Chapter 74: Chapter 74

Miatta

By the time I rejoined my group, they were done with our task and had returned to the room. Elena was royally pissed off.

“Where were you, Miatta? You skipped off the minute we began. I get that you are a princess but you are also a part of a group. You can't just run off simply because you hate doing the dishes. We are in this together. The next time you..”

“I was with the prince!” I suddenly blurted, my only defence. She went mute for seconds, apparently surprised. That foolish confidence I felt sometimes filled me and I stood tall, full of myself. The others who had heard me drew nearer to get the full tale. Any topic related to the royal lycanthrope was usually a treat to their ears.

“You were with the Lycan Prince? Whatever for?” She questioned, doubt evident in her tone. I couldn't tell her I had wandered as far as the Hall of Kings because it would mean that I had lied about wanting to use the bathroom. I reasoned that I could make up anything about my encounter with the prince and they would believe me. On the other hand, the Lycan Prince was not around to expose any of my lies so I was safe.

“He found me on my way back to the kitchen and asked to have a word with me.”

“What did you two talk about?” Zinnia asked, bursting with curiosity. Many had sat around me, including Elena, relishing in my tale. I sat against the wall and started my false accounts. At every turn of the story, some held their breaths, absorbing my words like they were life-giving. I concluded by saying that he had found me interesting and wanted to speak to me again sometime. Zinnia clapped madly, enchanted by my lying tongue and beamed with happiness. One would think it was she to whom the prince had spoken. I was pulled in all directions, questions flying in the air. I feigned tedium to escape their curiosity and reluctantly, they let me be, returning to their various groups.

My eyes clashed with Addy's, where she sat among her adoring group members. Her golden hair was in braids, the tips spilling on the floor. Her smile fell off her face and she stared back with no emotions on her face. I remembered that she had asked to see me later after my morning chores. However, I was tired of running to her; this time, if she wanted to see me, she had to come to me herself. I sat back, waiting for Elena to return with our group's share of the meal. My heat had subsided a bit without no one nearby to stimulate it but it would last for at most two weeks before I returned to normal. My thighs tingled when I touched them and my nipples were swollen that anyone could see the hard tips through my light dress.

Elena carried a bowl with her on her arrival and hard yellow crusts clung to the edges: cornmeal again. My mute wolf rolled her eyes in disgust and laid low. She placed the bowl in our midst and at once, everyone dug in. Ryan sat next to me, eating slowly and watching me peripherally. Sometimes, she would glance at the entrance apprehensively and I was getting worried.

“If you have something to say, Ryan, then say it. I don't really like people staring at me.”

She lowered her eyes at once, eating silently. A tear dropped from her eyes and that was when I knew that something was wrong.

“Ryan, talk to me. What's the matter?”

She shook her head sideways like a lunatic, muttering incoherent words. I touched her shoulder and she jumped in fear, adjusting slightly. “I'm sorry, Miatta. I'm so sorry,” she kept on saying, rocking back and forth, her arms around her knees. I didn't understand what she meant by that until I heard footsteps at the entrance. I looked up and saw two soldiers standing on both sides of Yvette. She was smiling maliciously and then, it dawned on me: Ryan had ratted me out. She had told Yvette that I had taken off my collar.

Lucas

My father’s words were threatening and I knew he was not one to bluff. He never joked with his throne and if he had the slightest doubt in me, he would deny me the throne without question. But forcing me to find a mate? Even that was beyond me. It all depended on the Moon Goddess and I had no say in the matter.

“Father, I haven't found my mate, not for lack of trying. Believe me, I have searched far and wide amongst our people. I have attended every moon festival ever since I was born and yet, I have come up with nothing.”

“You will find a mate, Lucas, or you will never sit on this throne! I do not care what you have to do!” He roared, his eyes blazing with fury. He was halfway out of his seat and his countenance was murderous. I remained seated, reminding myself not to lose my temper. I could take him but even if I won, I would be executed publicly for challenging my father, their Alpha and King in combat. A knock interrupted the words I was forming in my head. He gave the guards leave to see who was at the door and they ushered Beta Logan in solemnly. The sly commander bowed before my father, dropping a knee to the ground in obeisance.

“Logan, what is it?” Father asked without preamble. Logan looked behind him and two guards came in with Miatta in between them. My breath hitched briefly and I closed my eyes to settle myself. Her scent enveloped the premises and I was not the only one who had noticed the state she was in. Father breathed in deeply, acknowledging her presence in guise and the guards squirmed. She stood meekly in their midst, silent for once and so unlike her. What had they done to her? Yvette came in too and the smile on her face stretched from ear to ear. I wanted to ask what the matter was too but since my father was silent, I didn't say a word. I managed to relax, never taking my eyes off Miatta.

“Logan! Start talking. I am not in the mood for this sort of nonsense!” Father barked, barely sparing the slaves a second glance. Logan stepped forward, bowed again and stood before his Alpha. His dark hair was his greatest pride and he tied it back away from his face, allowing the locks to fall at his back. A jagged scar above his eyes was revealed as a result, marring his roguish handsome face.

“My King, I sought the prince in his room but I was told he was in your company. That is why I have come here instead. The slave he saved broke a rule and Prefect Yvette told Desdemona who confided in me. Miatta was given a collar as punishment for attacking a fellow slave in wolf form. That was one rule she broke but today, she broke another. She took off her collar.”

“That's impossible!” Father interrupted. “Only Lucas has the keys to the collar.”

At that, Miatta raised her head to meet my eyes. I was in a corner and I had to make a choice.