Chapter 8: Dinner With the King

Samantha's POV

My dress was beautiful, made of fine silk in a creamy beige-yellow color, the straps deliberately falling off my arms and a long slit on my left leg. My hair was loose and well-groomed, light makeup on my face; I looked beautiful. Tori and Ysabelle had excitedly prepared me so that the king would be speechless.

And he truly was.

When I entered his chambers, guided by his butler, he awaited me seated on cushions on the veranda floor, a low table laden with expensive wine and delicacies, cushions gathered around it. Lamps and candles lit the atmosphere, creating a warm and cozy ambiance. The bard played an enchanting melody that perfectly suited the moment.

"Samantha, my dearest. You look beautiful," he said, approaching me, taking my hand and kissing the back of it while gazing at me with those deep, dark eyes.

"Thank you, my king," I smiled. Maddox was truly a heartbreaker, with his handsome face, well-defined body, and strong hands. I could tell I was well taken care of.

"Come, I had the finest meat and wine prepared for you." He led me to the table where I sat comfortably atop the cushions, and I took the glass of wine he poured me.

"Everything is wonderful, thank you for the effort," I said after taking a sip of wine.

"Don't thank me, this is the least I can do for you," he caressed my hand across the table, spreading pleasurable sparks where his thumb touched.

I smiled, feeling my cheeks heat up. Was this really real? Was I really getting all this attention from this man? "It's an honor to be here with you, my king."

"Call me Maddox, we don't need to be reserved. Besides, I already said I want to get to know you better, I can't marry a woman I barely know," he frowned and I gave a pleasant laugh.

"Sure, I can tell you everything about myself, but I'm afraid you might find it boring."

"I'd find it boring if you tell me you left a boyfriend in the Blackthorn pack," he chuckled as he sliced the meat on his plate. My smile faltered, and he noticed. "So we really do have that matter pending..." He took a sip of his wine.

"It's not pending, believe me, it's already settled," I made sure to say.

"But it was strong, I mean, how strong was it?"

"On the level of mates and rejected mates," I said with a not-so-funny little laugh.

His hand held mine across the table, strong, steady, affectionate. "I can't even imagine how strong the pain must be of being rejected by your mate."

I gasped, smiling. "Neither can I, actually. I was the one who rejected him."

Maddox's eyes widened slightly. "Wow, that's something I didn't expect." A playful smile played on his lips.

Maddox being so surprised didn't surprise me; it was extremely rare for women to make the decision to reject their mates on their own. "After witnessing how you escaped Ranulf, I realized right away that you weren't an ordinary girl, not at all."

I laughed, slightly disconcerted by the compliment. "I kind of felt obligated to do it."

"I want to hear the gossip," he said jokingly, his chin resting on his palm.

I rolled my eyes at this silly way of his that I was beginning to realize I loved so much about him. "Let's just say you Alphas can be ruthless when you want to be," I began.

"Betas too. One of them almost stole my kingdom," he said, pointing. I laughed along with him. Yes, Ranulf had been audacious.

"Then let us say it's tough everywhere."

"I agree."

I sighed, fidgeting with my fork. "Finnick and I... We were mates since adolescence, we intended to perform the mating ritual as soon as we reached the right age. When I couldn't awaken the wolf at 16, everyone except father started to despise me, but he didn't distance himself from me, he said it didn't matter to him, his love went beyond that.

I thought I had found true love, but when my father died, I saw him planning to unite with my own sister. Because she was legitimate, then he would have more power..."

My throat tightened, it was too painful to remember that pain, to remember that I had trusted someone so much only to receive that stab in the back.

"And then you rejected him first. Checkmate!" Maddox concluded impetuously.

"Yes, something like that," I laughed, wiping the corner of my eye, trying to make my tears return. I was never going to cry for Finnick again.

Maddox was still caressing my hand. "I need to meet this Finnick and thank him for bringing me a rare gem like you on a silver platter." His velvety voice, his deep gaze... I felt my heart warm, beat faster.

"Ugh, you must be very much in love with me," I joked, going back to eating.

"Maybe so, you know. I think so..." he joked back, making me laugh.

"And what about you? A crazy ex who's going to show up out of nowhere ready to take my head off?"

"I don't know, what do you think? There aren't many women who are attracted to monsters," he joked, shrugging.

"Hey, don't say that. I'm attracted to one," I said.

"Because you're crazy like me," he teased, then we both burst out laughing.

I really didn't think King Maddox had this personality, that he could be such an approachable person. I didn't think I could have so much fun with him, not just as mates or as the king and his soother, but as friends too, creating a genuine connection.

I was beginning to realize that my life with him could be much more joyful than I imagined.