Unwanted Mate Of The Lycan Kings
Chapter 20

“I guess you now know my predicament as to why I can't wear dresses?” she nods her eyes wide asshe takes in the runes, covering my arms. Her lips tug up in the corners and she lets out a breath"On your chest?”

“Nobody knows, only the late Queen. Your secret is safe with me.”

"As yours is with me. Malachi said the Kings hate witches. Somehow, I think your dresses will get mekilled long before I can escape here.”

“You want to run? You'll do it?"

“Well, I am certainly not marrying one of them.” Her brows furrow and she slowly nods, her eyesdarting to Hunter at my feet.

“The King is going away soon...” she peers back at the closed door. “That will be your only chance, ifyou are taken to one of the three kingdoms...” she looks down at Hunter once more. “You won'treturn. They'll kill you the moment their father's back is turned. If you're going to run, do it then, Iwill try to help anyway I can.”

I brush Hunter's fur and nod my head before looking back at her. “Shouldn“t you be telling me notto run since you are the King's maid?” I question.

“I may be the King's maid, but that doesn’t mean I have forgotten what his sons did to my sister,and I certainly haven't forgetten what they did to my coven. None of them deserve the throne, andright now you are the only person standing in the way of them getting it. If one of them doesn'tmarry, the King will name someone else as his successor. He told me he has a backup plan butdidn't tell me who.”

“He can do that?”

"He can do what he wants, he's the King,” Shelley says and I chew my lip, pondering her words.

“I will replace you some clothes that will cover those. I heard the whispers of the staff in the stables,even overheard Malachi tell King, yet I thought he lost his marbles, the Kings sought out every witchand killed them.”

“The King knows what I am?”

"Yes, he ordered Malachi to tell everyone not to tell his sons. The King was secretly hoping youwould win. Apparently, you left quite the impression on him when he saw you. Though even hedidn't look like he believed Malachi's claims, so I hope he doesn't see those before you escape.”"Why would he hope I would win?”

“He said you were tougher than the others, that maybe you would survive his sons.”

“Survive them?” I scoff.

"King Regan wasn't lying when he said you'd be lucky to last a week, this isn't the first time theirfather has fiddled with their loves lives. The other girls barely lasted a week before they killedthemselves, or worse, they killed them,” Shelley tells me and a shudder runs through me.

That leaves little hope for me, yet enforces my need to escape. And I have the added bonus ofbeing covered in witch runes, which now puts flames at my feet and a stake at my back. Yep, life justkeeps looking more promising by the second.

“Does the King hate witches?”

“Yes, No. I'm not sure any more. He used to. They helped kill his mate and wife. However, thingshave changed for the King. He doesn't harbor the same hate anymore. But still, it is best that younot let him see those unless he questions you about them. His mind is quite fragile these days. Hecan be unpredictable at the best of times. I really must go.” She says and I nod watching as sheleaves.

I wonder if the maze trials were one of those unpredictable, fragile moments because everything Ihave endured and learned sounds insane. Thankfully, Shelley gave me a little insight, yet it left mewith more questions than it did answers.

Turning to the shower, I press the green light-up button, turn the shower on, and hold my handunder the water. It is barely tepid, yet still warmer than the river. Hunter moves to lie next to theshower screen door as I step in and grab the soap. All while hissing as the water stings the cuts andgrazes, covering my body.

Washing quickly with the lemon-smelling soap, I rush to hop out, only to remember my dilemmawith the lack of clothes. I grab the white fluffy robe hanging on the back of the door after dryingmyself and slip it on. When I am done, I move back to the main room, Hunter following me to thegigantic fireplace. He lies on the rug in front of it, and I sit next to him as we wait for Shelley toreturn.

However, we aren't waiting long when I hear a knock on the door, followed by Zeke's voice, whichmakes my stomach drop.

“I will take them in to her, Shelley; you can go.”

“The King said I was—" I hear Shelley answer

“I said you can go! You dare to question me. My father may tolerate you talking back to him, but I,for one, won't. You are dismissed.” Zeke snarls at her.

Glancing at Hunter, I get to my feet and Hunter instantly follows, too. The moment he steps into theroom, my entire body goes tense. His eyes peer around and Hunter growls at him, drawing hisattention to us standing by the fireplace.

“Settle boy, I am not here to hurt the wench,” he growls back at his wolf. In his hands is a white bag.He tosses onto the bed, before slowly moving toward me. My eyes go to the open door beforemoving back to him as I pull the robe covering me a little tighter.

“I want my wolf back and you're going to give him to me.” Zeke states sauntering over and fallingonto the armchair by the fire.

“And if I don't?”

“You don’t want the answer to that question, and I won't like having to kill Hunter, but I will if hegets in the way.”

"Give him back and all shall be forgotten, we can start out fresh.” he offers.

I move further away from him as he leans forward, clicking his fingers at his wolf. Hunter looks at meand Zeke growls, but I can see the slight twitch in Hunter's tail. He may fear his master's wrath, yet Ican see he does love him, his aura edged in pink and blue now that Zeke seems calmer.

I nod to Hunter, who quickly rushes over to his owner. He jumps onto his lap, making Zeke gruntbefore the huge wolf mauls him with his tongue and rubs his face against Zeke's chest.

"Oh, you've been a naughty boy, but I shall forgive you,” Zeke speaks to his wolf, grabbing fistfuls ofhis fur and rubbing his wolf's huge face. Yet remembering Shelley's words earlier, I know my safetydepends on having Hunter near. But before I tell Zeke he isn't getting him back I would much preferbeing clothed so I move back to the bathroom and lock the door.