Chapter 13 The King is Mad

Chapter 13 The King is Mad

Verona

The drive home was painfully silent, and by the time we arrived, I felt completely drained. Everything that had happened… It was too much for one day.

As soon as we stepped inside, Evan spoke quietly, “I’ll be in your room in twenty.”

I nodded, and before I could even take a breath, the maids rushed up to me.

“Please, my lady, move slowly,” the head maid fussed, already inspecting me like I might crumble.

I just nodded and let them guide me down the hall. But the moment we reached my door, I turned to them sharply.

“I’m sorry, but I’ll be needing my privacy.”

They all bowed their heads and stepped back. I closed the door behind me with a breath of relief.

“There’s danger ahead.”

I jumped a little—though honestly, I should’ve known. Obed materializing out of nowhere was becoming a very annoying habit.

“I need privacy. Leave,” I told him, firm and tired.

But Obed only stared at me, then—out of nowhere—asked, “Do you like him? The Alpha King. He’s handsome, strong, and obviously the king. Were you smitten?”

I just stared at him.

“I said I needed my privacy, Obed.”

He nodded as if he understood… then completely ignored it. “Don’t like him. The king, I mean.”

What in the world is wrong with this boy?

“You might think he’s nice, but he isn’t. We all respect and love him, yes, but should I tell you something interesting?” He stepped closer, and I refused to break eye contact.

“The king has run mad.”

I blinked. Hard. Okay. Maybe Obed was the one who lost his mind.

“He is not mad,” I said, somehow finding myself defending Soren—why, I didn’t know. “He was fine when we spoke.”

“Oh, you don’t know him, Verona,” he pushed. “The king has gone mad, I tell you. Ask those who knew him before I was even born. He has lived in darkness for years, locking himself in his chambers. They only ever see him once a year—on his birthday.”

He kept talking, kept staring at me with something like resentment… or maybe fear. I couldn’t tell.

“He barely goes out or talks to anyone. Evan is one of the few he even tolerates. That king is like a walking dead man—he doesn’t care about any—”

“I don’t care,” I cut in sharply.

He froze.

“I don’t know your king well enough to love him or hate him. And right now, Obed, I’m confused and overwhelmed. So keep all of that to yourself, and give me the privacy I asked for. Evan will be here in fifteen minutes. Please, leave.”

He nodded once. A small smile tugged his lips—but it didn’t reach his eyes. Not even close. Then, in the blink of an eye, he vanished.

Finally alone, I unzipped my dress, letting it fall in a hurry. The jewelry came off next, landing somewhere on the dresser before I headed straight into the bathroom.

A hot shower helped. Washing off the sweat, the makeup, the stress—everything. When I stepped out, wrapped in comfort and smelling fresh, I felt the tiniest bit lighter.

I slipped into more comfortable clothes just as Katara stirred awake. She blinked open her little eyes, then instantly ran into my arms.

I hugged her tightly, kissing her head as I sat on the bed. Her presence steadied me.

“I found out the Alpha King is my mate,” I whispered into her fur. “Like… my better half. And Katara, I still don’t understand any of it. Anything happening in my life right now—none of it makes sense.”

I stroked her gently. “But I guess I’ll just go with the flow… with whatever life throws at me.”

She licked my face, making me laugh softly—just in time for a knock on the door.

Evan.

“Come in,” I called.

He stepped inside, freshly changed into something more relaxed. “May I sit?” he asked.

I nodded, shifting slightly as he took a seat beside me on the bed.

“Is it true?” I asked.

Evan looked at me with a slight frown, confusion in his eyes. “Is what true?”

“That your king is mad?”

The frown vanished instantly—replaced by a carefree, surprised laugh. It was so sudden and so genuine that I couldn’t help but smile. He looked so young when he laughed… so handsome. Honestly, he could walk into any room and women would fall over themselves for him.

When he finally calmed, he let out a breath, shaking his head. “I should’ve known. Obed again. I told him to leave you alone.”

“So… is he?” I pressed.

Evan’s lips pulled tight, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth before he slowly nodded.

My eyebrows shot up. “But he was okay when we spoke,” I insisted, feeling the need to defend Soren for reasons I didn’t understand.

Evan reached out, gently taking my hand. His other hand brushed Katara’s fur, and she wiggled happily on my lap.

“To be completely honest,” he said softly, “today was the first time in years I’ve seen him speak the way he did… with clarity, with presence. Obed wasn’t lying, Verona. The king… he is mad.”

I stared at him, stunned.

“Then why the hell am I mated to him?” I demanded, feeling frustration coil inside me.

“He’s not mad per se,” Evan explained, voice gently. “It’s just… everyone he’s ever known and loved—they’re all dead. All gone. He lived through loss after loss, until loneliness consumed him.”

His expression softened, eyes dimming with old grief, and a sharp pang struck my chest. Was I pitying Soren?

“He tried to end his life many times,” Evan continued, squeezing my hand. “He couldn’t find his mate, and nothing worked. Nothing could kill him.”

My mouth went dry.

“If you two end up wedded,” Evan said carefully, “and if he stays with you a few years—maybe a hundred—after you’ve given him a son… Verona, I assure you, you will end up a widow. Because he will end himself the moment he can.”

My breath hitched. “And what makes you think I’ll even live that long?”

A warm, almost proud smile lifted Evan’s lips. “Because my blood runs in your veins. We aren’t called the Ancients for nothing.”

A chill ran down my spine—but it wasn’t fear. It felt… powerful.

He continued gently, “But don’t take Obed’s words to heart. Even after everything, the king is a good werewolf. He might not be what he once was—jovial, warm, alive—but from what I saw today, you won’t have a problem with him.”

I nodded, absorbing everything.

“But,” Evan added suddenly, his expression turning serious, “if you ask me? I would rather he reject you. I’d rather he took Ina instead.”

I stared at him.

“But he won’t,” Evan said with certainty. “Ina cannot give him the heir he needs. And without that heir, he will never die. So he will marry you—whether any of us like it or not.”

I swallowed thickly. I understood Soren more than I wanted to admit. If I had lived that long and lost everyone I loved… I would break too. When Nana died, I had felt that pull—to give up, to disappear. So yes… I understood him.

“But… marrying me,” I whispered, “it would put me in grave danger, wouldn’t it?”

Evan nodded slowly. “More danger than you can ever imagine.”

“Hm. If that’s the case…” I sighed, looking away for a moment before turning back to him, “then I don’t think I want to be mated to him. But—”

The words tangled on my tongue. I hesitated, searching for them as heat crept up my neck. “Is it… okay that I feel a certain way when I look at him? And I don’t mean his appearance, I mean… um—”

I groaned inwardly, feeling my cheeks burn. Evan’s smile only grew.

“Okay—probably attraction,” I muttered, embarrassed to even admit it.

“I see,” Evan said gently. “It’s completely normal, Verona. And when your wolf awakens, that pull will get stronger. Much stronger. You won’t want to leave his sight… not even for a moment.”

My eyes widened. “What does one do to awaken their wolf?”

“When a werewolf reaches a certain age, they shift for the first time,” he explained. “But you, Verona… you’re a late bloomer.”

Late bloomer. Just like Tori had called me.

“What exactly does a late bloomer mean?” I asked, curiosity pushing my confusion aside.

“It means you didn’t shift at the age you were supposed to,” he replied simply. But I could tell—he wasn’t saying everything. Something deeper sat behind his eyes, something he held back.

He drew in a slow breath, keeping his gaze steady on mine. “Your Nana… when you were born, she suppressed your wolf using magic.”

I froze.

“That’s why you didn’t shift with the others. That’s why you grew up like a human. But you’re not, Verona.” His voice softened, but the weight in it was undeniable. “Trust me. You are something more—something powerful. A force that those who don't want balance in our world fear.”

A strange chill moved across my skin.

A force.

Powerful.

Feared.

I didn’t know what to do with that—but I felt the truth in his words, heavy and unnerving.