Dinner that night was rather quiet. Lord Haven stared despondently into his soup, Aiden chewed thoughtfully on his meat, and I stared at the salad in front of me.

I had to protect Aiden and I didn't know what to do. How could I tell him about the curse without freaking him out? Should I even tell him?

"I was thinking," Lord Haven said softly, his voice interrupting the near-silence that had fallen on us, "that maybe you'd like to visit your family for a day or two."

I looked up, surprised. I would love to go see Col and Dirren, if I could. "I would appreciate that, sir."

"Good. You'll want to tell them the new arrangements of course." He said sipping his soup.

Oh curses. I'd forgotten about that.

"Yes, sir."

"You what?!" Both boys asked at the same time.

"We called off the wedding." I repeated calmly. "It was a joint decision."

"Does that mean you're coming home?" Col asked not sure what the new arrangement meant.

"No, Lord Haven has decided that Aiden and I should get to know each other better before we get married so I'll stay on as a ward. I'll be able to learn at a more relaxed pace about the way court works and how a lady's supposed to behave."

Dirren didn't say anything, just nodded.

"Have you heard that Pelt got accepted by Lord Haven into the castle guards?" Col changed the subject but it wasn't a good change.

"No, I hadn't." I replied rather numbly. I'd have to deal with Pelt too now. My life, it seemed, kept getting more difficult by the day. Just when I thought I had one thing taken care of another would pop up to take it's place.

"He's said he's seen you once or twice."

Now I felt guilty. "I'm afraid I haven't noticed," I admitted sheepishly, "what with the funeral and all that's happened."

But time had run short and I had to go back to the castle so I said farewell to both of them and headed back.

That day I kept a sharp eye out for any sign of my friend but I didn't see him.

I returned to my room that night, exhausted, drained emotionally and physically.

I closed my eyes. I had to figure out how to keep Aiden safe, deal with Pelt because apparently he'd loved me for a while and I hadn't known it, plus the fact that I was a werewolf, and on top of that all I had to act like a lady.

A knock at the door made my eyes fly open. "You've got to be kidding." I muttered as I walked to the door and opened it.

"Hey." It was Pelt.

I leaned in the doorway so that he couldn't enter the room. This meeting was far different than our normal meetings, I was a Ward, he was a Guard. Things had changed.

"Hi." I replied weakly.

"Can I come in?"

I shook my head. "I'll come out though. Rules are different here."

His look of growing frustration cleared. "Ah, yes."

I stepped out and crossed my arms. "What's this about?"

"Came to see how you were doing." His green eyes were empty of anger or malice but I couldn't afford to deal with a disgruntled lover. Not on a daily basis.

"I'm fine." I replied.

"Alright, what did I do?" He asked, breaking through the stiff formalities.

I cocked an eyebrow. "Only declared you loved me after I accepted the offer of another man, decided you had to protect me without my permission, then pop up at my door at night in a castle where rumors can kill a reputation. That's all."

Pelt looked suitably ashamed. "I'm sorry."

I nodded. "That makes two of us. Look, Pelt, I appreciate your concern for me but things are different. We aren't children anymore. We've got to behave like adults. I accept full responsibility for my actions, after all you weren't the one that accepted Aiden's proposal."

"Aiden?" His forehead crinkled.

"My ex-fiance." I replied.

"Ex?"

"You sound like an echo."

"Sorry but when did that happen?" A different look had come on his face, unreadable.

"Last night. We both agreed it was a little fast and called off the wedding and engagement until we were both sure that we could marry. I'm staying here as a Ward of Lord Haven."

"Your family know?'

I nodded. "It's easier this way. I can learn to be a lady without the pressure of an engagement."

Pelt took a breath and let it out. "So I guess my coming here kinda ruined things, huh?"

I nodded again. "Somewhat. I appreciate your concern for me but I need to focus on assuming my role as a lady. We can still be friends but no more than that. There is no hope for us. Ever. Please know that I always thought of you as a friend but only that. I didn't mean to hurt you nor for this to happen. I'm sorry Pelt."

Pelt cleared his throat. "I see." He said roughly and I knew that things would be different between us forever. "Well then I'll let you return to your sleep, Miss Crimson." He bowed curtley before he left.

I felt something between us snap as he turned and walked away.

I returned to my room and sat on the bed. I'd just ruined a friendship. A longtime friendship.

Miserable was not even close enough to explain how I felt.