The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving - Chapter 28: Chapter 28

"She hasn't eaten, my Lord," said the maid who led Lucas to the door.
"You may leave," he said to her, and she bowed before taking her leave.
Without knocking, Lucas opened the door, his eyes landing on the small female curled up in the corner of her room.
Her arms were wrapped around her folded knees, face buried between them, with her hair spilling over her back and arm.
"If you're starving yourself to avoid questioning, then you're completely wrong, little wolf."
Slowly, Lylah looked up at him without a word. Her eyes were red and swollen—she had been crying.
"Where am I? And who the hell are you?" she asked in a croaky voice, laced with pain and anger.
Lucas raised a brow, clearly not expecting such a curt question from her. Her elbow concealed part of her face, but her gaze was sharp.
He walked further into the room. "Who am I?" His voice cut through the air like a blade. "I'm the one who decides whether you walk out of here alive or not."
Lylah’s eyes narrowed. "You're the one who saved me," she mumbled, then averted her gaze. "Thanks."
With a cold expression, Lucas asked, "What were you doing in the Dark Forest?"
She shut her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks. "To find someone and now I realized how impulsive I was. It was my idea—and it killed my friend. I made him come with me into the Dark Forest, knowing how dangerous it was. I was so stupîd... and now he's dead, all because of me," Lylah sobbed.
"So you went there of your own will? Not because you were banished, exiled, or forced? What were you thinking?"
Lylah sighed and admitted, "I was heading to the Lunaris Citadel to find my sister."
Lucas's eyes darkened. "You were planning to intrude here? Are you simply out of your mind, young wolf?"
"Huh?" Lylah's head snapped up. She stood, eyes wide. "What do you mean here? Is this... the Lunaris Citadel?"
Lucas tilted his head. What in the seven hells was this girl thinking, trying to intrude into the Citadel without getting caught? She had been lucky, but that didn’t mean he’d let it slide.
"Yes!" Lylah screamed, then winced as her stomach growled. "Ah! Fuck, my stomach—that hurts. I’ve never spent a day without eating. Geez, almost four days! My poor belly..."
"Do you have any idea what crime you've committed?" he growled, this time using that Lycan tone. It hit her hard, making her mouth snap shut. "Soon, you’ll stand trial for being an intruder. You—"
"I didn’t intrude!" she cut him off, her voice sharp like the edge of sword. "You found me in the Dark Forest and brought me here yourself. So why should I stand trial? Just because I confessed it to you? What, are you going to report me to the king or his Beta?"
Lucas raised a brow. "You have no inkling who you're speaking to, do you?"
Lylah’s eyes flicked to his casual clothing. He looked handsome, and the way he carried himself was like that of a noble.
"Who knows," she shrugged.
A knock came at the door. "Lord Lucas... I’m sorry for interrupting, but the warriors are waiting for you."
"Lord Lucas?" Lylah frowned. "Lord... Lucas, the Beta of..."
Her stomach churned—not with hunger this time, but with realization.
"It took you long enough to realize that, little wolf," Lucas muttered.
Lylah’s heart skipped a beat. "Oh shit... I’m screwed."
•••••••
The night she spent with the King lingered in her mind. For the first time, someone actually listened to everything she had been keeping to herself for so long.
Who would have thought the King would be that person?
The way he reached for her face, caressing her cheek with his thumb, wiping away her tears as if to comfort her—it made her heart swell.
Concentrate, Arianna. You shouldn't be thinking about that right now.
“Hi.”
Arianna spun around, spotting a young man with a bright smile. Judging from his clothing, he had high status.
“Hi,” she returned the smile. “How may I help you?”
Politely, he spoke, “Oh no, I don't need your help. This is my first time investigating the slaves… I mean, workers. I’m Ser Orion’s assistant, and since he's gone, I’ll be taking charge temporarily.”
Hearing the name, Arianna broke into a cold sweat. “Gone?” she asked, trying to keep her voice normal.
“Yeah, they were transferred to the outer territory. It's unlikely they’ll return. I heard Ser Zephyr joined him too.”
Arianna smiled awkwardly, sweat dripping down her face.
“My name is Atlas. Nice to meet you… uhm?”
“Arianna,” she replied. Atlas looked nothing like the previous master. He looked young, smart, and pretty cool.
“Nice name, I must say.”
“Thank you, Ser,” she said, continuing her work.
“I heard you're the King's slave. This is actually my first time meeting you,” he said, and Arianna looked up at him.
“Yeah,” she replied, trimming the flowers carefully.
“Well, I know Ser Orion was quite devious, and I hated that about him. He talked about you sometimes… things I’d rather not repeat,” he said.
Arianna nodded. “You're kind, Ser.”
“You too. If you ever need my help, I'll be here,” Atlas said.
“Thank you,” Arianna replied, clearing her throat, noticing some other slaves flashing her jealous looks.
“By the way, your eyes…” Atlas spoke again, and Arianna looked up at him. “Your silver eyes look beautiful.”
Arianna was caught off guard by his compliment. Her eyes narrowed. “My eyes aren’t silver. They’re green.”
Atlas smiled, slightly flustered. “They’re silver. You can check the mirror if you think I'm lying.”
His words sounded serious and sincere, making Arianna’s brows furrow.
“I’ll see you around,” he said, walking away.
After the day’s work, Arianna grabbed a mirror first, checking her eyes. Shock rippled through her.
Her eyes were indeed silver.
“Oh my god,” she whispered.
•••••••••
That same night, King Duncan tried his best to focus, but what had happened the night before lingered in his mind.
She was in his thoughts, wrapping around him like a blanket. No matter how hard he tried to suppress it, it kept resurfacing.
He recalled saying his Lycan only wanted to pounce on her and take her with every turn. But now… he began to wonder if those words were actually true.
Those tears streaming down her face. Every word she spoke, laced with pain—it reached him.
An urge to protect her.
Could she be…
“My King.” A voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Lord Frederick was reporting his latest mission, gathering information on the devious plans some Alphas were plotting behind the King’s back.
And here Duncan was, drowning in thoughts of a mere slave.
It stirred an unsettling storm within him.
When Duncan said nothing, the Lord bowed his head. “I'll take my leave, Your Grace… and deliver the full report tomorrow morning.”
King Duncan gave a faint nod, his expression unreadable. He barely heard Lord Frederick’s departing footsteps as his thoughts dragged him back to her.
Then her name slipped from his mouth...
“Ari…” It sounded deep, vibrating through his chest.
“Ari,” he repeated, his furrowed brows easing.
A thought hit him. Right—she spoke of betrayal.
Duncan stood, striding toward the file that contained records of all the Alphas, both old and new. Sitting in his chair, he flipped through the pages.
He went straight to the Ravenwood Pack. “Kael Fangton. Son of the late warrior Darius. Alpha of the Ravenwood Pack.”
His gaze darkened, a strange anger rising in his chest. He growled.
“That motherfucker…”