The Lycan King's Defiant Surrogate

Caleb can say whatever bossy things he wants to, but the chances of me letting him face a potential enemy alone are exactly zero. So while he turns to confront the intruder head on through the front door, I slip around out the back door in the kitchen and sneakily make

my way around the side of the house

The car comes to a stop beside the house, and a middle-aged man in an ill-fitting suit steps out of it. He seems unassuming at first glance, but I've learned you can't really trust appearances The many betrayals at the palace hardened me. Anyone could be pretending, just as the king's guard pretended.

It is impossible to know the true motives of a person, under the surface.

The man grabs a brief-case off the backseat, and, after taking a moment to adjust his tie, starts to walk toward the house.

When he reaches the base of the stairs onto the porch, the front door bursts open, and Caleb lunges from inside the house. Caleb tackles the startled man, shoving him down onto his back in the dirt.

The man's briefcase springs open, and catalogues and order forms spill out. Some flutter by me in the wind. Catching one, I look closer at it. It seems genuine. This guy might actually be a door to door appliance salesman.

A nearby form is labeled with this man's name and contact information. Mr. Aloysius Harvey from a town I recognize as being near the capital. I grab a few more forms as they fly by. Each is labeled exactly the same. "Who are you?" Caleb shouts, right in Mr. Harvey's face.

Mr. Harvey trembles beneath Caleb. He raises

his arm in defense.

"Caleb!" I say, rushing forward.

Caleb's attention shifts to me, annoyance

in his

eyes.

"You are supposed

to be inside," he growls.

"This guy is just an appliance salesman," I tell him quickly.

Confusion crosses over Caleb's face. Hurrying closer, I show him the forms I grabbed.

He takes them as he stands, pushing away from the frightened Mr. Harvey at his feet. He looks closer at the forms, then at Mr. Harvey.

"You are an appliance salesman," Caleb says.

From the ground, Mr. Harvey adjusts his tie. "Can I interest you in a new refrigerator?" He's clearly rattled as he sits up. He grabs his fedora from nearby and puts it back on his head, though it's at an angle now. He laughs good-naturedly. "Some people are happier to see me than others, but I've never had a welcome quite like this before."

As Mr. Harvey struggles to stand, Caleb reaches down, grabs him by the elbow, and yanks him back up to his feet with ease. "I thought I was protecting..." Caleb glances at me. "The property"

"Don't think twice about it. It's all right!" Smiling at me, he says, "With a beauty like that inside, who could blame you? You

back to Caleb. have my thanks miss, for setting the record straight in my favor. Before I can answer, his attention "Newlyweds?"

goes

Heat rushes to my face. "We're not..."

"Yes," Caleb says before I can explain.

Mr. Harvey nods. "I was much like you when I first married Mrs. Harvey. Hard to restrain those protective instincts, right? Especially out here in the countryside. People in the capital look down on us folks out here, you know. I've recently come

from there, mess of a place. Bet they wished they lived out here now."

The corner of Caleb's mouth twitched downward, ever so slight

I rush in before any more can be said on either side. "You've come from the capital?" I asked. "What news have you heard from there?"

"To ask that, I'm assuming you heard some of the news?" Mr. Harvey asks.

"We heard there was some kind of attack," I say.

Mr. Harvey nods. "Then you likely haven't heard the worst of it. The bear clan attacked from the north, leaving the whole place on lockdown. I wasn't even allowed inside this time, that's how bad it is. I talked to some of the other folks stuck outside. They say the king was killed in the attack."

Caleb stiffens.

"Terrible stuff," Mr. Harvey continues without prompting. "The King's Beta is missing too. The Gamma, George has stepped up as Steward in their absence, but -"

A low growl permeates the air. Mr. Harvey and I both look at Caleb. He wears his anger openly on his face. When he notices us both looking at him, he huffs and turns away. He storms off, walking across the meadow.

When he's out of earshot, Mr. Harvey faces me again. "Your new husband is very in touch with his... wolf side."

Not wanting to give anything away, I nod. "He has strong opinions about politics."

Mr. Harvey nods. "Well, stand by him, dear. Guys like that tend to be a handful, but he'll be the most loyal, faithful partner you've ever had."

If only he knew, Caleb would never be faithful to me. He has an entire harem waiting for him back at the capital. Why would he choose one woman when he could have his daily pick from over a hundred of them?

Even so, Mr. Harvey's kind remarks do warm me somewhat. It's nice to talk to someone who could see me as Caleb's partner, and not as his slave.

"I've been terribly rude, I don't think I've introduced myself." Taking off his hat, he bows low. "Mr. Aloysius Harvey, your friendly appliance salesman." Straightening, he places his hat back on his head. "I don't suppose I could talk to you about that refrigerator?" I lightly shake my head. "I'm sorry, Mr. Harvey, but we don't even have electricity here."

That surprises him. "Golly. Although I'm not surprised. Many of the old farmhouses go way back. I usually avoid them entirely, but I saw the smoke from your chimney and thought I'd take a chance. Usually I do well enough in the capital that I don't need to bother, but... well..."

"You weren't able to go to the capital this trip," I fill in for him.

"Locked up tight, ma'am."

"I wish I could buy something from you.... but without electricity."

"You are kind," Mr. Harvey says. "Without electricity, the only thing I could even offer you is this..."

He reaches into his inside coat pocket and retrieves a simple statue of a howling wolf. It's three inches tall, in shining stainless steel, likely the same as his appliances.

and

your husband Laughing slightly, he says, "We give these as a free gift to all those who purchase from us.... It's just a little figure." Looking at it and then to me, he says, "Why don't you take it, miss? Something to remember me by. Then, when you

Wed, Nov

finally get electricity in this place, you know just who to call."

1 accept the figure and an order form or too.

"Just fill it out and put it in the mail when you are ready," he says

With that, he heads back towards his car. "Give my regards to your husband. And remember, those wolfy reflexes are natural. It's good he can be that natural around you."

As Mr. Harvey drives away, I look closer at the little figure and smile. In a way, it reminds me of Caleb.

Searching for him now, he's walking back from across the meadow. I'm hopeful that maybe the walk has helped calm him,

but when I see his hands curled into fists, I know I'm in for another argument.

When he reaches me, he says, voice cold, "I'm going back."

"To the capital? When?"

The next word comes out as a growl, "Now."NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.