of mine. We found out about a week ago that she was pregnant.”
• “A pregnant slave? How is that even possible? What was she thinking?”
• “I don’t know, Maisie. Cephas and I grew so furious, and he ordered them to tie her up to a tree and that she would be judged the next day. Unfortunately, she escaped before we all woke up.”
• “What effrontery! She must have been a stubborn woman.”
• “A woman? She was just a girl! Well, we’ve been searching for her since then and we haven’t been progressing. The search always leads to a dead end, but Cephas isn’t giving up and it’s pissing me off already.”
• “But, she is just a slave. Why does he have to worry so much?” Maisie inquired.
• “Well, maybe he’s angry that she and whosoever helped her played on his intelligence.”
• “Someone helped her? I thought she escaped on her own. Do you know the person who did it?”
• “No. Though, I caught the saint of another wolf on the rope. It was so faint, I couldn’t do much about it, but I’m very sure I hadn’t caught that saint since that day.”
• Maisie heaved a sigh and lowered her head. “This is pretty serious. It must have been so stressful for you.”
• Maeve let out a smile and shook her head. “Not really. Let’s forget about that and focus on the Moonlove Kingdom’s Queen-to-be.”
• Maisie covered her mouth with her hand and flushed very hard. “Don’t tease me, Maeve.” She muttered.
• ***
• “Are you sure you can walk well now, Belinda ? I can tell my father to wait another week before you start the training.” Megan uttered out of worry.
• “I am fine now, Princess Megan . Please don’t worry about me. I want to start training too. I have always wanted to know how to fight and defend myself.” Belinda answered, and Megan smiled and nodded.
• Belinda had grown much stronger and healthier over the days. Megan and her healer took so much care of her and she responded to the treatments well.
• She was able to speak more fluently and do things herself.
• King Talos saw she was doing well already and decided to teach her how to fight and hunt with the help of his children. He believed it was time for her to start helping the pack and kingdom.
• “I have told you to stop calling me Princess. Megan is fine.”
• “But I can’t, Princess Megan . I will never disrespect you. Not after how much you’ve helped me.”
• Megan sighed and bobbed. “Fine. Whatever you want. Let’s go to the training room. I bet Damon is there already?”
• “Prince Damon?” Belinda asked fearfully and took two steps backwards from the door.
• He was the only one that still feared her. She could never get used to his cold looks and expressions. She wanted to avoid anything that would bring them together.
• Megan giggled after watching Belinda ’s reaction.
• “Relax, Belinda . I know you’re scared of my brother, but I’ll keep reassuring you that he isn’t a monster. He is just…” she took a pause, and thought of the perfect word to describe him.
• “… cold. My father asked him to train with us. He is much better than I am and can teach you better. Moreover, it’s better he handles it, maybe I’ll have more time for Yolanda.”
• Belinda nodded but kept her face down.
• “But I promise, I’ll make sure he’s nice to you. As nice as he can be.”
• **
• Damon threw hard punches at the punching bag, which was made of sand and different kinds of grains.
• He was unaware of when Megan and Belinda walked him. Seeing him like that, Belinda was so scared.
• ‘He is hitting it so hard.’
• “Brother, we are here!” Megan uttered from where they were, making Damon stop. He turned back and looked at them.
• His eyes fell on Belinda and she shivered. She hastily lowered her head.
• “Are you sure she can do this?” He asked, and Megan nodded. “Of course. She’s pretty determined.”
• He scoffed and walked to the scabbard and drew out a sword. He began to approach her and Megan moved out of the way. He stood in front of her and stretched the sword to her.
• “Hold it.” He muttered coldly.
• “Isn’t that too big for her, Damon?” Megan asked out of concern.
• “Hold it.” Damon said again, ignoring Megan ’s question. Belinda looked at Damon’s face, and then at his hand before she stretched her hands forward to collect it.
• As soon as she was able to wrap her hands around it, Damon let go of it all of a sudden, and the surprisingly heavy weight of the sword hit Megan ’s realization and she fell on her butt to the ground.
• “Belinda !” Megan rushed to her to help her up.
• Damon scoffed and folded his arms as he watched them. “This is going to be so much fun.”