Chapter 6

I returned back to my initial position as I heard footsteps approaching. The office door opened, Arthur stepped out and our eyes met instantly.

There was uncertainty in his expression.

He knew. He knew I'd heard but neither of us spoke and he walked past me without another glance.

"Lucien, come in." Alpha Leo's voice called. I swallowed the lump in my throat and stepped into the office.

The Lycan King stood beside the window, one hand resting behind his back. He hadn't left. I immediately lowered my head.

"Alpha."

Alpha Leo studied me for a long moment.

"Someone made a serious accusation against you."

"I know, Alpha."

"I will ask you once and only once…" His voice was calm. "...speak your truth. Tell me what truly happened."

I replayed Arthur's words in my mind, I replayed the incident that’d happened and how I rejected his advances. But instead of speaking, I kept mute.

I knew too well, the truth no longer mattered.

Whatever I said now would sound like the desperate excuse of a guilty omega. So I lowered my head.

"...There is nothing to tell."

Alpha Leo's brows drew together, maybe shock or confusion.

"Nothing?"

"No, Alpha."

"What do you mean nothing? You do realize your silence serves no one, right?"

"I understand."

Another long silence filled the room.

The King hadn't spoken once.

Yet...

For some reason, I could feel his eyes on me.

Alpha Leo finally sighed.

"This is foolishness! This whole thing. Foolishness for spreading an unverified accusation throughout the pack instead of reporting it directly."

He turned toward one of the guards.

"Twenty lashes for Darius." The guard bowed,

"Yes, Alpha."

A quick flash of satisfaction crossed me before disappearing just as quickly. Then Alpha Leo looked back at me.

"...and also, foolishness for thinking you can act tough with the Alpha of Shadowclaw."

My chest felt tight.

"Until I determine the full truth, you are relieved of your normal duties."

I lowered my head further.

"...Beginning tomorrow, every servants' lavatory within the pack will be scrubbed by you. No help whatsoever. You and anyone who dares to help you will suffer the consequences. And it won't be toilet floors this time."

"...Yes, Alpha."

"You may leave."

"I understand."

The humiliation I felt burned hotter than my anger ever could. I would scrub toilet floors? For everyone to see?

Not only was it difficult work, it was degrading.

I turned toward the door, just as my hand reached the handle—"Wait."

It was the Lycan King.

I froze. Everyone in the room turned to my direction, they all looked surprised.

"So you are the omega?" The king asked calmly.

My heart started to race. He walked toward me slowly as though he was counting his steps. Every instinct told me to keep my eyes on the floor.

He stopped right in front of me.

"Raise your head." He lifted my chin with a single finger, forcing me to meet his gaze.

The room fell away the moment our eyes met. He looked at my face with an intensity that made my skin grow warm. Then he looked at Alpha Leo.

"You may go."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

As the King walked past me toward the door, I caught the faint scent of cedar and rain.

He barely paused beside me again.

"So this is the omega..." he murmured quietly, to himself. Then he left.

I remained standing where I was, unable to explain why my heartbeat had suddenly become so unsteady. What did he mean by that?

I left Alpha Leo's office with my head lowered in shame, following the guard who had been ordered to ensure I carried out my punishment immediately.

When we were halfway down the corridor, I saw Arthur approaching from the opposite direction.

I hesitated for a moment and despite everything I had heard, a part of me still hoped he would stop to explain himself at least or acknowledge what he'd done–The foolish part of me.

He walked past me without so much as a glance and my words died in my throat.

He didn't slow down, he didn't look back. As though he hadn't just stood before the Alpha and lied about something he had done to me. It was clear that I was nothing more than another servant in his way.

I thought for a second that maybe he was pretending to save face, to keep his dignity as Beta intact but only that it didn't look that way anymore. But if he was, then he was damn good at it.

I turned and stared after him until the guard shoved my shoulder.

"Keep moving!"

I lowered my head and followed suit.

The servants' lavatories were already occupied when we arrived. The guard handed me a brush, a bucket and a bottle of cleaning solution. He ordered another guard to watch me.

"He can't leave until he's done all the work," he instructed.

I knelt on the cold floor and began scrubbing.

The water quickly turned cloudy, and my knees began to ache, still I continued.

Halfway through the second lavatory, another guard appeared at the entrance. He whispered a few words with the one watching me, while they both stared at me.

I couldn't hear what he said.

Whatever it was, the other guard's expression changed.

"Get up," he ordered.

"Is there a problem?" I paused, brush still in hand.

"Did I ask you a question? Get up."

I slowly stood up, wiped my wet hands against my trousers and followed him out. I didn't know where he was taking me but I didn't care to ask. I just remained mute.

We passed the main staircase and entered the guest wing. A cold dread washed over me when I saw the corridor. I recognised it.

The Lycan King's quarters.

“Why am I here?" I asked nervously

“Shut up, Omega." The guard said rudely.

He stopped before a set of double doors and knocked twice. Without waiting for an answer, he opened them and motioned for me to enter.

I stepped inside.

The King stood with his back to the door, he held a glass of red wine in one hand and he seemed perfectly relaxed for someone who had just summoned an omega that'd been scrubbing toilets only moments earlier.

I stood in one spot, unsure of what to say.

He took a slow sip of wine and turned around to face me. He settled his gaze on me, then dropped briefly to my damp hands and soiled clothes.

A faint smile formed across his lips. “Lucien, right?"

“Y-yes, your majesty," I stuttered.

"Tell me, Lucien," he started, setting his glass aside. "Does your Alpha always punish people before discovering the truth?"

I swallowed.

"I wouldn't know, Your Majesty," I answered nervously.

His smile disappeared.

"Careful." He stepped closer, his eyes fixed on mine.

"Because we both know you're lying.”