Stolen by the Beastly Lycan King-Chapter 101: Tell Me the Truth

Lorelai’s gaze drifted to the bowl of soup resting on her nightstand. Its faint, savory aroma wafted under her nose, tempting her to reach for it. Yet, despite her empty stomach, she felt no appetite, no inclination to eat. Her body ached, and her thoughts were too heavy to allow her even the smallest comfort.

It had been hours since she returned from Althea’s chambers, her body weak and her spirit drained.

The memory of what happened there lingered, unsettling her. For the first time, the queen had taken it upon herself to perform the bloodletting, a task typically left to her attendants. Lorelai still couldn’t forget the chilling precision with which Althea had made the incision.

The cut on her left arm was deep and wide, and the blood extracted from her seemed endless, leaving her pale and fragile, as if she’d been completely emptied of life.

The princess shifted her gaze to the window, her emerald eyes catching the glow of the fire burning in the distant queen’s bedroom. The warm, flickering light seemed almost mocking against the cold darkness of the palace halls. Her thoughts returned to what she’d seen during her visit—Kai, the crown prince, lying unconscious on Althea’s bed.

The last she’d heard, the queen had forbidden any doctors from tending to his wound, insisting on handling everything herself. Althea’s obsessive protectiveness had always been troubling, but now it had reached new, dangerous heights. It was painfully clear to Lorelai that the queen’s mind was unraveling.

Lorelai had anticipated some level of conflict during the hunt, but she hadn’t imagined the crown prince would end up seriously wounded. The circumstances surrounding his injury were stranger still. Unlike the others, who bore injuries from the wild beasts of the forest, Kai’s wound was inflicted by a weapon—a deliberate, targeted attack.

As she lay back against her pillows, a heavy sigh escaped her lips. Whatever Althea was planning, Lorelai knew it was far from over.

Her mind kept drifting back to that day in the forest—the chaos of it all still haunted her at night. But more than anything, she found the entire ordeal strange. It was the first time something so unprecedented had happened, and it unsettled her in a way she couldn’t explain.

Rising from her bed, Lorelai closed the curtains and sank onto the couch, burying her face in her palms.

Since returning from the forest, she hadn’t been able to accomplish anything. Even though she wasn’t alone, she couldn’t focus enough to follow her usual daily routine. At that moment, it felt difficult to even think clearly.

What was she supposed to do? The foreign guests had already begun to depart, and each time she received a message, her heart would drop, dreading it was the notice of King Rhaegar’s departure.

She felt completely lost. Biting her lip until it was swollen and red, she struggled to hold back her frustration.

Suddenly, she flinched as a knock echoed through her bedroom door. She called out, "Come in!" but no one entered.

Standing up, she slowly walked forward. Hearing her approaching footsteps, the intruder tried to open the door, as though he couldn’t wait for her to reach it.

When she finally opened the door, she looked up at the man towering before her. Before she could even pretend to be surprised, he stepped inside, closing the door firmly behind his broad back.

His amber eyes were grim, filled with a mix of compassion, affection, sadness, and anger—emotions all directed at the startled princess.

Lorelai didn’t understand his expression. But as soon as he noticed her surprise, Rhaegar quickly wiped it away and smiled with his usual mischievous grin.

"Why the doe eyes?"

His question made her smile, and he pulled her close, his chin resting on her head as his strong arms enveloped her.

"This is the warm welcome I prefer."

Lorelai clicked her tongue, annoyed by his audacity, but at the same time, she couldn’t deny how much she missed it. She hadn’t seen him since the day of the hunt, and she was overwhelmed with relief that Rhaegar hadn’t left the kingdom without saying a word.

"Did you miss me?" the king asked, and Lorelai gently pushed him away, though the smile on her lips betrayed her true answer.

But as soon as her eyes landed on his amber orbs, her smile faded. She missed him, and soon, the ache of missing him would grow even more unbearable.

Soon, there would be no more time with Rhaegar. The thought of him leaving for a place so far away made her heart twist with a sharp, painful pang. She had grown accustomed to the lycan king turning her life upside down, and now, his presence felt like a part of her reality—something normal.

Could they ever be together again?

She knew the answer. It would never happen.

When she silently lowered her gaze, she heard a soft sigh escape him.

"It’s all over now," he said quietly. Then, his gaze softened, and he looked down into her eyes. "A bitter end, I must admit."

He gently placed his hands on her cheeks, his warmth transferring to her skin. Lorelai felt the weight of unshed tears pooling behind her eyelids. Another sigh escaped Rhaegar, as if he, too, was struggling with the heavy emotion in the air.

"Tell me the truth, Lorelai," he said, his voice quiet but edged with desperation. "Would you have gone with me if I asked you to?"

The question struck her like a thunderclap. Her heartbeat thudded loudly in her ears, and for a moment, her mind went completely blank. It felt as though the weight of the world was pressing down on her, and her body went cold while her palms grew clammy with anxiety. ƒreewebɳovel.com

Even if she could lie to him, the words wouldn’t come.

Rhaegar’s thick brows furrowed in frustration, and his voice softened to a whisper, the words heavy with longing. "Mate... I want you as my mate, Lorelai."