Her Unwanted Mate On The Throne

Chapter 205 All the little changes

The night passed in a blur of music and celebration. Doris finally snuck off to her room when her feet had enough. She wasn't used to walking in heels, let alone for an entire night. It didn't help that her chest was almost more sore than her feet and she had eaten enough to pop the bodice on her dress. Beth was no where to be found, but another maid was nearby and helped Doris out of the gorgeous dress that would stay in her closet til the end of time. There was no way she would ever get rid of a gown like that. Even on the hanger it looked as if it had been plucked from her dreams. 3 By the time she had dressed and collapsed in bed, she was out. Her body aches and swollen feet weren't even enough to keep her awake.

Eventually, she woke in the night when she felt William slip in the bed beside her. He smelled like champagne and apples as he pulled her body against him. She felt his lips press against her head before he fell into his own exhaustion. The next morning, she woke the second he moved to leave the bed. Already she could tell he slept much past the time he normally did, otherwise she wouldn't have even seen him leave.

His black hair was far from the perfect style he had last night. A few strands stuck straight up in the air even after he ran his fingers through it. She'd never seen him wake up and still look as tired as he did. “What are you smiling at?” He grumbled as he moved around her room. She hadn't even noticed that there was a change of clothes for him on the dresser. Did a maid bring that in when they slept? Or had that been there before she went to bed? “You look adorable.” Doris sat up and hugged her knees to her chest as she grinned at him. He snorted and disappeared into the bathroom. A moment later, she heard the sound of water. Simple things sent her heart to the moon, and it was foolish for her to feel so giggly but she couldn't help it. He came to her room instead of his own. She wondered if he realized she wasn't there, and went to find her. Or if he checked here first. It didn't matter-he didn't want to end his night without her. 1 It was like a dose of caffeine in her veins to have him around. She normally would have fallen back against her pillow and tried to sleep for a few more hours. But now she jumped out of bed and readied herself in a beautiful day dress. It was a lovely pale pink color that reminded her of her favorite roses. When he came out, he looked more like the king he was supposed to be. His hair wasn't as messy and his suit was set right. The look of exhaustion was long gone from his skin as if he slapped it right off. “I have a lot of meetings today. They might last well into the night and continue tomorrow.” William grumbled. “I want to make sure the rogues get what's promised to them immediately. Hopefully we will see rogues walk among the kingdom again by the end of the week. But that means I might not see you until late.”

Doris's shoulders lowered, but her smile remained. “Of course. You're a fancy king now, I'm sure you'll have meetings all day every day for months.” William stepped up to her and gripped her at her waist before he kissed her. It was enough to make her want to melt into him and forget everything he just told her. When he puled away, she almost latched right back onto him.

“I don’t know how much longer you're going to make me do this.” William said a little roughly. Doris furrowed her brows. “What?” “Come and find you in the middle of the night when you should be next to me. How long are you going to insist on staying in this room?” Doris’s lips parted. “l—what? You gave me this room when you announced me as your lady! You are the one that had it be mine!”

“That was only for show, you weren't supposed to actually sleep in it.” William sneered and tipped over a vase on the dresser. “You're not supposed to have your things in here. I don't want them in here.” Doris crossed her arms over her chest. “And where do you suppose I should move them to? My old room in the servants quarters?” “Don’t be a smart ass.” He shot her a look. Doris had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. She wanted him to say it. “Well?” “That's it.” He moved towards the door. “I'm ordering your things be moved to my room before nightfall.”

“William!” Doris followed him but he was already heading towards the door.

“I said that's final!”

Doris laughed until her sides hurt long after he was gone. Once she felt composed enough, she wrapped a cloak around her shoulders and left the room before servants came to pack it up for her. Nothing was worse than watching people you used to work with now pack up your things as if they worked for you. She could only imagine how awkward it would be. Doris let her feet carry her through the long halls. No one stopped her or paid her more than a glance as she walked. “When are you going to let me free? I haven't stretched my legs in so long.” Cordelia muttered inside her. "Don’t you want to brag to everyone that you have a white wolf?” Doris shook her head. “The last thing I want is more people talking about me. I already get enough of that when they realize I'm with the king.” “Yes, but everyone knows it's an honor to have a white wolf! Let me free!”

“I will later. I'm not running through the halls right now.” Doris rubbed her head. “Why is it considered an honor to have a white wolf? Everyone tells me that but I just don’t understand why.” "Of course you don't.” Cordelia said with a sneer. “A white wolf is stronger than the average wolf. It's how you're able to take down your enemies quicker. If you didn't have me, you might have been dead ten times over.” “Thanks.” Doris muttered. “People are only shocked of white wolves because there aren't many. A lot of people believe them to be myths while others don't see the big deal. White wolves before you have done wrong with their power. I believe that I was your wolf because you wouldn't abuse that sort of strength.”

"Power?"

Cordelia laughed inside her. “My dear, you have had only a taste of what you can do. Whether it's months or years, I will grow you to what you are destined to be.”

was lost in thought. Instantly, her eyes landed on the chair that Martin sat in every day he was here. Doris wandered over to the chair and felt an ache in her heart when she saw the book of poems he always had with him.

She knew she shouldn't, but she couldn't help it. She flipped through the pages and saw a few of his thoughts written across the pages. But that wasn't all—she also noticed her own name written in the margins of some of the poems or on blank pages. Under her name, he wrote: long brown hair, brown eyes, blue dress, flowers, flat shoes, apron, yellow dress, small voice, beautiful laugh, nervous Doris closed the book she she realized he was writing things he noticed about her every day he came in. Doris went to shelve the book and then stopped herself. She couldn't put this back, she had no one else to give it to. His wife was long gone, she left him when he declared his feelings for Doris. William would only hate the idea that he wrote about her near love poems—what was she to do? Doris walked around the library and found the small space she used to hide some of her romantic reads. The space was hidden behind a board on the shelves and no normal eye would ever find it. Doris gently placed the book in there before she covered it up again. One day, she would give the book to William. One day when he was ready to see it. “Doris? Is that you in here?” A familiar voice called. Doris hurried out from behind the shelves to find Daniel standing at the entrance of the library.