The Princess's Revenge Chapter 75

Valencia’s POV

He studied my face for a moment, then smiled slightly and let go. "Fine."

He moved to the hearth instead, ladling the remaining hot water into another bucket with easy efficiency. "You two go up first."

"Okay." I nudged Echo, who seemed frozen in place. "Come on."

She snapped out of her daze and grabbed her bucket, practically running toward the door. I followed with mine, the water sloshing slightly as I walked.

Once we were in the stairwell, Echo kept glancing back at me. "What..." She swallowed hard. "What exactly is your relationship with the Alpha?"

I didn't know how to answer. Saying we were mates felt too soon, too complicated to explain. "It's... complicated."

"But he came to help with the water. The Alpha. Himself." Her voice was full of disbelief. "That never happens."

"Like I said, it's complicated."

She fell silent, but I could feel her stealing glances at me as we climbed. My arms burned from the weight of the bucket, and I had to stop once to adjust my grip.

We reached Logan's room and poured the hot water into the large wooden tub. I'd barely set down my empty bucket when Logan appeared in the doorway, carrying two full buckets like they weighed nothing at all.

Echo rushed forward, bowing deeply. "Alpha, let me—"

She reached for one of the buckets, struggling to lift it from his hand. The weight nearly pulled her to the ground, but she managed to drag it to the tub and pour it in, panting heavily.

I moved toward the other bucket, but Logan simply stepped around me and emptied it himself, the muscles in his arms flexing with the movement.

Echo stood there gasping for breath, her face red from exertion. "Is... is there anything else you need, Alpha?"

"No," Logan said flatly. "You can go."

She bowed again, so low her hair brushed the floor. "Yes, Alpha."

As she backed toward the door, she shot me one last look. Her eyes were full of hope. She wanted me to remember my promise about Maya.

The door closed behind her, and her expression haunted me.

I will help, I will.

"You're thinking about something," Logan said, watching me.

"Echo's sister. Maya. She's suffering in the basement making soap and candles. The lye is burning her hands."

"And?"

"And I want to help her."

Logan was quiet for a moment. "We'll discuss it after tomorrow's ceremony."

"But—"

"After the ceremony, Valencia." His tone left no room for argument. "You need to focus on right things."

He was right, but I knew what that work was like, the thought of Maya suffering even one more day in that horrible basement made my chest tight.

She was like me. Weak. Bullied. Wanting to fight back but having no power to do it. Just enduring day after day of misery because what else could she do? I'd been there. I knew that helplessness.

"Let me help you with your clothes," Logan said gently, his hands moving to the laces of my chemise.

I jerked back, startled. "What? No!"

"Why not?" He tilted his head, genuinely confused.

"Because I'm a slave!" The words came out louder than I intended. "You're the Alpha. Alphas don't undress slaves. It's... it's wrong."

"But I don’t think so."

"No." I wrapped my arms around myself. "I can't let you serve me like that. It goes against everything."

"Stop." His voice was gentle but firm. "YOU will be my LUNA."

"But still I am! I can't let you... I just can't. I...I need time..."

Logan studied my face for a long moment. I could see him wanting to argue, to push the issue. But then something shifted in his expression. Understanding, maybe.

"Alright."

He turned away from me and started undressing himself. His fingers worked at the fastenings of his doublet, pulling it off and tossing it onto a chair. Then his tunic. His breeches. Everything landed in a careless pile.

I watched him step into the wooden tub, the water sloshing as he settled in. Steam rose around him, making his skin glisten in the dim light.

My fingers went to my own clothes, working at the simple ties of my chemise. As I undressed, my mind drifted back to that first night I'd helped him bathe. How terrified I'd been. Every movement had been calculated, careful, driven by fear of making a mistake.

Now? Now there was something different. The fear was gone. In its place was... what? Comfort? Safety?

Love?

I folded my clothes and set them aside, then approached the tub. The water looked inviting after the long day.

"Come here," Logan said, shifting to make room.

I climbed in carefully, the water was perfect - hot but not scalding. It felt amazing against my tired muscles. I settled between his legs, my back against his chest.

"Better?" he asked.

"Much better."

His hands moved to my shoulders, fingers pressing gently into the tense muscles.

"What are you doing?" I tensed immediately.

"Giving you a massage." His thumbs pressed into a knot near my neck.

"You don't need to—" I tried to sit forward, but his arm around my waist held me in place.

"Stop fighting me."

"Logan, I can wash myself. You don't need to do this."

"I want to." His voice was soft in my ear. "Let me take care of you."

"But you're the Alpha."

"We're equals, Valencia." His hands continued their gentle work on my shoulders.

"I don't know how to be equal," I admitted quietly. "I've been a slave for so long."

"Then let me show you." He kissed the side of my neck. "Starting now. Let me care for you the way you deserve."

My eyes stung with sudden tears. "Why are you so good to me?"

"Because I love you. I can repeat it until you truly trust me." He said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Now relax. You're too tense."

I tried to let my body relax, but it was hard. Every instinct told me this was wrong. That I should be serving him, not the other way around.

"Better," he murmured as I slowly loosened up. His hands moved down my arms, working out the tension. "You're too thin. I can feel your ribs."

"I've always been thin."

"Not this thin." His fingers traced along my side. "You need to eat more. From now on, Echo will bring all your meals directly to you."

"That's not necessary—"

His hand came up to gently cover my mouth. "I'm not letting you refuse," he whispered in my ear. "No arguments."

I nodded against his hand, and he let it drop. Actually, having Echo bring my meals would be good. I could talk to her more, learn more about what was happening in the pack. Maybe find a way to help Maya sooner.

Logan's hands moved across my back, and he made a sound of distress. "These scars..."

"They're old," I said quickly. "They don't hurt anymore."

"How many times were you whipped?"

"I don't remember. It doesn't matter."

"It matters to me." His fingers traced one particularly long scar. "Every mark on your body matters to me."

"No one will ever hurt you again. I swear it." He said fiercely.

"I know." I turned my head to look at him. "I trust you."

He kissed me softly, then went back to washing me. His hands were so gentle, like I might break if he pressed too hard.

"Can I ask you something?" I said.

"Anything."

"Gamma Amara. She arranged for Echo to be your personal servant to protect her from bullying."

"She did."

"That's... surprisingly kind. I mean, Amara seems so harsh and angry all the time. I didn't think she'd care about a servant being bullied."

Logan's hands continued working on my shoulders as the warm water lapped around us. "Amara's a good person," he said suddenly. "Just impulsive. She can't control her emotions very well."

"I heard she joined Cliffwatch Pack three years ago. Is that true?"

His hands stopped moving. "You know? Who told you that?"

My mind raced. I couldn't say Delphine told me. "Everyone knows," I said quickly. "Pack members talk."

Logan resumed the massage. He didn’t push. "Amara and Xander escaped from Elton's pack three years ago. They were involved in assassinating Alpha Nolan."

I twisted around to stare at him. "What? They assassinated an Alpha?"

Logan's face was serious. "Yes. I was patrol captain at King's Fang back then. When Nolan died, I had to take over Cliffwatch Pack immediately. Everyone knew I was a bastard. There's never been a bastard Alpha before. Many people opposed me."

"What happened?" I asked, turning back around but keeping my body tense.

"The previous Gamma challenged me. I killed him." His voice was flat. "I needed my own people, so I was recruiting warriors constantly. That's when Amara and Xander came seeking protection."

"Protection from what?"

"From Elton. They told me Elton was the one behind Nolan's assassination. After they completed the mission, Elton wanted to silence them. The third assassin was already dead. I wanted to send them straight to my father for questioning. But Dorian stopped me."

My heart was pounding. "Dorian?" I couldn't hide my surprise.

"He was already Beta then. He explained the situation to me - Elton and Marcus were always allied. Elton could march troops through Marcus's territory to attack Cliffwatch anytime. He made it clear that Elton wanted to absorb Cliffwatch Pack. He convinced me to protect Amara and Xander first. They were leverage against Elton and I needed to find proof of Elton's involvement privately."

"So that's why everyone says Dorian and Xander have a good relationship," I said, understanding dawning.

"Yes. Xander's very grateful to Dorian. But fate is cruel."

"Did you find proof?" I asked carefully.

"No. Xander said after the assassination, they didn't return to Emerald Grove Pack immediately. They hid at the agreed location - Moonfall Ridge Pack."

My heart nearly stopped. That was my pack! I forced myself to stay still, to not react. Maybe later I could ask Amara what happened to my pack.

Logan continued. "Xander said Elton sent them a letter. It had Emerald Grove Pack's seal and Elton's signature. It would prove Elton ordered the assassination. But Torin took the letter - he's the one who died."

He sighed heavily. "So even though we know how they killed Nolan, we can't prove Elton ordered it."

"That's insane," I whispered.

I remembered the severed head Logan brought back - Elton's Beta. "Elton wanted to kill Amara and Xander to silence them. Was this attack related to Elton too? Did Dorian betray you to Elton?"

Logan looked surprised. "You're smart. That's exactly what I think."

"Will Elton attack again?" I asked carefully.

Logan's arms tightened around me. "Yes. I killed dozens of his warriors and his Beta. If Dorian really betrayed us to him, Elton knows our current situation. He'll definitely attack."

I couldn't think about it anymore. My hand found his and squeezed tight.

"Don't be afraid," Logan whispered against my neck. "I'll die before I let anything happen to you."