bChapter /bb204 /b

    ra’s POV

    Amara was trembling on the floor, her eyes wide with a mix of horror and disbelief. She stared at me like I had be some sort of

    monster.

    “Amara!” Dorian rushed to her side, panic in his voice. His hands were gentle as they settled on her shoulders, checking for any injury. Then, in an urgent tone, he called out, “Get Lady Amara to the medical room!”

    Servants scrambled to help, including Fatima, the maid I had met back at Blood Moon Pack. She shot me a look that could freeze fire, but quickly turned her attention back to Amara, supporting her delicate form as they moved away.

    “Come on, mydy,” Fatima muttered, her words dripping with resentment toward me. “Let’s get you out of here.”

    Amara’s eyes fluttered with tears. She reached for Dorian’s sleeve, pulling him back before she was fully led away.

    “Don’t me ra, Dorian,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “It was my fault. I should have warned her about our tradition before 1–before I poured the water. I–I didn’t mean to cause any harm,” she sobbed.

    Dorian’s expression softened, and he wrapped an arm around her, whispering soothing promises. “I’ll check on you soon.”

    When Amara was finally escorted out, Dorian turned to face me. His gaze was colder than ice.

    “We wee our guests with a water ritual,” he said, his voice clipped. “It’s part of our tradition.”

    I scoffed, crossing my arms. “She didn’t just sprinkle it, Dorian. She poured an entire jug. Is insulting your guest part of your tradition?”

    Dorian’s jaw tightened, and just as I thought he might speak, a voice boomed from the crowd. A man cloaked in grey stepped forward, his presencemanding attention.

    “The Lycan castle is sacred,i” /ihe intoned, voice deep and powerful. “Water is sprinkled to cleanse the bodies and souls of outsiders before they enter the sacrednd. Your actions, Miss Manning, were disgraceful. All because of your ignorance.”

    Cleansing my soul?

    Ignorance?

    A bitterugh escaped my lips. These Lycans were even more arrogant than I’d imagined.

    “You forget, your King chose me. A werewolf. To be your Queen,” I said, my voiceced with a cold edge. “I’m no outsider. You are my subjects” I red at the grey–cloaked man, “And my soul? It doesn’t need cleansing.”

    He blinked, taken aback by my audacity.

    The man’s voice faltered, but he pressed on, “It’s a tradition-”

    “If you expect me to respect your tradition,” Finterrupted, “then you’ll first learn to respect me. Your future Queen.”

    A heavy silence fell over the crowd. No one dared speak, their eyes flicking between me and Dorian. The grey–cloaked man shifted, seemingly unsure of how to respond.

    He finally turned to Dorian, voice low, almost a whisper, “Your mate needs to learn some manners, my King. We cannot present her

    10:01 Sun, 24 Aug

    like this.”

    “I’m aware,” Dorian grumbled, clearly irritated.

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    He grabbed my wrist with force, pulling me forward. The crowd parted to make way for us, bowing as we passed. I didn’t bother to acknowledge any of them.

    “You’re dismissed!” Dorian snapped, and they scattered.

    We walked in silence, my feet struggling to keep up with his long strides. I was dragged through the front yard, down endless corridors, and through twisting hallways. The castle was like an borate maze, and I couldn’t even remember how we’de this

    far

    Inside the castle, the grandeur was even more striking. The balconies were carved with intricate designs, and the stained–ss windows glimmered like jewels in the dim light. But before I could take in any more, Dorian shoved me into a room and mmed

    the door behind him.

    “I thought we had a deal,” he hissed, his anger barely contained.

    I crossed my arms, chin tilted high. “Yes, a deal,” I said coolly. “You asked me to y your mate, and that’s exactly what I did.”

    He stepped forward, eyes narrowing. “What you did to Amara-”

    “Being nice to your mistress isn’t part of our deal,” I shot back, cutting him off.

    Dorian’s face flushed, his voice trembling with embarrassment. “Amara is not my mistress.”

    I shrugged, uninterested. I wasn’t here to argue about his rtionships, though I could tell something was off between them.

    “You really should learn ito /irespect your elders,” he muttered, trying to regain some control. “They hold a high position in our society. If you offend them, even I can’t protect you.”

    “I don’t want to be seen as weak,” I said, meeting his gaze without flinching. “Being tough is my survival strategy. If you want a puppet who’ll let you pull the strings, iyou’d /ibetter release me and find someone more submissive.”

    A smirk curled on his lips, mocking. “Too bad. I want you. Only you.”

    I sighed inwardly, frustrated. He had no idea what he was asking for.

    “I won’t be your puppet, Dorian. But if you want to y the king, fine. Go ahead. But don’te crawling back when you can’t control the chaos you’ve started.”

    His mockery didn’t phase me. If anything, it made my resolve stronger.

    He turned toward the door, hand on the doorknob. “You said you didn’t want a chaperone. I respect that. Go to the dining hall. Get acquainted with the people. There will be elders there. Good luck.”

    He left, mming the door behind him.

    I rolled my eyes, chuckling to myself. He thought a few elders would intimidate me. He couldn’t be more wrong.

    I took a quick look around the room. The closet was filled with delicate, flowing gowns, all in my size. Whoever prepared them expected me to dress like a Lycan princess, but they were wasting their time. I closed the door on the closet and left it behind.

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    like this.”

    “I’m aware,” Dorian grumbled, clearly irritated.

    He grabbed my wrist with force, pulling me forward. The crowd parted to make way for us, bowing as we passed. I didn’t bother to acknowledge any of them.

    “You’re dismissed!” Dorian snapped, and they scattered.

    We walked in silence, my feet struggling to keep up with his long strides. I was dragged through the front yard, down endless corridors, and through twisting hallways. The castle was like an borate maze, and I couldn’t even remember how we’de this

    far.

    Inside the castle, the grandeur was even more striking. The balconies were carved with intricate designs, and the stained–ss windows glimmered like jewels in the dim light. But before I could take in any more, Dorian shoved me into a room and mmed the door behind him.

    “I thought we had a deal,” he hissed, his anger barely contained.

    I crossed my arms, chin tilted high. “Yes, a deal,” I said coolly. “You asked me to y your mate, and that’s exactly what I did.”

    He stepped forward, eyes narrowing. “What you did to Amara-”

    “Being nice to your mistress isn’t part of our deal,” I shot back, cutting him off.

    Dorian’s face flushed, his voice trembling with embarrassment. “Amara is not my mistress.”

    I shrugged, uninterested. I wasn’t here to argue about his rtionships, though I could tell something was off between them.

    “You really should learn to respect your elders,” he muttered, trying to regain some control. “They hold a high position in our society. If you offend them, even I can’t protect you.”

    “I don’t want to be seen as weak,” I said, meeting his gaze without flinching. “Being tough is my survival strategy. If you want a puppet who’ll let you pull the strings, you’d better release me and find someone more submissive.”

    A smirk curled on his lips, mocking. “Too bad. I want you. Only you.”

    I sighed inwardly, frustrated. He had no idea what he was asking for.

    “I won’t be your puppet, Dorian. But if you want to y the king, fine. Go ahead. But don’te crawling back when you can’t control the chaos you’ve started.”

    His mockery didn’t phase me. If anything, it made my resolve stronger.

    He turned toward the door, hand on the doorknob. “You said you didn’t want a chaperone. I respect that. Go to the dining hall. Get acquainted with the people. There will be elders there. Good luck.”

    He left, mming the door behind him.

    I rolled my eyes, chuckling to myself. He thought a few elders would intimidate me. He couldn’t be more wrong.

    I took a quick look around the room. The closet was filled with delicate, flowing gowns, all in my size. Whoever prepared them expected me to dress like a Lycan princess, but they were wasting their time. I closed the door on the closet and left it behind.

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    Still in my leggings and sneakers, I stepped out into the hall. I stopped a passing maid, asking for directions to the dining hall. She gave me a critical once–over, eyes narrowing.

    “Aren’t you going to change first, mydy?” she asked.

    I shrugged, hands tucked casually in my pockets. “No. What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

    The maid’s lips thinned, but she didn’t argue. She led me down the hall, no words exchanged between us.

    When I entered the dining hall, I could feel the weight of the room’s gaze on me. Long tables lined the space, the seats filled with people who all turned to look. Not one person greeted me.

    I cleared my throat. “Evening,” I said, trying to sound casual.

    No response.

    I scanned the room. No seat for me at the long table. Not even the servants or maids dared to show me where I could sit.

    “Can someone show me my seat?” I asked, my voice cutting through the silence.

    The room didn’t budge. Then, my eyesnded on the raised tform at the front of the hall. The seats there were empty.

    I made my way toward it, ignoring the stares. Halfway through the room, a servant rushed forward, blocking my path.

    “Miss, I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” he said, his tone polite, but condescending.

    “Why?” I asked, arms crossed.

    “There’s a dress code,” he exined. “This is upper–ss Lycan etiquette. You’re not dressed ordingly.”

    “Are you kidding me?” I shot back. “A dress code for dinner in your own house?”

    The servant nodded, too smug for his own good. “Yes. And you’re not qualified to eat here.”

    A few snickers echoed from the crowd.

    I chuckled darkly. “Good to knowi. /iStarting today, I’m abolishing this ridiculous rule.”

    The servant’s face paled. “You don’t have the right-”

    “I have every right,” I said, meeting his gaze with disdain. “And you will start addressing me as Lady or Queen. Not Miss.‘ Now

    move.”

    I shoved past him, heading for the raised tform. There were two chairs there, perfectly arranged.

    I sat in one, facing the crowd. They all stared at me, a mix of shock and contempt in their eyes.

    “That’s where the King sits!” someone cried from the back.

    I smiled, cold and unapologetic. “The King isn’t here today. As his future Queen, I’ll be taking his seat. Is there a problem?”

    The room went dead silent,