I take a deep breath. This information is too much. It feels strange. It is supposed to be a memory that belongs to me, but it all feels unfamiliar.
"And the werewolves?" I ask, out of curiosity. Although, I already have an idea of the next events.
"Without your experience from centuries of living, the werewolves stop to adapt to the fast-changing world. And you know the history, most of us become slaves, especially the weak ones."
"Wait, just a minute! Time out!" Seth interjects. "Let me breathe and process this, okay?" He glares at Darius and says, "You! This is huge information, how can you keep it from your King?!"
While Seth is trying to calm himself down, I mimic him. This information, I think I need to process it as well as he does. So, after taking a few deep breaths, Seth asks again, "So, let me get this straight, she's an old lady?"
"She might have disappeared fifteen years ago, but without a doubt, she is the remaining werewolves' Alpha Queen."
All my strength depletes. I grab my temples and massage them. Alpha Queen. It sounds so familiar, but it doesn't discount the fact that this is too heavy, confusing, and serious.
"And then what?" I whisper.
"What do you mean by 'what'?"
"You say I am the Alpha Queen. Am I forced to take that mantle now? Do I have to rule somewhere when I didn't even know how to rule over a kingdom anymore?"
"No, Miss Kaiya. Werewolves are now separated. There might be still hidden tribes and packs, but with no central government. You are not forced to unify the werewolves. Like what you envisioned before, you want a peaceful life for us."
"But being slaves, your life is not peaceful."
"Humans are changing too. Now, they abhor slavery, even when the slaves are not of the same race as them. King Theo of Pitchford is an example. I thought that's the reason why you are with him."
I am with him because he's my mate, but I chose not to say it. "Why did you reveal it then? Especially with Seth here."
Darius looks at Seth and says, "Because King Seth can read and control a human's mind. Not to the same extent as you do with werewolves, but he can do parts of it on those with weak minds."
"So, I can read your mind?"
"You can try, Miss Kaiya. But I've practiced to defend against that ability."
I turn my attention to Seth and catch him glaring at Darius. "Darius, why are you revealing state secrets?!" he admonishes.
"It's the price of hearing a piece of huge information, my king. You've said it yourself, information and knowledge have always been the most expensive commodity that humans should invest in."
"And?" I feel like Darius is going somewhere with this.
"Since King Seth has the ability to take a hold of other human minds, then maybe he can help you with remembering some of the most important things you'd like to remember. Or maybe, he can teach you how to control yours?"
"I didn't agree to that kind of arrangement yet!" Seth complains.
"Do you know why your mother named you as Seth Raiya? When she can just name you Seth?" When Seth did not respond, Darius continues, "Because your mother had read accounts of Kaiya, the Alpha Queen. She wants you to be as wise as she is."
I smirk. Wise? I am not any of that. If I am, I won't have such a problem with these feelings I have for a human King.
"And let me guess, being wise means helping your Alpha Queen in whatever she needs?"
"That's being wise of you, my King."
Seth grunts and answers, "You've been my personal guard since I was a kid, but don't patronize me!"
King Seth scratches his head, before leaning over the couch. He stares at the ceiling and after a short while, he says, "So, that shrewd Theo actually found the mythical Alpha Queen. Now, I am getting jealous!" He peers at me and asks, "He knows, right?"
"I don't think he knows," I admit. "But he told me ‌he is my previous student."
"King Theo is my son's classmate before. He's the sole human survivor of that werewolf-police attack fifteen years ago…" Darius says. "But Kaiya, your king is cunning. I think he feels that there is something different in you. That's why he keeps you when he's not that type of person at all. He might use you for something."
I frown. Like using me to drown in pleasure? Even if that's something I enjoy as well.
"King Theo is previously a problem child before you straighten him out, Miss Kaiya. He's charismatic, popular, strong–"
I raise my hand to stop him. This time, I am the one who leans on the couch. This information is just too surreal. Maybe, if I close my eyes and open them again, I will realize that I am just dreaming.
So, I tried it, but when I open my eyes, I am at the same place again with Darius and Seth. I think I am probably in denial stage.
Then Seth makes a frustrated sigh. He turns to look at me and says, "How about it, Kaiya? Come under my services, and stay by my side. I want the knowledge of an Alpha Queen. I will help you ‌recover your memory and knowledge. Since you are the Alpha Queen, I can make you my Queen and-"
Darius clears his throat. "Please don't disrespect her. She might not remember it, but she is still our Queen."
"But isn't it perfect? I am your King, and she will be your Queen. It's a perfect arrangement. I can also help her with the mind thing. All I ask of her is some of her knowledge. It's a perfect mutual give-and-take scenario."
"The Alpha Queen hasn't been able to bear a child. She will not be able to give you an heir."
"I can have concubines, let them bear my child."
I frown. "I can't have a child?" I interrupt.
Darius shifts his attention to me and adds, "You might get pregnant, but it will all end up as stillbirth. Have you tried to bear a child lately?"
Oh damn, I thought. Now, I just want to disappear. I blame my miscarriage on Theo, when all this time, even if those things didn't happen, I still cannot bear him a child.
I grunt, but whether I am capable to bear him a child or not, it's the idea of him not wanting a child with me that matters. And besides, there is still that guilt I feel every time I copulate with him the night before. Ugh! Now, I don't feel like doing anything anymore.
"So, how about it, Miss Kaiya?" Seth asks. "My offer to make you my Queen still stands."
"I can't," I answer, staring at the ceiling. I don't feel like a Queen and I don't think I would ever aspire to be one. "Right now, I am bound to my King."


****************************
When I open the door, I almost jump at the way Theo sits in front of the fireplace. The fire is roaring on it and it casts shadows behind him.
"Where have you been?" he asks. For a while now, I realize that he's not been calling me by my name.
"I just explored the castle. I am also curious about the library."
"You explored for more than an hour?" he asks, still not looking at me. "Come here."
"I don't want to fight with you, Theo. I am tired."
And I feel heavy because of all the information I heard from Darius.
"Tired of what? You said, you 'just' strolled."
"Let's just sleep," I suggest instead.
I am about to move to my corner when he bellows, "I order you to come here!"
I take a deep breath. I approach him and stand beside him. Looking down at him, I ask. "What is it?"
He grabs my wrist and pulls me down. I didn't budge. He glares at me. "You left my side when you should have been protecting me."
"Nothing bad happened to you," I say.
Roughly and harder, he pulls me down again and I kneel before him. Then he grabs my neck and sniffs it. I groan. I hope that Darius and Seth's smell did not attach to me, but this guy has a smell of a dog.
He scowls when he lets me go. "You need to be punished," he says.
"What? No!" Why would he?!
He grabs my arm and makes me lie on his lap. I am still struggling when suddenly, he slaps my butt cheeks. I groan. I try to get up but he forces me on his lap, my chest against his knees. Another slap and I jerk at the sting.
"Theo! Let me go!"
This position is embarrassing. I am not a child! I pull myself up, and I hear him click his tongue, then he hits my behind again. I grunt. He is about to slap me again when I activate my wind magic and whirl myself off his lap. I hit my back on the dresser on the side of the room. However, with the contact of the floor on my butt, I wince. That's painful!
I shift my attention to Theo and glare at him. He stands up and approaches. "Be thankful that it's just a slap that you will be getting. Most warriors will not have the same tame punishments."
I raise my butt and massage it. "Then do worse punishments on me, rather than this!"
I stand up when he comes too close, wincing at the stinging sensation on my behind.
"We are not done yet," he says.
His voice is a few octaves lower. And then I saw it, he is having an erection for inflicting pain on me! Blood goes up my head and my cheeks warm at the realization.
"You sadist," I hiss.
"It will be just three more hits and then we're done."
"I would rather be flogged than be spanked by you!"
"You don't mean that. Surely, you enjoyed it too."
As if making a point, he gently touches the part on my cheeks that's warming up. I growl at him and his hand freezes. I see a sliver of pain in his expression, but it quickly vanishes at the same time that he withdraws his hand from me.
"Ha! Someday, you will learn how to properly serve me as my personal guard."
"I could say the same to you," I say. I take my side of the room and sit on the blanket that's spread on it. All the time, I glower at him.