The Lycan King's Defiant Surrogate

Chapter 79

so I stay

I wait all day, but Caleb does not send for me at all. Without being summoned, I have no reason to leave my room, s inside all day. It feels a lot like I'm hiding. Maybe I am.

I'm no coward, but I suspect walking into Caleb right now might lead to my untimely death. I'd rather stay alive, so I give him a wide berth by staying right here in my room Nearly every time I close my eyes, I think of the wild, murderous red look in Caleb's eyes and feel the tightening of his hands around my throat.

Maybe he'll kill me this time, maybe he won't. But it's becoming increasingly clear that he will either have me killed or kill me himself at some point.

I thought we'd been growing into some kind of misunderstanding recently. But now I see, I've been fooling myself. He has never cared for me, not beyond some sex doll who he thinks has information he wants. Eventually he'll learn that truth that we have no child together, and he'll have no more reason to keep me alive.

The only thing I can truly do to protect myself is to get as far away from me as possible before that day comes. Even if it means living on the run, never feeling safe. It's the only hope I have to actually survive.

Once, in my attic room before I was delivered to the King, Samuel had asked me to run away with him. He'd vowed to keep

me safe.

I'd been such a fool then, to turn him down. I'd wanted to protect him, and I don't regret that entirely. But on the run, we could have worked to keep each other safe.

That moment feels like a lifetime ago. Since then, Samuel hasn't always been the kindest to me. It's hard to know what is real and what is an act for my sister's sake.

Yet he gave me that necklace. That has to mean something.

That has to mean he's still

Il willing to save me.

"Bethany" I say, pulling her away from her cleaning duties.

"Yes, Harper?"

She's not going to like this, so I avoid her eyes as I ask, "If I were to give you a note, could you find some way to have it secretly delivered to Samuel?"

"That's not a good idea," Bethany says.

I'm glad we've reached a point where she feels comfortable being so honest with me. But clearly she doesn't realize how desperate I am. I'm not going to sit back and wait for my death to come to me. If it wants me, it's going to have to chase me. "Please, Bethany. He's the only one who might help to save me from this," I say. I glance up at her now, wanting her to see the sincerity in my eyes, even as I see the disapproval in hers. "an't stay here. You said yourself the King wants to kill me." Bethany seems deeply unhappy with the idea, her mouth curling down at the sides, a line forming between her brows. But I can also see how conflicted she is, when she rubs her hands together or looks away from me. As my

friend, she wants to give me good advice. She doesn't like Samuel, Lean tell, but I imagine she also doesn't want me to

die.

Just as I think about what to say, believing she needs more convincing, she opens her mouth and replies, "Fine Write your

letter"

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Chapter 79

04: 70%

"Thank you!" I tell her excitedly, feeling joy and hope for the first time since everything went down last night. Standing rush to find a sheet of paper and a pen. Yet, before I can sit down at the table to write it, the door to the room bursts open. s not here to

Tristan steps inside with his usual confident steps. His face conveys his overall boredom. I hope that means he's murder me. Last time he had to send me to my supposed death, he at least seemed somewhat conflicted about it. "Harper," he says as he walks to the center of the room. I don't know if it's a greeting or if he's simply addressing me.

"Hello, Tristan." I say, assuming the former.

He continues, "I am to inform you of the upcoming Grand Ball happening tomorrow night. All of the Alphas and their mates, as well as members of the advisors and the royal court will be there. King Caleb insists that you be in attendance and that you look stunning. A tailor will be assigned "That won't be necessary," I say, cutting him off. The tailor they assigned last time had been a huge disappointment. He'd actively worked against me. It was only thanks to Bethany and her skills that I hadn't been a laughing stock at the event. Why bother with the middleman?

"Bethany has been designing some stunning clothes," I say. "She's the only tailor I need."

Tristan gives first me, then Bethany, a flat look. When he turns it back to me, he says, "It must be a beautiful gown or you risk embarrassing your King"

"It will be," I insist. I look to Bethany, ready to have her support, but she looks pale and shocked. Didn't she want an opportunity like this? Gods, I should have talked to her first.

Too late now.

"Very

well. Tristan doesn't wait around for a reply. He simply turns on his heel and walks out of the room.

When the door closes, I look to Bethany. She still seems nervous, but she's recovered from her shock.

"I'm sorry," I say. "I just really believe in your designs. And this is really your chance to show everyone how talented you are. They'll all be asking who made that gown. Maybe they'll even "You don't understand what's happening here, do you?" Bethany asks.

I stop myself midsentence. "I've been to galas before."

"This isn't the same, Harper. The King wasn't out for your blood before.

I could argue that. Caleb has put me in many precarious positions since the moment I walked in here. Though... I suppose.... even in the worst moments, he didn't want me dead. Maybe those moments where he's held himself back has given me false confidence.

"I've seen this happen before," Bethany says. "Never for this exact reason exactly, but. He's going to publically shame you and punish you in front of the entire room." "Then why would I need to be stunning?" I ask, but a shiver prickles my skin. I have a feeling that she's right.

"So that

you don't embarrass him," Bethany says. "He'll want you to look like the woman of the hour, before he tears you down to nothing

Iswallow thickly. Yeah, that does seem like something he would do.

"I'll make you a dress," Bethany says, "And you will look wonderful. I'm not afraid of that. I'm scared for you, for what afier. Comes

11:52

Chapter 79

hu, Nov

1 nod, understanding new. All the more reason for me to hurry with this message," I say and, sitting down at the table, I lift the pen. "No." Bethany says firmly.

Pausing, I look at her.

"You are in enough trouble as it is," Bethany says. "I'm not going to make it worse by helping you go behind the King's back." "But Bethany-"

1 don't care what you say, Harper. I'm not taking any message to Samuel

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nu, Nov 21