05

SANDY:

The Lycan King stared at me as if I were something he was studying. The way he gazed at me felt like I was nothing but an insect.

What was surprising about it? Lycans thought they were superior against werewolves and to think that he chose me as his future bride completely confused me. 

"What, Your Highness? Are you disappointed at the woman I have become? Did you think I could be fit to be your trophy wife?" I asked, not batting an eye. 

Probably he was disappointed. I was aware that I was not beautiful, the very reason why Alpha Oswald still cheated on me. He was dissatisfied with our relationship. 

He leaned in and whispered, "I could smell the scent of a man from you," he growled. "Why is that, woman?"

My hands paled, careful of the next words that would come out from my mouth. One single mistake could potentially annihilate my family. 

This man was known for killing his relatives and anyone who dared to mess with him. In cold blood. 

He was nothing but a wild king. The beast king as they say. 

"Your silence makes everything clear to me," he said, his voice flat. "You're a disappointment. The future queen should not bedd anyone except the Lycan King. But you."

How could I tell him that I fell in love with my mate and then shit happened? Maybe my karma for not listening to my parents. Even if they were like that, the society expected the kids to follow them and respect them even if they were wrong. 

"I did not."

A low growl escaped his lips. "Someone who dared to lie with the Lycan King with a straight face ought to be punished."

A shiver ran down my spine.

That's what you get for lying. 

"You reek of a man's scent. Who is he? Is it your lover?"

My heart thumped wildly against my ribcage. He was sniffing Alpha Oswald's scent on me. How could he do that when I made sure to rub some potions that would make the other scents vanish, disappear? 

Rumors that he was sharp were true, after all.

"It is another man's scent." Before he could react, I continued, "From the warrior who assisted us before coming here. Is it a  fault right now?" I asked, trying to play it cool. "If it's forbidden to get near any man, you should have welcomed me in the first place."

Could he hear the fast beating of my heart?

They said he was one cruel man. And he will never tolerate anyone disrespecting him.

Including me.

The Lycan King's eyes narrowed. "The scent is familiar."

He might had already met Alpha Oswald once  there was always a meeting every month with all the alpha's. Some of them brought their mates. I even represented myself to be his partner, but he said it was not something I should be joining, adding that I will only get bored.

For all I knew, what if he already brought that bitch in this place?

The Lycan  King kept on peering at me. 

"You don't believe me, Your Highness?" I asked, praying that my voice would not betray me. "If you don't then..."

"You're forbidden to have any relationship with a man from now on," he announced, cutting off my words. 

He did not believe me that it was from the soldier. 

"What if I had a relationship before you?" I asked, testing him. 

His gaze was like a sharp knife cutting off my bravery. The way he looked at you will make you feel as if you did something unforgivable.

"That's not part of my concern," he answered and turned away. "My focus is the present." But he would be mad if he found out I had already given myself to Alpha Oswald. "Follow me," he said.

And I did, without having any idea where we would be going now.

The Lycan King's back was broad, as if I could always depend on him. Except that probably might not happen at all. 

Rumors had it that he had married countless women, and all of them were either missing or dead.  With no evidence to back up that claim, it would continue to be nothing but rumors. Baseless rumors meant to ruin his name.

Everyone was waiting for the beast king's downfall. Everyone. 

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"To your room, of course," he answered without glancing over his shoulder.

Why? Did he think I was not worth his time? "You mean to say to our room," I said.  "We will be sharing our room, right?"

He halted and turned to me.  "You're not afraid of me? I thought you would accept the moment your parents left you."

Was planning to do one. This place scared the hell out of me. 

You're one fucking scary Lycan! The other part of my mind screamed. However, I had to pretend that I did not. Who knows what this man was capable of doing? What if he abused women just like what the rumors had said?

"Being afraid is not the right word, Your Highness," I said, meeting his eye. Which should not be the kiss. Anyone under him should be looking away and not stare him in the eyes. However, my heart was full of hatred right now, and I did not care about the consequences of my actions.

I stepped forward and lifted my gaze, gazing into his eyes.

"Do you know what I feel right now? Anger towards you, Your Highness," I spat. “You are robbing me of my freedom. No. You robbed me of my freedom even before I was a child.”

I was constantly slapped and kicked for doing something which was against my parent's wishes. They wanted me to preserve me for the Lycan King. Their long time dream was to sit beside the Lycan King and be treated as royalties, too. 

He raised an eyebrow and stared down at me as if I were some kind of pest in his eyes.

"Oh, you are mad. Why could it be?"

A muscle in my jaw ticked at his dismissive tone. 

"You do not know? Who in their right mind would tell the mother of the parents' baby that she wants him to be his wife?"

He leaned in, and I had to lean back, our faces merely inches away. 

There was no way that my heart was beating so loud. 

I could smell his lovely scent that almost drove my mind away.

Damn him! How could he smell this good?

I thought Lycans were stinky beasts who did not even know how to take a bath? Why did this man look so good at seeing him awaken the insecurities hiding in my body? He was a man, yet it looked like he was doing his ritual skin care. Unlike me who had already stopped taking care of myself when I met Alpha Oswald?

"Do you want to know the truth, woman?" he asked.

"Tell me," I demanded.

"The thing is, it was only a joke on my part when I told your parents to make you my wife when you reached legal age. However, your greedy parents who wanted to sell you off insisted that I should take you as mine. Now, tell me. Who do you think would you hate right now? Your parents or me?" he taunted.