I turned to face her. "I do not understand why he spoke to Jason about the contract. He never spoke to me about wanting me back"
"I knew he had always had an ulterior motive. It was obvious. I told you he is cunning"
"You did but I still do not get it. We spoke yesterday, right before I came to meet you and he said nothing to me about wanting me back as his mate. He never spoke about me being his mate. It was strictly about the gold business"
"His motive would have been obvious if he had spoken about it. He needed you to trust him and you did"
"But why would he ask Jason for a contract that is about six years old?"
"To take you back, I guess"
"Why would he want to take me back? Even if he wants to, why would he talk about the contract"
"He couldn't wait anymore for you to come back to him, I guess"
I scoffed. "Does he think I am going to return to him if he goes about it this way?"
"That might be his easiest way"
"Are there not other ways he can use to try to woo me back? What gives him the right to want me?"
"You gave him every reason to want you back. You are the Spirit Princess, remember? You are no longer the weak human mate he rejected"
I scoffed. "I do not care what his reason for wanting me back is. Why would he think he could get me back without asking me if I also wanted him too? Is my consent not important in an issue like this?"
"I have always known that man is up to no good. Do you see the reason I insist that you stop talking to him?"
I groaned slightly. I thought he had changed as he said. Why would he think he can take me back whenever he wants?
"Does Axel know about this?" I asked.
I wanted to know if that was the reason he felt I was going to choose Gilbert instead of him.
"He doesn't but I do not know if Jason had told him now. We found out yesterday when I was with him"
I sighed. "I still can't believe it". I stood up. "I think I should speak to Axel about this"
"You are just coming back from his place, remember?"
"I know but I have to see him"
"Can you at least take your bath or something? Look at the time, Axel should be in a meeting with the elders. "
I sighed and sat down. "What if Gilbert meets up with Axel to tell him about the contract?"
She held my hand. "What exactly are you worried about?"
I sighed. I do not know what I am worried about right now. I have so much going on in my mind. I thought about a lot of negative things that could happen and that had got me worried. 
"I..."
She smiled. "Take a deep breath". I blinked but said nothing. She flicked her fingers across my face. "Look at me and take a deep breath"
I took a few short breaths and sighed. "Everything will be fine. You know that right?"
"I hope so"
"It will be. Axel will never let him have you. You will not let him either"
"Do you think I will not?"
She nodded. "Of course". I stared at her and she smiled. "He is no match to you"
"Do you think so? He is evil. He is..."
"Come on, we both know you are stronger than you look"
"If I am why do I feel scared and..."
"It caught you by surprise. That is it. And you are anxious right now. Everything will be back to normal when you get some rest"
"Are you sure about..."
"Do you not believe me?"
"Of course I do"
She smiled. "If you do, stand up right now and go take your bath. I will ask Helen to get your favorite food ready. After you are done eating you are going to get some rest, okay?"
I nodded. "Okay"
**
The news about me belonging to the Ice Pack Alpha had spread across the Lycan Pack and everyone seemed to talk about it. This made it difficult for me to leave my room. Not only was I worried about how the Pack members will look at me but also how they will blame Axel. I felt so bad that I would be the reason his Pack members would see him differently.
There had been rumors that I was a captive who ran away from her master and was kept hidden by the Lycan King. They said I belonged to the Ice Pack King and I was kept captive by Axel but was later saved by the Ice Pack Alpha. They claimed that I ran away to the Lycan Pack because I thought I was in love with Axel but was only experiencing Stockholm syndrome. Some said I was sold to the Ice Pack Alpha by the Lycan King who stole me from him and refused to return me.
I wondered if I was nothing but a commodity they thought was sold
I knew all these rumors had been spread by Gilbert but how he did that I do not know. I wished I could find a way to find out how but I was afraid to leave my room to see the angry faces of the Pack members. Alaila was not in to cheer me up. She had gone to visit her parents and would not be returning until next week. I was left in the room alone to nurse whatever feeling I was having. 
Jason or Axel did not show up either. I felt that was because they were also affected by the rumors. The only one who visited me was Helen and she made no mistake in talking about the rumors or Axel. Anytime I tried to bring up the rumor, she covered it up with other discussions and left before I could bring it up again.
During one of her visits, I decided I wasn't going to ask about the rumor but instead ask about Axel. I needed to know how badly he was affected by the rumor and how he was faring. I missed him so much I wished I could see him. 
"How is Axel?" I asked. 
"He is fine" she replied.
"He did not ask after me?"
"He is busy right now"
"And..."
"He will visit you when he has the chance. I have to go" Helen said, standing up.
I watched her leave and I sighed. Axel knows about the rumors going on and that I have locked myself up in this room because of that, why is he not visiting me? Or at least call me to ask how I was doing.
He knows the rumors are all lies and I am the most affected. He should have contacted me but why isn't he doing that? He could at least send Jason to check on me. 
There was a knock on the door, I thought it was Helen who had come back but was surprised to see Axel. I stared at him wondering if I was supposed to run to him or keep staring at him.
"Xavia" he cooed, moving closer to me. He pulled me up and hugged me. "You must have been scared of staying in the room alone. I am so sorry I did not visit you"
"If you are sorry, why did you not visit me? Why did you leave me alone in this place and never visit?" I cried. 
"I am sorry" he muttered. "You know I would not have left you alone without a reason, right?". I nodded. "I did not visit you for your sake. I needed to find out who spread the rumors and was worried they might hurt you if they found out that their plan did not work like they had expected"
I furrowed my brows. "What do you mean?"
"Come and sit down. I will explain everything to you" he said and I nodded.
**
I was supposed to leave the Lycan Pack to the Moonlight Pack with Alaila but something came up and she left for Kayden's Pack. Our visit to the Moonlight Pack was to check out a wedding dress for Alaila. It was also to see if I would love their work and maybe choose them to make mine. Alaila said they make the best wedding dresses. I left the Pack alone with no one going with me. Axel had told me to wait for him until he finished up with his meeting but had spent more than the expected time.
Time was running out and I could not wait for him so I left. On my way, I noticed there were strange people following me. I quickly stopped the car and waited for their car to leave but it did not.
I sent a message to Axel to let him know that some people are following me but he doesn't have to worry about me if I do not return today because I will be fine. I only needed to know who sent them or at least why they were after me.
After sending the message, I drove to the Moonlight Pack and surprisingly they did not follow me. I thought they had given up, so after we finished at the Moonlight Pack, I returned alone though Axel told me not to. On my way back, I met them. They did not bother to exchange words with me and I did not bother to use my powers against them either.
Whosoever has sent them did not know that I am the Spirit Princess and I have powers. I thought. Or maybe he or she made it look like they did it not so that I would not use my power against them. 
They covered my face and took me to a warehouse.
"Make sure she doesn't escape," one of them said to the other two men before leaving.
I was very calm with no intention of hurting anyone of them. All I wanted was to find out who was behind the kidnap and why they brought me here.
I did not get to find out before Jason and Axel came to save me.
"I told you I will be fine," I said. "I want to find out who sent them"
"I will find that out myself. I am taking you back home" Axel said and I groaned.
**
Jason told me that Gilbert had finally confessed to being behind my kidnap and would be punished for it. He told me his mother has agreed to his punishment and he is presently being locked up in the Lycan Pack cell.
"Does that mean everything is finally over now?" I asked and he nodded.
"It is, Xavia. You are finally safe"
I sighed. "Can I see him?"
"Why do you want to see him?" Jason asked.
"I have a few words to say to him"
He sighed. "I will go with you"
"Of course, you can"
We got to the place he locked up and I stared at him.
How has the might fallen? I wondered.
He stared at me. "Would you ever forgive me?" he asked and I sighed.
"I do not hold grudges against you, Gilbert. I just hope you will change"