The Lycan King's Defiant Surrogate

Some of the Alphas bow. Others stare as if seeing a ghost.

I'm up on the stage near the throne, on my knees in front of George standing behind me. His hands are on my neck.

As Caleb comes closer, his expression darkens more and more.

few feet away from me.

his eyes flash red.

He glances at me, focusing on the mark on my face, before looking back at George. I want to apologize, for this and so much, but this isn't the time. Even when I'm about to die, it isn't the time.

1 can only hope he knows without my having to say so.

"You will release my favored consort," Caleb growls.

"I am the King here!" George snaps. "You are nothing but a dead man."

"You think a few bullets and a few bear claws would be enough to kill a true King?" Caleb says, his voice pitching deeper. He must be near shift.

George's hands tremble on my skin. "If I let your consort live... will you spare my life?"

"You have betrayed your own kingdom, sided with our enemy in the north to usurp the throne. You are responsible for every death that was incurred on that day and every day since. You also attempted to kill me directly, giving the order for your bear infiltrators to finish me off."

"I will bring Harper with me. She will remain unharmed if you allow me to leave unimpeded," George says, speaking as if Caleb had not just listed his crimes.

I shake my head minutely, hoping that Caleb can see. If he lets me leave with George, I'm as good as dead anyway. I'd rather die for the cause than be taken as a prisoner.

Caleb's frown deepens impossibly further. "You think I would let you escape punishment... for the sake of a harem girl?"

Fury bubbles inside of Caleb. His wolf prowls in his mind, back and forth, back and forth, begging to be released and soon. It wants the blood of the one who would threaten what's ours.

The wolf doesn't care about the crown. What it sees as ours is the woman at George's feet, her precious, fragile neck in his hands.

Caleb says the words, he is supposed to say, knowing he cannot value one woman about the stability of his entire kingdom. Yet, for the first time in his life, he feels a selfish desire to... save her.

Maybe he should have left her behind at the farmhouse like she wanted. Maybe he should have chained her to something at the warehouse. Maybe he should have been quicker getting here. Any of these measures could have saved her from getting hurt.

Instead, here she is, in the heart of the lion's den, face slashed and life threatened.

"I've seen the way you look at this one," George says, calling his bluff. "She means more to you than the others. Harem girl or not, I'm sure you don't want to watch me snap her neck."

"If you harm one more hair on her head, I will not give you a quick death," Caleb says. "I will rip you limb from limb while you are still alive. Then I will tear out your heart."

George swallows thickly. Caleb has put fresh fear into him. Good. He should be afraid.

Anyone who threatens Galeles mate will

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Caleb has a certain level of fondries for Harper. But she is not his mate

His mate will not be found in his harem. She will be a regal and dignified werewolf, as worthy of the crown as Caleb himself

Though, Caleb admits, he is filled with a certain measure of pride, seeing Harper's knife jammed into George's chest. Even as only a human, his consort has claws.

Caleb isn't much of a gambler, but he could take a chance here and now. Who would be faster? An Alpha, dashing up to rip off a man's head? Or a Gamma with his hands already on the threat of the one he means to harm? Perhaps if Harper could fight back once more....

Caleb glances down at her. She has fear in her eyes but also something like determination...Belongs to © n0velDrama.Org.

He holds her gaze a moment, before flicking his eyes down to the ground. It was a lightning qutek move. He hopes Harper understands.

Her eyes suddenly brighten. Yes. She does.

With his hand at his side, he signals, stretching three fingers. Then two. Then... one.

Harper lifts a hand then, with as much strength as her fragile human body can manage, jams her fist down straight down onto George's foot.

George loosens his grip on her throat.

Harper falls forward, straight off the platform.

Caleb leaps, grabs George by his own throat, and rips his head off.

George's death is instant. It's not as slow as he deserves, after everything he's done. But Caleb will not risk Harper any more than she's already been risked. Only with George dead, is she truly free of danger. The sight is so grotesque, that I look away. I have no sympathy for George. And I'm glad Caleb has returned and killed him. But it still turns my stomach, seeing a body without a head. And vice versa. Caleb doesn't hold the head aloft for long though, quickly tossing it to the side. From the body, he pulls out my knife. Then, hopping down from the platform, he hands it to me, hilt first. I set it aside for now. Then Caleb reaches for me, likely to help me to my feet. Before he can, he's intercepted by the outstretched hands and praises of every Alpha in the room.

He moves backwards to accommodate them all.

Congratulations are in order, as well as many questions.

Through the door outside, I see the loyal soldiers scouting through. I imagine they will have the entire palace secure very soon, if they haven't secured it already.

After a time, a servant walks in carrying the King's formal crown. The servant seems confused, flanked by two loyal guards. They walk up the blood-stained silver carpet, carrying the crown all the way to the front. Caleb hops back up onto the platform. As the servant comes close enough, he reaches down, snatches the crown off the pillow it was carried in on, and drops it onto his own head.

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Chap 119

He do Cine e le di

Carving me thin 1 wah to and stir wood is the phas and their dutistage all who want in cred around the lever

parts

Cath. From his libed itertor ocks sound word te wees met rys meet mine

We aren't that far apart in pellister fam

Ver with Caleb up on his throne, and me down here near where the servants are coming in, we couldn't be farther apart.

us

forth0000000

teal Just as I'd feared those final days at the farmhouse, the difference in our web status is too wide to stretch acFORS.

na

The Alphas will likely all heal

I touch my cheek, and when I pull away, my fingertips are red heed to see a doctor. I'll likely need witches

Leaving Caleb to his entourage, I start hobbling toward the door

I've always been self-sufficient, but after spending so much time working beside Caleb, it hurts to stand alone once more.