10. Flora

Beta Darius's eyebrows furrowed.

"Do you like women, then? I mean are you sexually attracted to them? No offense. I don't have anything against people liking the same sex.  It's just that…never mind. Tell me if you want to continue our deal or not."

Of course, I liked to proceed. 

Beta Darius could be my biggest ally as time progresses. I just need to put everything in place. 

"I did not say I want to quit. What I am trying to say is that the Lycan King is never lovable."

"He could be charming."

"He is an asshole. A jerk. A bastard."

"It's your opinion."

"Which is way different than yours. I just hoped you do not treat him as your god. Because the Lycan King was far from that."

Beta Darius fell into deep thought until we reached the dining hall. 

The table was a forty-eight seater which was the normal seating capacity for every pack. 

We found the Lycan King staring at his food boredly. As if he was a child throwing a tantrum. He looked as if he did not like anything that was served even if it looked delicious to me.

"Greetings, King Elio," Beta Darius announced the Lycan King. "My apologies for keeping you waiting."

He glanced at us temporarily and back at playing with his food followed by a sigh. Not sure if he even peeked at me or not. 

"I see you insisted on giving VIP treatment to my newest slave, Beta Darius. And you let her wear something decent. She looked like a noble lady right now." 

Decent was not the right adjective for the dress I wore. It was regal and majestic. Fit for the queen of this kingdom.

Ah. The power of the queen. If the Lycan King could only acknowledge me as his queen, then I could use that power to free my packmates from imprisonment and ask someone to find my sister for me. However, King Elio made it more difficult for me. 

Damn him.

"That's only the spear clothes of the nobles who wanted to get your attention, Your Majesty."

Looking at Beta Darius, I lifted my eyebrows in his direction. 

So, there were a few women who wanted to have the Lycan King despite his wicked personality?

As if indirectly filling me with the details, he added, "Remember Lady Aurora? She brought a dozen clothes, put them beside your room and one by one wore the clothes to get your attention. But she failed. She spread rumors that you are incapable of fathering a child."

King Elio looked at me. "I detest women."

Secretly, Beta Darius and I shared a look. 

When did the Lycan King detest women? If that were the case, that would make my job more difficult than it was right now. 

"I am expecting the only exception is your beloved Eva, Your Majesty?" I asked. 

What a lucky woman. To gain the attention of one of the most powerful werewolves in the palace and showered her with all the gifts she could imagine. That was what I call life. 

"Who else then? You?" he asked, chuckling in the end. Making fun of me. "My beautiful Eva is incomparable to anyone. She is a goddess in my eyes."

Ouch. 

A punch in my ego.

I clenched my fist. Then smiled sweetly at him. 

"I can try to be beautiful, Your Majesty. I can doll up and wear fancy jewelry and clothes."

"Your attempts will be futile," he answered and grabbed the wine glass in front of him and clogged the contents. 

Not letting his statement dampen my mood, I asserted, "Do not talk as if you already know the future, Your Majesty. Not unless you are a seer who can see the future. Who knows? Your beast will slap you and force you to look in my direction and you will realize I am also worthy of your attention." 

Forcefully, he put the wine glass. I thought it would break but it did not. 

"You are mad. Did fighting the enemies shake your brain?"

I faked a surprise. "Perhaps you are also referring to yourself, Your Majesty?" I offered. 

Beta Darius froze. 

I mentally kicked myself. "Madly in love with Eva," I added, to redeem myself.

I got carried away. 

"Careful with your words, woman. Just because you gain the beta's favor does not mean you can overstep your boundaries."

I gleamed and focused on the food instead and ate them. 

Now was not the time to fight, Flora. Your goal is to make him fall in love with you and Beta Darius will give you anything that you want. 

"Now, now. Hating each other in the dining hall will chase away the blessings the Moon Goddess had bestowed on this kingdom. Let's eat, Your Majesty."

"I did not know you are the religious type, Beta Darius. Though I had nothing against it."

The beta shrugged his shoulders and helped me seated next to the Lycan King.

King Elio continued stabbing the food as if it was his greatest enemy. 

One thing I noticed about the Lycan King? His attention span on a certain person was only short, especially if he did not like that person. Just like what he was doing right now. He did not like me.

"Are you thinking that those are my packmates in Howling Pack, Your Majesty?" I asked, out of curiosity while munching the food. "I hate to break it to you, but we can not get killed as easily as that."

Beta Darius kicked the chair I was sitting on.

Oh. Did I overstep again? 

Scowling, I glanced at him, and his expression told me he was not happy at how I was acting towards the Lycan King.

What can I do?

Loathing him came first before I was reminded I had the goal to make him love me. 

"Is that your talent, woman?"

"It is Flora, Your Majesty. That's my name. I don't like it when someone calls me a woman even if that's my gender. I need to be called by my name. For the sake of knowing my identity."

Beta Darius clapped his hands. He was the only one who seemed happy in the dining hall while the servants, the Lycan King, and I were far from that.

The atmosphere around was thick with tension. Beta Darius was oblivious to it, or was he only pretending?

"Why don't we start eating again? The food will taste bland if it starts to get cold."

"It is always bland," the Lycan King answered. "Nothing tastes good anymore."

Beta Darius looked at the Lycan King with worry. "Maybe you can tell me what you want to eat, Your Majesty. I will get the best cook and I will order him to cook it for you."

It was not about the food. 

After Eva's death, everything was colorless to the Lycan King. That's how the bond works. It malfunctioned after Eva died. 

"Perhaps there is something wrong with your taste buds, Your Majesty," I declared. 

A statement that he did not like. 

He glowered as if that would make me scared of him. Well, he had to do better than that. 

I chuckled. "Oops. My apologies. I did not know you are sensitive about all things."

A muscle ticked. 

He put down his spoon and forked and put his hands on the table.

"What's your plan about this woman, Beta Darius?"

Using the napkin, I wiped the smudges of food on the corner of my lips. 

"It's up to you, Your Majesty. After all, you were the one who bought her. She is your slave and your mate."

"You can forget about the mate thingy, beta. His Majesty never acknowledged the bond between us. Mind as well reject me."

Beta Darius glared at me and I was reminded of our deal. 

Damn.

Why did I keep on forgetting?

I gleamed at the Lycan King. "My apologies. A slip of my tongue, Your Majesty. Please do not reject me. I can be useful to you. You can do everything you want with me. I am always at your disposal."

"I know what I will do with you, Flora," the Lycan King said all of a sudden. 

My heart skipped a beat.

This was the first time he mentioned my name and my wolf liked it very fucking much.