The Beauty and the Beast (1st book of Fantasy Series)

Chapter 34- Steven's POV

I bit back a sigh of relief when Belle knocked on the door and entered the room followed by the doctor. I wasn't sure if she would come back or not because it had been more time than I had expected it would take for her to collect the doctor.

"My apologies, Y- Reif," she said and bowed her head as if she knew what I was thinking. "I had to help collect some things for the doctor to help check you over and inform both Cameron and Louis that you were awake."

"She also brought you some broth for you to eat, Your Majesty," the doctor said, "and that also took a while."

I stayed silent and nodded, not knowing how to feel that she made sure that I had something to eat after they made sure I was ok.

'You should just feel grateful,' my human said, more active than he had been for the past few months because I hadn't kicked her out again. 'And see if she had gotten herself something to eat too.'

"Have you eaten yet?" I asked, and she shook her head.

"I will eat in a bit," she said. "I still have to make food for the pack." She walked over to the other side of the bed and set the bowl down before she looked at the doctor, staying silent and waiting for instructions.

"Do you mind if she helps?" the doctor asked after he cleared his throat. "I am not able to do that much, so I do apologize, Your Majesty."

"She can help," I said.

The doctor nodded and cleared his throat again. "Do you mind removing the blankets?" he asked, and I did what I was told to do and removed them. The doctor and her shared a look before Belle started to move to the other side of the bed where I sat.

"Can I understand what that look was for?" I asked, feeling a little jealous about the look between them, and the doctor bowed his head and tucked his tail closer to his body, submitting.

"You didn't fight," Belle said while she walked over to me. "I have heard that you had been... difficult if you were injured and if you were stuck in bed, then you wouldn't do what the doctor asks without a fight or make him do it and feel... less than something."

"She said that you weren't going to fight this time, Your Majesty," he said before he cleared his throat again. He bowed and didn't look at me, feeling nervous and scared. "I told her that I didn't believe her, and I would like to apologize fo-"

"It's fine," I said, interrupting him before I cleared my throat and shifted in the bed, feeling guilty for making him feel that way. "I do apologize for making you feel less than something when you are one of our hardest workers and keep us well."

The doctor blinked and blinked again, shocked and relieved. He looked at Belle before he looked at me and bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty, thank you," he said.

'You should apologize to Belle for being a dick,' Steven said while my mate got to my side and started to take off the bag that she had across her shoulders.

I bit back a hum, silently agreeing with him. My heart was filled with guilt for the way I treated her, for scaring her the way that I did and praying that she didn't think that I was a monster.

Now, I know why no one can love a beast. They are all cold and heartless. Just. Like. You.

Her words haunted me as they had on that night. Her eyes had seemed to glow with power and tears, scaring me more than I wanted to let on.

I knew that I had been cold and heartless, and the guilt was eating me alive while I stared at the female getting set up for the doctor.

'Tell her,' Steven encouraged me while I watched her work.

"Belle?" I asked, and she looked at me while she continued to get stuff out of the bag.

Something in my voice stopped her from working, and she was by my side in an instant.

"What is it?" she asked while she studied me with such intensity that it caused my heart to skip a beat before it pounded in my chest.

Concern filled her eyes while she hesitantly reached out and touched my arm, her touch warm and comforting, something that I had been lacking in my life.

"Are you ok?"

I nodded and looked down at her soft hand on my arm, making no move to move it while I cleared my throat and tried to gain the courage I needed to apologize to her.

Belle was about to move her hand from my arm but stopped when I placed my hand over hers, and her heart skipped a beat before it started to pound faster. Her cheeks turned red while her eyes grew wide, but she stayed put while she looked at me.

'Say it,' Steven encouraged again. 'Meet her gaze and tell her that you are sorry.'

I took a deep breath and looked at her again, and my breath caught in my throat while I noticed for the first time how beautiful she was.

Her eyes had this strong look in them and were bright and filled with a will to live that I didn't understand. Her gaze was sharp but filled with a kindness that I didn't know someone could possess.

Her skin glowed with the amount of strength that she had in her body, and her brown hair framed her face with a few pieces being out of the braid she wore.

Her lips were parted slightly, and I couldn't help but wonder how they tasted while she looked at me, making sure that I was fine.

"Y- Reif?" she asked, finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "What is it? Are you ok?"

I nodded and cleared my throat. "I just wanted to tell you that I was sorry," I said. "I am sorry that I was a dick to you and hope that you can find it somewhere in your heart to forgive me."

Belle opened her mouth a little more and looked at me, shocked. She searched my face to see if I meant what I said, and I made sure that she knew that I was serious and sorry for the pain that I caused her.

"I was in too much grief and pain and anger to feel anything else," I said, not knowing why I was telling her this but needing to. "I was so angry at the world, and I took it out on you when you had been nothing but kind to me. I am sorry."

Belle closed her mouth before she opened it again, but no sound came out. Her heart pounded faster and faster in her chest, and my heart couldn't help but keep up with hers.

I kept my hand on hers while I stared at her, praying that she could see the honesty and guilt on my face while I studied her. "Do you think you can forgive me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Please?"

Again, Belle opened her mouth before she closed it, not saying a word.

Slowly, she nodded, unable to speak, but it was enough to cause my heart to be filled with relief and grow warm.

"Yes," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper, matching mine. "I forgive you."