The Lycan King's Defiant Surrogate
Defiant Surrogate 68

Chapter 68

My irritation at my sister forces words from my throat that would have otherwise stayed lodged there, mostly from my shock at seeing Samuel again.

"I wasn't chosen for the King's harem by some pitying fool, but by the King himself," I say.

Leah's good humor immediately sours and she glares at me. "You are lying."

"I'm not." I assure her. "You can ask anyone." I wave my arm around. "And the reason I was introduced last is because I am one of the King's favored."

Normally, I wouldn't flaunt that I'm not even entirely sure if it's true anymore. The King has been cold and distant to me lately. Despite Bethany's words and reassurances that I am still the King's favored, I have my doubts.

But Leah doesn't need to know about those doubts.

She glares at me with open jealousy. Soon, though she cools that envy enough to smirk at me.

"Well, perhaps the one I should be pitying is you, then, slave. After all, rumors tell that the King is old and ugly. Undoubtedly your skin crawls every time he touches you," she says.

She's grasping at straws now, and it makes me laugh.

"If that's what you want to believe, I won't stop you. But make sure I'm standing next to you when you finally see him, I say. "You have no idea how wrong you are."

"Harper," Samuel says sharply. In more surprise than anything else. I snap my mouth closed. I hadn't been expecting him to say anything. Usually he sits back and lets Leah get away with whatever he wants. Right now, however, he's glaring at me like I'm in the wrong. "Be careful how you speak to my wife," Samuel says. "She is the Riverwood pack's Luna. You are a harem consort."

Leah smiles wide. "Know your place," she spits at me.

"Your attention, please!" shouts the announcer.

When everyone quiets and turns to face him, he continues, "Show your respects to the master of our kingdom, the fierce King Caleb.

Caleb steps through the door, with Tristan two steps behind him.

Caleb looks handsome in black slacks and a black tunic. The kingdom's insignia is stitched tastefully over the chest in parkling gold thread. Gold is weaved through most of the seams of the outfit. He's also wearing a golden crown with merald and diamond inlays. It sparkles under the bright lights.

He looks over the room with a slight frown and a near glare.

Beside me. Leah gasps. I turn to see her face. Yes, she's surprised and that envy she's had of me seems to have returned enfold

That must be the King's son," she grumbles, somehow gaslighting herself.

That's King Caleb," I tell her.

When Caleb's eyes fall on me, and the people I am with, his frown deepens. Turning he whispers something to Tristan.

While Caleb starts heading toward his throne, Tristan weaves his way through the crowd to me.

Thu, Nov 21

Chapter 68

"He commands you meet him at his throne, Tristan says to me

I glance at Samuel, but he's now looking at the floor.

"Now, Harper, Tristan snaps,

Nodding, 1 turn and leave without a word.

5711

Behind me. I hear Leah say to Tristan, "She's such a miserable slave, isn't she? Never follows orders. Never has learned her place."

"That's not your concern, madam." Tristan replies flatly, cutting off any commiseration that Leah had been trying to form with Tristan.

I don't stay around to hear anymore, hurrying my pace to the stage where I meet Caleb. He doesn't say a word to me, just wraps an arm possessively around my waist and hoists me onto the stage with him. Then he sits on the throne and drags me down to sit on his lap "King Caleb.." I whisper, embarrassment rising within me, making me blush.

One of his hands stays firmly on my hip.

"Be good, or I'll show your former lover how much you like my dick," Caleb growls, his voice low but quiet, for only me to hear.

I snap my mouth closed, remembering when Caleb had pulled me into that separate room and made me scream so loud with pleasure that everyone in the Hall could hear him. I do not want a repeat performance of that scenario, especially with Samuel in the room. He would be forced to listen.

One by one. Tristan and the King's attendants bring forward the pack Alphas and their mates to more formally present them to the King and vice versa..

Many of the Alphas look at me with distrust, and I wonder if my presence here is causing more harm than good to Caleb.

Yes, the harem helps him seem strong, but if he focuses so much on just one member of it, especially during such an important event as this, isn't he showing that he is also frivolous with his time!

The Alphas mostly focus on pack business. They expect their King to give the same focus to Kingdom business.

They have no idea what Caleb's life looks like from day to day, how much he sacrifices and gives for this country. How the exertion and stress of it has weighed so heavily on his mind, making him short-tempered and paranoid.

It annoys me seeing these Alphas disrespect the King. Especially because Caleb doesn't seem to care at all.

Each Alpha that's introduced he merely formally greets and then waves away.

"If I may, King Caleb," I begin, in a lull between two Alpha introductions. I know I'm overstepping, but l'ur trying to do so carefully so that I don't garner Caleb's wrath. "These Alphas expect more attention and respect than you are showing them..."

"Then they are fools," Caleb grumbles. "That I have deigned the presence important at all should be enough to placate

them."

I suppose that's true, I think back, and to my knowledge, the Alphas have never been called like this to the capital before. Being here should be a great honor, yet they look to Caleb like he hasn't done enough

Caleb is right. The ones that are actually showing disrespect are the Alphas themselves.

"Presenting Alpha Samuel and his Luna Leah, from the Riverwood pack," one of the attendants says.

THU, NOV 21

Chapter 68

1 immediately freeze Calela, who could feel it from me being on his lap, reaches around me and places a hand on the top of my thigh. Eyes locked on Samuel, he starts to rub gently back and forth, curling his fingers around to my inner thigh I suck in a sharp breath.

"King Caleb," Samuel says and bows. Belatedly, Leah does the same from beside him.

"Alphia Samuel and Luna Leah, welcome to the capital, Caleb says, directing them as he has every one that's come before Yet before Samuel and Leah can be ushered away, Caleb speaks up once more, stopping them. "Riverwood. Isn't that the pack where you are from, Harper?" -

He knows very well that it is, so I don't reply.

"Do you know Harper?" Caleb asks Samuel and Leah,

Samuel's face turns a bit read as he lowers his gaze to the ground

Leah has no such embarrassment. "She was a slave in my house

That's an odd way of saying sister. It stings more than it should. After everything Leah has done to me, her denying a familial bond with me shouldn't be shocking.

Still to have my history erased like that... it hurts.

"And you, Samuel?" Caleb asks.

Lifting a hand, Caleb traces the edge of my bodice, letting his fingers drift lightly over the swell of my breast.

"If you won't answer that simple question, then I'll give you one that has a yes or no answer," Caleb says. His voice has a sudden sharp edge to it. "Have you known the pleasures of Harper's body? Or are you left handling yourself, wishing you had?" SEND GIFT