The Lycan King's Defiant Surrogate

Caleb sees nothing but vengeful shadows everywhere he looks. Even from the safety of his chambers, he suspects everyone in the palace is plotting against him.

Before the attempted coup, Caleb thought that his paranoia was mostly unwarranted, triggered only from the strain of not yet finding his mate. Yet now, he sees that he was right to suspect. In fact, he might not have suspected enough.

If one of his own advisors could turn on him like a flipping switch, then anyone could. His reign could be threatened once more, at any moment.

So he has all of the traitors slain in a grand execution. He attends, forcing himself to look into the eyes of all who have betrayed him. The experience leaves him cold, so he retreats back into his chambers to try to bring warmth back into his body once more. All he feels is numbness.

A knock sounds at the door.

"I said I do not wish to be disturbed," Caleb growls. He cannot allow those vicious shadows to follow him into his most private chamber here. Else, nowhere will feel safe.

Still the door opens. Caleb stands and faces the door in a rush, ready to personally tear the throat out of whoever would dare to disobey him.

He pauses when he sees Tristan at the door.

Tristan has always been trustworthy. He is not a betrayer. He is a subordinate, but he is also something like a friend - if Caleb were in any position to actually have friends. "The Alpha Council has convened and is awaiting you," Tristan says.

"I did not request any such meeting."

Tristan gives a strange look. Then he more fully enters the room, closing the door behind him.

"You did. Last night," he says.

Caleb does not recall that at all, but much of the recent days are cloudy with fear and did arrange for the Alpha Council to meet.

rage.

Perhaps

in a clearer moment, he

"I must warn you that the Alphas wish to return home. They will attempt to sway you," Tristan says.

"Let them," Caleb says. "I would prefer not to be surrounded by so many strangers."

"With respect," Tristan says, which he tends to say right before he disagrees with Caleb. "The Council was formed to plan a defense against the Bear Clan of the North. That has not been resolved. If anything, the bears are even more emboldened after the success of this coup. We need the council

"I don't need anyone," Caleb snaps. "Unless you believe me incapable of protecting my own kingdom?"

Tristan's expression hardened. "Of course not, my King."

"Then let the Council go home."

"Can we agree on a temporary recess? Two weeks are so. You might feel differently by then..."

"Beta," Caleb growls.

"That's who I am, Tristan says sternly. "And as such, I have an obligation to tell you when you are being obtuse

If anyone else would have talked to Caleb like that, he would have had them killed without question. But Tristan has earned Caleb's respect and trust. For Tristan to push back like this means he firmly believes what he's saying to be the truth. Caleb doesn't agree, but... Tristan has earned his consideration.

"Fine." Caleb says. "Tell them it's a two week recess. But if in a week, I have not changed my mind, then we will tell them not

to return."

Tristan bows. "Of course, my. King."

Caleb turns away from him then, but he keeps listening as Tristan leaves the room and closes the door behind him.

As soon as Tristan is gone, the whispering starts in Caleb's mind once more.

The Alpha Council could have helped arrange the coup. Likely the Gamma didn't work alone...

Caleb shakes his head, trying to clear it, but all he can feel are suspicions - against everyone.

I'm very worried when a few days pass and I haven't been summoned to Caleb's side once. He could be having a good few days, without any headaches, but the odds of that seem very unlikely.

After speaking with Bethany and a few other servants, from what I can tell, Caleb has not left the safety of his chambers since entering them after the grand execution - a thing that I was unable to stop and blessedly not required to attend. Only Tristan has been seen going in and out," Bethany says, relaying some information she gathered from other servants that very morning.

"Then it's Tristan I need to talk to," I decide. Ifl can't get in to talk to, then I will have to go to the next best person.

Bethany helps me track down Tristan when he heads to the dining room for lunch. After being alerted, I rush there to speak with Tristan. Sitting at a lonely table, he eats a sandwich and soup, and does not even bother looking up as I sit down. "I was expecting you sooner," he says before I've even said a word. "You're late."

I sit down in the chair opposite him at this two-person table. "I haven't seen Caleb since the day we returned."

"He's not well," Tristan says. "His paranoia has amplified. He even looked at me with suspicion, and did not immediately trust my advice."

"I say the Alpha Council was sent home..." I saw Samuel once, standing across the hallway, as he and Leah were making their exit. Neither of us said a word to one another.

Looking at him, I felt... nothing. His behavior before the coup... I could maybe forgive, but I would never forget. He's no longer a man that I can trust.

"He would not listen to reason on that," Tristan says. "It was only with the full extent of my influence was I able to make him even consider calling them back in two weeks." Tristan shook his head. "He sees everyone as the enemy. Even those he should see as allies and friends." ""He has not called me to see him," I say.

"And he won't," Tristan replies. "Even though he should." Tristan finally glances up to meet my gaze. "Harper, you need to get in to see him. You might be the only person in the entire kingdom who could help calm that paranoia festering inside of him."

"I tried to get in once before," I say. "I was blocked by the guards

They tried to block inre too You need to be persistentCcontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

As nice of a thought as that is. I'm not a werewolf and naturally ot as strong as the guards. If they want to keep me out, they will find a way. Plus, Tristan is the King's Beta, one of the most respected men in the entire kingdom, seconding only the King himself. I'm just a member of the King's harem.

"He needs you, Harper," Tristan says.

That could be true. And I hate to think of him suffering, unable to trust anyone, lost in the dark winding caverns of his own spiteful mind. He needs someone to offer him a hand and lead him out of his own spiraling thoughts.

At the very least, I can offer a massage to push back the headaches.

I had to get into the King's chambers. No matter what.

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