Chapter 6

LEAH

Chills ran down my spine at his words, but I kept quiet, knowing he might do something to me. Still, my curiosity was beyond measure.

“Sorry for speaking of it,” I apologized and walked out of the room before he had a chance to say anything. But I needed to find out what happened to them. As much as it wasn’t my business, I would rather not end up dead.

I walked down the hallway, ignoring the looks I was getting from everyone. For reasons unknown to me, they were pitying me.

“Do you think she’ll end up like the last?” I heard someone whisper as I walked, making me pause immediately. Kiara might not know what happened to them, but the servants seemed to.

“Who said that?” They all went quiet and stood straight, but I didn’t move. “... As your queen, I demand whoever said that to step out, now!” A wave of authority surged through me, something I had never felt before. I didn’t mean to speak that way, but the title did bring benefits.

A young maid stepped out, and I looked at her with intense curiosity.

“Follow me.” I fiddled with my hands, trying to stay as composed as possible. The moment I stepped into my room, I let out a breath before turning to her. “... Tell me what you know.” She furrowed her brows confused before clearing her throat.

“No one actually knows what happened to her. She just…died. He mourned, and that was pretty much it.” She tapped her leg uncomfortably.

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not.”

“Explain why you’re tapping your leg?” She looked like a deer caught in headlights.

“You shouldn’t be digging around. What’s in the past stays in the past. I don’t even know why he married you, you’re so ugly.” She spat in my face, and anger rose at the back of my throat.

“You will not speak to me that way,” I warned, trying to keep my anger at bay.

"You know I’m telling the truth. You are ugly. You have no wolf! No wonder the king chose you so you could be used and…”

I slapped her hard across the face as rage took over.

“Get out of this palace at once, and I would rather not see your face ever again!” She held her cheek, shock written all over her face, but I honestly didn’t care. I would not stand to be insulted anymore.

She ran out with tears rolling down her cheeks, and I immediately felt overwhelmed. What in the world was wrong with me? I looked at myself in the mirror. I knew her words were true, but they still hurt so much.

The door flew open, and I didn’t need to turn to know he was here. I heard him shut the door, but I didn’t blink as I processed what I had just done.

“Did you just fire my servant?”

“Yes, I did.” I continued looking out the window, pretending he wasn’t there.

“Without my permission?” I turned to look at him.

“Your permission? I was fine being on my own before you pulled me into a marriage, named me your queen, and now you expect me to bear insults from your help? What kind of king would that make you?”

“Do not speak to me like that!”

“I will speak to you however I want!” I yelled, and I was immediately pinned to the wall.

His body hovered over mine, but I refused to let myself be used as a baby breeder in this house.

“I know I’m fat and ugly. I don’t even know why you chose to marry me, but I will not be insulted by your help. Let go of me.” I glared at him, and he glared right back before letting go of my neck.

“You’ll remain in this room until I ask you to come out.”

“Don’t order me around!”

“Respect your king!” he growled. Chills ran through my body so fast that I jolted.

He let out a heavy sigh and stormed out of the room. There was no way in hell I was sitting in this room for what? Two to three days? I needed answers, and I needed them now. If death was my calling, I’d rather get prepared for it.

An hour passed like a breeze as I came up with a plan. After arranging my bed as though I were on it, I walked out, dressed in a maid’s uniform with my face covered.

“Hey! You are meant to clean the office!” I froze in place and cleared my throat.

“I’ll get to it immediately.” I walked away before she could call me back. I had no idea which office she was referring to, but I prayed to the goddess it was his and that he wasn’t there.

I took a quick turn to the right, and my breath hitched. He was standing in front of his office, talking to some guards. There was no way I could walk past him without being noticed.

I listened carefully but couldn’t hear a single word, as though they weren’t speaking at all. The moment I heard their footsteps walking toward me, I moved to the other side. Once they were out of sight, I hurried into his office.

I needed to be quick.

Locking the door quietly, I searched his drawers for anything useful. His desk was covered in werewolf-related documents. How did he even manage all this? Ignoring my unanswered question, I checked the bookshelf and every possible corner, but there was nothing.

Frustration took over, and I crashed onto his chair. I needed to get out of here, but first, I had to clean or risk getting someone else in trouble.

As I pulled the rug to clean, I noticed a compartment in the floor. I had less than thirty minutes to leave this place.

Without thinking, I opened it and carefully descended the stairs. Dust covered everything, yet an odd smell lingered, making my heart race.

Could their bodies be here? The thought sent chills down my spine. I paused to control my breathing. The truth was all I needed to know. I walked further and ended up in a large library with a door leading somewhere, but that wasn’t what caught my eye.

An ancient scroll lay on the table.

That might be my answer. I reached for it and gasped as it glowed gold. This shouldn’t be happening. I opened it, and my name was boldly written on it, making my heart drop.

What in the world is going on?

I searched the table, but there was nothing except papers with my name on them. My heart raced as I reached for the closed door, but before I could touch it, I was suddenly thrown to the other side of the room.

“What are you doing here?” Dante’s voice echoed.

How in the world did I not hear him?

“I wanted answers.”

“I gave you orders!” he growled. I tried to pull my hands from his grip, but it was useless.

“I certainly don’t take orders from you. So how about you explain why my name is all over this place!”

“That is absolutely none of your business. You knew the deal and agreed to it. I’m starting to think your divorce was just a way to get into my palace!”

My nostrils flared in anger. “And what the hell is that supposed to mean? That I’m a spy?”

“Explain why you were snooping around in my office wearing that!” He let go of my hand, glaring at me with complete disgust.

“I asked for answers, and you refused. So I decided to find them myself!”

“Get the hell out of here!" he ordered, pointing to the door.

“No, I will not. Tell me, Your Majesty, what happened to the remaining ten?”

He was taken aback but placed his hands in his pockets. “I owe you no answers.”

“Dante, don’t…”

“You have no right to call me that.” He stepped forward, glaring at me. "…And if you betray me, I’ll kill you myself.”