The Lycan King's Defiant Surrogate
Defiant Surrogate 66

Chapter 66

The morning of the gala, Bethany is ready to make the final finishing touches to the dress. Outside, presumably, the various pack Alphas and their mates are beginning to arrive. The harem has been forbidden from stepping outside of their private wing, to maintain the

mystery of the harem's beauty until the gala.

"I think it's ready for you to try it on." Bethany says. "The last adjustments I can make after you wear it."

"Okay." I tell her. Slipping out of my robe, down to my underwear. I lift my arms and let her slide the dress over my head.

It fits like a glove, so very different than the tarp the tailor had insisted on me wearing. Bethany had tapered the waist, allowing the dress to showcase my curvy figure. My breasts might be as big as other girls, but with the way the dress dips low, showing barest curve of the inside of my cleavage, my smaller breasts still look tantalizing. The waist flares out highlighting my hips,

Bethany has also added a sash around the waist that ties into a rather large bow in the back. That's what she seems to work on now, stitching it more securely to the dress itself.

"You really are a marvel," I tell her. "You should have been the one in the wardrobe fitting everyone, not that sorry excuse

a tailor."

"In a different life, maybe," Bethany says.

1 glance at her, seeing the slight frown on her lips. "Why not now?"

for

"I'm a handmaiden, Harper. That's all I'll ever be, until the day I die." The way she says it is so reserved, so accepting. It breaks my heart a little. She could be so much more, she has the talent. Yet she knows she can't even hope for it, because of her station "Well, so long as you are my handmaiden, you will also be a tailor." I tell her. I want to say something else, to lift her spirits and help build her hopes. But how can I? The King controls everything here. I have no more power than Bethany does.

If I have anything to say about it though, someday, I will see to it that your dreams come true," I say.

Bethany's slight frown slips up into a happier almost-smile.

"Thank you, Harper. I know you can't promise it, but... that you want to, means a lot."

"We're friends," I say, which seems to surprise her.

When she recovers from the shock, though, her smile grows wider.

For a while, Bethany continues working in silence, and I stand stil, mindful of the needle so near my skin.

In the quiet, my mind wanders. I wonder when Samuel will arrive. Perhaps he already has. He could be under the same roof as me right at this moment, and I wouldn't know.

Still, the potential that he could be, and knowing that I will see him soon regardless fills me with anticipation so powerful, 1 feel like I might buzz right out of my skin.

"I'm sure King Caleb will look dashing tonight," Bethany says, shyly glancing at me.

My thoughts are so full of Samuel that it takes me a moment to realize what she said.

"I suppose," I reply. Truthfully, he always looks dashing, but thats not something I'm going to admit out loud.

"I'm sure he will be more handsome and more impressive than any other Alpha in the room," Bethany continues.

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Chapter 66

I can see it now, the sly look in her eye, like she knows that I'm really thinking about Samuel and she's trying to distract me from it.

"Bethany, you know very well the man I'm most looking forward to seeing tonight is not that vicious and ruthless King."

I haven't forgotten how he fucked me and forgot me the other night, leaving me used and covered in spend like a whore. Bitterness swells inside of me, helping push away my thoughts and desires from Caleb and keeping them on Samuel. "I still think it's a bad idea," Bethany says. "If the King catches you speaking with another man..."

"He's not another man. He's the man. The one I love."

"The one married to your sister."

It's a low blow and strikes me hard. Inside, I know she's right. Despite the promises he made to me in that attic, in the end. he still married Leah.

Even if I were to speak to him tonight, what would I even say?

He's as unobtainable to me as I likely am to him, as one of the King's consorts.

Still, the heart wants what it wants. I've loved Samuel so long. I don't know how not to love him

"It's for the best if you just leave him alone," Bethany says, and while I know she's right, it's easier said than done. Being in the same room as Samuel again... I'm certain I'll feel his pull.

I'll need to say a few words, at least, even if all they are is goodbye.

Later, when the dress is finished, and the harem is lining up in the hallway for our grand entrance, I hug Bethany goodbye. As my handmaiden, she won't be able to attend the formal event herself and will have to wait for news here or in her own I imagine she'll commiserate with the other servants and slaves, and likely know more about what goes on tonight as its happening than I do.

As we separate, she hands me my dagger. With the cap secure, I slide it down into my cleavage between my breasts. Bethany sewed in a discrete little pocket to snuggly hold the dagger.

It's a perfect fit

""Be careful," she tells me.

"I will," I reply, uncertain if it's a lie or not. Being around Samuel again might make me foolish. We'll have to see where the night goes.

Bethany doesn't seem reassured at all, but if I give more false promises, her concern will only amplify.

Instead, I turn and leave her, pushing out into the hallway.

The harem seems to have lined up in their imagined hierarchy, with Gwen at the back, and the newest girls at the front

Not wanting to rock any boats tonight, I head to the front of the line near the start of the hallway.

Tristan stands there, awaiting orders. He glances at me when I come nearer and frowns.

"What are you doing?" he asks. "You should be in the back. The King wants you to enter last."

"The hierarchy.." I start to say, but my heart really isn't in this argument to begin with so it dies quickly.

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Chapter 66

Caleb gives me a flat look. The back of the line, Harper."

I can't argue the line.

e with a direct order like that, not even from the King's Beta, so I turn on my feet and head towards the back of

Gwen is already there. When she sees me approach, she scoffs loudly. "What the hell are you doing back here! You should be at the front." "The King's orders," I say with a shrug.

Gwen narrows her gaze. Subtley, I see her reaching for something in her hip pocket.

I can guess what it is she's hiding there, a dagger.

So, at the same time, I reach for my own blade, hidden in my bodice. I start to lift it so that she can see the gems of the hilt..

"Are you sure you want to play this game?" I say.

Grumbling, she pulls her hand free from her pocket, without her dagger.

She's annoyed, but so am I.

At least we won't have to draw blood tonight.

Yer

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