The Lycan King's Defiant Surrogate
Defiant Surrogate 64

Chapter 64 0971%0

The next day, the best tailors in the kingdom are brought in to help design new dresses for the entirety of the harem. With the Alpha of every pack arriving soon, the advisors thought it best that the harem wow and stun even more so than usual. A beautiful, dazzling harem means a strong King and a healthy kingdom, apparently.

Another reasoned that it wouldn't hurt for the pack Alphas to see that the women they have sent as tribute are being well-cared for.

For these reasons, the consorts, including me, are brought into the massive wardrobe room one at a time to be measured and fined for their new gowTIS

With 111y door open. I can spy the order of the consorts as they are brought in. Gwen goes first, and then a few others that are part of that imagined hierarchy of theirs. If they hold to that, which it seems like they might, then I would be going last. Curiously, before it even gets to me, several women enter the wardrobe chamber who I have never seen before.

"Many of the consorts prefer to keep to themselves," Bethany explains. She stands beside me in the doorway, watching alongside me. "They don't even emerge for special occasions, unless specifically requested. The King allows this." "Why?" I ask. "I thought he liked showing off his harem?"

"These ones were never selected out of desire. Bethany says, then trails off.

I look at her, lifting a brow. From what I've seen, all of the women here are beautiful. They had to be, or they never would have been chosen as tribute in the first place.

Bethany hesitates. "Pretend you don't know. This knowledge brings shame upon these women,"

These women have done nothing to me. I've never even seen them before.

"Some of these women beg the King for asylum. Either their families are abusive, or maybe they have no homes. A few were even starving when they came here, their ribs showing through their skin. The King can be ruthless, but he can also be kind." I replace it difficult to believe Caleb can be kind about anything. "Likely he only cared about the number in his harem. The number, I'm seeing now, is nearly 100.

I don't care that the number of consorts is so high. No, I don't care at all.

The churning in my gut is entirely unrelated. Perhaps there was something wrong with breakfast, though Bethany appears

fine.

"The King accepted them, but leaves them to themselves. They lead good lives here, fed well and mostly left alone. They are only called upon for big events like these, where every harem member needs to be present." "A power play." I grumble.

"He is our king" Bethany says. "Everything he does has to show his power, or he risks losing it."

I glance at her again. What a curious thing to say. Does she know more about possible rising dissent in the country, or is she just speaking hypothetically?

It's best not to ask, at least for now. Caleb has shown me a lot of leniency lately, but inciting treason would probably be a bridge too far this time. Plus, I don't want to get Bethany in trouble.

When it is finally my turn, a slave comes to collect me. Then, Bethany and I make our way up the hallway to the wardrobe chamber.

1/3

11:50 Thu, Nov 21

Chapter 64

By now, it's fairly late in the play, with the sun setting outside to the west. The tailor looks absolutely exhausted, slumped

down on acha"

"There's more?" he gasps with distain when he sees me.

"This is the last, the slave informs him.........

He shakes his head. "The King and his virility. I don't know how he can stand so many women under his roof. I only have one wife and she makes me crazy"

I decide not to intrude myself on the private matters of the clearly overworked man, though the comments do annoy me.

The tailor forces himself to his feet, and then waves me forward to the center of

the room where a small circular platform rises about 10 inches off the ground. He gestures for me to step onto it. When I do, he circles me, inspecting me from every angle, head to toe. Bethany stays near the door, watchful but silent.

The tailor clucks his tongue in disapproval. "Well, no wonder you are last. You are the plainest of the bunch, aren't you? Entirely average."

"I beg your pardon?" I say, a touch of anger sliding into my voice

"The King has his choice of all the women in the kingdom, and he picks one with average everything. He measures, then clucks his tongue with each measurement. "Average waist. You could be skinnier. Average bust size. Your hips are too wide. Some men like that, I suppose, but I thought our King had finer tastes."

I'm wondering now how his wife puts up with this man at all.

"Get that hefty dress that I brought, the tailor barks at one of the slaves. The most we can do is hide some of this ugliness."

I glance across the room and make eye contact with Bethany. She was glaring at the tailor but looks at me now. A look passes between us, where I can tell we are in agreement. This man is a real asshole.

One of the slaves brings out a large bulk of crimson fabric from one of the closets.

"Help me with this," the tailor snaps. I dip down so he and the tailor can lift it over my head. It drops unceremoniously down without any resistance.

The dress is at least three sizes too big. It doesn't cling to my body at all, instead hiding my figure within its shapeless bulk.

The tailor steps back and shakes his head. "It's really the best I can do. Putting a beautiful dress on a barn animal won't change the fact that a pig is a pig."

"I'm sorry?" I say, at my wit's end. I've tried to be patient, understanding that I'm the last person in a long line of people. The tailor is tired. I get it. But that's no excuse to be this outright insulting and rude. "I know you did not call me a pig

The tailor glares at me. "Watch your tone with me, slave, or you will replace I can make you even uglier than you already are."

I glare right back. "I'm not your slave. I am a consort of the King, and part of his harem. You will treat me with a modicum of respect

"Or what?" the tailor laughs. "You think you have any real power All you are is the King's personal whore."

I curl my hand into a fist. It's been a long time since I've been this insulted. Before, with Leah, I would bottle this outrage up. keep it to myself. Right now, I want to punch this man right in the face

"I'm not a whore," I say, each word biting. Yet just as I'm about to throw a punch, Bethany rushes in. She grabs my arm and

slops me.

2/3

11:50 Thu, Nov 21

Chapter 61

I'm mad at her. This guy is the biggest asshole in the universe and deserves to be taken down a peg.

"My King" the tailor says suddenly, his entire demeanor changing. He bows.

Turning toward the door, I see Caleb and Tristan standing there

to the tailor. "Deal with this trash."

Caleb waves ti

Tristan immediately steps forward.

71%-

The tailor smirks at me for a moment, likely thinking Caleb meant me. But that smugness disappears when Tristan grabs him by the arm. Now, he shrieks.

"You can't mean me, sire! I'm the most decorated tailor in the kingdom."

"The most foolish," Tristan snaps, "To insult any of the King's harem." ""Bur

"the tailor is abruptly cut off as Tristan drags him through the door.

Caleb remains for just a moment, looking at m

Chapter 64

00971%0