The King and The Maid

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Harland’s POV

Reporters swarmed the stage, flashes popping like lightning, their voices rising in a frenzy. Questions fired from every direction, a rapid assault I couldn’t dodge. My gut twisted. Maybe this had been a mistake. I should have waited—Cali hadn’t even said yes to me yet, not really. Now the moment had gotten away from me, and I feared we were all going to pay the price.

“King Harland, why isn’t your mate here on such an important day? Why keep her a mystery?” one shouted, microphone thrust toward me.

Before I could answer, another cut in. “When do we get to meet her? Is she here in the castle—hidden somewhere?”

A third turned on my father. “Emeritus Patton, did you know your son found his mate before the ceremony? Have you met her? Do you think she’s fit to be queen?”

The first reporter’s voice rose again, sharp and accusing. “Are you embarrassed to bring her in public? Is that why she isn’t here?”

The crowd hushed for half a second, the weight of that question landing heavy. Then chaos erupted.

“Is she an omega?”

“Are you going to reject her?”

“Is she ugly?”

“Is she with child?”

That was enough. The speculation alone could endanger Cali, and I wasn’t going to let that happen. My father sat beside me, calm, almost bored. He didn’t care that his son was being cornered, or that my mate was being reduced to cruel guesses and whispers.

I raised a hand for a microphone, motioning for silence with my other. Slowly, miraculously, the noise tapered off.

“Thank you,” I said, swallowing hard. My voice rang steady, even though my chest was tight. “I understand many of you have questions regarding my mate. I will answer what I can, but I ask for understanding. This relationship is very new. We only discovered we were mates this morning. I had met her by chance the day before. Right now, she is very ill and being cared for in the pack hospital. That explains her absence during the ceremony.”

I paused, meeting eyes in the crowd. “When she is better, and when we’ve had time to adjust, we’ll arrange a public introduction. But let me be clear—she is not with child. She is not ugly. And yes, she is of a lower ranking, but her birth status is irrelevant to me. She is my mate. That alone makes her my equal. I ask that you honor her as such.”

For a moment, the crowd actually listened. Their silence felt heavy, thick. I let out a slow breath. “Now, enjoy the meal being brought out before you.” I set the mic down, stepping from the stage, every step weighted with the ache of wanting to be at Cali’s side instead of here.

At the head of the table, my father sat to my left. Seth’s chair sat empty at my right, because he understood where his duty lay—with her. My chest burned with bile. Cali hadn’t had many good meals since she’d lived here, not under my father’s cruel reign. Malnourished. Broken down. All because he thought suffering was strength.

A growl rumbled from my chest before I could stop it.

“Son, you okay?” my father asked, feigning concern.

The conversation we needed couldn’t happen in front of others. “Later,” I mind-linked, gritting my teeth.

“You seem upset. Did I do something?”

“You could say that, yes. But I meant what I said—later.”

“Let them stare,” he snapped back through the link. “If anyone has a right to be upset, it’s me. You avoided me all day, blocked my links, sent your beta to cover for you, and then pulled this stunt during the ceremony. A mate—of lower rank, no less. How low, Harland? Where did you even find her?”

“Yes, she’s truly my mate,” I growled back. “Her rank doesn’t matter. She’s strong. She’ll make a perfect Luna.”

“You’ve known her for a day. You know nothing about her. Who is this girl? Who are her parents? What pack raised her?”

“I told you—this should wait.”

“WHO, HARLAND?” The roar ripped through the link, my father’s voice so powerful it made my head throb, my chest seize. Old instincts clawed at me, making me feel ten years old again under his wrath. I hated that he still had this effect on me. But I couldn’t back down—not now.

“She’s one of the slaves you brought here six years ago. She’s been working as a maid ever since. Her name is Calianna.”

I braced for the explosion. My fists clenched, my wolf pressing close to the surface. My father’s eyes bulged, but instead of rage, shock flickered there. No flash of green to black. No violent outburst. Just silence. He stood slowly, his chair scraping against stone, and walked out.

The room buzzed with whispers behind him. My fists loosened, but the tension stayed in my bones.

⸻

Cali’s POV

The ceremony had been beautiful, but watching Harland attacked by reporters made one thing very clear: he deserved better than me. I wasn’t worthy of being Queen Luna. I couldn’t face flashing cameras or thousands of eyes judging my every move.

He spoke, and people listened. When I spoke, I was invisible. How could I ever be his equal?

I wanted to be with him—goddess, I wanted that more than I ever thought possible—but it wasn’t fair to him. He deserved a Luna he could proudly present, not one he had to defend.

I should leave. Tonight. Slip out while he slept, ask Seth to step away for a moment, and vanish.

“Cali, no,” Willow whimpered in my mind. “He wants to be your mate. He already loves us—I can feel it. Don’t do this. Give him a chance.”

Her voice cracked with pain. Leaving would hurt her too. She hadn’t even met Harland’s wolf yet. None of this was fair to her either.

“I know, Willow. But how long before his love turns to resentment? He’s trusting the bond, but what if the bond isn’t enough? Him being with me—it never made sense. It’s better if I rip the Band-Aid off now.”

“There’s more to you than you realize. I can feel it. You are stronger than you believe. Stay. Give it a chance. If you leave, he won’t stop searching until he finds you.”

I sighed, staring up at the white-tiled ceiling. She was right. He would never let me go without a fight. “If I stay, I’ll never have the courage to leave.”

A knock at the door made me jump.

“Yes, come in,” I called, bracing myself.

“It’s just me,” Seth’s voice came softly. “Harland had some staff send dinner up for you. Can I bring it in?”

Dinner? Again? My stomach growled at the heavenly smell wafting in. “Yes, please,” I said quickly.

Seth stepped inside with a silver tray. He was tall and solid, shaggy black hair falling into golden eyes. Boyish and nervous, like someone who could’ve been in a boy band if he hadn’t been built like a soldier.

“My name is Seth—though, well, you already know that,” he said, scratching the back of his neck.

I smiled. “I’m Calianna. Cali.”

“Nice to meet you, Cali. I… I wanted to apologize for earlier. Letting Ivan in. I was following orders, but I should have realized. I’m sorry. I did link Harland right away, but still—I should’ve protected you.”

His remorse rolled off him in waves. I softened. “Ivan is to blame for Ivan. Not you. You stayed here when I needed you most. You even let me use your phone to watch the ceremony. Thank you.”

He finally set the tray down, and my eyes widened at the food. Orange-glazed chicken. Buttery mashed potatoes. Roasted Brussels sprouts. It smelled like heaven.

The first bite melted on my tongue—sweet orange, tender chicken. My eyes stung with tears at how good it was. I’d never tasted anything like it. I didn’t even notice Seth watching until my cheeks flushed hot.

“Sorry—I’m being rude. Do you want some?”

“No, they sent one for me too.”

“Then bring it in and eat with me,” I said. “And tell me all Harland’s embarrassing stories.”

Seth chuckled and ducked out, returning with his own tray. Willow’s voice purred in my mind. See? He likes you. Others will too, Cali. Give this a chance.

Maybe she was right.

Over dinner, Seth told me about Harland’s love of winter and how they hiked the northern mountains every year. My heart swelled at the thought—I hated the cold. I was a beach girl. I remembered summer vacations with my parents, camping out by the water until dusk, dreading the day we had to leave. Maybe, someday, I could convince Harland to take me back.

Seth and Harland were cousins, born only days apart. They’d grown up together, bonded even tighter after their mothers were killed in the war. Seth’s voice softened with every story, and my heart ached. I could hear how much Harland meant to him.

“Hey, Seth?”

“Yeah?”

“I have a favor to ask. I haven’t seen my friend Rachel since this morning. She’s all I have left. Could you check on her? Please?”

His expression softened. “Of course. I’ll be back in a moment.”

He left, and my chest tightened with unease. When he returned, his eyes were troubled, his mouth drawn tight.

I pushed up on my elbows. “What’s wrong?”