Chapter 4

Kaiya

Last night, King Bowden was almost human, downright nice even, but today he’s back to his surly self and barely pays me any mind. I don’t know if it’s a good or a bad thing, but it does make the rest of the drive to his castle feel like an eternity.

As the castle looms into view, the reality of the situation finally hits me like a ton of bricks. The king took me from my home and brought me to his without so much as a by your leave. I don’t even know what he’ll expect of me as his mate.

‘I can always run,’ I remind myself. ‘If it becomes unbearable, I can run and disappear again. It’s not that hard.’

The castle is beautiful and well kept, spanning several acres with towers reaching high up into the sky. Green ivy creeps up the yellowish brick adding character and beauty to the old building.

The driver opens the door for me and I practically fall out of the car, stretching my numb and aching limbs. King Bowden didn’t lie when he said we’d be in the car most of the day and I’ve never been this grateful to be on my feet.

Open-mouthed, I stare at the impressive castle. The household staff is lined up along the cobbled path that leads to the entrance. All of them are dressed in similar uniforms of black and white, the men in slacks and white shirts, and the women in black knee-length skirts with white blouses. Everyone has their hands clasped in front of them, and their heads respectfully bowed.

A man dressed in a black suit and grey tie approaches us the moment we step onto the path. “Your majesty,” he says. “Welcome home. It’s been too long.”

The king gives the butler a curt nod. “Thank you, Neil,” he says, grabs me by the wrist, and pulls me closer. “This is Miss Cole. My prospective mate.”

The butler’s face lights up, but otherwise he keeps his composure. “Congratulations, your majesty.”

“Hm,” King Bowden grunts, and without another word starts to walk up the path to the front door, leaving me behind.

Not sure what else to do, I hurry to catch up with him.

The steps are cut from black stone and lead to a massive veranda made of the same granite as the stairs. Two massive doors, at least three storeys tall, open to reveal the impressive lobby inside. A crystal chandelier hangs down from the high ceiling, illuminating the entire reception. Ancient artwork adorns the wall, and suits of armour stand sentry over the foyer.

Tastefully placed hidden lights emphasise the beautiful art, and four sets of granite staircases with intricately decorated wrought iron railings lead to the upper levels. Arched entrances to hallways branch off in every direction.

With every passing moment, my situation becomes just a little more real. “Will the lady require a room of her own,” Neil asks behind us.

“Yes,” Bowden says. “On my floor. Not…her old room.”

“Of course, your majesty,” Neil says.

“She’ll also require a full wardrobe and personal care items.”

“I’ll see to it, my lord.”

The butler walks away, snapping his fingers. Two Omegas come running and listen intently while the butler whispers instructions.

I wonder who this ‘her’ is the king spoke about, but I can’t bring myself to ask the question. I don’t think I want to know. For the first time in a very long while, I’m completely speechless. I don’t know what to do or what to say. I have no idea what’s expected of me.

This is so far removed from everything I know, and for the first time I wonder why I didn’t question the king a little more last night, why I didn’t oppose him when he declared that I’m to be his new mate. I just came along, sure that I could run away at some point. “Now what?” I whisper to myself.

“Settle in,” Bowden answers. “I’ll send for you a little later and we’ll discuss the marking ceremony.”

“I…what if I don’t want your mark?”

The king snorts loudly and calls a man over. He’s dressed in black slacks and a blue jacket with prominent golden buttons. A Lycan warrior, and judging by the scars crisscrossing his face, one that’s not to be trifled with. “Please see Miss Cole to her room.”

The man snaps his heals together. “Yes, Sire.”

He doesn’t even ask where my room is, he just walks ahead of me, expecting that I’ll follow. With everyone’s eyes on me, I try to push away the rising panic and run after the guard up the wide staircase. Within seconds, I’m completely lost.

I don’t have a wolf, despite what King Bowden said last night, and my sense of smell isn’t as developed as a full wolf’s would be. It’s better than a human’s, yet I don’t think I’ll be able to find my way back to the lobby using my wolf senses. There are too many scents here, mixing together until they’re indistinguishable from one another.

After what feels like an hour, we finally come to a stop outside a plain door with big, cast iron hinges. Out of breath from running after the guard, I fold double and grab my knees, trying to get my breathing back under control. The guard smirks at me. “You are unfit. You’ll be useless in a fight”

“Why do I need to fight?” I ask through gasps of air. “Isn’t that your job?

The guard doesn’t answer me. “This is your room.”

This door, like all the others, is much taller than it needs to be and it’s so heavy that I have to put all my weight behind it to push it open.

I hold back a gasp of surprise when I walk into the room. It’s not just a room - it’s a fully furnished apartment. The living room area is beautifully and tastefully decorated with black sofas arranged in a u-shape around a black coffee table.

A white area rug breaks up the slate-grey tiles, and there’s a massive television against the wall facing the couches. There’s a small bar and fridge in the corner next to a wall-to-wall window overlooking the beautiful back gardens, and heavy black drapes in case I want some privacy.

Next to the bar, and in front of the window, are a little dining table and two chairs made from reclaimed wood.

On the other side of the room is a bed that would put all beds to shame. Bigger than the king size I slept in last night, the canopy bed harkens back to the seventeenth or eighteenth century.

It comes complete with black curtains for extra privacy and has steps on both side of it so I can gracefully ascent to my sleeping space like a proper queen. I giggle at the thought. Me? A queen? Never.

A vanity matching the bed’s dark mahogany takes up the rest of the space on this side of the room. It’s already been stocked with lotions, potions, and make-up. The door right next to the vanity leads to an impressive walk-in closet that is completely bare, but so clean that it practically sparkles.

Another door inside the walk-in takes me to my bathroom. Everything in here screams money, from the marble countertops, to the sunken bath that is roughly the size of a small swimming pool and the luxurious shower. Even the towels look like they cost more than my rent.

Instead of being impressed, I’m terrified. I am completely out of my element. Give me my dingy flat on the wrong side of town surrounded by rough, but genuine and generally kind people, any day. That I understood. There I thrived. I don’t fit in this world. I don’t fit at all.

I climb the steps up to the bed and sink away in a mattress so comfortable that simply lying on it feels like pure sin.

What am I going to do? How am I going to get out of this one?

Clara will be here soon. We’ll run away together. Start over somewhere new. I won’t be alone for too long.

Neil knocks on my door and shortly afterwards enters my room, followed by a string of Omegas carrying clothes and shoes of every variety, style, and fabric. I get off the bed, ignoring the little steps, and try to help, but that just outrages the butler who sternly informs me that it’s beneath me to pack my own clothes away.

“A young lady arrived some time ago with Gamma Jaeger,” he says when I won’t stop bugging him to let the Omegas put the clothes down and just leave. “Goes by the name of Clara. She requested to see you. Shall I send for her? You can take tea together in your private garden.”

My heart does a little flip of joy. “Yes!” I exclaim. “Please.”

The butler nods and disappears again. Clara is here. I won’t be all alone in this strange place with all these strange wolves and their weird ways. We can plot our escape.

It doesn’t occur to me that I had her kidnapped, and she might not be too happy with me when she finds out.

Ten minutes later, the Omegas are done and there’s a knock on the door. Thinking that Clara finally made her way to my room, I call, “Come in,” without thinking twice.

Griffin steps into the room, his face serious. “Are you settled in?” he asks

“Yes,” I say and start to pick at my nails.

“The king wishes to see you right away.”

“Oh. Does he always send you with his messages? Isn’t that a little beneath a Beta?”

Griffin smiles indulgently. “Neil left for the shift tonight, so there’s just me and Gamma Jaeger, who currently has his hands full with your very angry friend.”

I start to smile. I can imagine Clara going off on Jaeger, calling him every name in the book. “I was supposed to see her.”

“And you will, but the king comes first.”

I nod. “Of course,” I say and slip my feet into the uncomfortable pink sandals that match the pink dress King Bowden made me wear. “What does he want?”

“That’s not for me to say, but…he’s not in a great mood, so don’t let your mouth run away from you.”

“My mouth doesn’t run away from me.”

Griffin smiles and waits for me to exit the room ahead of him. “It does. Just be careful what you say, okay?”

I nod and follow Griffin on unsteady legs down the hallway, up a few steps and right to the king’s door. “Well…good luck,” he says, turns around, and leaves me here all alone.

I inhale deeply, trying to get my nerves under control, but before I can knock the king barks, “Get in here!”