Freya's POV
As we approached the front of the hall, I quickly spotted the Lycan King. The men all stopped and looked at us. Kingsley and I both bowed in honor of the Lycan King.
"Kingsley!" the Lycan King's hearty laugh filled the room again. "You didn't tell me she was so cute."
Immediately afterward, the Lycan King walked swiftly towards me. "Stand up and let me look at you."
My eyes remained on the floor as I allowed him to approach me. He slowly lifted my chin and directed my gaze to fall on him. He looked handsome and elegant, but the few slight wrinkles on his face made him seem more approachable than I had expected the Lycan King to be.
"You chose well," he commented, looking at Kingsley with a satisfied smile.
"Freya..." Kingsley's low voice pulled my attention back from the Lycan King to face him. "Let's sit down."
I nodded and took a few steps at Kingsley's side toward the large table, settling into the most plush golden chair I had ever seen in my life.
Across from me sat an elegant lady and a middle-aged man who looked a bit thin.
As my gaze swept over the middle-aged man, I clearly caught the greed in his eyes, which made me frown.
On the other hand, there was a subtle smile on the elegant lady's face, confusing me throughout dinner. Every time I looked up, her eyes were fixed on me, and she wore a very interested smile.
"So, Kingsley, I have to admit, you're very lucky to have acquired such a beautiful mate."
My eyes shot out, meeting the Lycan King's meaningful smile. I wanted to discern his true intentions.
"Thank you for the compliment. I'm honored, Your Majesty," I replied calmly with a polite smile.
Kingsley furrowed his brow and narrowed his eyes at the Lycan King.
"Your Majesty," he began to reply, but the Lycan King continued, "Kingsley, it's a shame that your mate seems to have some sort of flaw."
As he finished, he cast a meaningful glance over my belly.
"However," he continued, "we do need to talk about something."
I observed Kingsley's fists clenching under the table and then quickly relaxing in his lap. Despite the decent smile on his face, I could sense the anger lurking beneath his slightly furrowed brow.
I gently reached out and covered his clenched fist with my hand, signaling him with my eyes to remain calm. His wolf emitted a disgruntled purr at my reassurance.
"What do you need to discuss with me, Your Majesty?" Kingsley asked in a low voice. "Couldn't it wait until later, in a more private setting?"
"Nonsense." The king didn't raise his voice, but he took offense at Kingsley's request. "We're all allies here—friends, if you will. Besides, this involves Alpha Craig and his daughter, Mavis Houston—and, to be honest, I think in the long run, you'll be satisfied with what I have to say."
"Indeed," the skinny, middle-aged man sitting across from me replied with a slight smile and a soft, fawning, excited tone. "Wonderful news."
My eyes scanned the people around me; whatever they had to say, it couldn't be good news. Kingsley knew it, and so did I. Even Novia looked at me worriedly. Something bad was about to happen.
"Kingsley, it's time for you to bring an heir to your pack," the Lycan King declared.
Everyone lapsed into silence. I just looked at Kingsley, without saying anything.
"I already have a mate, Your Majesty. And she will be my only Luna, now and in the future," Kingsley declared, looking at me with determination in his eyes.
"Kingsley," the Lycan King exclaimed, his face filled with displeasure.
I immediately felt the crowd's attention turn toward me.
"As lovely as your mate is, her inability to bear children does not make her a suitable Luna. As an Alpha, you must consider the well-being of the entire pack. Alpha Craig of the Snowwolf Pack has graciously offered his daughter, Mavis, to be your breeder. Do I make myself clear?"
The Snowwolf Pack, situated in the heart of the Arctic, had been a small, silent pack due to the challenging climate and environment, limiting its growth until now.
This clarified why Alpha Craig willingly allowed his daughter to become a breeder; The Lycan King must have promised him numerous favors.
Moreover, the mere fact that Craig's daughter would bear the next heir to the throne was enough to sway him, even if the cost was his daughter becoming a breeder without the respect of the people.
I wonder, though, was his daughter as willing as he was?
I calmly gazed across the table at the pale Mavis; the smile that had adorned her face earlier had vanished, replaced by stoic anger.
Then, a playful smile played at the corner of my mouth.
"Your Majesty... it's not fair to Ms Mavis," Kingsley said through clenched teeth. "I won't be able to love her or show her the affection she deserves."
"One can never say 'never.' Things can change. Miss Mavis comes from a good lineage and was raised with the grace to produce strong children," the King remarked, raising his glass to Craig, who turned back to him and Kingsley with a smile.
"With my daughter, you'll have a strong heir. All the problems you face will be solved, and you won't have to be forced apart from your mate," Craig said with a smile.
"No," Kingsley said firmly.
But he appeared to have exhausted his reasons to argue.
"I need time to think about this, Your Majesty," he retorted. Is that acceptable?"
The king's gaze returned to me. "But it appears your mate thinks it's a good idea."
I didn't overlook the flash of menace in the king's eyes, but one thing was certain: he was right—I did think it was a good idea.
My gaze shifted over the avaricious Craig, Mavis beside him, and a puzzled Kingsley.
Then, with a stoic expression, I looked up at the king and said, "You're right, King. It does seem like a good way to address all the problems we're facing right now. I really can't think of any reason to say no."
"What, Freya? What do you mean by that?" Kingsley uttered in an agitated voice, a hint of sadness even showing in his eyes. It seemed like he didn't expect me to yield at a time like this.
Instantly, I felt an icy chill descend. I knew it emanated from Kingsley. My hand under the table subtly pressed against the back of Kingsley's hand, signaling him to be at ease.
Then, I looked at Mavis and smiled. "I'm sure Ms. Mavis would agree, wouldn't she?"
After saying that, I gave Mavis a deadpan stare, and sure enough, a hint of disappointment and anger crossed her eyes.
It seemed that my behavior of not fighting back, as she expected, had indeed left this beautiful Ms. Mavis disappointed in me.