2. The Three Husbands

That night, in the study room.

"You sure you will serve her again, Atlas?" asked Dexter, one of Myrene's consorts, a twenty-seven-year-old man with a mischievous and sly look in his eyes. A sharp look adorned his charming face.

"Of course! I can spend every night with her." The man who looked cheerful with an ever-expanding smile just nodded happily. He was Atlas, Myrene's only husband who gave himself up to submit to the queen. His twenty-one years of age made him Myrene's youngest husband.

"If I were Atlas, I would not hesitate to spend time with the queen. Only for Atlas, the queen is nice and normal." A grim-looking twenty-three-year-old said. He was Levastan. His handsome looks were masked by his silent and gloomy demeanor. There weren't many people who could talk to him.

Dexter grinned and nodded approvingly. Myrene appeared to intentionally cause them trouble.

The three of them were husbands Myrene married and recognized in the kingdom. Other than them, several men had been captured for the queen's convenience, without marriage.

"Isn't Alpha Logan from Nightshade? That's the largest pack in the western region, isn't it?" asked Atlas, suddenly looking very curious about what was going on. He knew they were both as curious as he was.

Dexter nodded confidently. "In that case, then my theory is correct, right? I think Queen Myrene purposely crippled the packs with the largest territories."

Levastan silently listened. But he looked serious. He was the Alpha of the Red Claws pack. Its territory was vast in the east. His ancestors successfully expanded the territory year after year. Even before his leadership, his pack had been destroyed.

While Dexter was the Alpha of the Dark Valley pack in the southern region, where the pack was notoriously wild and immoral, but the strongest in the region. Unlike Logan, he chose to surrender when the Lycan forces nearly crippled his entire army and offered negotiations. He accepted the marriage with honor.

Meanwhile, Atlas was the Alpha of the Moonshines pack in the northern region. A pack was known for its hospitality and natural beauty. He gave himself up to join the Lycan kingdom and proposed to Myrene at the young age of nineteen.

Thanks to Atlas, Myrene had more strength and power to conquer other werewolf packs.

"Hasn't the Queen wanted Alpha Logan for so long?" asked Levastan.

He didn't want to imagine how Myrene would take an army and cripple the pack his father led in just one night. Before his father finally made a deal and accepted Myrene's offer to take him as a third husband.

Levastan didn't accept at first, but he couldn't do anything to help the chaos in his pack. In his heart, he kept wondering how Atlas and Dexter could just give up and help Myrene attack the werewolf pack. But then he realized they were just like him, weak and helpless.

The Nightshade pack was the only pack that took more than a week to complete in the battle. Despite the many casualties, Logan survived to the end. Myrene had to take the Nightshade pack as prisoners of war to make Logan surrender.

Dexter was lost in his thoughts. He was sure Myrene was up to something.

"I heard that the late King Theodore died from a werewolf attack while hunting in the forest. I think everyone knows Queen Myrene wants revenge. But, as long as we surrender, she doesn't kill anyone. That's very strange." Dexter spoke to himself.

Atlas just smiled. "Isn't that great? I'm sure Queen Myrene isn't a heartless person. She can be cruel at times, but I'm sure she's quite rational."

Dexter looked at Atlas, then gave a small grin. "Hey, you look very different today. What's changed?"

The man approached Atlas who was sitting on the sofa.

'Be careful,' Felin, Atlas' wolf warned. He was always wary of Dexter. He smelled the cunning wolf in the man's body.

Atlas was calm, despite his anxiety. He said nothing as Dexter ran his fingers through his raven hair. Dexter pulled his hair a little hard, causing him to look up in irritation.

Felin growled. Atlas tried to calm his wolf down.

Atlas pulled Dexter's hand away and snapped, "Hey! You're hurting me!"

Dexter smiled mischievously. "You cut your hair? It's getting harder to pull up."

Atlas shook off Dexter's hand and got up. "Didn't you promise the queen you wouldn't bother me anymore?!" grumbled Atlas.

He could have fought back, but he didn't like fighting at all. Especially if Myrene found out, they would both end up in the punishment room. Not only the pain he would get but also the embarrassment. For that reason, Atlas tried not to make trouble.

Dexter grinned. "I'm not in the mood to play with kid. Good night, enjoy your evening with the queen," he said and walked away.

Atlas scowled feeling patronized by the man. He hated being called a kid the most. Dexter knew that.

Levastan who had been silent, now stood up and walked out unceremoniously. He waved goodnight.

Atlas simply looked in the man's direction before disappearing from the study room. He sighed deeply. He knew those two men secretly hated him for helping Myrene in the first place. It was like they were making sure he got a taste of hell. But he would not let that happen. All this time, he was Myrene's favorite.

'Ah... next time, stay away from them. Avery is scary,' Felin said.

Avery was Dexter's wolf. The wolf had caused trouble several times by killing humans who were offerings to the queen. The wolf was very cruel and feared nothing. Felin even trembled when confronted with it.

'You should be braver than me. How can an Alpha wolf be as weak as you?' Atlas said. He knew Felin wouldn't like what he said, but it was the truth.

On the battlefield, he was sure Felin would run as hard as he could, as far as he could. The wolf hated battle with a passion.

'You know, war won't get us anywhere. Only destruction. Why fight if we can avoid it?' Felin said giving his ideology.

Atlas shook his head, but he too believed that. He also didn't understand why everyone was so busy fighting.

He looked at the clock on the wall and decided to go back to his room. Soon Myrene will visit him. He had to get ready.

Atlas cleaned up and asked the servant to prepare dinner in his room. He was sure Myrene hadn't had dinner yet. He also prepared cards to play with the queen. He had to make sure Myrene wouldn't be bored.

Atlas was very excited. But two hours passed and Myrene still hadn't shown up. It was unusual for Myrene to take so long. It was already nine o'clock.

Was Myrene busy with other matters? Atlas was sure she was. That woman often stayed up late in her study until the morning. Should he visit the study room?

As Atlas hesitated, there was a knock on the door. He was sure it was her. He hurriedly opened the door to welcome the Queen.

However, his joyful face changed when he saw who was coming. Hunter, Myrene's personal bodyguard.

"Master Atlas, Her Majesty would like to apologize for not being able to accompany you this evening," Hunter said.

Atlas frowned. "What's the matter? Is she busy?"

Hunter smiled. "Her Majesty will inform you later when she will visit. Tonight, you can go to bed early."

Atlas was not satisfied. How could Myrene change her schedule like this? It had never happened before. It was usually him who didn't get the schedule suddenly visited by the queen.

Atlas could do nothing and nodded.

But, from the balcony of his room, he saw Myrene's entourage heading somewhere. Atlas felt an overwhelming sense of jealousy. He knew which room Myrene was heading to.

The room of Logan, Myrene's new husband-to-be.