The Ruthless Lycan King's Virgin Mate

#Chapter 7 Lycan King’s Personal Maid

Dean’s POV

Harper is nothing like her family. And although I maintain a blank expression, my wolf and I both mentally frown at the contrast. Harper’s bubbly nature and broad beaming smile are nothing like the drab, ugly frowns that her stepmother and half-sister have on.

Her father lacks all her softness as he storms up the path towards us, seething in fury. “You good for nothing i***t! I told you to do whatever it took to stay within those castle walls!”

I see Harper succumb to her father’s rage, as if she has dealt with it many times before. “Just this once child, just this once could you have listened to me? I asked you one simple thing! To stay in that goddamn castle.”

“But… but I do listen to you father-”

“Shush girl, do not speak when your father is speaking,” her mother interjects, allowing her father to continue his malicious brigade.

“You never do as I say! And now you will deal with the consequences by being expelled from my pack!”

I watch the fear line her eyes with fresh tears. Being expelled from a pack is no joke. Wolves were pack animals, and the stragglers didn’t survive for long.

You either formed your own rogue group, or you perished to them, feasted on and seen as scraps. Harper sadly would probably end up being the latter because of her weakness.

Therefore, I’m unsurprised and quite glad that she tries to defend herself on the matter, even if she is a frail and feeble mouse in the presence of the lion that is her father. “But… but it wasn’t my fault. The Lycan King found out that you used me as the sacrificial virgin in the place of Erin. That’s why he banished me from the castle.”

Her stuttering only worsens as her father’s face grows redder and redder, like a steaming pot of boiling water about to overflow.

“How dare you talk back to me!” He bellows. “The only reason you were tossed out like an unwanted puppy was because of your incompetence! And even knowing that, you still have the audacity to contradict me, the Alpha of the Mystic Grey Pack.”

I withhold a snort of laughter towards his pompous attitude, and watch as the mother and the sister mirror the pretentious disgust they have towards Harper.

The half-sister even goes on to degrade the poor girl’s appearance, “I’m sure it was because you're not pretty enough. He kissed you and then still abandoned you, must’ve been after he saw how plain you are with those big fat glasses.”

I’ll admit, I did initially dislike her appearance. But not because of her lack of beauty, but the lack of strength Harper embodies. To be precise, I despise everyone in this world equally, as no one is more powerful than me, but these folks… nah, this attack on her I find excessive.

“Father please, please let me stay with you. I mean, isn’t the reason you forced me to stay in the palace because you could not disobey the orders of the King?” she diplomatically disputes. “Now I’m not the chosen bride anymore! Isn’t it just as well?”

Her father is fuming, and before she can debate anything else the man loses his temper. As if he hasn’t lost it already. “You ignorant, stupid child! Being the bride of the King means my pack would get the power, status, and money that it deserves. It's a strategic advantage!”

I blink in realization as Harper whispers sadly. “You were using me as a tactic? Even if I was to probably die like the previously chosen virgins…”

It all makes sense now. The packs did gain greater status when their sacrificed virgins were chosen. And for the brides that had died, their packs were compensated generously…

This father has no regard for his daughter’s life. And I realize now, Harper hadn’t asked to remain at the castle for money, or status, but because of the threats from her father.

Her father freezes for a moment, seeming to realize that in his haste, he has just accidentally blurted out the cruel truth of his innermost thoughts. And to cover up his panic, he chooses to use violence.

Just as her father goes to lay a hand on her, I move within an instant. My body shields her as I step in his way, snatching hold of his wrist that he lifts in an attempt to beat her.

“No.”

Alpha James is flabbergasted to see his wrist held back by me, and I respond to his confusion by mocking him.

“You have no right to lay a hand on her when this is in fact your fault. It was your decision to substitute her as the sacrificed virgin, and yet you're blaming her?” I scoff. “You're nothing but a tyrant on a power trip. A lame excuse of an Alpha.” I sneer, my glare shooting daggers his way.

“Who the hell are you?” James erupts. “You will pay for this disrespect.”

His threat is no use, for when he tries to snatch his wrist back, he barely budges. My death grip holds him in place, as he embarrassingly struggles to get free. I smile smugly as he continues to attempt to free himself to no avail. Now he is the mouse, captured in the claws of a lion. How ironic.

His wife and daughter look on with mortified expressions as the Alpha appears weak and stupid in my clutches. I enjoy watching him scramble, but I eventually grow bored.

As the man pulls and pulls with all his might, I suddenly release my hold. And like pebble being released from a slingshot, he’s sent stumbling backwards several steps in a humiliating display.

I expect retaliation, and in an instant the Alpha unsheathes his wolf claws in a threatening display, about to use his Alpha powers on me. I snort, sneering at this man’s overconfidence. I stand unbothered, waiting for him to make the first move before I show him what real power is.

But before anything can happen, a feminine figure flashes across my line of sight. Suddenly, Harper is standing in front of me, arms outstretched as if to protect me. “Father please no! This man is my savior! I owe him my life! Hurt me all you want, but leave him be!”

I think we’re all shocked by her proclamation. But I, more so than any of them. Despite my blank stare, I’m stunned by her actions. Not in all my years of being the strongest Lycan in existence has anyone ever tried to protect me from harm.

The feeling is new and obscure. Something prickles beneath my skin, something that I can’t identify, but it rushes through me the moment I realize Harper is trying to protect me.

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Harper’s POV

Although I might look heroic now, deep down my gut is churning with indescribable fear. I’m about to lose all my strength to my father’s fierce deadly gaze that could kill me!

I find my entire life flashes before my eyes as I think about how little he cares for my well-being. And that I have shamed him so badly that he may get rid of me!

But before I spiral into greater depths of fear and loss, a voice echoes from a distance.

“Stop at once!”

Because of my predicament, this beautiful voice relieves me in more ways than one. We're being saved!

But the moment of joy in my heart doesn't last for long when I realize it’s the King’s Beta! Oh god, oh no! He appears chivalrous and strong on the back of a trusty steed. He pulls the gray stallion to a halt as he reaches us. “I’m here to announce an order from the King to the Mystic Grey pack!”

Oh god, Moon goddess please help me!

My heart sinks to the depths of my despair, for I know that the Beta will announce to my father that he is being punished for substituting me instead of my sister as the sacrificed virgin.

I can’t imagine the new heights of anger that my father will reach upon hearing the news. I will surely perish now.

However, before a word is said, I watch in surprise as the Beta who is about to speak, abruptly stiffens. As if frozen in place with doubt as his horse prances beneath him. It's as if he’s heard something inconceivable.

His gaze then darts to Dylan, brows furrowing in immense confusion. How strange. They’ve never met one another; Dylan is merely an ordinary civilian caught up in a ridiculous situation. Maybe I’ve misinterpreted the interaction.

But my doubts are fleeting when the Beta finally speaks. “The King has decreed…” I hold my breath in fear of the worst.

“There will be a selection contest for the maids by the royalty. Each pack will first conduct its own internal selection, and then each will select two representatives who will be sent to the palace for the final selection. And in the end, three maids will be chosen to work in the palace.”

The Beta then dismounts his horse, holding the reins as he steps closer to my father, almost in a whisper. “It’s been decided that one of the maids will eventually be selected to be the Lycan King’s personal maid.”

Before adding. “This year’s virgin sacrifice has been canceled due to some accidents… Although we can’t keep Harper at the palace because she isn’t the true virgin sacrificed, from what I’ve observed, the Lycan King has taken a liking to her.”

He glances over to me momentarily, before returning to speak to my father meaningfully. “You know, I think very highly of you,” to which I watch my father puffs his chest in noticeable pride as he bears a smile.

After the Beta leaves, my father is in a much better mood than when he first arrived. He looks at me with a wicked grin that churns my gut. Like I am a commodity for sale that will grant him power and money.

As I remain silent, he declares, “Well now, seems you have a chance to prove yourself.”

He says with a prideful lift of his chin, “If you can pass the maid selection within the pack and the ultimate maid selection at the palace to become the Lycan King’s personal maid, then and only then, will I grant you mercy and not expel you from my pack to become a rogue.”