Chapter 7

My eyes snapped open and they quickly looked around, trying to confirm if I'm still in the woods -thankfully, I'm not.

Frown lines appeared on my forehead as I saw unfamiliar white ceilings above me, that's when I realized I'm laying on a very soft surface.

I sat up abruptly and looked down at the thick but soft velvet bedspread underneath me, with a matching duvet -where am I?

"Are you ok, my queen?" a female voice startled me and I jumped back in fright.

I snapped my head towards my right side where the voice had sounded from and saw a girl of my age in a maid's uniform, she was smiling at me with a look of admiration in her eyes.

"You're awake" she said.

"Hm" I hummed in response.

My eyes moved around frantically, everything around me is of great quality -the white curtains are very thick, but seem soft just like the bedsheet.

Even the walls are painted in creamy white colors with a touch of brown, there are gold figurines on the tables near window and dressers.

There's a sitting area in the room, with a big flat screen tv standing proudly in front of the sofas and a small table -it looked as though that place is a living room.

"What is this place? Where am I?" I asked her.

"You're at the palace, my queen" she answered.

"Palace?"

"Yes, my queen, this is the king's room" she said.

I fell back on my butts after she finished her words, my mouth parted as everything that happened came rushing back -I recalled how I called the beast King my darling and my cheeks suddenly flamed up.

Thank goodness he's not here, I would have drown in embarrassment.

"The King ordered you freshen up and come down for lunch" she told.

"Wait, what's your name?" I asked when I remember I don't know her name yet.

"Cora, your majesty"

I shook my head quickly.

"No, no, I'm not majesty, my name's Arabella but you can call me Ara"

Cora bowed her head frighteningly.

"I dare not address you by your name"

I frowned at her words, I found how she speak kinda weird.

"Are we in the 80s?" I asked.

"No, your majesty"

"Then why are you talking like those servants who live in the 80s? Is this how everything talk here?"

She nodded, I sighed. I wanted to say something but my eyes caught a head sticking out from one of the sofas and I pointed at it.

"Who's there?"

Cora tilted her head slightly and looked at the direction I was pointing.

"Oh, she said she's your best friend..."

"Daphne?" I cut in.

"Yes, his Majesty asked her to watch over you"

To watch over me? I huffed mentally, how can she watch over me when she can't even watch over herself?

"Where are the other girls? Are they having dinner now?" I asked.

"The others are gone, it's just the two of you here"

"Gone?" Cora nodded. "Gone where?" I asked.

"They've gone home"

"Huh?!" I exclaimed.

I quickly pushed the duvet off me and jumped off the bed, looking around for my shoes which Cora brought to me immediately -I guess she knew I was looking for it.

"Why did they leave us behind?" I pointed between me and Daphne.

"You passed out and..."

I tuned her off and rushed over to Daphne, I squatted in front of her and tapped her shoulder lightly.

"Dolphin" I called.

She chewed her mouth sleepily, then burst into giggles, she grabbed my hand and shoved one of my fingers in her mouth.

"Dolphin!" I called loudly this time and snatched my hand from her.

She sprang up at once and looked at me for a moment, then pulled me into a tight hug.

"You're awake" she said happily.

"Yeah, get up let's go home" I told her.

Daphne pulled away from the hug, she reached forward and felt my temperature.

"Let's go home?" she snorted. "I don't think that's possible, the king's not gonna allow it" she said.

"Why?" I asked with a frown.

She looked at Cora, then sighed.

"I'm not allowed to say anything yet" she got up and pulled me along. "Let's go eat first"

I snatched my hand from hers and stared at her strangely.

"How can we eat in a situation like this? Haven't I embarrassed us enough?"

"Embarrassed us?" I nodded. "How?"

My cheeks flamed up again as I recalled the drama I performed at the hall, I stepped closer to her and leaned towards her ear.

"Remember I called the beast King my darling, he might be very angry at me now -let's escape now that we have the chance" I said.

Daphne smiled.

"That is a perfect plan, but unfortunately, we can't carry it out because the beast King has his guards stationed outside the door"

"Huh?"

"Hm" she hummed.

I looked towards the door in disappointment, is he holding us captive? Is he gonna make us be his slave?

All kinds of horrible scenarios rushed in my mind, I began imagining how he's gonna punish us and the kind of punishment tools he's gonna use.

I even imagined him throwing me in tbe belly of a brass bull and lighting a fire underneath it -I didn't realize when I released an agonizing scream.

"What's wrong?" Daphne asked me when she heard me scream.

"N-nothing" I shook my head.

She nodded, threw an arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer.

"Let's go downstairs and eat, we don't know what's waiting for us yet, so I suggest we eat enough to have strength to wage whatever is coming" she said.

Hm, she's kinda right, we can't escape now and I don't think we can fight our way out, so I'll just play it by ear until I come up with a good escape plan.

I smiled widely at Daphne.

"You're right, let's finish their food"

She winked at me before turning to Cora.

"Lead us to the dinning room"

Cora nodded and gestured towards the door.

"This way, please"

★★★★★

DINNING ROOM.

"Wow!" Daphne and I exclaimed loudly when we saw all the food placed on the table.

Fried chicken, grilled pork, giant steaks, barbequed fish, grilled bacon -in fact, the whole table is covered in different kinds of meat.

How did they know I love meat?

Amy scoffed in my head.

*You're a werewolf, everyone knows werewolves love meat* she said.

I nodded, she's right.

Daphne nudged me gently.

"Hey, I can't wait anymore, my stomach is growling" she said.

Her stomach growled loudly to prove her words, she pulled out a chair and sat down as if I'm taking too long to answer.

"Join me when you feel hungry" she said and reached for a chicken.

I raised an eyebrow.

"What if it's poison?" I asked, trying to scare her.

She shrugged.

"Then I'll die in satisfaction" she answered and continued eating.

I laughed and pulled out a chair, some maids are standing next to us waiting ready to receive orders from us -they're about four, five if Cora's included.

A very sweet scent hit my nose just when I was about to start eating, I can't point out what the smell is but it's very alluring and addictive.

I got up and looked around frantically, trying to locate where the scent was coming from.

"Are you looking for something, my queen?" Cora asked.

"It's such a sweet scent" I muttered as if I was possessed.

Daphne frowned at me.

"Hey, what's going on with you?" she asked.

But I ignored her question and faced Cora, I grabbed her hand.

"Where's this sweet scent coming from?" I asked her.

She sniffed the air with a small frown and shook her head.

"My queen, I can only perceive the aroma of your food" she said.

"Huh?"

Am I the only one perceiving this sweet scent? Then I felt Amy getting restless in my head, no, she was getting too excited and I don't know why.

*What's wrong, Amy?* I asked her through our mind-link.

*I don't know yet, I just feel happy* she answered, I could feel her wagging her tail excitedly.

*Weird wolf*

I couldn't take it anymore, I must find where this addictive scent is coming from.

I didn't realize when I sprang and started tracing where the scent was coming from, before I knew it, I was already walking down the stairs.

After taking many turns and passing many hallways, I stopped right outside a door where the scent was very strong -it seemed like it's coming from there.

I stared at the door for a moment and strangely a satisfied smile crept up my face, I wondered why until I heard Amy chanting.

*Mate, mate, mate, mate*

"Mate?" I asked out loud.

*Mate, mate, mate, mate, mate, mate* Amy continued chatting.

My smile widened, excitement seeped through my veins and the butterflies in my stomach started flapping their wings happily.

It's unbelievable.

I've finally found my mate, even if I was chosen by the beast King, he'd have to return me to my mate because he can't go against the moon goddess' arrangements.

I turned to ask the maid who was inside, but they're standing at a safe distance with their heads bowed -they looked kinda tensed and scared.

What are they scared of?

Ignoring them, I reached forward and pushed the door open and rushed in. But I stopped abruptly when I saw the handsome stranger, no, he's the beast King.

He sat on a big chair, with some elderly men sitting on both sides of the room, creating a large space between them and they sat few feet away from him -six men on both sides.

Who are these? Are they the legendary twelve elders? What are they doing here?

*They're having a meeting* Amy replied sassily.

*Oh*

They truly did look as though they're in a meeting, wait, if they're in a meeting then what is this place?

I rushed out immediately and checked what's written on the doorframe, King's office was boldly inscribed on it -I closed my eyes and mentally facepalm myself.

Why am I so careless sometimes? Why didn't I check this before rushing in?

*Checking doesn't matter, he's our mate* Amy said, howling happily in my head -I can even imagine her jumping and wagging her tail right now.

No, this can't be happening, I can't be his mate, I shouldn't be his mate, I refuse to be his mate.

"Come inside" his authoritative voice startled me.

Everyone inside the office were looking at me with curiosity lurking in their eyes, yet they looked happy and satisfied.

I stepped inside and waved at them awkwardly, before turning to the handsome stranger -no, beast King.

"We meet again" he said.

That's when I remembered the dream I had a few minutes ago, he's the handsome stranger from the wizardry forest and also the man from my dreams.

What on earth is happening? Why is the beast King my mate? Why me?

Everyone's gonna hate me for being the beast king's mate, everyone is gonna hate me for being paired with the murderer -i'm too beautiful to be hated by everyone.

What am I gonna do now?.