Mated to the Pack's Biggest Liar

Twelve

MORGANA'S POV

I woke before dawn the following morning.

The chamber was still dim, lit only by fading candlelight and the pale silver glow of the moon filtering through the carved windows.

For a moment, I forgot where I was.

Then I turned my head and saw Zack already awake beside me.

His head rested lazily against one hand while he stared directly at me with glowing golden eyes filled with dangerous amusement. Like a wolf watching it's prey wake inside its den.

Heavens knew–This was the first time I had ever seen him smile so shamelessly from the moment his eyes opened. It was almost lecherous. Almost.

The corner of his lips curved upward slowly.

“Morning, little kitten.”

Before I could react, he suddenly grabbed the blanket and pulled it downward.

Cold air rushed against my exposed shoulders.

“Zack!” I snapped immediately while clutching the blanket back against my chest.

He laughed softly, completely unashamed.

“We need to get up,” he said lazily. “Today we greet the elders in the palace chamber. Unless my wife wants everyone to think we exhausted ourselves all night.”

I glared at him murderously. Meanwhile, the shameless wolf only looked more pleased.

Outside, faint sounds of servants moving through the corridors echoed softly while distant wolf howls carried through the early morning mist.

The palace never truly slept. Especially not after a royal wedding.

I glanced toward the sky beyond the windows and frowned. Dawn had barely arrived.

“I’ll go change into something appropriate,” I muttered while climbing out of bed.

Zack rested his chin against his hand and openly watched me move across the chamber.

I ignored him completely.

After having my shower, I went to select a dress. Opening one of the wooden clothing chests near the dressing screen, I froze briefly.

Inside were the few dresses I owned.

Simple fabrics. Muted colors. Nothing luxurious. Nothing worthy of a prince’s wife.

My fingers brushed over the folded garments quietly before selecting the best among them–a pale blue dress with modest embroidery along the sleeves.

Behind me, silence filled the room.

“What’s wrong?” I asked without turning around.

Zack had gone unusually quiet. When I glanced back, his eyes were fixed inside the clothing chest. His expression darkened faintly.

“Nothing,” he replied smoothly after a moment. “I was only remembering how heavenly my wife looked during the palace banquet.” His sudden compliment unexpectedly tightened my chest.

I lowered my gaze.

“Heavenly or not,” I replied calmly, “I can’t compare to Ninth Prince.”

The truth was simple. Princess Diana had never hidden her dislike toward me. Though she occasionally ordered new dresses prepared for me, the fabrics were always mediocre compared to Eve’s wardrobes.

At the Beta Estate, I was clothed properly enough not to attract criticism–But never enough to shine. Even the beautiful red gown Eve gave me for the banquet outshone every dress inside this chest combined. Still, i had long accepted such things. Clothing mattered little compared to peace.

Zack watched me disappear behind the dressing screen, and something unreadable flickered briefly through his eyes. Then slowly, he smiled.

Turning away from the wardrobe, he walked back toward the bed. The white silk sheets remained slightly wrinkled from the night before. His gaze lowered toward the untouched ceremonial cloth beneath the blanket.

A faint sigh escaped him. Then, without hesitation, he bit lightly into his fingertip. A drop of blood surfaced instantly. Then another. Scarlet droplets stained the white cloth beneath the blanket.

Just then, outside the chamber, a feminine voice suddenly called sweetly through the door.

“Prince Zack, may this servant enter?”

The flirtatious tone made goosebumps rise along my arms immediately.

Zack calmly released the blanket and glanced toward the dressing screen just as I stepped out fully dressed.

His eyes swept slowly over me. Then he answered casually.

“Enter.”

The chamber doors opened. Several maids walked inside carrying golden basins, fresh towels, and trays of morning tea.

But the woman leading them immediately drew attention. She looked no older than nineteen.

Beautiful. Far too beautiful for an ordinary servant. Her dark hair flowed freely behind her shoulders, held partly in place by a delicate jade hairpin. Every step she took carried a soft sensual grace that looked more fitting for a noblewoman than a maid. Her scent reached me faintly. Sweet jasmine mixed with wolf pheromones carefully restrained beneath expensive perfume.

A she-wolf. And not a weak one either.

“Greetings, Prince Zack,” she greeted softly while bowing elegantly.

The other maids followed after her. Not once did she acknowledge me. Not once.

“Morning, Lolita,” Zack replied.

So this beauty was Lolita. And the flirtatious voice from earlier was hers.

“Prince Zack,” Lolita said sweetly while stepping closer to him, “allow me to help you change.”

Her movements were naturally intimate. Too intimate. Like someone accustomed to standing beside him daily.

I silently observed everything while understanding dawned inside me–This woman was clearly no ordinary servant.

Meanwhile, Zack looked thoroughly irritated beneath his calm face. Or perhaps he was just pretending.

What was there to deny? He didn't need to pretend he had no relation to Lolita in front of me. Why else would this beauty leak of jealously while standing beside me?

“I can dress myself,” he replied lightly. “You should assist my wife instead.”

Lolita’s expression froze faintly.

“But I always serve you, Prince Zack,” she said while pouting softly.

“You don't need to anymore. Quickly help my wife. It's getting late, my wife and I need to greet the elders.”

Reluctantly, Lolita turned toward me. And finally, Our eyes met. The contempt inside hers was impossible to miss. Cold, sharp and possessive.

My instincts instantly bristled.

The she-wolf clearly viewed me as an intruder standing inside her territory.

Interesting.

I glanced sideways toward Zack and he met my gaze. His back turned cold.

So the shameless wolf truly kept a beauty beside him. No wonder she behaved so boldly.

Lolita felt jealous seeing Zack and I exchange loving glances, while acting like she was a dead corpse. She thought about how long she had been in the Estate and was always the one serving Zack. Never have she served anyone else. She felt it was demeaning to serve a worthless she-wolf like me.

The atmosphere around us quietly sharpened. Lolita approached behind me while holding a jade comb. Her fingers moved through my hair with exaggerated force.

I tolerated it silently at first. Then suddenly, pain shot across my scalp.

“Ah—” I flinched instinctively.

Several strands of hair tangled inside the comb.

Zack’s head snapped upward immediately.

“What happened?”

Lolita lowered her eyes instantly.

“This servant apologizes,” she said smoothly. “I’m too used to serving Prince Zack alone. It’s difficult adjusting to someone else.”

My eyes darkened briefly.

What clever words. An apology wrapped around a declaration.

She was practically announcing her closeness with Zack directly in front of me.

I slowly turned my head and smiled faintly toward Zack.

“Is that so?” I asked softly. “Then perhaps she should continue serving Prince Zack only.”

Lolita quickly nodded before Zack could speak.

“Mistress is understanding,” she said sweetly. “After all, this servant has always remained close to Prince Zack. It’s naturally more efficient this way.”

Close.

She emphasized the word intentionally. The meaning behind it was obvious. But, I felt neither anger nor jealousy.

Back at the Beta's estate there were a few maids who were forced to occasionally serve me. But none of them were close to me. I lived for eighteen years without a personal maid.

Growing up in Namalia, Mother and I survived modestly. We only had one elderly widow helping around the house.

After Mother died, I wanted to bring the widow with me to Crestwood. Unfortunately, she wished to reunite with distant relatives instead.

So I arrived alone.

At the Beta Estate, none of the servants truly belonged to me. Everyone followed Princess Diana’s lead. Everyone looked down on me.

Even before my wedding, when Father asked whether I wished to bring a maid into my marriage, I refused politely. Loyalty could not be forced. And I had long stopped expecting kindness from strangers.

Now this Lolita openly challenged me inside my own marriage chamber.

Very interesting indeed.

I smiled faintly again and looked toward Zack calmly. The meaning behind my gaze was simple.

Your wolf. Your problem. Deal with it yourself.

The moment Zack understood my thoughts, his expression stiffened slightly.

Inside his mansion, the most troublesome existence had always been Lolita. Not because he favored her, But because of her background.

Removing her recklessly would create complications.

Originally, he expected me to become angry and personally throw Lolita out myself.

Unexpectedly, I remained perfectly calm. Like I was merely watching an amusing performance.

Zack sighed inwardly. He almost forgot that my greatest talent was acting gentle in public while secretly sharpening my claws.

Meanwhile, Since Zack didn’t deny anything immediately. I calmly concluded one thing.

The shameless wolf truly favored this beautiful maid.

Fine then. Since no one intended to avenge the hair Lolita pulled from my head, I would simply avenge it myself.