THIRTY- ONE

After we left laura's closet boutique, Sarah took me to a restaurant.

The name written on the signboard was jack's haven.

We entered, and I saw the restaurant's decor looked expensive.

'It seems nobles eat here,' I thought with the customers dressed in expensive outfits.

A waiter came for us and guided us to our table.

When we sat, the waiter placed the menus on the table, and Sarah opened the booklet and asked, ''What would you like to eat, miss carmen?"

I opened the booklet and said, '' Anything.''

''Okay, we would like to have this and this,

'' She pointed to the dishes on the menu, and the waiter wrote them on his notepad.

She asked, ''Which drink?"

I stared at the drink section on the booklet and said '' Fruit drink,''

She nodded and turned to the waiter, ''I would like the wine, the lowest tolerance of alcohol in it.''

After writing our orders waiter smiled professionally, ''Please wait for your meal,'' and he left.

We did not speak because we were not familiar with each other.

Sarah broke the silence, ''Miss Carmen,''

I turned to her to show that I was listening.

''Please don't take the rumors about Lady Macquoid and his majesty to heart,'' Sarah said nervously.

I nodded.

''The nobles agreed that if his majesty does not find his mate, Lady Macquoid will be the queen, but that changed since you are here, so lady Macquoid feels threatened.'' she continued after seeing that I listened.

I expected that.

Brittney's family seems to be of the highest status below my mate. I won't be surprised if the nobles' target is the queen's seat.

''Although it is true about his majesty's hatred for your kind, It is not my place to say why, but you can talk it out with his majesty.'' She said, smiling sadly.

''It might not seem like it, but his majesty had been waiting for his mate,'' she paused.

Then she bowed her head on the chair, ''So please don't give up on him.'' She rose it up.

I looked at her and nodded.

''What about Brittney's mate?'' I asked.

'I mean, her father can't ignore his daughter's mate for the queen's seat,' I thought.

Sarah looked at me, then at both sides, before leaning forward and whispering, ''There are rumors about her father forcing her to reject him.''

I looked taken back at that discovery.

''I heard her mate is of baron status, and to the duke, you must be in higher status than him to marry his daughter.''

''There are also rumors of her rejecting him because she did not find him worthy,'' Sarah added.

The waiter brought our dishes to our table, and we started to eat.

After eating, Sarah paid our bills, and we left the restaurant satisfied. I must admit the dishes are delicious.

We walked to the places Sarah recommended till she was tired.

''Miss Carmen, Aren't you tired?'' Sarah leaned on the wall, panting.

I looked at her and answered, ''No.''

She looked at me in envy, ''I see. I wished I had your stamina.''

I stared down the road we took to enter the kingdom and noticed something.

''Sarah, Is there something or a barrier protecting this kingdom?''

She looked stunned and mumbled, ''Wow, Harrison was right.''

She stood upright and answered, ''Yes. there is.''

''Actually, the kingdom is divided into villages and the capital.

''This place near the castle is called the capital for nobles, and the villages are for commoners or ruined noble,'' she continued.

''But the whole has one barrier protecting connected to the king, and If something happens, the king would feel it,'' she added.

I nodded.

I felt the barrier after gaining Artemis as a lycan immediately after I woke up, but I didn't know it was a barrier.

I could feel something covering the kingdom.

'It's because we gained more power after my shifting.' Artemis said.

The only creatures that can cast something like that are witches.

'It seems they have a witch,' I thought.

I looked at Sarah's tired face and said, ''Let's go back,''

Sarah agreed.

I took the shopping bag and waited for her to lead the way.

She looked at my action and smiled in gratitude, ''Thank you.''

We left for the parking lot.

Immediately after I got to my appointed room, I placed the shopping bag somewhere, and dump myself on the bed, and dozed off.

I woke up after some time and sat on the bed to ruffle my hair.

I was about to stand up, and I felt it.

''Come out,'' I said in the empty room.

A chuckle sounded in the room, and I recognized it as my mate.

I looked at him, coming out from the corner of the room in the dark, and sighed, ''Your majesty, Is there anything I can do for you?"

I stayed on my bed and saw him coming toward me and standing in front of the bed.

He looked at me before asking, ''Did you enjoy your outing?"

I looked at him speechlessly but answered, ''Yes, I did.''

''Thank you,'' I mumbled without looking at him.

''I see, then you can leave the castle anytime you want.'' He said.

''I didn't ask for your permission,'' I said.

We stared at each other before he did something unexpected.

He leaned forward with his hand on the bed and dipped his head on my neck, sniffing me.

He did it without any warning, and I couldn't react.

My face was completely red, and I stuttered, ''w-wh-what are y-yo-you doing?"

He lifted one knee to kneel and then sat on the bed before holding my waist with his face on my neck.

''I am sorry, but please, my beast needs this.''

I stopped moving but allowed him to do it, and we stayed for a while in this position.

I feel him breathing in my scent and his jaw clenching.

'He feels the need to mark,' I thought.

He left my neck, but his hold on my waist stayed.

We were close to each other, and I could feel his stare on my face.

His peppermint with a mix of musk scent was invading the room.

When I felt my face calming down, I stared at him and spoke, ''Next time, don't do that again.''

''Why?" He asked, tightening his hold on me.

''I don't want to be with someone who sees me for benefit,'' I said, and I am sure he understood the meaning behind my words.

Something flickered in his eyes, and he sneered, ''I see.''

He left my waist and the bed to adjust his clothing.

''If you need anything, please come to my office,''

He stared at me and turned to leave, ''Sorry.''

He opened the door and left.

I looked at the space on my bed and lay on it.

I could smell his scent on my sheet.

'Why did you do that?' Artemis asked.

''What?'' I asked aloud.

'You chased away him yesterday and did the same thing again this evening.' She said.

''I want him to be with on his own accord and not because of his lycan,'' I responded.

I want him to settle his hatred for my kind and love me for me, not because the bond forces him to or his beast.

'It's like being lovers with benefits,' I thought.

And I don't want that.