CONCUBINE

The journey to the capital made me want to vomit.

As the days flew by, the girls started getting familiar. The all couldn't stop talking about how wonderful this was. Who wouldn't want the protection from the most powerful man in Suro Kingdom?

Being in his harem was everything omega girls like them could wish for.

It's horrible listening to all this. Why did they feel like they couldn't be anything without some stupid Alpha's protection?

I wanted to slap them in their faces. Look at me, I had an alpha for a mate. Where did that lead me?

I ended up becoming a killer to stay alive. 

I pity them all; they're just too innocent to understand. 

The most part of the journey is sickening because of all the chatter. I zone out many times to save myself from the horror of listening to them.

It takes five days to reach the capital. The capital of Suro is the most beautiful place I have ever seen.

Unlike the forests where I grew up in Willo Tree, this was just magnificent.

Strangely shaped buildings, numerous traders and neatly dressed lycans. Everyone here was civilized and organized. 

Is this the work of that monster?

The White Crow is an animal, I doubt it was him. 

We pass through the middle of the city heading for the palace. The further we go, the more crowded it seems to get.

"Today's the king's coronation. I just hope they allow us to wash our faces first before we're presented," one of the girls says. She's a scrawny thing with a very long nose. 

"True! If I must impress the king, then this sac will not do. But it's a shame, we won't have any time. See, the wagon driver is taking us straight in."

In truth, we were on the very long line of people coming from far and near. The huge palace gates were open and for as far as I could see, different creatures are present with gifts.

It's a grand affair.

The person who was gifting us to the king is an elder called Queen Mother. At least that's what I heard from the girls. Who cared?

Everything would end in ten months. It didn't matter whether the entire kingdoms came to pay their respects.

It's either I would die or the king would die.

I couldn't run away from the mission. Joining the Akari League was like selling your soul. 

You belonged to them no matter what. Your mission was your life- you either died doing it, or died avoiding it.

I was not going to die. 

After staying in the line for hours, the wagon finally reaches the main palace entrance.

"And now! A gift of seven maidens from the Queen mother herself!" 

The guards rush up to us and make us walk in a single line towards the throne. We keep our heads down throughout.

The closer I get, the more my skin begins to tingle.

Fear? 

Yes. I am afraid. This is a dangerous mission; who wouldn't be?

But this feeling is different from fear. It's like my weak wolf is scratching beneath my skin, itching to be released. It's the same feeling I felt before I shifted a bit.

However this one is more intense. Like I can't breathe or think. 

Blood is rushing to my head and I feel a little light.

What is this feeling?

"Kneel before your king." 

We immediately fall to our knees. I can't look at anything but the plush red carpet beneath my knees. My head hurts, I can barely think.

"Your majesty, these are Queen Mother's gifts to you," says the announcer.

My stomach is hurting, my feet are tingly.

Look up.

It's my wolf. She's desperate for something in this court. But I know I can't look up. 

I could be killed on the spot.

Look up.

I ignore the voice and clench my eyes shut, waiting for the king to acknowledge us and let us go. 

He doesn't. The court is silent, waiting for him.

"Son, don't you like the gifts?" A female asks. Her voice is sickeningly sweet and sends chills all over my body.

She's the Queen mother. However, she was not the woman who birthed the king. He came from nowhere.

This woman was an elder of the court given the title of Queen mother according to custom.

"Raise your heads," comes a cold, detached male voice.

I raise my head slowly, fighting my wolf within me. She's stressing for some reason. Even as we raise our faces, no one dares to look up to meet the eyes of the king. 

I keep my eyes at his feet. 

He rises and the court goes silent. It's deathly still as he comes down from the podium. 

I watch his feet walk from the first girl; I think he's observing their faces.

From one girl to the other, he moves. I'm at the very end so my panic grows as he comes closer.

Did he hear about the Akari's plans?

Did he know?...

His feet stop in front of me and my blood screams in my veins. What is this?

Every vessel in my body is tense and my heart is racing. I shouldn't seem suspicious so I try to steel my nerves.

Cold fingers lift my jaw and I try my best to keep away from his eyes.

My face is tingling where he touches me. 

"Look at me, girl," he whispers. 

My breath hitches. The White Crow is touching me now- speaking to me.

I raise my gaze from his open garment exposing his chest and trail up to his face.

It's as though time stops when our eyes meet. 

Those golden eyes...

We pause and my head spins. My wolf is howling louder within me, pushing and screaming for escape. 

She's going mad within me.

One word is circulating in my head. It's haunting; bringing back terrible memories I had long since buried.

Mate.