Sir. I am sorry.

In a flurry of activity, I rushed through my morning routine, hastily dressing and heading down to the kitchen.

There, I found Maggie, and after exchanging morning greetings, I anxiously inquired about the king's breakfast preferences.

"Ela, good morning?" Maggie greeted.

"Good morning, Maggie.” I responded.

"Please tell me you know what the king has for breakfast."

After a nod of confirmation, Maggie brought out an array of ingredients. Admittedly, I was no culinary expert, and the sheer quantity of ingredients only added to my bewilderment.

"Are you cooking for the whole palace?" I quipped.

"No, I mean the King personally ordered that you should be responsible for the food he eats. Like, to be honest this has never happened before but I'll help you for today." Maggie confessed as she began preparing the meal. I simply nodded, eager to get the food done.

Finally, Maggie finished and I hurriedly carried the tray to the king's office.

After a brief knock, he allowed my entry and I placed the food on the table.

"Your food. Sir." I announced. He acknowledged with a nod and without expecting any gratitude, I left closing the door behind me.

I couldn't help but be surprised by his lack of the usual intimidating behaviour—no scare tactics or pinning me against the wall.

Lia, my inner voice, expressed her disapproval.

'He didn't even talk to us, even scaring us was better as it is the only way I got to sniff our mate's scent.’ she remarked.

'I know.’ I concurred as I made my way back to my room. Exhaustion took over, and I laid back on the bed, succumbing to a deep sleep.

My sleep was interrupted and intended to finish.

Abruptly, Lia's voice jolted me awake.

'Someone is here.’ she alerted me, and I opened my eyes to find the king standing in front of me.

"Sir, I am so sorry. I didn't know when I fell.." I began, but he cut me off.

"It is okay. The council members are here. I would like you to make us some snacks." he stated abruptly and left without waiting for my response.

The abruptness of his commands left me bewildered, pondering the enigma that was the Lycan King.

Maggie was still in the kitchen and I couldn't shake off the lingering sense of discomfort from the king's sudden appearance. Lia reminded me that these were part of the duties expected from a mate.

'He's our mate, and these are some of our duties.' Lia offered, her voice echoing my inner thoughts.

'Exactly that reason. You know he didn't accept us as his mate and treats us like a slave ever since we walked in.’ I remarked, bursting Lia's bubble.

In a swift motion, I headed down to the kitchen, seeking Maggie's assistance in preparing snacks for the council members. She graciously agreed to help.

"The king looks disturbed." I commented, recalling his abrupt orders.

"Oh,yes, he is." Maggie responded.

Piquing my interest, I leaned in, and she continued in a hushed tone.

"The king is being forced to marry a chosen mate if he doesn't find his second chance mate Luna."

The revelation intrigued me.

"Second chance mate? Did he have any mates before?" I inquired.

"Yes, he had a mate, but she had lost her memory only remembers his cousin as her mate. That's why he doesn't believe in mates anymore.” Maggie gossiped.

Unveiling a layer of the Lycan King's troubled past. The gossip added another dimension to the enigma that was King Blaze Moonshadow giving me a glimpse into the wounds that haunted him.

"Really?" I inquired.

"Yes, and now the council wants him to mark a chosen mate for the sake of traditions; this palace needs a Luna." she said in a low gossip tone.

"I see, why is he stressed about it then?"

"Because he doesn't want a mate; I think he's afraid of commitment. Anyways what I think is not important, but I should tell you, if he makes Linda his Luna, there won't be peace in this palace. She's inexperienced." She added handing me the tray of snacks, which I took and muttered a thank you.

"I just hope the moon goddess changes her mind on this. I mean, the marking ceremony is in two days already."

"Oh, they set the date?"

"Yes, and the wedding is supposed to be next week. They wanted the wedding to take place immediately for the palace's sake." she said.

After nodding, she walked me to the library. After she knocked, she left saying.

"You'll be fine." with a smile.

I entered and greeted the elders who were busy discussing. It was only one of them who nodded to my greeting, as the rest eyed me with a judgy look and continued their conversation.

"The marking will happen in two days; we already informed Alpha Rick about it and he agreed. You don't know how much convincing that took, so cancelling won't be good.” one of the elders said.

"I know, but I don't want to marry her. She's matured and won't make a good Luna.” he opposed.

"Well, you don't love her and it's not like you want a Luna; it's just to fulfil traditions.” one of the members said.

"What if he finds his fated mate?" It just came out from my mouth out of nowhere, and it made all the elders turn to me.

"Nobody asked for your opinion here.” one of the elders criticised.

"Yes, it's not like you know anything.” the other said.

"I know, but with due respect, I think the palace can experience chaos if the king decides to marry a chosen mate and his fated mate shows up." I added eyeing the king, who was just staring at my face with no emotions.

"I think she has a point." one of the elders remarked.

"No! I mean how can we agree to this? She is nobody to order us; we are elders and have already made the decision. He is going to mark Alpha Rick's sister in two days and the wedding must take place in five days.” he said, shortening the date of marriage.

I felt like I was stabbed right in my chest; I mean, he was my mate after all.

"Everyone out now! Except you Elara." he ordered, and the elders, each taking a snack, left.

I was now shivering.

He stood up, closed the door and came close to me.

He pushed me against the wall and just like that the atmosphere shifted, his eyes bore into mine, and my heartbeat quickened, then lowering his gaze to my lips he spoke.

"You seem to have a lot to say for someone who just got here.” he remarked with a cold tone.

"I.. I didn't mean to overstep.” I stammered feeling the intensity of his presence.

"Well, you did." he said, his gaze unwavering.

"You think you can come in here and challenge decisions made by the elders?"

"I just thought.." I began, but he interrupted me.

"You thought?" he scoffed.

"It is not in your place to make such decisions, know your place."

His words stung, and I felt a mixture of frustration and hurt.

"I'm just trying to help." I defended myself.

"Help?" he repeated, a cynical smirk playing on his lips.

"You don't even know the dynamics of this palace. Your presence here is unnecessary."

A wave of anger washed over me.

"I may have come just now but I have two years in this palace, I still care about the well-being of this palace as it can affect my well-being. I don't want to see chaos unfold because of a forced mating as my mental health is vital for my upcoming trial." I said without fear as I just wanted him to acknowledge that I was his mate.

He leaned in closer, his breath grazing my lips.

"You're treading on dangerous ground, Elara. Watch your words."

He held my face.

"You are talking about yourself, aren't you?" he asked, making me realise he knew all along that I was his mate, as his eye colour changed to molten gold.

"Ye-yes." I stammered, hoping he would acknowledge me and finally consider me as I needed someone on my side for trial. Someone who could defend me against Aiden and Lola.

"Well, you shouldn't. Forget the mate bond. I don't feel anything for anyone and will never." he said, staring right into my eyes, and tears started forming in my eyeballs.

"So I will not tolerate my fated mate disrespecting my chosen mate, so there won't be any chaos in my palace." he added, shutting me down as Lia cried from the inside while my tears threatened to roll down my cheeks.

"You are only here for two years, then from there you're back to prison or whatever it is that the court will decide for you. Don't force me to make your stay here a nightmare." he said, staring right into my eyes and I stared into his eyes which were now dark green and still not spotting any emotions.

Then pulling away just a little.

"Don't ever repeat that!" he warned, and he pulled away, leaving me breathless against the wall.

The encounter left me unsettled, realising that my attempt to voice concern might have ignited a conflict.

As he opened the door, he glanced back at me.

"Don't interfere in matters that don't concern you." I nodded as I walked out.

So my mate marrying another she-wolf wasn't my concern?

When I reached my room, I locked the door behind me as I fell on the door. The realisation of the goddess giving me two mates who wanted nothing to do with me hit me.

‘It is okay.’ Lia comforted me.

'We can be our own mate," she added.

Then I felt weird shivers on my skin. I looked up and noticed something, a howling strong wind in the air with weird whisper sounds.

I tried to get up but it couldn't seems I was frozen, now I couldn't even move a finger.

Through that wind, was a black cat walking in the space, it walked up the ceiling. Staring right into my eyes which were hazel green just like mine, then it used its hands to write some letters that I couldn't make out.

It kept writing, and after a few minutes, the black cat disappeared, along with the howling wind as it stopped with its sound.

The letters were still there, I tried to move and finally I could. I got up and rushed out, literally running.

I ended in the sitting room, with my heart pounding with the weight of the mysterious message on the ceiling.

"Maggie!" I called out urgently, spotting her on the sofa she was watching tv.

"Did you hear that strange sound just now?"

Maggie looked up, confusion etching her features.

"No Ela, I didn't hear anything. What's going on?" She asked and me not able to form more words. I held her hands.

"Come with me to my room. There's something I need to show you," I insisted. A sense of urgency propelling me forward.

As we entered my room, I pointed at the ceiling.

"Look at this! Can't you see the writing?"

Maggie squinted, attempting to see what I was seeing, but she shook her head.

"I don't see anything. What are you talking about?"

I felt a mixture of frustration and confusion.

Maybe only I could perceive this message.

"There's letters drawn in blood there Maggie." I said, still pointing at the ceiling, as I tried to make sense of the mysterious writing.

Suddenly, the sound of Maggie's mom-- the older maid, echoed through the air.

"Maggie! Come quickly; I need your help in the kitchen!" The voice carried a tone of urgency.

Maggie shot me an apologetic look.

"I'll be right back, Ela."

Left alone, I focused on the writing, trying to understand its cryptic message. That's when I heard Bianca, the vampire from the prison, resonated in my mind.

"Bianca? What's happening? Why do I hear your voice?" I questioned, seeking answers.

"Elara, I made a connection, listen only you can decipher the message I don't even know what it means and only you can see the letters. It's meant for you. Concentrate on it, and with Lia's guidance, you'll comprehend." Bianca's voice reassured me through our mental link.

As the room fell silent, and with the guidance of Lia, the meaning of the message gradually unfolded before my eyes, urging me to prepare for a responsibility I hadn't anticipated.

The mention of a community left me bewildered, prompting a multitude of questions in my mind.

What community?

And what throne? I questioned.

'I don't know Ela, but I'm sure whatever it is, it can't be good' Lia said.