The Lycan King's Defiant Surrogate

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Caleb glowers at me so hard, so suddenly, that I immediately regret asking my question,

"The King's personal business is none of yours," he says sternly.

I nod, embarrassed again. Even curious as I am, and jealous as I am, I can't force him to answer if he doesn't want to. He's the King. He holds all the cards here. "But, no," he adds. "I am not engaged"

""You aren't?"

He glances at me. "You sound very happy about that fact, Harper Were you worried I was?"

"Of course not." I say and quickly look away.

I can feel him smirking again, so I ignore him entirely as we continue to circle the dance floor.

The song ends and a new, faster one begins. I think Caleb will let me go now and find a new partner. Perhaps, Sonya, who clearly made her wishes known for this next dance.

Instead, he continues to hold me and we continue to dance, albeit faster now, to keep time with the tempo.

"My advisors wish for me to marry. They believe the Moonlake heir would be a good match politically," Caleb says.

"I've heard other guests say much the same," I tell him.

"They like gossiping about me."

"Well, you are the King. As the most interesting man in the room, it's only natural that they'd want to talk about you."

Oh, he's definitely smirking now. I glance sideways and catch a glimpse.

"Most interesting man in the room, you say?" he teases.

"Don't let it go to your head," I reply. "Your ego is big enough already."

Caleb hums pleasantly, but then continues in a flat voice, "I will not settle for her or anyone else. I am searching for my perfect mate, and only she will satisfy me enough for me to marry

Ah, so that much of what Bethany said is true. Caleb only wants children with his true mate. By that account, of course she's the only person he would want to marry and make his Queen.

I wonder who she is. I almost hope she's some rambunctious country girl, his total opposite, who might show up and through a wrench into his entire life. It would be amusing to see Caleb thrown off his game a little.

Yet, at the same time, I also almost hope he never meets his match. He would likely leave me alone if he met her. I should want that, but to my heart, it sounds very lonely. By body especially has enjoyed Caleb's visits. "My mate will solve everything," he says somewhat distantly, almost as if he's talking to himself.

He's not though. I'm right here listening, so I don't let him escape into himself that easily. "Solve what, exactly?"RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

Caleb is a capable king, albeit a ruthless one. He has a hold over his kingdom that no one really seems to object too. Maybe he could be kinder, but with a war brewing in the north, the kingdom needs someone strong.

"I can admit that I am somewhat more short-tempered than I used to be. And I acknowledge that I can be.... paranoid."

Caleb says. "These shortcomings have been growing exponentially over time. Doctors believe I might be struck with the longing."

I've heard of this. It's rare, but sometimes if a werewolf senses his true mate and then loses her, or if it's been too long discovering her at all, he will slowly succumb to rage and paranoia until it drives him to complete madness. The symptoms are stronger in Alphas, who tend to already have more aggressive wolves.

Caleb has the biggest and most aggressive wolf I've ever seen. It's no wonder he is already combating the longing

I can understand then, Caleb's urge to find his true mate, as well as his urgency.

It still hurts to think about him with someone else, though. Especially someone who is so perfect for him that she can help heal him. No wonder he's already in love with this mystery woman.

I will never know love like that. In the King's harem, I will only ever be known as a number to the king. Whether I am favored in the harem or least favored makes little difference. In the end, the best we could ever hope to be is second to an unknown woman, Caleb's true mate.

My heart aches and I don't fully understand why.

"My King! There you are!" Sonya says, bouncing up to us. She's all smiles and energy. I'm tired just looking at her. "Are you ready for our dance?"

else. But It's unorthodox for anyone to approach the King for a dance, especially when he's already dancing with someo she is persistent and confident, I could give her that. The first quality might irritate Caleb but the second would intrigue

him.

"Very well," he says, though doesn't seem particularly happy about it. I can't tell if this is a personal move or a political one. With the Moonlake pack being so big and influential, he's unlikely to want to offend her, the heir,

So he releases me without a word and puts his arms around Sonya instead.

Instantly, I feel much colder.

His attention is entirely on Sonya now, as she chatters about anything and everything. They turn, moving away from me, leaving me behind.

Another couple nearly bumps into me.

"Get off the dance floor if you aren't dancing," says one of the pair, snidely.

He could have been nicer, but he's right. I am in the way. So quickly, I turn and weave my way through the dancing couples to slip past the edge of the crowd.

My plan is to head toward the drink table to retrieve some water. I'm only halfway there when Gwen and Leah step directly

my

path. I try to walk around them, but they keep stepping with me, allowing me to go no farther.

into

"What do you want?" I ask them.

"The King danced with you first," Gwen says, ice in her voice.

"That was his choice," I tell her.

"It's unheard of for a slut from the harem to have the first dance," Leah adds.

expect Gwen to be offended by her words, but she doesn't. They both continue to glare at me, a united from of bitchy aggression.

My heart hurts from being ditched on the dance floor, as well as from the conversation we had before. I'm also combatting 10:17 Fri, Nov 22

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nerves over the possibility of being pregnant. I know it's unlikely but until I have that negative result, worries continue to creep into my brain unbidden.

With those emotions, I hardly have time for petty little jealousies, like the ones Gwen and Leah feel for me. Leah shouldn't even be bothering me at all. She won Samuel. If she put more effort in, she could probably keep him.

I expect insults and slander, so I lift my chin and prepare myself for the onslaught, defiant. "There's nothing you can say that will hurt me." I tell them.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Leah says. Looking to my side she curls her finger and a new figure approaches us.

1 freeze at once, recognizing the shape of Caleb and the way he walks long before I look to confirm it's him.

"You are worse than a slut, Harper," Samuel growls. "You are as vile as they come."