"I will have a guard defend you at all times," Claude told her as he stood in Lillian's doorway.
"I am able to defend myself against an opponent," she said, insulted by the insinuation that she was weak.
"I'm sure you can but I will not take any chances with your life," Claude replied coldly before he assigned two guards to watch over the door to her chambers.
She closed the door with a loud sigh. Once again she was going to be a prisoner in her own home.
Lillian caught herself at that thought. Home? This place? Oh no, she was letting herself think of this place as home far too easily. This was simply a place where she lived. Nothing more.
Perhaps reading would take her mind off of things. She took a book off the overflowing bookshelf and began losing herself in the story that unfolded before her.
~~~
It had been two weeks since she had been stuck inside this room. There were only so many books she could read again. At least she could watch the servants in the courtyard below to fill her time.
A knock on the door sounded before it opened and she sensed the crown prince as he entered. Claude stood near the door while she continued looking outside her window. While she wanted something to happen, she would prefer not to see the one who put her here with no visitors allowed.
"I know you are upset with me, but it's for your own good. I would be beside myself with grief if something harmed you," he said softly, coming to stand by her side.
"I don't understand why you are so fixated on me. There are other ladies out in the world," she replied harshly as she continued looking out the window, refusing to look at the man next to her.
She heard him sigh and felt his eyes on her for a moment before he spoke again, "I don't want another lady. I want you to be my partner."
She huffed and looked up at him to see a pouting face. He could be such a child at times.
"That doesn't answer my question. Why me?" Lillian demanded.
"Because I love you," he said simply.
"Love at first sight is something that is only in books. You don't even know me well enough to make such a claim," she countered, feeling irritated at his irrational thoughts.
"Well, it's true that I don't know you as well as I know my general but I hope to one day know you very well. You are a very intelligent person and I admire that greatly," Claude said softly as if speaking too loudly would scare her away.
Her face flushed at his words but she wouldn't let herself be swayed by words alone. Actions are what truly tell of a person's intentions.
She looked him directly in the eyes and made her body face him, giving him her undivided attention.
"I am capable of taking care of myself, Prince Rawls," she told him matter-of-factly.
He replied in a soothing tone that made her more angry at him, "you are a delicate flower that shouldn't bear the wounds of battle."
She felt the anger rise in her stomach as she balled her fists to keep herself centered and not strangle the stupid man.
"I am not a flower. I am a werewolf," she replied with gritted teeth.
Claude shook his head as if speaking with a child, "you are still a delicate being who should be protected from anything bad."
"I am perfectly capable of taking on an enemy by myself!" She bellowed, her voice echoing in the room.
"You can't!" He exclaimed, raising his voice to match hers.
"Then I will show you!" she growled at him as she changed into her wolf form.
She shook out her light brown fur as she readied herself for a fight. His eyes showed a childish delight as he shifted into his own wolf form. He was bigger than her but she had no intention of backing down now. She flashed her fangs at the male golden eyed werewolf. He looked absolutely pleased with himself as he stood before her. Was he underestimating her because she was a female? Something that she would make him regret.
She lunged for his throat with sharp fangs barred. He looked surprised as she launched her attack so soon. He moved out of her way but didn't counter. He watched her as she turned to attack him again. She lunged again at the prince and he once again simply dodged.
She circled around him, looking for any openings. She spotted her chance and took it in a last attempt. Using all of her strength, she tackled him down to the floor. She was panting heavily as she pinned him down under her. Instead of whimpering for mercy the crazy prince licked under her muzzle and wiggled like a pup as he looked at her with adoring eyes. She bit into his neck fur and growled a little at him to get her point across that she was the winner. He let out a short bark of delight and she released him to look at him confused.
"You are just so beautiful even when angry!" He declared and licked her muzzle again.
"That wasn't the point! You are crazy!" she yelled at him.
His golden eyes looked up at her with amusement. She released him with a huff. She shook her fur out again to make it settle back down into place. His big muzzle appeared before her eyes and licked her again. He continued to give her lots of licks and snuggled his body up against her. Lillian sighed and let him do as he pleased. It wasn't entirely unpleasant at the very least.
"I love you even more now," he declared as he looked at her lovingly.
She didn't understand how he could declare that he loved her so freely but she knew that nothing she could say would sway him. As of right now, it was quite confusing to try and understand what he meant when he said "loving me more". There were only so many feelings one could have. Lillian was having some sort of feeling for the prince that was unnamed but she certainly hesitated to call it love.