Chapter 4

Ethan’S POV

I halted my movements the moment my eyes met hers. Strangely, her gaze was not on me but the female by my side. She knew. She didn’t need to be told, but I knew she was greatly affected by it. Her grayish hazel eyes had something that looked like pain and shock in them, making my heart clench. I hated it. I hated the effect she had on me, especially my wolf.

Clenching my fists, I allowed Sophia, my soon-to-be Luna, to touch my body, although I hated the feel of her skin against mine. But it was a necessary evil for my kingdom. Lycans were not easy creatures to control, and even the females were hard to manage.

Sophia was a royal female, strong, with a large wolf, athletic, and a plump shape that my people considered fertile. People said she was beautiful, but I never found her attractive. She was not my fated mate; I could never see anything beautiful about her, unlike how I saw Tara.

Tara was like her name; she stood out. She had a delicate kind of beauty, one that got heads turning in pity for her. I hated how she attracted the attention of all the lycan males when she entered a room, like a ray of sunshine even when she was clothed in rags. By the goddess’ bones. I was doing it again, fantasizing about the person I hate the most in the world.

She was just standing there, moping at us with her beady eyes, moist and I knew it wouldn’t be long before she burst out crying. I wanted that. I wanted her to suffer for being my mate.

“We don’t hate her,” the certainty in Janio’s growl was annoying. “We want and need her.” I ignored him; he was my wolf and the only part of my personality that liked Tara.

“Why are you just standing there? The king needs to eat, taste the food, and get out,” berated Sophia. Subconsciously I gave her a look that made her swallow hard, but then I looked away because that was my wolf trying to protest. Sophia had been coming to the castle for ages, so she knew Tara, but she also hated her. Her reasons? I didn’t know, but I knew she loved to show superiority over her.

Tara, in response, simply lowered her head, picking a saucer, she began to taste all the dishes. “I am so honored to be the chosen Luna and queen of our kingdom, thank you most supreme,” Sophia said out loud. I knew she wasn’t saying it to me because she had said it a thousand times already. She was saying to provoke Tara. Something tells me that she knows Tara was more important than I made her look.

On hearing Sophia, Tara stiffened up, she tightened her grip on the plate as she continued tasting the meals. She kept her head lower, but I caught a glimpse of the teardrop that fell into the food she was tasting. My wolf rumbled in my chest, causing it to ache, but as usual, I ignored him and looked away.

After a couple of minutes, Tara spoke, “the food is safe for eating, most supreme.” She bowed and picked up her cane, making her way out of the hall.

“Stop right there,” barked Sophia; her voice was so brittle it felt as though it scratched the inner walls of my ears, making me grind my jaws, but I didn’t stop her. Tara halted, knowing she was the one being addressed but she refused to turn to Sophia. “How dare you leave before the king permits you—?”

“Know your limits, Sophia, don’t you dare speak for me,” I warned Sophia through our mind link. She instantly lost her ability to speak as she lowered her gaze in shame. I intentionally mind linked her because I didn’t want the other lycans at the table to think I saw Tara as important.

They were my immediate subordinates like my beta, gamma, generals, among other important lycans. They were only three other females at the table, and those were the most powerful females in the whole kingdom, Sophia included. To all of them, Tara was just a worthless slave that I pitied. I didn’t want that to change.

When Sophia kept shut, Tara resumed walking, pretentiously waving her cane on the floor as a guide. To everyone, Tara was fully blind, but I was different. I was the one who caused her condition, so I should know. No matter what happens to a dragon’s eyes, it can still see people through their heat signatures, but for some reason, Tara decided to hide that secret.

Tara. Tara. Tara. Every fucking time.

That was all I thought about half the time she was present. I hated it. I lifted the chalice before me. “A toast to greatness and my soon-to-be Luna, who would make it easier to rule.”

The whole room roared In cheers; they congratulated Sophia more than they did me because it was more of an achievement for her than me. I was only marrying her out of obligation.

 Sophia could handle the affairs of females and pups in the kingdom among other miscellaneous obligations while I handled the administrative part and the protection of the kingdom. She had been prepared from birth for this position; she was betrothed to me, but I only recently accepted her.

She was all smiles, joy bubbling in her heart for marrying a king that wasn’t her mate. She irritated me because I knew she was just power-hungry and desperate, but she was needed. Before the end of the evening, we had the wedding rituals which Tara only appeared briefly for. I refused to give her my attention and concentrated on the ritual.

After it was all concluded, it was time to honor the wedding vows—by mating with Sophia. The thought of it made me shudder involuntarily. My fists clenched the arms of my throne; I never felt this way, at least not until Tara rejected me… As my mind struggled with grappling with my reality, the banquet hall erupted; shadows surged through the windows, guttural snarling echoing.