GET READY

 CHAPTER FOUR

WILLOW’S POV

I am shaking like a leaf as Beta Kane leads me into the most massive and sophisticated living-room I have ever set my foot into since I was born. After that hilarious stunt I pulled trying to escape – which was miserably futile as he caught up with me and flung me over his shoulder before I could reach the door – I am finding it very difficult to simply exist in his presence. Fear is seizing my limbs, cramping my joins and breaking every single bone in my body.

The living-room is a wonder to behold and I would be taking inventory of every detail of its exquisite furniture and the massive, beautiful chandelier hanging from the ceiling far far above, if my mind wasn’t already tortured with the possibilities of how I’m going to meet my end in this castle.

“Sit” The Beta’s gruff voice orders and I know I should obey him immediately, but one more look at the sofas makes me hesitate. They all look so clean and luxurious; I feel like I would soil them if I got another inch closer to them which would only make things worse for …

“I said, sit!”

Okay!

My butt drops on the nearest sofa and a deafening silence falls in the room. The soldiers did not come in with us. Beta Kane is standing somewhere on my far left and that’s when it finally dawns on me what’s going on.

We are waiting for The Lycan King.

My toes curl and uncurl in my shoes. I try to straighten my fabric of dress with my palms for no particular reason. I intertwine my fingers and let them rest on my laps, but when the back of my head starts itching, I release them and scratch the itching spot which soon becomes spots. From the back of my head, to the center, to the side and then my neck. I wipe away the beats of sweat that have formed on my forehead as my left leg starts shaking involuntarily.

My heart… oh my heart. It’s a miracle it’s still working. It’s pounding so fast; I’m scared it’s going to crash any second from now.

I am having a panic attack.

I need to pee.

“Rise up and bow to the Lycan King.”

This time around, I don’t let myself hesitate. I immediately rise to my feet, not daring to look forward and the horror that skates through me when I realize I have no idea how to greet the Lycan King almost makes my bladder give up on me. My knees grow weak. It feels like someone inserted a giant straw into my mouth and sucked out all the energy from my body.

Now would be the perfect time to pass out. 

“Lord Alpha,” I hear the Beta say to someone whose presence, I can only acknowledge from the sound of his quiet approaching footsteps. My eyes are glued to the floor. “I present you to your bride-to-be.” The silence that ensues after that statement nearly drives me insane.

He hasn’t said a single word, but I can feel his scorching gaze all over my body. He’s looking at me.  Whatever burning sensation I felt when Beta Kane was scrutinizing me back there in my father’s living room is nothing compared to what I’m feeling right now. I feel like I’ve been dipped into magma.

“Why does she look like a sick chicken?” A steel voice demands and the disgust and disappointment embedded in its tone cannot be missed.

“She does not have a wolf.”

“I sensed that. I asked for a wife and he sent me this? A wolf-less bird?”

“My Lord, it is impossible for a bird to possess a wolf in the first place.” An inaudible gasp escapes my chest as my heart starts racing for Beta Kane. Challenging his Lord Alpha like that. Does he want his head to be the next skull lined up at the entrance to this castle?

“I believe Alpha Campbell has two daughters, so why did he send me the dysfunctional one?” Alpha Killian asks, completely ignoring the Beta's diss at him. Anger rises from my stomach and its bitter taste lines my mouth as I stare furiously into the floor below me.

Dysfunctional? Did he just call me dysfunctional?

How rude!

I barely hear Beta Kane’s explanation to him of why I’m here instead of my fully functional sister because of the blood pounding in my ears.

“Leave us.”

Sound of retreating footsteps… door closing, then nothing. Now it’s just me and the brooding devil.

“Look at me.” Another order comes through. This time around, to me.

I obey diligently and the moment my eyes meet with his, something explodes in my chest. For a brief moment, I feel like I’m on fire and electricity is zapping through me at the same time. All the hair on my body is standing erect and there’s an army of goosebumps marching up and down my arms and legs. I feel hot and cold at the same time and I know I’m not the only one experiencing these sensations between the two of us because of the manner in which his gaze which was hard as basalt a while ago has gone jelly. He has the most bewildered expression plastered on his face. It’s almost as though he just found out something intriguing and interesting about me.

I just did, for him as well, but I have no idea what that intriguing or interesting thing is.

“Why don’t you have a wolf?”

“If you’re so disgusted by me because of my appearance and wolf-less status, why don’t you just send me back home? I’m sure there are plenty of other she-wolves out there who meet your criteria and are therefore more worthy of becoming your wife.”

“... other she-wolves out there who meet my criteria and are therefore more worthy of …” He suddenly stops and stares at me quizzically. “Are you mocking me?”

“No!” I cry out as I drop to my knees and bow so low that my forehead touches the floor. “No, My Lord. I would slit my own throat before I ever think of mocking you. I was only trying to suggest that you consider better options as being your wife is no joking matter. It is the highest honor a she-wolf could ever dream of achieving in her entire life.”

“Now you are definitely mocking me.” He says in a shockingly casual tone.

Tears spill from my eyes.

Why do I keep making things worse for myself?

“Rise.”

I do just that, but do not dare to meet his gaze. My blood pressure shoots up when I hear his approaching footsteps.

This is it. He is going to twist my neck and get this over with. This is the end for me.

“You are bold.”  He stops really close to me. Like really close and I die five times in the second when he places his index finger underneath my chin and gently raises my head so that our gazes meet again. His serious countenance has slipped back on, but there’s no hint of anger in his eyes. They are soft and warm. Almost kind. “I like that.” He releases my chin just in time for me to release the breath I was holding before my lungs collapse. “Is anyone there?” He asks softly and immediately, five female servants dressed in uniforms, scamper into the living room and stand in a perfect horizontal line before us with their heads bowed down. “Take Willow to Eleanor and tell her I need her back in my bedchamber in one hour.” Then he turns to me and says: “Get ready to serve me tonight.”