Saving the Last Lycan King

Chapter 7

Sophie

I knew it… I just knew it! I had a terrible taste in men and just as I thought that he might be different, he proved to be just like all the others. I was never going to be enough and, somehow, they always wanted more than I could give. I felt frustrated, hurt and angry as I tore the clothes from my body, waiting for the water to warm up. These strange feelings coursed through my veins, making me feel all hot and bothered as the bathroom started to get clouded by steam. It was all his fault. No, it was my fault, falling for his stupid tricks and way with words. How he told me he would protect me, how he asked me to give him a chance, how he would look at me as if I was his whole world. How he told me that I was his mate. I hate myself for believing that, but maybe I did because I wanted it to be true?

The hot water cascaded down my body and I groaned out as it gently massaged my sore body. The strange way Nathan said goodbye, the arrow in the driver's neck and then a long walk to this strange place… I wanted to wash everything away, every feeling and every memory of this horrible day. Maybe if I scrubbed my scalp hard enough, I would wake up back in my own comfortable bed to the sound of raindrops dancing on my windows. It was worth a try. Once out of the warm water, I glanced around for a towel and found one in a cabinet under the vanity. It was big and fluffy, and it felt great to be engulfed in it. Actually, I felt a little better, maybe a little hungry, but better nevertheless. A knock sounded from the door and I was honestly a little surprised that ‘His Majesty’ hadn’t just barged in yet, since he was so accustomed to girls and showers. I felt the heat creep through my veins again and scolded myself for even thinking such thoughts.

“What?” I hissed more to myself than at him, honestly. When he didn’t reply, I scoffed and opened the door to see what he was up to. To my surprise, I just found a clean set of clothes neatly placed on the floor along with a handwritten note.

“Showered elsewhere. See you downstairs for dinner.”

Showered elsewhere… Yeah right. He probably asked the damn maid to help him get properly cleaned after an eternity buried in a hidden cave. God, why was I acting like that?! I grabbed the set of clothes and went back into the bathroom to dry my hair and get dressed. Once done, I did a quick look-over in the mirror and noticed how the midi-length skirt actually looked quite flattering on me, accentuating my seemingly narrow waist. Huh, I didn’t know I had a waist like that. When I felt satisfied with my looks, I left the bedroom to head back downstairs. It felt a little uncomfortable to walk around without him next to me, since he was the one who knew these people. Or wait, knew this place at least. I hadn’t even heard their names and I briefly wondered if they ever introduced themselves.

Sounds of utensils clattering against porcelain pulled me out of my thoughts and I followed the sounds into a huge dining room with soft neutral colors on the walls. The lower part of the walls were covered in white panels and golden lamps were decorating the painted walls while a giant chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting its light over the dining table underneath it. The maids looked up at me surprised and they quickly finished setting the table, before they left me alone in the huge room. I gazed down at the beautiful table perfectly set with a lot more utensils than I was used to.

“Oh,” A voice sounded from the door, "You look absolutely perfect, miss. Please have a seat!” The woman from earlier smiled brightly as she held out a chair for me.

“Thank you… I’m sorry, I can’t remember your name.” I told her honestly and she just shook her head with the smile still on her lips, as she leaned down.

“I didn’t tell you my name.” Fine lines appeared around her eyes as she smiled even wider at me, before she pulled back to greet Liam, who had just entered the room. He was wearing a white shirt and dark blue pants secured around his waist with a black belt. He was just adjusting his sleeves as he noticed the woman next to me. I wasn’t sure if I should stand up and greet him, since he was a royal person, but decided against it when he strolled over to the table casually, as if he was just an ordinary person.

“Your Majesty, we are delighted to serve you. Please enjoy our chef’s special roast.” She gestured towards the table with a polite nod of her head and Liam walked closer and sat down, not even waiting for the man to help him with the chair. Dinner was splendid and I hadn’t realized how hungry I had been before the roast had been placed at the center of the table, its delicious smell invading my whole being. I ate like there was no tomorrow, feeling like my stomach was a black hole and honestly didn’t care that I was in the presence of a royal Lycan. He didn’t speak to me during the entire meal and his attention was only to the couple. If he wanted silence, I would give him exactly that.

“Forgive me if I’m too forward, Your Majesty, but who is the lovely lady you’ve brought with you?” The man asked him with a curious glance in his eyes and, as I felt all attention suddenly on me after my presence had been ignored for almost the entire dinner, words froze in my throat. Liam looked at me briefly before returning his attention to the man again.

“This young lady is Sophie, the one that freed me from the tomb.” When his eyes met mine again, I almost squirmed in my seat from the intensity of his stare. I dared not look up at the couple, not wanting them to see how my cheeks were probably tinted red by now.

“I see. She must be a very bright young lady then.” He complimented me, or at least that was how I interpreted it, as I raised my head again and reached out for the wine glass in front of me. My nerves could use some alcohol to dull this weird feeling I felt when he looked at me, making my whole body shudder.

***

Liam

It was strange seeing her this uncomfortable and quiet, and it made me wonder if I really had done something wrong. Was she still marked by the attack on the car or was she just feeling jealous about the maid? I couldn’t read her and it bothered me to the core. I watched her gulp the entire glass of wine and stared down at her empty plate as soon as she finished it, as if avoiding my gaze entirely. Everything we needed was ready for when we wanted to depart and, from my experience with hunters, we had to leave as soon as possible. This meant that tomorrow morning, before sunrise, we would be on the road again.

“Thank you for the lovely meal and your hospitality, but I think it is time for us to retire to get some rest before the journey we have ahead of us.” I told them with a small nod of my head as I placed my napkin on my empty plate.

“The pleasure is ours. We are honored to be hosting you after all this time. Our ancestors would be proud to see you alive and well.” The woman responded with tears glistening in her eyes. Their family had served mine for as long as I could remember and it warmed my heart that they were still there, ready to help and provide me with anything I needed. I glanced back at Sophie and nodded my head, gesturing for her to follow me out of the dining room. She quickly followed my lead and after politely thanking the couple for the lovely dinner, she followed me up the stairs towards our chambers.

“I can tell that you’re angry with me, but I can’t seem to understand why. Please tell me.” I encouraged her, as I closed the door behind her. She walked further into the room, one of her hands caressing the bare skin on her other arm, but she met my eyes with a determined look in her eyes.

“Look, this is just a little too much for me… I’ve lost my luggage and he… He can get me fired and I just want to go home and forget about all this, okay?” Her voice was frail and trembling and my heart churned when I noticed the frustration and fear behind her words. I wanted to comfort her, to make her feel safe and calm, so without even thinking, I walked towards her and wrapped my arms around her. Her small body felt perfect in my arms and the stiffness in her body disappeared in a second as I felt her relax in my embrace. Even though I understood why she wanted this, I didn’t want to let her go. Maybe I was being selfish, maybe we were too different, but I knew that we were paired for a reason and I believed that she was meant to help me through this, like I was meant to fill that empty hole in her heart with love.