25
1528 Words
It was only a few minutes after six in the morning when I wake up, I immediately prepared though I was still feeling sluggish from lack of sleep.
How can I sleep last night?
When all that's running in my head was the death of Ronan and most especially, the ever so charming King Marcus himself.
And the Kiss...
I roughly shook my head before jumping off my bed. I head straight to the bathroom and took a warm shower before slipping to a tight leggings and an over sized T-shirt. I just let my long balck hair down, allowing it to dry.
I took one glance to my reflection in the mirror before heading out.
The Grand Dining Hall was quieter than usual this morning, though that didn't make it any less imposing. My eyes shifted to the long wooden table, adorned with silver plates and glasses, I smiled as I saw the morning light stretched across the room through the tall stained-glass windows.
My smile grew even begger as the scent of roasted meat and fresh bread filled the air.
I hurried through the doorway and the wide smile in my face automatically faded.
I had come here for breakfast, but now, seeing King Marcus sitting at the head of the table, my appetite suddenly shrank.
He was already eating, his sharp gaze flickered as soon as I stepped inside.
"Good morning, Foxy."
He greeted, his deep voice was smooth, almost teasing making my ears twitched, and all of a sudden, warmth crept up my face.
I swallowed, forcing my feet to move closer.
"G-Good morning, King Marcus."
I greeted back.
He raised a brow, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.
"Back to formality now, are we?"
I nearly choked as the memories of last night rushed back, his confession, the warmth of his lips on mine, the way I had melted into his touch. And then, of course, there was the part where I had snuck out of his room, only to be caught by-
"Well, well, if it isn't our little night wanderer."
I groaned internally the moment I heard his teasing voice.
And when I turned, there he was.
Lucas strode into the dining hall, his expression full of mischief.
He plopped down into a chair before grabbing a piece of fruit from the platter in front of him.
"Foxy, did you sleep well?"
Lucas asked innocently before grinning at the King.
"Or perhaps you were too... preoccupied?"
He said, the smug smirk on his face grew even bigger.
I felt my face burned.
"I-"
"Oh, she was definitely preoccupied."
Much to my surprice when King Marcus muttered the words as if he understood what game his dear friend Lucas wanted to play.
He calmly continued his meal, tearing a piece of bread and dipping it into butter as if Lucas hadn't just thrown me under a metaphorical spotlight.
I turned to him in horror.
"Y-You're not denying it?!"
Marcus glanced at me, amusement flickered in his eyes.
"Why should I?"
Marcus said, unfazed.
Lucas burst into laughter, nearly choking on his fruit.
"Ah, this is too good! The great Lycan King, smitten! And here I thought no woman could ever tame you."
"I never said I was tamed."
King Marcus replied smoothly, spearing a piece of meat with his fork.
"I simply admitted the truth."
My fists clenched at my side as I tried to swallow the lump in my throat.
The nonchalant way of hime handeling this was unbearable. Did what had happened last night mean nothing to him? Or was he simply this shameless?
"Would you both stop?"
I finally muttered as I finally took a seat far from both of them.
"People will get the wrong idea."
Lucas snorted.
"The wrong idea? Foxy, I caught you sneaking out of his room. In the middle of the night."
He leaned forward on the table, smirking.
"Tell me, what exactly would be the 'right idea' in this situation?"
I opened my mouth, but no words came out so I only endedn up closing it again.
And for no good reason, my heart pounded painfully against my chest as I grabbed a piece of bread, aggressively tearing it apart as I began to imangine it were Lucas's face.
I hardly even chewed on my bread when I heard Marcus chuckled, finally turning his full attention to me.
"Why are you so embarrassed?"
"Because you're both insufferable!"
I muttered, stuffing bread into my mouth to avoid further conversation.
Lucas clapped his hands together.
"Ah, I love this. You two are going to be the talk of the entire kingdom."
My heart skipped a beat while Marcus only smirked.
"Let them talk."
I shot him a glare, but he met it with nothing but calm confidence, as if he had already decided something I wasn't yet aware of.
And that, more than Lucas teas, the more than the entire castle gossiping.
Now I really just want to tear his face off of his head.
After just a few bites of bread and a few sip of tea, I finally pushed the remaining bread away.
"So, Foxy..."
A groan once again escaped my throat when Lucas drawled lazily, still refusing to drop the subject. A sly grin still plastered on his face.
"Whe I saw you coming out of King Macus's room, you seemed too... Flustered... I wonder why..."
I barely even sleep last night and my hear still racing from King Marcus's lips brushing against mine, and Lucas just won't shut up.
I scowled, stuffing the last piece of bread into my mouth and chewing furiously to avoid answering.
Lucas's chuckle made me glare at him even more.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
I muttered once I had swallowed.
I grabbed the napkin, wiped my mouth quickly, and stood up from the table.
"I should go."
Lucas smirked and leaned forward, propping his chin on his hand.
"Leaving so soon? You usually take your time with breakfast."
Marcus finally said.
I avoided looking at him. I refused to acknowledge the knowing look he was giving me.
Instead, I turned on my heel and made for the exit, only to halt when Marcus's deep and commanding voice stopped me in my tracks.
"Where are you going?"
My breath hitched as I turned around slowly facing him again.
He was still seated at the head of the table, his golden eyes sharp with curiosity.
I've been sitting with him while having my breakfast but seeing his beautiful face again and again is making my stomach twist.
"I'm heading to the training grounds."
I said quickly.
"I want to start training... Everyday is a waste when I spend it doing nothing instead of trying to finally shift."
Marcus leaned back in his chair, studying me.
"You want to shift into your wolf form?"
"Yes."
I answered without hesitation.
"I've waited long enough. I need to train. I need to be stronger. Like the court council said before, I am the only one left in my generation who still haven't yet to shift. It's getting frustrating each day gone by, I feel like I am wasting time, I wanted to know whether I am still going to shift or I really just need to accept that I don't have a wolf."
Lucas snorted.
"You make it sound like shifting for the first time is just another chore on your to-do list."
I crossed my arms. "Isn't it?"
Marcus sighed, standing from his chair. He was taller than me so I had to look up, his presence commanding and strong.
He took slow, deliberate steps towards me, and I had to fight the urge to step back.
"You need to take it slow."
He said.
"Shifting isn't just about wanting it. It's about control. If you rush, you'll end up hurting yourself."
"I can handle it."
I stubbornly insisted.
Marcus once again gave me a knowing look.
"That's why, from today onward, you'll be training under me."
I blinked.
"Wh- What?"
"You heard him."
Lucass said, grinning.
"Congratulations, little wolf. You've just earned yourself the toughest mentor in the kingdom."
My mouth opened, then closed.
"N-No, wait. Why you? Shouldn't I be training under one of the court councils? Or under him?"
I said, pointing at Lucas who's still grinning from ear to ear.
Marcus folded his arms.
"Do you not trust me to train you?"
"It's not that…"
I trailed off, I looked away feeling trapped.
I had wanted training, I took every training very seriously, but I hadn't expected this. Training under Marcus meant being close to him, too close.
After what happened last night, that was the last thing I needed.
So taining with him, means I cannot focus... I need to focus.
Marcus watched me, his expression unreadable.
"If you want to shift, you'll do it under my guidance. No negotiations."
Lucas chuckled.
"Oh, this is going to be fun."
I shot him a glare before turning back to Marcus, my resolve was firm.
"Fine. But don't expect me to go easy on you either."
Marcus smirked.
"I wouldn't dream of it."
- Writer
