The Lycan King's Defiant Surrogate

Chapter 75

"About what?" I ask. feigning innocence, as I keep my eye on the room full of Alphas at Samuel's back. Now is the worst possible time to try to have a private conversation. Even talking to me at all puts Samuel at risk. And me, too, if Caleb believes we are somehow plotting against him.

Yet, before Samuel can say a word, and before I can whisper-yell at him to go away, Tristan walks up beside us and gruffly tells Samuel, "I wasn't aware you have been given permission to speak to any of the King's harem without supervision." Samuel pales slightly, yet he still faces Tristan. Maybe he feels like he has some authority here, an Alpha over a Beta. If so, with

regret, he's about to be disappointed. Tristan may be a Beta, but he is the King's Beta. As far as Caleb and the rest of the capital is concerned, Tristan is second only to the King himself

For Samuel not to notice shows his ignorance of capital politics, I can't blame him exactly, as these are things I also had to learn after arriving here. Our little pack feels so far removed from the harsh realities of this place.

But Samuel, as Alpha of our pack, should be more observant and more careful. Just like trying to meet me last night, this show of dominance is another reckless action

Samuel straightens his posture in a posturing sort of way that Alphas do when they expect or want the person they are talking with to submit. Maybe back home, this sort of thing might have worked. Tristan just stares blankly at Samuel, entirely unaffected.

"Do you have something to say, or do you mean to continue trying to assert dominance over me? Tristan asks blandly. maneuver that will not work, by the way. You have exactly zero power in this place." "I am an Alpha," Samuel says,

"Are you?" Tristan replies. "Compared to our King, you seem a frightened child."

Samuel turns toward him more fully, like he's about to throw hands. Behind him, I see the guards take notice and start to move closer.

If I don't do something, Samuel is liable to end up in a dungeon cell tonight.

"Samuel," I tell him. "Things are different here than in Riverwood. The rules are different..."

When Samuel glances at me, considering my words, I nod to the guards moving toward him. When he spots them, he immediately loosens the tension from his shoulders, calming down some of his aggression. "The King's Beta is not to be intimidated by anyone other than the King," I say gently,

"Just as the King's harem is not to be spoken to unless direct permission is given. Tristan replies. "Now that you are educated, please return to the others, or I will be forced to have you removed from this Hall and possibly this council," Taking orders from a Beta mustn't sit right with an Alpha. Samuel's face twists with disgust and annoyance. Still, after one more glance at me, he ambles off to rejoin the rest of the group. Again, they move away from him, treating him as an Outcast.

My heart aches for him. It's a steep learning curve, moving from our home to this place, where everything is so different and much harsher

Forcing myself to glance away, Hook to Tristan, who returns to his outpost beside me. "You arrived back here so quickly. I'm starting to feel watched."

"You are in the king's capital, of course you are being watched. And that you are a person of suspicion only makes the

la

11:52 Thu, Nov 21

Chapter 75

surveillance expustive

"Why would I be a person of suspicion?" I ask.

"You are still hiding the location of the child." Tristan says. "King Caleb may have been kinder to you as of late, but he, nor I. have forgotten what you've done."

"There isn't any child," I tell him, just as I have a hundred times before. I'm starting to feel like a record-player, saying it on a loop. I'll say it a thousand times if I have to, yet even that likely wouldn't be enough to convince them. "Regardless. Tristan says. "It would be wis