The next day, the best tailors in the kingdom are brought in to help design new dresses for the entirety of the harem. With the Alpha of every pack arriving soon, the advisors thought it best that the harem wow and stun even more so than usual. A beautiful, dazzling harem means a strong King and a
Bethany stays near the door, watchful but silent. The tailor clucks his tongue in disapproval. “Well, no wonder you are last. You are the plainest of the bunch, aren’t you? Entirely average.” “I beg your pardon?” I say, a touch of anger sliding into my voice. “The King has his choice of all th
I try to put Caleb’s cold shoulder to the back of my mind so I can focus on the matter at hand. Still wearing this giant tarp of a dress, I turn to Bethany. “I can’t possibly wear this to the gala,” I say. Bethany gives me a once over. “We can fix it, I’m sure. Somehow.” She touches the side of
The morning of the gala, Bethany is ready to make the final finishing touches to the dress. Outside, presumably, the various pack Alphas and their mates are beginning to arrive. The harem has been forbidden from stepping outside of their private wing, to maintain the mystery of the harem’s beauty un
“I still think it’s a bad idea,” Bethany says. “If the King catches you speaking with another man…” “He’s not another man. He’s the man. The one I love.” “The one married to your sister.” It’s a low blow and strikes me hard. Inside, I know she’s right. Despite the promises he made to me in tha
I stand at the back of the line of harem consorts, awkwardly avoiding eye contact with Gwen as she keeps looking back to glower at me. Blessedly, after a time, the line starts to move forward and I am saved from continued awkwardness. Yet, as I move closer and closer to the front of the Hall, I am
Well, that’s a concern for a later time. Right now, I only need to concentrate on surviving the night. The other consorts are mingling, so I attempt to as well. As far as I can tell, Caleb has yet to enter the room. I use this newfound freedom to weave through some of the Hall, mingling, but also
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
“Caleb…” I begin, speaking softly. He hums, acknowledging he is listening. I’m nervous but determined. While I don’t wish to leave Caleb, I can’t stay here, pretending like everything is okay while he proceeds with his engagement. “You promised you would grant my request…” “Don’t ask again,”
“Perhaps you have forgotten, father, but I am the king of this kingdom now,” Caleb growls. “As such, I am the only one who can command or punish the members of my harem. Harper is not just a member, but my favored.” “She was looking up information about Evan, Caleb,” Hector replies, just as furiou
In the library, I manage to narrow down the dates to find Caleb’s coronation. Then, moving backwards, I try to discover the exact moment the news stopped talking about Evan, by searching for the first time that he’s mentioned. I find Prince Evan’s obituary, which sounds very by the business and no
Caleb once more sits on his throne in front of the Alpha Council, staring down at them in judgement and distrust. His earlier meeting with Harper had only helped him somewhat, but now that they were separated, Caleb’s dark thoughts were returning with a vengeance, somehow even worse than before. W
“Actually,” the guard begins, glancing between the two of us. “King Caleb has already given Harper permission to enter his chambers as she desires.” Annabelle’s entire face flashes bright red. I very nearly smirk with satisfaction, but I bite it back at the last minute. It wouldn’t do to be smug
Tristan’s eyes widen slightly. “Did he truly say that?” “I heard it,” Caleb snaps. He knows what Tristan is thinking. This could be the paranoia again, creating whispers where there were none. Maybe he had right to worry. Perhaps Caleb had imagined it. But what if he hadn’t? “Your brother’s
Caleb hates the Alpha Council, now more than ever before. The last time they convened, the entire capital had been besieged by bears after the betrayal of Caleb’s Gamma. This already painted the council in a negative light for Caleb, even though it had no real fault in what happened. Now however,
“I can’t?” Caleb steps around Leah, ignoring her and her pale face entirely to focus primarily on me. He leans close, danger in his eyes, jaw clenched, teeth grit together. “Do not ever tell me what I can and cannot do, consort. Or have you forgotten yourself?” Maybe I have. With everything Caleb
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Leah spits at me. “I didn’t admit to anything.” “You don’t have to,” I tell her. “I can see the truth in your eyes. I know how much you despise me. I never thought you would go so low as to terrorize me like this. Even then, when I suspected and everyone told