"Aditya?"
"What is it, Miss Kaiya?"
I shift my attention from the books I am reading towards her. We are in the gazebo that is overlooking the garden. It is a wooden structure with chairs and tables within the shade. Different kinds of flowers adorn the handrails. It is elevated a few steps off the ground with grasses, colorful plants, and bushes all around the quiet area. According to Aditya, Theo specifically requested this place in case I want to breathe and be away from my room for a while.
"Do you think I can visit Theo?" I ask her. "I will just be there in a few minutes."
"I would advise against it, Miss Kaiya."
"A few minutes will not disturb his work, right?"
"But it will disturb your studies," she says.
I follow her gaze towards the stack of books in front of me. Ten books on each of my sides. And a couple more in front of me.
"I read fast."
"I can see that, Miss Kaiya."
"So are you going to allow me to see him?"
"No."
"I'm your friend, right? Come one, just tell me where he is and if I get caught, I won't say your name."
"Miss Kaiya, I am not your friend. I am your handmaiden."
"I don't get the difference between handmaidens and friendship though."
Miss Aditya takes a deep breath and looks at me. "Do you want to be my friend?" she asks.
I nod.
"Fine. If you really want, come. Let's see if you still want to be my friend after this."
Miss Aditya stands up, and I follow her. But instead of going to the same building as my and Theo's room, we walk past it.
"Where are we going?" I ask.
The building looks like a vacation house. It's more open and has very few servants-if none at all. It's not well maintained too, with vines and grass growing at the entrance of the building.
"To King Theo. You want to see him, right?" she asks.
I nod, even if this place is a weird place to work in. It does not look conducive for work. Or is this his quirk while working?
Suddenly, Aditya stops in front of a huge double door. It's wooden and when Aditya pushes it slightly open, it creaks.
"King Theo is inside."
"Are you not going to come with me?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because you only ask where he is. I don't need to come with you, right?"
I frown.
"If you don't want to see him, we can just return to the garden. There are a couple of books-"
Cutting her off, I push open the door and enter. Inside, I seem to be in a hallway before the actual interior of the room. The floor is marbled and the hallway is just half a meter in width. Another door is in front of me. I hear peals of laughter inside. It sounds female. Is Theo really working here?
I push open the door and the instant I did, regret washes over me. My mouth hangs open and I freeze in front of a huge communal bathtub. There is steam, but I can clearly see what's happening in front of me. Women, of different sizes, are in the tub, all naked and with smiles on their pretty faces. And in their midst is Theo, my King Theo, being pleasured by other women. One woman is bouncing up and down in front of him, probably on his length. It's the same position that I enjoy the most, the one that offers the most intimacy with him.
"Kaiya?!" he exclaims.
There is anger in his voice as he looks at my, probably, unassuming form. I can't move. I know I need to run, but my heart is clenching so much that I find it hard to breathe.
Theo moves and removes the woman impaling herself in his member. He glares at me and asks, in an unkind way, "What the f*uck are you doing here?! I specifically ordered the servants around you to not let you come here!"
He's about to get out of the tub when I take a step back. I don't feel good. I feel dizzy. My eyes go to his crotch and notice his erection. I move my eyes back to his face. I feel the tears coming as I realize that it's not only me who can give him this kind of pleasure. To him, I am undoubtedly replaceable.
Still, I cannot move. Maybe because I need an explanation from him, even if I know exactly what this means. Theo groans and sits back on the tub. He runs his fingers through his scalp and says, "Now, that you're here, I don't think I will still be able to hide it."
But I stay rooted in the spot and I watch another girl licks the side of his face. I blink, probably of jealousy, I'm not really sure.
Then, in a flat tone, he suggests, "Don't just stand there. If you want, you can join us in the tub."
I inhale, and it stops on my throat. Tears fall as I finally realize what I am in his life. He may be my mate, but he does not consider me as his mate. He can't feel the mate bond as much as I do! Because no one can have sex with someone else when they currently have a different mate! That's what Nowra said, and that's what I feel. Thinking of having sex with another man with this mate bond, is so unheard of, I'm certain I will squeal in disgust instead of passion!
If that is the case, then what am I to him? There is a dulling pain in my chest that gives me the strength to withdraw and escape from the scene. I can't believe that this is the work that he's referring to. I wipe my tears but it continues to fall.
Suddenly, I hit something hard. I massage my head and am about to escape when powerful arms stop my movement. The next thing I know, my chin is lifted to meet another person's eyes, Klevon's eyes.
"Kaiya? What are you doing here? Why are you crying?" I look away, but he forces me to look at his face. "It's Aditya, she made you see that, didn't she?!"
I pull away but he doesn't want to let go of me. Getting annoyed, I shift my head to my wolf form and growl at him. He finally lets go. Taking the opportunity, I run from his grasp and into my room. Seeking the comfort of my bed as I bury my face in the pillow.
I can't believe this. I am here for that mate bond with Theo, but if he doesn't have that, why did I even leave that island?! Why did I assume that he feels it? The hints have been there all along! First, is his inability to introduce me to his soldiers. The way he evades some of my questions. Then, this? I whimper on the pillow as I remember the way those women are touching his body, the way his hands are exploring another women's body, and the way he f*ucks those girls! Do they give him the same pleasure as I do?
Another pain pricks my heart and I clutch on my chest, lying on my side as my tears continue to fall. Should I reject this bond? What will happen to me then? Will I be thrown away? Brought back to the island? That's the best-case scenario, but what if, he kills me? Without the bond, is there something that prevents him to do that?! He is a king, what's stopping him to take more advantage of a werewolf slave like me?
I weep as I hug myself. Seemingly not enough, I take the blanket and cover myself with it. I crouch on the bed, the same one where we play around with each other's bodies.
I suddenly sit up. I look around the room. I can remember how Theo gave me pleasure in each part of this room. Every part is a memory I'd like to retain. But this time, there is an accompanied pain as I remember him in the tub with other women.
Why did I believe him so easily, anyway? Why am I so naive and gullible? My heart is aching. I don't know what to do. Nowra, please, I need you.