Chapter Five

LORI’S POV

I looked away from him, shutting my eyes. I heard him chuckle. “You don’t have a choice, little wolf. Get some rest.”  

Without another word, he left, shutting the door behind him.  

I stood there for a moment, my heart banging against my chest. That was close. Was he truly about to steal my first kiss? The Lycan King was as frustrating as he was terrifying. What made it worse was that I was trapped in his world.

But one thing was sure, there was no way I was going to let him control me. If I was going to survive in this realm, I had to find a way to stand on my own two feet, without the Lycan King.

***

A few hours later, there was a knock on my door. I didn't know how long I had been asleep. I was dazed as a few people walked into the room, carrying baskets of items and wheeling in dresses.

I sat up, confused. “Who are you?”

One of the maids walked towards my bed. She had short black hair and was wearing the black dress and white apron. She bowed, “Lady Lorenza, I’m Emilia, your maid-in-waiting.”

“My maid?” I blinked.

“His Majesty has instructed us to prepare you for breakfast.” She said.

I put my feet down and a maid hurried to place slippers by my feet. I hesitated. I wasn't used to being waited upon. I put the slippers on and stood to my feet, tying the rope of my silk robe properly.

“I’m fine. I can handle myself.” I replied.

“Please, Lady Lorenza. His Majesty will punish us if we disobey him.” Emilia said, her eyes pleading.

I looked at them. None of them looked at me. Their gazes were fixed to the ground. I sighed. “Okay. But call me Lorenza.”

Her eyes widened slightly. “I can't, my Lady. The Lycan King has killed servants for less.” She replied, bowing and turning to the bathroom.

Two maids approached me, taking off the robe before I could react. I walked to the bathroom in my silk robe and soon that was gone. I blushed at the fact that there were so many of them in the large room but I realized that they lowered their gazes until I was in the steaming bath.

They scrubbed me till my skin smarted. When I got out, Emilia wrapped a towel around me and led me back to the dresser. She dried my hair after which another maid styled my hair.

Another maid held a tray of snacks and a drink, standing next to me while my hair was made. I felt guilty. It wasn't uncomfortable but I knew how it felt working for someone.

“You can just put that down somewhere,” I said, not wanting to eat the honey biscuits anymore.

“My Lady, your food should never be left unattended to. If she keeps it and someone tampers with it, she can face execution. Please, be careful with your instructions.” Emilia said, scolding me.

I scowled. I decided I didn't like her. I didn't know a lot about royal rules or any rule at that. She wasn't hiding her distaste for me. And I hadn't even done anything yet.

After my hair was styled, I wore a beautiful peach dress. The bodice had an intricate weaving of gold that trailed down to the full skirt. It felt a little too much for breakfast but then again, the Lycan King was royalty. He wouldn't settle for less.

“Breakfast, Lady Lorenza.” Emilia reminded me when I stood in front of the mirror for too long.

“Lead the way,” I said. I followed her out of the room to a dining where the table was covered in variety of food. I don't think I had ever seen so much in one place at once.

“Is the Lycan King joining me?” I asked as I took a seat. Surely, they didn't expect me to eat all this.

“No, my Lady. He has business to attend to.” She replied curtly.

The moment I wiped my mouth after I was done with a breakfast, a maid hurried to my side. “Lady Lorenza, the Lycan King requests your presence immediately.” She said, a little breathless. It only meant that she had been running.

I stood to my feet. “Where is he?”

***

The Lycan King was in his study. It was on another floor in the building. Emilia escorted me there, along with two men wearing mics in their ears and black shades. They said close to nothing.

When I entered the large space, I noticed a similarity with the Penthouse. The floors were mostly covered up with velvet rugs. The curtains covering the windows made the room look a lot darker than it actually was. There was a fire burning in the fireplace.

My eyes finally found the Lycan King.

He was standing over a large mahogany desk, holding onto a sheet of paper that looked like it would turn to ashes if he squeezed it in his fists. Today, he was wearing a white shirt with a few buttons unbuttoned along with black pants. He still managed to look ethereal.

He looked up as I walked towards him, “The moon goddess sure likes to play games.” And then the Lycan King laughed. He sincerely just laughed. It wasn't condescending or mocking. He was genuinely amused.

“What?”

“Why don’t you see for yourself, Little wolf.” There was something about the way he spoke. He was too amused to be mean to me. And I was too curious to pay attention.

I walked towards him and he handed the paper to me. On it was a painting of a girl with moonlight hair and the lightest shade of blue eyes I'd ever seen. I gasped.

“This…” I trailed off unable to form any words.

“It’s you, isn’t it? Except your hair is black.” The Lycan King grabbed a lock of hair between his fingers gently. “Or maybe, you dyed it.”

The girl was wearing a similar hairstyle to what I had. She was definitely me but how was that possible? This painting looked like it was tens of years old. Who was she?

“I don’t understand.” I admitted.

“I knew that the moon goddess wouldn't have given me a mate who, at first glance, looked completely helpless and useless. It was a nasty game.” I winced at his choice of words but I shouldn't have been surprised. “I mean, she still hadn't awaken her wolf.”

He was walking around me, enjoying the very act of explaining what all this meant. “You were going to be the Luna of an entire kingdom. You would have been a liabilty to me.”

“Where are you going with this?” I glared at him. “Surely, you didn't bring me here to insult me?”

He smirked. “Little wolf.” It sounded like he was proud. But that was impossible. What was he proud of?

I looked at the painting again. The Lycan King walked slowly until he stopped to look over my shoulder at the painting.

“You’re the last descendant of Queen Serene, the moon goddess.” He said, he was so close and I realized he was leaning down to my ear. I felt his warm breath fan my neck.

“That’s not all. You’re the greatest and most powerful wolf to exist, Lorenza. You are the Lycanis Prime.”