5

Akemi Ravenscar.

I don’t understand these people’s culture. Their clothes remind me of what courtesans and entertainers wear back in the human realm—waists exposed, small tops that end just above the abdomen. Beautiful, yes, embroidered with gold threads and jewelled embellishments, but it’s not me.

An hour ago, I made that very clear to the—what did she call herself? An omega ward? Kie. I don’t quite understand the terms they use here yet and honestly, I’m struggling to keep up.

Fortunately, my brothers thought ahead when they—well, when they sold me to the Alpha King. They packed me a bag and in it is the one thing that still feels like mine: a dark blue gown, laced at the bosom and wrists, with an inbuilt corset that ties at the back and delicate lace lining the hem.

“You’ll be in big trouble if the King sees you like this.” Kie says, placing a worried hand on her head. She’s not the only one—the other six girls in the room exchange the same uneasy glances.

“Look, I let you all oil me in perfume and bathe me in milk, but that’s as far as I go.” I glance at the dresses they pulled from the closet, their bright colors and satin fabrics mock my discomfort. “This…I don’t know.”

“Anyway, where are we going? Why are you dressing me up?”

I place a hand on my head and feel the braid woven into my hair. It is half-braided, half-curled. Gold linings thread through it as it spills over my waist. The sight in the mirror is almost unrecognizable.

“We wish to give you a tour of Basgiath Castle.” Kie smiles.

“Do I have to? You could just explain it to me…”

“The King will ask if we gave you a tour. You are the new queen. It’s expected.”

I try to find another excuse, but before I can, she nudges me toward the door. The moment it shuts behind me, I feel like I’ve walked into a life sentence.

“Everyone else can go. I will give the Queen Luna the tour alone.”

The rest of the omega ward nod and disappear back into the room.

Now that there is no wolf sniffing me or staring at me like prey, I can finally take in my surroundings.

The hallway is endless with pillars that carry sculptures of werewolves. These battle-worn creatures are huge as twenty people, frozen in grey stones and snarling faces. They seem to watch me as I walk past. The walls are pure white, but when I lift my gaze, the ceiling steals my breath.

A grand, renaissance mural is across it. It displays wolves in man and animal form, locked in battle. Their claws are tearing, fangs sinking and blood spilling onto the earth. It’s haunting, right above my head.

Most of the sculptures throughout the corridor are in pure gold and it is more than a clear indication of Drogo, my so-called mate’s wealth. Is that how I am to even say his name? Is it Khal or Drogo? Or do I just call him Alpha king or majesty?

“Those wolves who… sniffed me earlier. What were they?” I ask.

“Oh, the Fanguards. They are wolves who protect our kingdom.” Kie explains. “They live deep in the forests but if they sense an attack, they howls and it is loud enough to shake all the lands for us to hear.”

I frown. “So, they can’t turn?”

“No, they can’t shift.” She corrects me gently. “Shift is the word we use. They were born as wolves and remain wolves. When they sniffed you, they approved you. It means you are truly and utterly the King’s mate. There’s no mistake in it.”

I press my fingers against my temple. They never taught us this in school where I come from. It’s as if our teachers only knew a fraction of what werewolves allowed humans to understand.

“What else do I not know about werewolves?”

Kie laughs. “A million things, your majesty. But I can tell you things you don’t know about the Alpha King.”

I stop walking and glance at her. After everything I woke up to this morning, I’m not sure I want to know more about him.

Still, I say. “Go on. Tell me.”

“Okay, I think you should know that the King has a harem—”

“What?” My voice rises before I can control it. “A harem? As in… women?”

“Yes—”

I scoff. “Of course he has a harem. What else would I expect from a wolf? They’re nothing like humans.” My voice turns sharp as I list all the bad things I’ve heard about them.

But Kie shakes her head. “The King’s mother, Her Highness Renna, is the one who created the harem.”

I blink. “Why?”

“Because the King has no heir. Because of the wolf he has.”

I narrow my eyes. “Wolf? Heir? Make me understand.”

Kie lowers her voice. “The King is an Alpha Firefang. That means the heat beneath his claws, beneath his teeth—beneath his very soul is ten times hot as liquid molten. His wolf is picky about the one who will carry his heir which is why no woman has been successful.”

“Wait—you mean being queen means I have to bear his heir? And sleep with him? And—”

“And bear an heir.” Kie repeats with a bright smile, as if I’m not completely losing my mind.

Heir? Heir!?

“I’m human. How am I supposed to carry a child for a werewolf? If other female wolves can’t bear him an heir, how can I? I am weaker than the weakest wolf!”

“It has happened in history before and it can happen again. You are not the first human to be bonded to a werewolf.” Kie says. “I’m sure the Moon Goddess finds you strong enough. That’s why you are the King’s mate.”

I roll my eyes again. Moon Goddess. Mate. Wolf. Heir. What do these terms even mean?

I’m still trying to wrap my head around it when I notice two women approaching. One of them is dressed like an absolute courtesan—the kind of clothing the omega wards tried to force on me, but hers is even more daring. She’s adorned in jewels from head to toe, so much so that it seems unbelievable. Her eyes are a piercing blue and she’s undeniably beautiful, but the way she looks at me is anything but welcoming.

The second woman at her side carries the same cold expression.

“That’s Bella. She is the head of the King’s harem.” Kie whispers quickly.

Bella’s gaze rakes over me from head to toe, lingering too long on my face, my neck, my hands… Where exactly does she not look? The other woman does the same too.

“I am Susana, the King’s sister.” the second woman says.

“Step-sister.” Kie murmurs under her breath. “Different mother.”

Bella finally curtsies, but the gesture is not humble.

“And I am Bella, the King’s heart.”

The King’s heart? How can she be the King's heart if his heart is still in his chest?

She tilts her head. “You look… very human. Pale skin, freckled cheeks, red lips… Are you sick?”

Kie lifts her chin. “You are speaking to the Queen.”

“And you are just a servant. How dare you speak when you were not spoken to!?” Susana yells at Kie.

"Wait, what are you wearing?" Bella looks at my dress with debauchery.

"This is how we dress where I come from." I reply but I don't want to engage with them any more than necessary. What if they let out their claws and bite me or something? I feel uneasy so I grab Kie to leave.

But Bella blocks my path.

"This is disrespect to the kingdom!" she hisses.

"Excuse me?"

"Are you daft, human?"

"You are speaking to the queen!" Kie defends me once again until Bella slaps her across the face.

The sharp slam of hand against skin echoes through the hall and I gasp in horror.

Kie holds her cheek and I can already see the blooming redness.

"Go back and change, Your Majesty." Susana chuckles.

Bella, too starts laughing. They are toying with me.

"You know, she’s exactly what I expect from a human." Bella sneers. "Look at her—shaking like a rabbit. Those vulture brothers of hers have arrived so eager to take home a bounty for a worthless one—"

"My brothers?" I cut in.

I latch onto her words and ignore the insult buried in them.

"Yes, the brothers who sold you to the offerings. They’ve come to collect what is owed to them." Susana says.

"Where are they?" I ask.

"The King is speaking with them now. They’re probably leaving as we speak."

I turn sharply to Kie. "Please, show me the way out. I need to see my brothers.”

"Your Majesty, they’re playing with you. If you go like this and the King sees your dress, he will—"

"I don’t care! I don’t know when I’ll see my brothers again. I have to speak to them now."

Kie hesitates for only a moment, then starts leading the way. I don’t spare Bella or Susana another glance as I rush past them, following Kie’s hurried steps through the vast halls of the castle.

The moment we step into the light, I race down the grand stairs of gravel. My brothers are just ahead but the first person to see me coming is the Alpha King.

And in that instant, I know Kie was right. I should have changed.