Winter looked how Roderick's men escorted the girls outside. She hoped that she had not only saved Lia from a horrible fate but River's mate as well. And then it dawned her, Aster he would do anything for Robin.

'Arsen.'

Winter didn't hesitate a second.

'Darling, what's the matter? Are you okay?' he immediately responded.

'I am, Arsen the king is even more off a monster than we could imagine. A group of girls is coming out with men that you can trust, help them.' Winter said.

'No, my priority is you. Have you any idea how worry I am? How I wished that you said you loved me to my face and not with immediately ending the mind link? You didn't even give me a chance to say something back.' Arsen replied.

Winter closed her eyes for a second. She didn't want to argue with him, not now, not after what she discovered.

'Arsen I am coming back to you.

I am sorry you are right.

I have a plan and help.'

'So, you are letting some stranger help you, but not your own mate?'

Arsen's voice snarled in her head.

'You are helping me by helping those girls. And I need you to do something else. My brother is coming, he needs to be stopped, unit I will need you guys' soon. There are girls from his pack in the group, let them contact him.' Winter replied.

'No Winter, I am done with this. I am coming to get you.' Arsen replied.

'Arsen listen to me. The king wants to mate me, what do you think will happen if my actual mate shows up? I am not letting that happen, but I can't make that happen if I need to worry about you.' Winter sighed.

'You're right' Arsen huffed.

'I am glad we agree.' Winter smiled.

'Doesn't mean I like it.' Arsen replied.

'Be careful.' he added before he closed the link back.

"Are you ready?" Roderick asked as he looked at Winter.

"My wolf is, I don't know if I am." she replied honestly.

"You?" she asked.

"Ready to kill my brother? No, I am not." Roderick replied.

"Maybe there is another way?" Winter asked.

"Kings don't get dethroned to retire easily Winter, they get killed. Besides my brother will never willingly abdicate. He is too cocky for that."

The prince looked at his hands.

"But maybe if I say enough times that it is to stop his twisted and sick ways, I'll eventually believe it." He added.

"I am just scared to death that I'll turn the same without a mate."

He looked right into Winter's eyes.

"I know you don't want to be queen, but I hoped that you would help me when I am king. Maybe as an advisor of some sorts."

Winter looked away.

"I don't want anything to do with official pack rules and that kind of power." she answered.

"And what if we don't make it official? You don't have to live at the castle. I just wanted someone to talk to from time to time, someone who won't hesitate to put me in place, someone who has done an amazing job with defining new rules herself." Roderick said.

Winter felt how a blush crept on her face.

"You think so?"

Roderick smirked.

"I am in charge of the army do you really think we didn't study the rogue pack that was building at a dazzling speed? The changes and the growth?" He asked.

Winter looked at him.

"If we get through this, and you become our next, reasonable king, I will be that someone." she smiled.

The prince did something unexpected he pulled Winter against his chest and hugged her tight. Winter closed her eyes for a second, thinking about every possible outcome.

Winter walked back with Roderick through the tunnel. She stopped a few meters in front of the door, making the prince bump against her.

"They are waiting for us." she looked at Roderick.

"What now?" he asked.

"Act as if you caught me."

"What?" Roderick stammered.

"Let the king believe that you don't care about the woman, that I alone set those women free."

Roderick looked startled for a second. And then he regained his senses.

"You need at least something that looks like a bit of a bruise."

He said as he smacked her against the wall.

"He'll never believe that I just captured you. Hex was weak, but he knows how strong I am." Roderick said.

"Scratch me with your claws, that will heel slower." Winter said.

She felt how the claw marks stinged at her cheek as Roderick did as she told. He grabbed her arms and twisted them behind her back. Winter just prayed that the king would believe the charade, that the prince was as honest as he made it seem but most of all, that the marks were gone by the time she saw Arsen.

As Roderick pushed the door open and Winter out, they were met with the king and his full royal guard. The cramped space was filled with wolves. The king looked surprised from Winter towards Roderick.

"What happened?" The king asked.

"I caught her lurking around, but sadly I was too late, she let the women escape." He replied without emotion.

The king smirked.

"It looks like we have some taming to do." he smirked.

"Did she use her alpha command on you too?"

The king asked curiously as he studied Winter.

"She tried." Roderick smirked.

"Too bad you ruined her pretty face." the king smirked.

"By tomorrow those scars are gone." Roderick replied.

"Right, only the mating ceremony starts in an hour." The king replied.

Winter looked up at the king, hatred filled her eyes.

"I am not mating you, you are a monster." she spat.

"My queen, do you really think you have a say in the matter?"

She felt how Roderick stiffened for a second.

"Are you going to mate me like this? Looking like this?" She snarled back.

"No, Roderick will first whip you to punish you and then there will be half an hour left to clean you up."

"What?" Roderick stammered.

"Don't use the human whip, will you? Use the one made of the first king's skin; those marks will stay with her for a while."

Roderick pulled Winter along as he walked through the castle, the king walked in front of them accompanied by the royal guard. Winter assumed they were on their way towards the torture chamber.

Winter was placed in the middle of the room on the floor.

"Tie her wrists and take her shirt off." The king commanded.

Roderick kneeled down in front of her and searched her eyes.

"It's okay." she softly whispered.

Roderick pulled the shirt over her head, leaving her in nothing but her bandeau bra and a legging. The king's eyes darkened as they roamed over her body. A guard handed Roderick the whip and he took place behind Winter.

The king signaled to start and Winter felt how the strings scratched her back. She didn't lower her head, she looked the king right in his eyes, showing how strong she was. The whipping continued but Winter didn't flinch.

"Harder"

The king yelled as he became frustrated that Winter still managed to look untouched. Roderick acted as if he whipped harder, but the strokes stayed the same.

"What are you doing?" the king yelled.

"Do I have to show you how it's done?" he added.

"Because believe me then nothing will be left of her back." he roared.

Roderick had no choice than to hit her harder.

Winter just gritted her teeth and didn't bow down.