9. Queen's Gifts

A few hours seemed like a long time. The time for the wedding had finally come. Logan looked at himself in the mirror. An amazing red cape adorned his body and made him seem like a king. Still, his face showed no happiness at all.

'Smile, you should at least show that we can face anything,' Zeger said encouragingly.

'I'm more interested in burning this outfit,' Logan replied, turning away from the mirror and walking out of the dressing room to the room where the servants were waiting for him.

'We can't do anything. The wise man said if we can't change things, we can enjoy them,' Zeger said, trying to cheer Logan up.

'It's not you that everyone shames, it's not you that's naked in public. Easy for you to say,' Logan complained.

'Hey, you forgot, I never wear clothes. You'll get used to it, take it easy.'

Logan sighed at Zeger's words, which didn't make him feel better, only worse.

'I wish I was a full wolf right now. Damn!' Logan cursed.

Zeger remained silent, knowing that Logan would curse him if he spoke again. It was a good thing he was in a safe place out of Logan's reach, otherwise he might have been exterminated long ago.

"Are you ready, Master Logan?" A male servant approached Logan respectfully. He walked slowly and carefully, knowing that Logan was an Alpha who hated Myrene. The news that spread around the palace about the man was not pleasant and he certainly did not want to become a victim of Logan's hatred.

"What else do I have to wear?" asked Logan curtly.

The young servant smiled cautiously and looked down. "If you're ready, you can sit down for a moment while I make you some tea, master."

Logan frowned. He was already getting ready for the party and wanted it to be over soon. Why should he have tea? He didn't need a drink right now.

"I'd like to leave right now," Logan said impatiently.

The waitress explained patiently. "Soon the other masters will come to congratulate you before the ceremony begins. And Her Majesty, the Queen, will present you with some gifts."

Logan snorted rudely. That was a lot of events.

"Whatever it is, hurry up. I'm really tired," Logan retorted, walking over to the couch and sitting there lazily. He just hoped that this series of unimportant events would end soon.

The other masters? That meant Myrene's men. Logan was a bit curious about them. Because he had heard that they were Alphas. How could they survive under the rule of this evil woman?

The maid came in with a tray of cookies and tea. "This is Her Majesty's request for giving you cookies, since it looks like you haven't eaten anything today."

Logan just sighed lazily. But he was getting hungry. It was just that he liked cake too much.

The servant stood aside and watched Logan carefully eat his food. He secretly smiled at the reluctant but resigned look on the man's face.

When Logan had finished all the cookies on the table, Hunter opened the door. Logan cleared his throat and greeted Myrene's bodyguard. He started to get up, but Hunter gestured respectfully for him to remain seated.

"Please sit down, master. I come bearing gifts from Her Majesty the Queen." Hunter then motioned for the servants behind him to enter.

Logan watched as a line of servants entered the room carrying many ornate, gold-engraved wooden boxes of various sizes. They lined up neatly behind Hunter. One by one they stepped forward and opened the boxes at Hunter's command.

The first box contained gold ingots. Logan wasn't interested. What was the gold for? He didn't say anything. Not even a thank you, because he didn't want anything.

The boxes were neatly arranged on the table. Clothes, robes, silver coins, swords and badges for the palace horse. When he saw the badge for the horse, Logan laughed. He could outrun a horse. What was a horse for? Was it a joke? But when he saw Hunter's expression, Logan realized that it wasn't a joke.

Seriously?

"A last and special gift from Queen Myrene," Hunter said and asked another servant to enter the room. In his hand was a beautiful white cat.

Logan frowned again. What was that again? A cat?

The long-furred white cat looked very cute. His eyes were bright blue. Around his neck was a collar with his name written on it.

Lyon.

Logan looked at the collar and grinned in amusement.

"What's this cat for? Are you serious?" Logan scoffed.

Hunter took the cat out of the servant's hand and held it. "Master, you must not insult the queen's gift. This cat is Queen Myrene's favorite. She gave it to you as a token of her love."

Logan wasn't interested at all, even though Hunter said it was a token of Myrene's love. The woman didn't understand love, so why give a token of love? Besides a cat? He didn't need such an annoying creature.

"I can read your mind. Don't talk nonsense about me," the cat said, surprising Logan.

"You can talk?" Logan asked incredulously. Or was he the one who could understand cat language? Ah, no way.

"I'm not just any cat. I'm a special cat. I speak human," the cat replied arrogantly. His eyes looked even more disinterested than Logan's.

Zeger snarled inside Logan's body. His wild mind raged to tear the cat apart. Logan tried not to lose control or Zeger would make trouble.

'If you come out now, you'll have to replace me at the wedding,' Logan threatened.

Zeger snarled in annoyance. But really, he realized he shouldn't be making trouble right now. It was just that the cute cat irritated him.

"Your wolf is really cute. I like him," said Lyon, the cat. His words annoyed Zeger even more.

Logan snorted. This cat was like Myrene, really annoying.

"Can you give him back? I don't need him," Logan said.

Logan's words made Lyon's eyes widen. Because no one had ever refused him before. Everyone wanted him. And Logan was saying that he didn't need him. How could he...

"You are truly ungrateful! How can you look down on a majestic cat like me?" Lyon snapped so elegantly.

"A majestic cat? You're like a jungle cat, what's so great about that?" Logan retorted. Zeger nodded in agreement.

Lyon was even more annoyed. "You think I'm willing to make you a slave? I'll have to accept you too!"

"W-what?" Logan couldn't believe the cat had just said he was a slave.

Hunter cleared his throat before a war broke out between the wolf and the cat. "Lyon, he is your master from now on. Be good. If Queen Myrene hears you making a scene, you know what will happen to Trixie."

Lyon fell silent as soon as he heard Hunter's words. He looked away and said nothing as Hunter placed her on the table in front of Logan.

Logan grinned. So the cat was threatened by Myrene as well. He couldn't believe that even this helpless creature couldn't escape Myrene's power.

"Don't think anything of it! I'm not that weak!" Lyon grumbled, offended by Logan's thoughts.

Logan wondered how the cat could read his thoughts. But wasn't this cat a freak, a talking cat? He had just discovered that.

As Logan thought, the cat suddenly became alert. His fur straightened. His eyes widened to stare at the door.