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

Chapter 38- Belle's POV

"What?" Peter asked, shocked and appalled, and I slowly nodded in confirmation. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," I said and nodded again before I sighed and cleared my throat. "A werewolf had attacked me and gave me those scars."

"Who?" he asked protectively. He narrowed his eyes and scowled while he flicked his ears to the back of his head. "Who attacked you? Which pack?"

I didn't respond and shook my head while I pressed my lips into a thin line, my heart pounding hard in my chest. Slowly, I moved towards my tack box, and my cousin followed me with his gaze but not his body as if he knew that I was nervous.

"Annabelle," he snapped, and I ducked my head closer to my chest and flinched but didn't look at him. "Who attacked you?"

"I can't say," I said, my voice barely above a whisper while I shook my head. "I'm sorry, but I can't." I shook my head again and cleared my throat before I licked my lips to make sure that they stayed wet.

"Wh-"

"Because I want to protect the others of that pack," I snapped and turned to face him while I interrupted him. I scowled and narrowed my eyes, and he blinked and blinked again, looking shocked that I snapped at him.

My cousin sighed and moved a hand through his fur on the top of his head. He shook his head and flicked his tail, annoyed. "But the one who did it..." he said before he trailed off and cleared his throat while he shook his head again and grimaced. "You are our queen, Belle. Whoever attacked you should be punished."

I bit back a small sigh before I slowly nodded. "I know," I said before I cleared my throat and shook my head, "but again, it's been so long ago, and I am fine now."

My cousin shook his head again and pursed his lips, not believing me, which was fine because I didn't believe myself either. "Is this why you told Louis that you didn't think the king was a monster?" he asked and raised an eyebrow, knowing full well that I wouldn't answer his silent question. "Because of the werewolf?"

I slowly nodded and pursed my lips in annoyance. "Yes," I said and cleared my throat while I picked up the curry comb and walked back over to my horse. "I didn't think he would hurt me, but I guess I was wrong." I shook my head and cleared my throat again, my heart still aching from the pain he caused me.

"Did that change your mind?" he asked, and his voice grew softer and was barely above a whisper. "Do you think he is a monster?"

"Oh, no," I said and bit back a scoffed laugh while I shook my head. "Reif is not a monster. He proved that when he went after me that night and saved me."

Peter furrowed his brows and slowly nodded. "Do you think that you were in danger?" he asked and raised an eyebrow, and I shrugged while I grimaced.

"I don't know," I admitted before I cleared my throat and shifted on my feet while I kept brushing Riser. "My uncle, Conner, didn't want them attacking me or anything, but I think his grandson didn't really care nor understood why my uncle was acting like that."

Again, Peter nodded and pressed his lips into a thin line. Worry flashed through his eyes while he studied me, and I couldn't help but feel small underneath his critical gaze. "Are you wanting to meet them again?" he asked and cocked his head while he studied me.

"Who?" I asked and furrowed my brows, not sure who he was talking about. I grabbed the curry comb tighter in my hand and moved to my horse's other side. "Who do you want me to meet again?"

Peter scoffed and rolled his eyes while he scowled. "Your family," he said, "your dad's family."

I pressed my lips into a thin line and shrugged before I couldn't help but grimace. "I wouldn't mind meeting my uncle again," I admitted before I cleared my throat and shrugged again. "However, I don't want to meet the others."