Chapter Four

Maren's POV

The guard's words stayed with me long after I moved away from the entrance.

The King has already killed enough of them.

I glanced towards the two men, but they had stopped talking and returned to their positions. Neither seemed concerned that I might have overheard them. Perhaps they were used to discussing such things, or perhaps they simply didn't care what the women waiting inside the hall thought.

I wished I had never heard them.

Livia approached me, holding her bag against her stomach. "What happened? You look pale."

I hesitated before answering. "Nothing. I just heard something."

"About the King?" She asked.

I nodded slightly.

Her eyes widened, and she leaned closer. "What did they say?"

Before I could respond, a woman standing near us turned around. She wore an expensive-looking blue dress, and the jewellery around her neck suggested she came from a wealthy family.

"If you're frightened already, you shouldn't have come," she said, looking between us. "Some of us are here because we have a chance to become part of the royal family. I don't intend to let rumours ruin that opportunity."

Livia lowered her gaze, but I couldn't help wondering whether the woman understood what she was volunteering for.

"Do you believe the stories?" I asked.

She lifted her chin. "I believe the King needs a Luna. If his wolf is as dangerous as people claim, then finding his fated mate will solve everything."

"And if it doesn't?" I asked.

Her expression tightened. "Then I suppose the next woman will have to try."

I looked away, deciding there was no point arguing with someone who seemed determined to ignore the danger.

The hall gradually filled with more candidates. Some arrived with attendants carrying their belongings, while others came alone. Their clothes, accents, and appearances suggested they had travelled from different parts of the kingdom. A few whispered excitedly about the possibility of meeting the King, while others remained silent, watching the guards stationed around the room.

I found an empty seat beside Livia and placed my bag between my feet.

The longer I sat there, the more uncomfortable I became. The palace was beautiful, but its beauty did nothing to soften the atmosphere. There were too many guards, too many locked doors, and too many people who seemed afraid to speak above a whisper.

I began to wonder what kind of man could make an entire palace live in fear.

A woman across from us leaned towards her companion. "My father says the King has refused every woman brought before him."

"That is because none of them were his mate," the other replied. "Once he finds her, everything will change."

"But what if she doesn't want him?"

The first woman scoffed. "Who would refuse the Alpha King?"

I almost laughed at the question, but there was nothing amusing about it. I had spent the previous night wishing I could escape the life my family had chosen for me. Now I was sitting in a palace where another powerful man might decide my future without asking what I wanted.

The thought made my chest tighten.

After some time, the large doors at the far end of the hall opened, and a group of royal attendants entered. Their appearance immediately silenced the room. They walked in an orderly line, followed by a tall man dressed in a dark uniform.

He stopped before us, his expression stern.

"I am Tarek, the King's Beta," he announced. "You have all been brought here because the royal family believes one of you may be the woman the King has been waiting for."

Nobody spoke.

Tarek surveyed the room before continuing. "You will be presented to His Majesty individually. When your name is called, you will follow the guards and enter his chamber. You will approach only when instructed, and you will not touch him unless he permits it."

A nervous murmur passed through the candidates.

"What happens if the King rejects us?" someone asked.

Tarek's gaze moved towards the woman who had spoken.

"Then you will be escorted out."

"Will we be sent home?" another candidate asked.

"That will be decided after the presentations."

His answer did little to reassure anyone.

Tarek clasped his hands behind his back. "There are also rules you must understand. Do not raise your voice at His Majesty, do not make sudden movements, and do not attempt to leave the chamber without permission. Most importantly, if you notice any unusual behaviour, remain where you are and wait for the guards."

I frowned.

"What kind of unusual behaviour?" I asked before I could stop myself.

Several women turned towards me.

Tarek looked directly at me. For a moment, his expression was unreadable.

"His Majesty has a condition that requires careful management," he replied. "You do not need to concern yourself with the details. Simply follow the instructions given to you."

I lowered my eyes, although his answer only made me more curious.

A sudden crash came from somewhere beyond the adjoining doors.

Everyone turned towards the sound.

The impact was followed by a low growl that seemed to travel through the walls. It was unlike anything I had ever heard. The sound was deep and powerful, vibrating through the floor beneath my feet.

Livia grabbed my wrist. "What was that?" she whispered.

Nobody answered her.

The guards immediately straightened. Two of them moved towards the adjoining doors while another hurried out of the hall. Tarek's expression changed, and he turned towards the corridor with an urgency he had not shown before.

"Stay here," he ordered.

Another crash followed.

This time, the sound was accompanied by a furious snarl. Several women screamed, and one of them jumped to her feet.

"I want to leave!" she cried. "I never agreed to this!"

She rushed towards the entrance, but two guards blocked her path.

"Move!" she shouted, struggling to get past them.

"You cannot leave until you are dismissed," one guard replied.

"Then dismiss me! I don't want to meet him!"

Her voice trembled, and I could hardly blame her. Whatever was happening beyond those doors sounded terrifying.

Tarek returned to the centre of the hall. His jaw was tight, but he seemed determined not to let the situation spread further.

"Everyone remain seated," he instructed. "The King is experiencing an early episode. The royal healer is attending to him."

Early episode.

I remembered Livia's words about the King's wolf becoming uncontrollable once every month. If this was what happened when he lost control, I couldn't imagine what the women who entered his chamber would face.

"Is he going to hurt someone?" Livia whispered.

I swallowed. "I don't know."

The growling continued for several seconds before fading into an uneasy silence. The guards exchanged tense glances, and one of them hurried towards Tarek to whisper something in his ear.

Tarek listened without interrupting. When the guard finished, he nodded and turned back to us.

"The presentations will continue," he announced.

A wave of disbelief moved through the hall.

"But we just heard—" one woman began.

"You will follow the royal instructions," Tarek interrupted. "The healer is with His Majesty, and the situation is being handled."

I looked towards the adjoining doors. Nobody appeared convinced that everything was under control.

A few minutes passed before the first candidate's name was called. A young woman in a pale gold dress stood up, smoothing the front of her clothes as two guards approached her.

She looked around at the other candidates, perhaps expecting someone to wish her luck, but nobody said anything.

The guards led her through the doors.

We waited.

At first, there was only silence. Then a faint voice came from inside, followed by a loud growl that made several women flinch. A moment later, the doors opened again.

The same woman emerged, supported by one of the attendants. Her face had lost its colour, and she refused to look at anyone as she was escorted out through another corridor.

Livia's fingers tightened around mine.

"She didn't even last long," she whispered.

I stared at the doorway, feeling my stomach twist.

One by one, the women continued entering the King's chamber. Some returned looking frightened, while others were escorted out without saying a word. None of them appeared to have been accepted.

Each presentation made the hall quieter.

I had come here expecting to be sent away. That was all I wanted. I didn't care about becoming the King's Luna, receiving royal privileges, or gaining a place among the powerful families. I only wanted to survive the experience and find a way to leave.

Eventually, Tarek returned to the hall.

He consulted the list in his hand, then looked towards the remaining candidates.

My heart began beating faster when his eyes settled on me.

"Maren Vale," he called.

For a moment, I couldn't move.

Livia turned towards me, her expression filled with concern. I slowly rose from my seat, picking up nothing but the courage I wasn't sure I possessed.

Tarek gestured towards the doors.

"Your turn. Follow me."

I took a breath and stepped forward.

As I approached the entrance, the doors suddenly opened from the other side. A powerful growl rolled through the hall, louder than anything we had heard before.

Every woman fell silent.

Tarek turned towards me, his expression unusually serious.

"Go on," he said. "The King is waiting.”