CHAPTER 10

SONIA'S POV.

I heard a knock on my door. "Go away," I yelled, hiding under the covers. But the knock did not cease. After a while, the door opened, and someone went to open the curtains, letting sunlight flood in. I whined, reluctantly opening my eyes to see who had disturbed my beauty sleep.

Turning, I saw an older woman standing a few inches away from my bed.

"I want to be left alone," I hissed.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I am afraid I can't do that. The Lycan King requests that we be of service to you," she answered politely.

"Uhn? What do you mean?" I asked, blinking sleepily as I sat upright on my bed.

She clapped her hands once, and like clockwork, several maids entered the room, each carrying an array of items. One held a basket filled with bottles of essential oils, while another carried a bundle of soft, fluffy towels. The rest brought trays of carefully folded clothes, fresh linens, and various other amenities fit for royalty.

They wasted no time, dragging me out of bed and starting to strip me of my clothes. I tried to protest, telling them that I could do it on my own, but they insisted that their Alpha had asked them to give me the best treatment.

I resigned to the experience, allowing the maids to lead me to the bathtub.

The warm water was infused with fragrant essential oils, enveloping me in a cocoon of relaxation as I eased into its depths. The maids wasted no time, expertly scrubbing my skin with luxurious soaps and exfoliating scrubs. They paid meticulous attention to every detail, ensuring that no spot was left untouched.

"How long have you been working in this castle?" I asked the older lady, who appeared to be the chief housekeeper.

"For over thirty five years," she answered.

"So you have known the Lycan King all his life?" I inquired casually, hoping to glean some insight into Michael's life.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but we do not speak about our king. It's against the rules," she replied firmly.

The other maids promptly pulled me out of the bathtub, wrapping me in soft towels.

They dressed me in a fine outfit perfectly tailored to my size. When I asked how they knew my measurements so accurately, they informed me that it was the Lycan King himself who had personally selected all my new clothing. I don't know if I should be flattered that he got all the details of my clothing size right, including the shoes, or I should be creeped out.

"Thank you," I murmured as I studied my reflection in the mirror.

"It's my pleasure, Your Majesty," the chief housekeeper replied with a respectful bow.

I frowned. “Why do you keep calling me that? I’m not a queen, nor am I from Lycan blood,” I protested.

Among werewolves, those born of the Lycan bloodline were the only ones referred to as “his majestic,” as they held the highest position of authority over all the Alphas in the werewolf world. It was a title reserved for royalty within the pack hierarchy. As an ordinary werewolf, I found it unsettling to be addressed in such a manner, especially considering I had no connection to Lycan lineage.

“The Lycan King says you are his mate and the future Luna of his pack,” the chief housekeeper explained. “So it’s only right that we treat you as such.”

“But I’m not. I’m not his mate,” I insisted.

“The Lycan King will be waiting for you downstairs,” they informed me, leaving no room for argument.

**********

I opened the dining room, revealing a large table adorned with various food, and the Lycan sat at the far end, exuding charm and glory. He stood up and walked towards me, his eyes never leaving mine.

“You are so pretty, my cherry,” he said, gently caressing my chin. “I knew I made the right choice when I picked out this gown.”

I frowned, pushing his hands away. “I do not appreciate you keeping me here. I'm not your doll,” I hissed.

For a moment, he looked saddened by my harshness. “You mean much more to me than that,” he murmured.

“Please, take a seat,” he urged, pulling out a chair for me with a courteous gesture. He waited for me to sit down properly before taking a seat himself.

“Is this your typical dining arrangement?” I inquired, gesturing to the lavish spread before us. “Seems a shame to let all this food go to waste every day.”

He chuckled softly, flashing a charming grin. “No, I usually stick to smaller meals. This is just for special guests ,” he replied.

‘I'm guessing being a prisoner also counts as a special guest, right,” I said, putting some food on my plate.

“You could say so,” he winked back. “Besides, stop acting like it’s a bad thing. There are far worse prisons than mine.”

“You should consider yourself lucky I let you dine with me. In some places, you’d be dressed for beheading by now,” he smirked, but I didn’t find it amusing.

“My uncle would never do that,” I said firmly.

He leaned back in his chair. “Are you sure? Because you would be surprised at the lengths men would go for power.”

I swallowed. I could not argue. After all, my uncle was never going to make me Alpha.

“Let’s just eat,” I said.

Michael reached out to touch my arm. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you,”

“It’s okay,” I said dismissively.

After a while of awkward silence, Michael looked up, staring at me.

“What?” I asked, feeling a bit annoyed by his scrutiny.

“I just wanted to let you know I will be traveling for a few days, so that you won’t see me around for a while,” he explained.

“Oh,” I muttered, shrugging my shoulders nonchalantly as I continued to eat.

He looked at me in disbelief. “Aren’t you going to say anything? I thought you would be sad that I will leave you alone for a while.”

I swallowed my food before responding with a bored expression. “Why would I be? I’m going to enjoy the time apart. I could use a break from you.”

“Ouch!” he exclaimed, placing his hand over his chest dramatically. “And here I was thinking you wouldn’t be able to survive without me. I was even considering canceling my trip for you.”

“Please don’t,” I said dryly. “Your presence is very much needed there.”