Chapter 2

• With the weight of realising what had happened, I rushed back home and sneaked into my room as my eyes turned red from my tears. I just had a one night stand with that stranger in the Influence of alcohol and the thought of having my first s*x with a stranger and not my fated mate shattered me and now, here I am, running on nothing but regret and shame alone in this room.
• The room was plain, a small bed occupying the corner, neatly made with crisp white sheets. A dresser held my belongings. Suddenly, the large mirror in my room immediately caught my attention. Hesitant, I approached it.
• Staring at my reflection, I heard a sudden knock on the door. Panic coursed through my veins, and I hastily wiped away my tears, hoping not to be caught crying.
• "Azalea." The person called and then I recognized the voice, it was the chief maid. As luck may have it, she didn't come in, she only spoke from the door.
• I cleared my throat, attempting to steady my voice. "Yes?" I called out.
• "It's me, Martha, your step sister demands the presence of all the maids. Her brother will be arriving soon and she insists we all welcome him in the next 20 minutes."
• "I'll be there shortly," I managed to reply, my voice strained. This is the first time I'll be meeting my step brother so I better look presentable. Tales of his mercilessness and ruthlessness had spread throughout the kingdom, a chilling warning to anyone who might pose a threat. A lot of cruel things I have heard about him.
• There was a moment of silence as the sound of retreating footsteps echoed in the hallway. Martha is leaving already.
• Just then, I hurriedly took my bath and put on my maid uniform, straightening out the wrinkles and adjusting the collar, made use of my body fragrance and parked my hair into a clean ponytail style. I was done and ready to leave.
• Stepping outside, I was immediately met with the sight of my fellow maids, all dressed and ready for the day. I quickly joined their line. It was essential that we present ourselves in the best possible manner, especially today.
• Soon enough, my step sister emerged from her luxurious chamber, wearing an immaculate gown and a haughty expression. She walked with an air of superiority, her every movement oozing grace and confidence, then we bowed and greeted.
• She positioned herself in front of us, her gaze fixed on the entrance. Her voice sliced through the tense silence, her words laced with venom. "Remember your place, maids, the Lycan King arrives soon. No mistakes, no missteps. You cannot afford to incur his wrath."
• Her final words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the consequences that awaited those who dared to falter. I felt a tremor of fear course through me, but I refused to let it control me. I squared my shoulders and steeled myself, ready to face whatever comes but was dreaded with the thought that her brother would be more wicked to me than my step sister.
• Shortly, there were excited voices coming from the outside. The cheers and chants outside grew louder and clearer as they reached our ears. "All hail the king," hailing continuously, their voices filled with admiration and respect. I could feel the vibrations of their unified voices reverberating through the walls of the castle. My heart pounded in anticipation as we bowed our heads, our eyes fixed on the cold, stone floor beneath us.
• We had been instructed to keep our faces downwards until granted permission to look up. As the gates creaked open and the sound of footsteps approached. He was walking with confident strides, surrounded by his loyal subjects. His regal aura was impossible to ignore, and his presence alone seemed to fill the vast hall. The room was filled with an eerie silence as I and the rest of the maid remained frozen in our positions. It had been a couple of minutes since the Lycan King had entered.
• I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, my palms starting to sweat. Suddenly, the silence was shattered by the booming voice of the Lycan King. "You may all rise," he commanded, his voice deep and commanding.
• Obeying his words, I and the other maids slowly lifted our heads, our bodies following suit as we rose to our full height. As my gaze met the face of the Lycan King, my stepbrother for the first time, I felt my breath catch in my throat. It couldn't be possible. My mind raced with a million thoughts, none of them making any sense. How could the stranger I had met at the bar, the same stranger I had a one-night stand with, be the Lycan King, my brother?
• As the king finally met my gaze, time seemed to stand still. His piercing blue eyes stared back at me, flickering with recognition as he wondered if he had belittled himself to sleep with one of his maids.
• The tension in the room was palpable as I and the Lycan King stood there, locked in a moment of silent understanding.
• Suddenly, I felt liquid substance dripping down from my below, I sensed they were my blood, for I am still bleeding. I had forgotten to make use of the sanitary pad earlier due to the fact that I was in a hurry to meet up with the other maid when my sister summoned our presence. I didn't know if I should take permission to go and clean up myself or I should rather stand there and end up making a mess of myself and dress with blood stains.
• Luckily, the Lycan King immediately turned to the voice of his sister.
• "Welcome home brother, I have missed you." She embraced him so tightly with a smile.
• "I'm glad to see that you took care of the pack in my absence." His words followed with a peck on her forehead.
• "Nice job little one." He added as they both walked into his chamber.