After Tobias summoned Joel and Rowena, they arrived in his chambers with haste. Joel had a look of concern on his face while Rowena seemed calm and collected.
As they entered the room, Tobias stood up from his desk and gestured for them to approach. Joel quickly stepped forward and spoke first. "My King, did you summon us?"
"What's the matter, My King?" Rowena asked later, bowing respectfully.
Rowena Hayes was a striking figure in the room, with long dark hair cascading down her back and piercing blue eyes that seemed to hold a hint of mystery. She stood tall and confident, her posture exuding a sense of strength and authority. Despite the tension in the room, Rowena remained composed and unruffled, her expression betraying no hint of fear or concern.
Tobias knew that he could rely on her to keep a level head and provide sound advice, even in the most trying of circumstances. Her presence brought a sense of calm to the room, and he was grateful for her unwavering loyalty and dedication to the kingdom.
He didn't mince words, his expression grave. Passing over the dagger and the letter to them, he added, "We have an intruder in the palace. The thief who managed to steal my robe has threatened me and I suspect she was trying to send me a message. I need you to find out who it was and bring her to me, alive."
Joel's eyes widened in surprise. "I see, My King. We'll start an investigation immediately and report back to you as soon as we have any leads."
Joel and Rowena exchanged a look, both knowing that this was no small task. The palace was vast, with many hidden passages and secret rooms that could be used to evade detection. But they were both experienced members of the king's guard and were confident in their abilities to find the intruder.
Rowena stepped forward, her voice calm and measured. "My King, if I may make a suggestion. Perhaps it would be best to increase security measures throughout the palace to prevent any further breaches."
Tobias nodded in agreement. "Good idea, Rowena. I want the guards on high alert and all entrances to the palace to be closely monitored."
Joel added, "We'll need to start by increasing the security around the palace and questioning all those who were on duty. With your permission, we'll also send out a group of our best trackers to search the surrounding area for any signs of the intruder."
Tobias nodded, impressed by their plan. "Very well. Keep me informed of any developments. And be careful, both of you. I have a feeling that this intruder is not to be underestimated."
Joel and Rowena both bowed and turned to leave, but before they did, Tobias called out to them once more. "And make sure to keep this quiet. I don't want any rumors or panic spreading among the people."
They both nodded and left the room, leaving Tobias to ponder the implications of the intrusion. Tobias was left alone once again, his mind racing with thoughts of who could be behind this brazen act and what their motives could be. He knew that he needed to find out who was behind it and why, before things spiraled out of control.
***
Scarlett stepped out into the cool night air, feeling relieved to finally have some space to breathe. But as she made her way down the path, she soon realized that she had somehow ended up in the same spot she had started. It seemed like she was trapped in some kind of loop, constantly circling within the palace grounds.
Scarlett's frustration and confusion grew as she wandered aimlessly through the winding corridors and gardens of the palace. She tried retracing her steps and taking different paths, but somehow always ended up back where she started. Hours passed, and exhaustion began to set in as she realized she was no closer to finding a way out.
Damn! Her anger towards the king grew with each passing moment. How could he have designed such a confusing and intricate palace? Scarlett felt like a rat trapped in a maze, with no escape in sight. She cursed under her breath, realizing that she had underestimated the king's intelligence and cunning.
But Scarlett was determined not to give up. She kept moving, searching for any possible exit or weak spot in the palace's defenses. She knew that her survival depended on her ability to escape and stay hidden from the king's watchful eye.
Eventually, she ended up in a magnificent large chamber. It was opulent and adorned with intricate designs and embellishments. The walls were painted in a soft shade of cream, with gilded frames hung with intricate paintings. A large, ornate chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow across the room. The floors were made of polished marble, reflecting the light from the chandelier and adding to the overall grandeur of the space.
In the center of the room stood a large, plush sofa, covered in rich velvet upholstery. It looked inviting and comfortable, and Scarlett couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy at the thought of someone being able to lounge on it whenever they pleased.
Scarlett noticed several doors leading off into other chambers as she explored the room, but none of them seemed to be the way out. Scarlett sighed in frustration, wondering how much longer she would have to wander aimlessly before finding a way to escape.
Without warning, a strong hand grabbed Scarlett's wrist, startling her. "Well, well. What do we have here?" The strange man said, his voice low and smooth.
She tried to pull away, but the grip was firm and unyielding. She turned to face her captor and found herself staring into the eyes of a tall, muscular man with a stern expression.
"Let me go!" She hissed.
Tobias laughed, and then frowned.
As the man grabbed her hand, Scarlett's mind raced to place where she had seen him before. His grip was tight, and she could feel the calluses on his fingers as he pulled her closer to him. When she looked into his blue eyes, she felt a sudden jolt of recognition. It dawned on her that he was the same man whose robe she had stolen from the lake a few days ago.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" He demanded, his voice rough and authoritative.
Their eyes locked in a fierce stare, neither of them willing to back down. Scarlett's initial fear turned into anger as she realized that she had been caught by the very man she had stolen from. "Who am I? And who are you?" She retorted, her voice laced with defiance.
The man's grip on her arm tightened, but she didn't flinch. "I asked you a question," he said sternly, his eyes narrowing.
Scarlett's mind raced as she tried to come up with a convincing lie. "I'm just a traveler passing through," she replied, her tone cold and dismissive.
Scarlett glared at him, her heart pounding in her chest. She reached out and grabbed his arm, before he could react.
Scarlett felt her heart was pounding in her chest as she tried to think of a way to explain why she was there. She knew that if the man found out she was the thief who stole his robe, it could mean the end of her life. She forced herself to remain calm and cool-headed. Her mind raced as she tried to come up with a plausible explanation. She struggled to come up with a convincing lie, but her mind was blank. She took a deep breath before responding with as much confidence as she could muster. She spoke in a measured tone, trying to sound confident, "My name is Scarlett and I’m just a traveler passing through. I stumbled upon this place by accident and got lost. I was hoping to find someone who could help me find my way back." The man's grip tightened, and Scarlett could feel her heart racing. She knew that he didn't believe her, but she held his gaze, determined not to show any sign of fear. "You expect me to believe that?" the man scoffed. "I think you're lying. What were you reall
Scarlett had been tracking the lycan king for few days, close but never close enough. She was determined to seek justice for her family and now she had a chance to exact her revenge. Her anger and hatred fueled her as she tracked him through the dense forests and rugged terrain. She was relentless in her pursuit, driven by the memory of her family and the desire for revenge. However, as she closed in on Tobias, she realized that the task before her was not as simple as she had thought. Tobias was surrounded by a loyal group of followers, all of whom were fiercely protective of their king. She knew that taking him down would not be easy, especially since she had never seen his true human appearance before. When she was dragged away in his chamber, Scarlett realized that her chances of exacting her revenge were slipping away. She was filled with a sense of hopelessness and despair, knowing that she was now at the mercy of the lycan king. Despite her fear, Scarlett refused to give up.
As Tobias leaned in closer to Scarlett, his eyes held a penetrating gaze that seemed to see right through her. Though he had let go of her hand, his presence was still palpable, and she could feel his warm breath on her skin. The overpowering scent of his fragrance filled her senses, and despite trying to maintain her composure, she couldn't help but feel a surge of anger and frustration boiling inside her. His close proximity made her feel vulnerable and exposed, and she began to feel trapped under his gaze."Little traveler, there is something else that you need to know. Before I caught you, I just received a message, a warning from an intruder who has infiltrated my palace. This intruder sent me a note, along with a dagger, as a sign of their threat."Scarlett tried to keep her expression neutral, not wanting to reveal her true intentions for seeking revenge. She knew that if Tobias discovered her true motives, he would never let her go."What does this have to do with me?" she ask
Scarlett knew that she couldn't afford to be swayed by his charms. She had a mission to complete, and she wouldn't let anything or anyone stand in her way. With a steely resolve, she stood tall and faced him head-on, determined to uncover the truth about her pack's massacre, no matter the cost. Her gaze was laced with bitterness and her fists were clenched tightly. She was growing increasingly frustrated with his insinuations and attempts to seduce her. "I have no interest in your idea of 'fun'," she spat out, her eyes flashing with anger. "I just want to leave." Her words were sharp and firm, conveying her determination to not let her guard down around him. His face darkened. "You're in no position to make demands, little traveler. You're in my palace, and you'll do as I say." Her hand tightened around the hilt of her dagger, ready to defend herself if necessary. "I won't be intimidated by you, Tobias." As Tobias took another step closer to her, his eyes flashed with anger. "You
Tobias paced back and forth in his main chamber, his mind racing with thoughts and plans, his eyes flickering with uncertainty and suspicion. He knew that he couldn't keep Scarlett confined forever, but he also couldn't risk letting her go until he was sure of her intentions. A few moments earlier, he knew that the intruder who had sent him the message was still lurking in the palace, and he was determined to catch them. He had stationed guards at every entrance and exit, and was monitoring the palace closely. The intruder must have had no time to escape, and he was determined to catch them before they could cause any more trouble. He ordered his guards to be on high alert and scoured the palace from top to bottom, searching for any sign of the intruder. But as the hours passed, it seemed as though the intruder had vanished without a trace. Tobias couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of his stomach. He knew that whoever had infiltrated his palace was not
Joel nodded thoughtfully as he asked, "I understand. What do you want us to do, My king?" "I need you to investigate this intruder and find out what her intentions are. Find out everything you can about her!" Tobias said firmly. "I need to know more about how she managed to get past our security measures. I also need your help in figuring out who she is, what she wants, why she's here, and if there are any others involved. I cannot let her roam free in my palace, especially with all the recent incidents that have been happening. I want to put an end to this before it becomes a bigger problem." Joel furrowed his brow, a hint of concern in his voice. "What about the intruder? What should we do with her in the meantime?" Rowena spoke up, her voice calm and measured. "My king, may I suggest we question the prisoner directly? We may be able to gather valuable information from her if we approach her correctly." Tobias pondered for a brief moment before answering, "I've confined her to th
One night as Tobias stepped into the chamber, he found Scarlett stood defiantly in front of him. Tobias crossed the room, standing in front of her. He couldn't help but admire her courage and determination. "Good evening, Scarlett," he said in a smooth voice, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I hope you're finding your accommodations to your liking?" Her eyes narrowed as she faced him. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice cold and unyielding. "I've come to question you," Tobias replied, taking a step closer to her. "You see, I still have no idea why you were sneaking around my palace. I want to know why you came here," he said, his voice soft and dangerous. Scarlett remained silent, eyeing him warily. She met his gaze and didn't waver, her heart raced with fear and anger. She knew that she had to get out of there, no matter what it took. Tobias smirked. "But maybe we can find some... common ground. Perhaps there's something I can offer you in exchange for the truth?" She bri
Scarlett felt her heart skipped a beat as his warm lips brushed against her ear. She knew she should pull away and maintain her distance, but the seductive tone in his voice was making it difficult for her to think straight."Is that a threat, my king?" she asked, trying to sound casual despite the trembling in her voice.Tobias chuckled softly, the sound sending a warm sensation through her body. "Not a threat, my dear," he replied, his lips still dangerously close to her ear. "Just a warning. You're playing a dangerous game here. One that could cost your life."Scarlett tried to remain composed, but her mind was racing. She knew that Tobias was right, that she was playing a dangerous game. But the desire for revenge burned inside her, driving her to take the risk."I'll take my chances," she said, her voice low and determined. "I'll do whatever it takes to get what I want."Tobias pulled away for a moment, his piercing blue eyes locking onto hers. "And what is it that you want?" He