The Lycan King's Defiant Surrogate

Nina walks out of Harper's rooms and rejoins her companion Molly who waited for her in the hallway. When their eyes lock, Molly lifts her brow in silent question. Nina smirks in reply.

Nina continues past her, making her way to the stairwell. Molly follows in step behind her. They travel in silence as they move up the stairs, back to the light of the aboveground. When they step out onto the ground floor. Molly bounces to Nina's side.

Her face is a twist of excitement and nervousness, like she can't contain herself anymore.

"Go ahead and ask," Nina says.

"Did she fall for it?" Molly asks at once.

"Did you think she wouldn't?" Nina replies. "How many new girls have I convinced now to run off to their own deaths?"

"Ten, Molly replies. "This would be eleven."

"Each deserved it," Nina says. "Any fool that would try to escape deserves death. King Caleb despises nothing more than lies and betrayal":

Molly hums, but doesn't say more. Glancing at her, Nina can see she's holding herself back.

"Out with it. Molly. Do not play games this morning."

"I just wonder... and I know this is out of line-forgive me but King Caleb has been treating this woman differently thari the rest... Molly hooks her fingers together nervously. She's so busy fiddling, that she nearly trips over a lift in the floor. As she stumbles to correct herself, Nina continues onward. Molly wasn't wrong, though, and that infuriates Nina.

Who is Harper- a woman torn down with disgrace back home to thrive here at the Capital? Who would the King bring her with him to see to his kingly duties? He has never allowed one of his women to attend these things before.

With the way Caleb protected her in the courtyard, choosing to vilify Veronica rather than defend her, Nina can see the only way to bring Harper down would be to make sure she disgraces herself. Nina will not end up as Veronica had.

She'll be smarter and more careful. After sending so many girls to their own eager deaths, she knows how to properly cover

her tracks.

Harper told Nina about the funeral their pack held for her. It sounded elaborate. Nina was always well-liked after all. Nina grins, knowing no one would likely show up to Harper's funeral. If the pack even deigned to have one in her honor. Soon, Harper will be dead for real the ultimate 'sacrifice"

That knowledge brings Nina untold joy. She'll surely rise in favor once again.

Anticipation and trepidation buzz through Harper, distracting her for most of the day. Per Nina's instruction, she is to wait until the cover of nightfall, then sneak out through a passageway at the base of the wall in the courtyard.

I need to be quick and silent if I'm to have any chance. It will be difficult to reach the spot, traveling all the way from my room below ground.

I can do it, I know I can. I'll do whatever it takes to save my pack.

To my surprise, at the end of the day, when I am usually sent away to return to my rooms, Tristan stops me.

14

"Go to the kitchen for reale says.

Then serve our King in his office."

"At once." I reply. If they believe I've become more complacent, hey might not suspect my actions to free myself tonight. They might even let their guard down around me.

After heading into the kitchen, 1 move quietly around the other slaves to prepare the hot water and then steep the tea in a tea pot. I place the tea pot and a teacup onto a try, then lift it and carry it out of the kitchen toward Caleb's office.

I've been there a few times before over the past couple days, so know the way. When I arrive at the massive wooden door, it is closed. Balancing the tray on my hip, I lift my hand and knock

"Enter," Caleb commands.

I open the door and slink inside, careful to catch and close the door again behind me.

Caleb's office sizeable, with a wide desk and floor to ceiling bookshelves lining every wall but the back one, which is made up of windows instead. Aside from the desk, a chaise lounge sits near one of the bookcases. A small wooden stool is also there. In sizzl sil, Tonight, Caleb sits at his desk, fussing through paperwork. Every few moments, he sighs. Occasionally, he scribbles something in the margins. If he's extra annoyed, he underlines it three times in red pen.

"My King, I have your tea," I say.

He grunts in response, but then motions to a spot on the edge of the desk. Walking forward, I set down the tray there and begin to serve him, pouring the tea into the cup.

As I work, he glances over at me.

"Forget that," he grumbles. "I need a massage. These imbeciles' reports are driving me to madness. My head is killing me."

Immediately, I see an opportunity here. If I can relax Caleb so much that he falls asleep, then I could sneak from this room to my exit, without needed the detour and show of returning to my own rooms. That would spare me many fewer chances to be caught. He looks at me expectantly, like he wants me to massage him right there at his desk.

Instead, I motion toward the chaise lounge. "You should lay down, my King. Allow yourself to be comfortable so that you can more fully relax... If you want to, that is. The King hates commands, even in the forms of suggestions. I'm hasty to fix my error. He's so frustrated with his work, he doesn't even seem to notice my faux pas. Thank the gods,

He glances at the chaise lounge with something like longing. "Very well," he says. Standing from his desk chair he moves to the lounge and rests down on it. I quickly move to stand behind him. Then, gently, I bury my fingers into his hair and begin my scalp massage. His body reacts at once, bending to my ministrations. His eyelids droop. His limbs lose their tension.

It doesn't take long before his breathing slows,

I continue a moment longer, just to be sure he's really asleep. Slowly, I remove my hands from him, then inch around to peer at his face. His eyes are closed, his expression peaceful.

He's even more handsome like this, without the usual simmering rage twisting his features. He looks younger. He doesn't seem happy but relaxed like this, he at least seems content. Shaking the thoughts away, I scold myself for wasting time staring. I inch back towards the door. Once I reach it, I slowly, silently turn the handle and slip out into the hallway. Sat, Nov

It's late, so the hallways are dimmer without the sunshine to lighthem. Less people are milling around.

Looking around, I see no one watching me, so I veer from my al route to the stairwell and duck out into the courtyard.

Guards with flashlights are doing patrols. I stick to the shadows, hiding behind brush and trees to avoid being spotted.

Following Nina's previous instructions I follow the wall until I reach the spot she mentioned, where a rock covers a slender hole in the wall.

Inhaling sharply, it's still a tight fit, yet I manage to slip through and tumble out onto the grass on the other side.

I exhale in r