Chapter 11: The king curiosity

Logan POV

I felt it the moment she stepped into my territory. The strong bond, the strong energy around her.

She is different. Different from us, though she is an omega, her power is stronger, her aura, her glowing wrist.

I pretended not to see it just to watch her, but when I felt the bond between us. She is my mate.

How can the moon goddess give me a mysterious mate, I know nothing about her, the rogue is after her. Who exactly is she? What is she?

I know I shouldn't be watching her this much.

But the more I try to pull away, the deeper I fall.

Ophelia moves through the servant halls like a shadow, quiet, careful, always pretending she’s smaller than she is. But I see everything. I smell her before I see her, wild lavender, warm earth, and something ancient that stirs my wolf in ways I can’t explain.

I tell myself I’m only observing her because she’s new… because something isn’t right about her story.

But the truth is uglier.

I’m obsessed.

She keeps her head down while she works, but her hands tremble sometimes, especially when someone raises their voice. And every time, my wolf snaps inside me like a beast rattling its cage.

Mine. The instinct whispers, unwanted and too soon.

But I ignore it all the time because I have to, I need to see who she really is, and what she is hiding so much.

She’s a servant. A girl who flinches in the shadows. The last thing she needs is a king hovering over her.

Still, I can’t stop noticing things, the faint glow under her skin when she’s scared… the way she bites her lip when she’s concentrating… the hurt she tries to hide whenever other servants laugh at her.

And today that hurt pierces me like a blade.

I was heading to the council meeting when I heard the commotion. Water splashing, buckets hitting stone, mocking laughter echoing down the stairwell.

When I reached the balcony above, I saw three servants surrounding her, throwing the bucket she’d just filled onto the floor she spent hours cleaning. She froze, eyes wide, shoulders shaking. Then they shoved her.

She fell down the stairs hard, her small body hitting every stone step.

My vision went red. My wolf snarled viciously.

I wanted to jump down, tear into them, rip every limb from their bodies

But I couldn’t show that. Not yet.

Before I could intervene, they dragged her by her arms, mocking her, pulling her toward the old supply room. They kicked her inside, slammed the door, and locked it.

I almost broke the entire hallway apart.

But then… something shifted.

Inside the room, her glow began again, stronger, brighter, wrapping around her shaking body like a second skin. Her power vibrated through the walls, humming with a force I have never felt before. I stood there, hand on the doorknob, frozen because the energy felt ancient, familiar… fated.

She wasn’t helpless. She is pretending to be.

She was more powerful, stronger, brave, her hair lifted as she walked out from the locked room.

She opened it.

Ophelia, what are you? Why did the moon goddess choose you as my mate?

\---

Later that evening, I followed her again, quietly, from the shadows of the upper corridor.

She was doing her best to blend in, bowing her head whenever nobles passed. But she still drew attention… especially from men.

It made my canines lengthen.

Then she paused near the council chamber doors, clearly unintentionally, and overheard the nobles speaking.

“The King must take a wife soon,” Elder Rowan said. “A political marriage with the Blackthorn Kingdom would stabilize the borders.”

Another elder grunted. “We cannot wait. Arrangements must begin immediately.”

Ophelia stiffened. Her fingers gripped the tray she held until her knuckles went white.

I shouldn’t have cared.

I shouldn’t have noticed the ache in her eyes, but I felt it every bit of it.

A strange, sharp pain in my chest… answering hers.

Why?

She doesn’t belong to me.

She shouldn’t affect me like this.

But she does.

Later, when she tried to slip away, I intercepted her in the back courtyard. She startled when I approached, nearly dropping the cloth she was holding.

“Breathe,” I murmured.

She obeyed instantly, as if her body recognized my voice before her mind did.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the necklace, a simple silver chain with my crest engraved on a small pendant. I don’t know why I had it made. I don’t know why I kept thinking of her every time I touched it.

“For protection,” I said, fastening it around her neck before she could protest.

Her breath hitched. Her eyes widened, shimmering too brightly.

“It’s… too much, king Logan,” she whispered.

“No,” I said quietly. “Not for you.”

She looked at me as if she didn’t understand. As if kindness was foreign to her. As if no one had ever given her anything before.

My wolf purred in satisfaction.

—

“Alpha Richard will be arriving soon,” Beta Hendrick informed. I just nod my head as a reply, still focusing on the documents in my hand.

“What about the rouge anything yet?” I lifted my gaze.

He shook his head. “Not yet, but I will find that out soon.”

“Keep watching her, there is something about her, something dangerous.”

“What about the bound?” He asked. I didn't tell him, but he knows, that's why he is my right hand man.

I scoffed my head buried back into the documents I am reviewing. “I will do something about it, for now let's focus on finding out who she really is.”

“The elderly are waiting.”

I stood up and walked to the throne hall, the elders were not there already.

Sat down on the throne, my hand rested on the sides of the throne.

The throne hall door opened once again.

He entered the throne hall with confidence, bowing slightly before approaching me. But his eyes drifted, far too quickly, far too boldly, to where Ophelia stood near the pillar, trying to hide.

He watched her, stared and assessed her like a prey, I know the look immediately, lust.

My wolf slammed against my chest.

Mine. Back away.

I wanted to rip his throat out on the spot.

He stepped closer to her,too close, and I felt my claws pushing against my skin, begging to break through.

But before I could react, the Elders entered.

Their footsteps filled the hall, and Ophelia bowed instantly. She tried to blend into the shadows… but it didn’t matter.

Because I saw the Elders look at her with the same stunned recognition I felt the first night she arrived.

They felt it too instantly, the ancient power, her face.

And suddenly, I wasn’t the only one obsessed with the mysterious girl hiding under servant clothes.

But unlike them, I wasn't afraid or drawn. I am bound and already lost.

The elders began to whisper pointing at her.

“It is true, she smells ancient, dangerous and powerful.”

“Her face is so familiar.”

“Who is she? Why did the king keep her close?”

I smirked in satisfaction.

My gaze shifted to where she was standing and she was gone.