Love In Disguise: Lycan King's Forbidden Love

"Wine spills, but blood leaves it's mark..."

Eira could hear indiscriminate murmuring around her. She moaned when a chill breeze roughly caressed her exposed toes sticking out of the thick covering draped over her, some sort of blanket. Only it was heavier and carried fur, fur that scratched at her neck and shoulders.

As her consciousness slowly returned, the voices sharpened, she could pick out that two women were speaking, and one was the slave from earlier.

"What are you saying Riya? The Alpha himself went to the mesh hall? That's impossible, he's never done that before!"

The slave, whom Eira learned was named Riya responded swiftly, "Everyone saw it." Her voice became louder as she shifted her stool closer to Eira's bed.

Eira parted her lips when a wet rag sat on her forehead, but she kept her eyes shut and kept listening in.

Riya went on, "The Alpha marched like an enraged beast into the hall, he picked the princess up from the floor and made to leave. I immediately went over to take her off his hands, but before I could, Vynessa got to him."

The other woman kissed her teeth, "She never learns, that one. She thinks being a former Lysára will make the alpha forgive her mistake. Zephyrine was my lady. She was a Lycan, but she treated us slaves well. You can only imagine the grief we felt when we heard that bitch had poisoned her."

Eira made a mental note of all the foreign words they were using. In hopes that when her voice returned, she would tell Arin everything she learned.

"Well, we won't have to worry about her any longer. When Vynessa tried to even touch the princess, the Alpha snapped her wrist!"

"What? The Lycan king did?!"

Eira furrowed her brows, wondering if what these women were saying held any salt.

Riya answered, "It's the truth! He ordered for Vynessa to be thrown into the dungeon. Then, he carried the princess halfway across the castle to her bedroom, where everyone could see!"

The other women's voice rang with excitement. "Is this a sign? Do you think the alpha fancies the princess?"

Riya retorted. "He would not have done this had he not. I'm telling you Serene, there's something special about the princess. I have a good feeling about-" right in the middle of her words the sharp sound of a slice cut her off.

With a silent thud, something rolled onto the floor. Eira scrunched her nose at the stench of blood, but kept her eyes shut.

Two heavy footsteps circled towards a heavily panting Riya. Blood trickled from the sides of Eira's mouth at the intensity of the stench. It was the same scent, the one from the torture room, the one that left her gasping for air.

He was here.

The Lycan king had come to pay her a visit, and he did not seem pleased.

All eyes fell on Ryker, who sat at the head of the table, glaring into space, whilst the roasted lamb on everyone's plate was growing cold. Everyone exchanged puzzled glances with each other, then settled their gazes to Wren, who sat closest to him.

"Ahem." Wren fake coughed, earning a slight head tilt from their leader.

He inhaled sharply then let his breath out in an exasperated sigh, his gaze sharpened he said in a low, serious tone.

"Ryker you're starting to scare the lamb. And me."

Ryker sent him a warning glare, then to the rest he straightened his back taking a good view at the tables spread out with around him. He noticed everyone staring at him, then remembered he hadn't said the blessing to the moon goddess yet.

He dry coughed, then began the short prayer, after which everyone at the camp began to eat their dinner.

"Hey," Wren called out in a low whisper, "Do you think it's wise? Leaving…" he leaned in, "The outsider alone in your tent? What if she tries to run away?"

Ryker remained stoic, "Then we track her and kill her."

"Why wait? She's already seen our faces and she knows where our hideout is. If she manages to escape our lives and those of everyone else will be in jeopardy." Wren explained.

Ryker parted his lips to speak, but Adrianna's face flashed before his mind, her mesmerizing orbs and copper hair made him withdraw his words.

"Where is Jael? I thought I asked you to bring him?" Ryker asked, searching for the old man.

Wren hissed, "He's refusing to eat dinner, not until he's allowed to see the outsider. The old man's grown attached to her. He probably thinks she's-" Wren's words were cut off by the arrival of Cara, who had in her hand a black scarf.

"Leader, I knitted you this scarf a while ago, but I wasn't able to give it to you before you left on the last expedition." She explained, digging her foot into the ground and twisting her hair.

Ryker turned to the blonde young lady in a white floral dress and a black shawl draped over her shoulders.

"How's your mother? Is she getting better?" Ryker asked.

Cara flattened her lips into a smile, "Thanks to the herbs you brought back, that's why I want to give you this scarf-"

"You should give her the scarf, she doesn't do well in the cold." Ryker suggested, pouring himself a cup of liquor.

Wren bit back a laugh.

Cara rolled her tongue around her mouth, thinking up a response. "Um, she already has enough scarfs, and besides, I made this one extra thick. To keep you warm on your travels."

"I'm not weak, Cara, so I won't fall sick. The winter is harsh this year, give that to someone here who needs it." He explained.

Cara's countenance fell. "But, I-"

Ryker cut her off by standing up, "Tell your mother I'll come see her tomorrow." He said, then left the dining area.

Once he left, Cara sniffled, "I wanted to give you specifically."

Wren sighed as he watched Ryker march off to meet the outsider, the one he was certain had plagued their leader's thoughts.

The one he did not trust.