Chapter 174 Chapter 173
"Yes. He called her again despite knowing she was going to do this and let her go when the rut hit." Running a hand through his hair in frustration, Morvan growled, anger overriding his other emotions. "I honestly don't know what he was thinking. Doesn't he know the consequences of being so close to her!?"
Ladrian sighed and peeked through the opening again. The wolf was still struggling, hunger evident in those amber eyes of his. "I honestly don't think he can calm down on his own if that's the case." He glanced at Morvan. "We may need to knock him out, or worse, poison him to weaken him so he stops struggling so much."
"What if..." Morvan started, licking his lips as fear surged. "What if we do all of that and he still doesn't revert back?"
Ladrian's expression turned grave. "If that becomes the case, we would have to make peace with the fact that we have lost the king."
"What?" The softly spoken word landed like an explosion.
"To be honest, I don't see a way for the king to come out of this on his own. He's denied himself for too long, and his beastly sides just can't take it anymore. No male should deny themselves of their basic needs for as long as the king has. I'm surprised this hasn’t happened earlier. He has to be with a woman to be able to pull out of this."
Morvan grated his jaw, slamming his fist into a wall as he roared, tears stinging his eyes. When he pulled back, he realized he'd caused a dent. The king's roars and howls of pain began again. Something in him shriveled and died.
Please, your majesty. Fight this. Please.
.
.
.
That night, Rayena couldn't sleep. She kept tossing and turning on the bed, her thoughts permanently on the king. What had happened to him in the study? Why did he turn into a wolf? Why had he reacted that way towards her? What was going on with him? Was he alright now?
Restless from lying down, she started pacing around the room, wondering if she should sneak out and try to see him. But the fear of being caught and punished had her rethinking that. Her heart felt like it was being wrung mercilessly in her chest. It hurt so bad.
Dawn arrived, yet Rayena hadn't slept a wink. She'd grown so weary, every cell in her body screaming for her to catch a glimpse of the king, to confirm if he was alright. She hastily changed into a dress, pulled her messy hair into a ponytail, and rushed out of her room. Soraya saw her go and instantly called to her.
"Rayena! Where are you going!" she called out, rushing towards her, concerned at the dark circles beneath Rayena's eyes. Even her eyes were bloodshot, a clear sign that she hadn't slept a wink.
"I want to see the king..." Rayena mumbled, still moving, but Soraya pulled her back.
"Why?"
"I don't know. I just need to see him! We didn't part on great terms. I need to know if he's alright."
"But... we're not allowed into the palace unless summoned," Soraya tried to reason with her.
"I don't care!" Rayena cried out, frantic. Her body started trembling, and she couldn't tell why. "I don't care," she whispered, holding Soraya's panic-stricken face. "I feel like I'll die if I don't."
"But you haven't been summoned! Do you want the king to be cross with you, or worse, punish you?"
Rayena started to leave. "You don't understand, Soraya, I have to...!"
"No one is allowed to go anywhere unless they have been summoned!" another voice broke out, and the owner, Ysolde, came into view, walking in slow, regal steps, a withering look in her eyes.
Rayena saw red. "And why do you care about my actions?!" she seethed through clenched teeth.
"I care because I am the king's betrothed, which puts me in a higher position than you," Ysolde countered, narrowing her gaze. "Unless you have been summoned by the king, you will stay right here, in the harem," she deadpanned, her voice carved from steel.
Rayena glared at her, a retort forming on her lips, but Soraya's gentle hold on her shoulder made her pause. Seeing her secret plea not to pick a fight with Ysolde, tears welled in her eyes, and she ran back to her room, throwing herself onto the bed as sobs racked her throat.
"Don't cry..." Soraya said, settling beside her as she caressed her back, torn at seeing her friend cry. "It's probably for your own good. It might not bode well for you if you go to see him without being summoned."
The tears didn't stop. Her sobs grew louder. She didn't know how to say it to Soraya, that deep down in her bones, she knew something was wrong with the king.
Something seriously wrong.