Calhoun reclined in his seat, enjoying the scream which he knew belonged to Gigi. He chuckled. The sound of her scream made him a little happy and satisfied.
In no time, George was at his door, knocking hurriedly.
"Goerge, come in," Calhoun said.
"Sir, there seems to be an issue with Lady Damita and her children," George reported. "I do not know what it is but I'm sure I heard them scream."
"That's fine, I'm sure they're just having a good time," Calhoun said, waving it off. "Come on, have Patricia come and clear this place."
George bowed and left. He quickly found Patricia in the hallway.
"Patricia."
"George," Patricia answered. "What do I owe this...-"
"This is nothing. The king asked me to tell you to come and clear his chamber." George said.
Patricia smirked. "I was already on my way there, somehow I just knew that he needed me."
"Are you also in love with the king?" George asked directly. Patricia stuttered a little at his bravery and courage. How could he ask such a question so bravely and didn't even hide a little?
"It's wrong to ask girls such questions." Patricia scolded. "And for the record, yes. I'm in love with the king."
George smiled a little. "Do you also know that the King has a woman who he loves?"
"Yes." Patricia nodded. At this point, they were walking slowly toward the King's chamber. "I know that he is grieving for her but it doesn't matter at all."
"It does matter, Patricia. It matters a whole lot. Calhoun will never love you." George commented. "The woman he loves is loved deep within his soul. Within the depths of his wolf, as he loved her. There is no place for you."
Patricia scowled at him. "You will not make me do that which I don't want to do!" She growled. "I will do anything for him."
George chuckled. "I warned Diana but she failed to heed. Today, he has run away because she couldn't stand being loved by him."
Patricia laughed wickedly. "Here's where you're wrong, George. Diana ran away when she could have fought for him. I will stay and fight for him."
George smiled lightly, pushing the door to Calhoun's chamber open. "So be it."
Patricia walked into the room, expecting to find Calhoun there. He wasn't there and the smiles that she had prepared to offer him were slowly wiped off her face.
George chuckled behind her. "Go on, he asked for you to clean the dishes."
Patricia, scowling, began to clear the place. George watched her pack the plates and the glass cups before she left. The moment he closed the door behind her, Calhoun emerged from his inner chamber. George held a small smile on his face.
"Has she just left? Didn't stick around for a chat? Not even to see my face?" Calhoun asked with a smug smirk dancing across his lips in a mocking manner. "How bad of her."
"The girl loves you, my king," George said.
"I know that," Calhoun said. "But she doesn't love me. She lusts after what she has seen."
"How can you tell, my king?" George asked.
"Observe her expression when I pass a rule or give justice to a thief, especially if he is human," Calhoun said. "She judges. But when she finds my gaze nearing her dainty figure, she covers it with a soft smile. Demure and naive."
George swallowed discreetly. "How have you taken notice of this yet you ask me to keep an eye on her?"
"Hm George, try to ask only smart questions here." Calhoun scolded. "A woman in love is to be more trusted than a woman who lusts. For her feelings are swayed by the quantity of what she gets."
George thought about it. "Do you imply that Patricia might venture into a dark path just to try and get your affection?"
"Exactly, George. Patricia can and will do that. Every woman will do that." Calhoun said. Then as if on second thought, he added, "all except Diana. She will never have done that."
"You can't be so sure, my king. Perhaps she was never given the opportunity to."
"No. She had every opportunity to do that. She was with me more times than not. Diana has slept here in my chamber more times more than she has done in the servants' quarters." Calhoun explained. "She could have easily slipped something in my wine or tea."
"I doubt that would have gone unnoticed. You are always too smart."
"That would have been the issue. Here, Patricia knows I have my eyes on her so she doesn't wish to hide her feelings. Diana knew that since she was with me, I might have never needed to doubt her, thinking she would never be brave enough to do such a thing while sleeping in my chamber." Calhoun said. "It would have easily slipped by me. One is because as much as I would never have admitted it, I do trust her."
"What about Gigi?" George said. "I heard she prepared you soup. Did she try to slip something in it?"
"Hm." Calhoun hummed. "Gigi."
"That's probably why we all heard her scream.
She had indeed slipped something into the soup. Yet she failed to understand that her brother was a hungry and selfish werewolf who would always want to have what didn't belong to him. Especially something he could also never give."
"Will I drink the soup?" George asked in shock.
"What exactly did she slip in?"
"Some type of drug that induces a sexual urge in a werewolf. Very lethal to the regular human and a weak werewolf."
"Will is a weak werewolf," George said. "He must be going through a lot."
"Are you bothered? If you care so much, you can just go and check on them." Calhoun said with a shrug. "I will sit and relax a little more."
George nodded. "I think we should go and check on them, my king. Because even though Gigi slipped a drug in the soup, people will naturally expect you to be concerned about your family."
"I don't care about them. I'm not concerned about them. What I'm concerned about is the reputation of my castle." Calhoun said. "Let us go and check on them."
George opened the door and allowed Calhoun to leave first. He followed after Calhoun and they walked down the hallway to the first floor where Damita and her children were. Getting to the scene, he saw some guards outside. Thomas was there as well, holding Damita, looking helpless.
"Calhoun! What did you give my son to eat?!" Damita accused. "Look what you've done to him! He has aggressively wounded his sister!"
"Why is she not healing?" Calhoun asked, ignoring her first accusation. "Isn't she a werewolf?"
"The injury sustained from another werewolf doesn't heal so easily!" She exclaimed.
"Fools." Calhoun cursed. "How can she not heal from an injury all because it was caused by her fellow werewolf?"
Damita was mad with anger. "Who are you calling a fool?!"
"You," Calhoun answered. "Also, what did you mean by the first question you asked? You should be asking Gigi, she made and served the food herself. Even the maids have said she washed the plates she used to serve me, all by herself. Did she not cook the food herself?"
Gigi was silenced. Although she was whimpering in pain, she couldn't speak out again. Yes, Will had injured her so badly and yet she wasn't healing. She had no idea why.
"Go on and answer, Gigi." Calhoun mocked. Damita was angered. She never expected Calhoun to answer so smartly. She knew the man was a crook but she never expected him to be that way to them.
"Calhoun, how can you accuse her even when she's in this condition? Do you have no pity?" Damita yelled. Thomas was only trying to get her claws off him so that he could return to his room. He turned to Calhoun for help.
"Damita, I wonder what your husband would say if he saw you clinging to another man in such a manner." Calhoun tsked.
Damita became even madder and she held Thomas tighter. "Don't change the subject!"
"Thomas here is my father-in-law-to-be," Calhoun announced. "Step father-in-law to be." He corrected me.
"Maybe we have had our issues in the past, but surely you will let me marry Diana once she's found, right?"
Thomas nodded too quickly. If it could get him out of Damita's grip then he would consent. Calhoun smiled widely. He looked even more menacing when he smiled.
"There. Now get your hands off the king's father-in-law before you get punished for harassing a married man."
Damita slowly let go of the man. Her dignity was falling and she needed to do something to save it, otherwise, she could say goodbye to the throne.
"Calhoun, you misjudged me. I only feel saddened to see Gigi in such a state." She said slowly. "Isn't there anything that can be done to save her?"
"Firstly, we have to know what drug Will is acting on," Calhoun said. He very well knew that Damita was the only one who could access those types of drugs and give Gigi.
"Can we send the servants away first? Let's discuss this as a family." Damita suggested. Even if she was to lose her dignity, she wouldn't dare do that before the servants. Calhoun smirked at her. He knew exactly what she was going on about. He turned to the servants who were there and they all left the place. Damita turned to stare at George who still stood there. Calhoun chuckled.
"He goes nowhere and I hope you know."
Damita turned to glare at Thomas. He wasn't supposed to be there either. She specifically said, family.
"Thomas is my father-in-law, it's only expedient he stays," Calhoun said again. Damita scowled.
"I said, family!" Damita reminded me. "They are not family!"
"Do you want to help Gigi or not? I like hearing her scream." Calhoun said, chuckling.
Gigi glared at him. Calhoun chuckled all the more.
"Look at her, she doesn't need help. She has the guts to glare at the king, even being a sorry excuse for a werewolf." Calhoun mocked. "Let's go to the meeting room, shall we?"
"Gigi can't walk," Damita exclaimed. "And will is chained."
"Find a way to move them," Calhoun said, leaving them there. Damita was mad and pissed. She called some guards to take Will to the meeting room while she helped the limping Gigi down to the meeting room. Calhoun was already sitting in the head seat. Thomas sat to his left and George stood by his right.
Damita helped Gigi to sit to his right and he scowled immediately.
"That seat doesn't belong to you, Gigi. Scoot to the next." He ordered. Gigi was more than embarrassed, she bent her face low and moved from her seat to the next one, silently.
"What's wrong with her sitting there?" Damita demanded.
"It's reserved for my woman," Calhoun said. "And although she might not be here now, it doesn't mean I will disrespect her by allowing just anybody to sit on her seat."
"Now, before you raise your voice at me, forgetting who is a king among us, tell me exactly what you gave your daughter to slip in my soup."
"That's a very broad accusation, my king," Damita said sharply.
"So was yours, when you asked me what I fed Will to have him unleash his primal urge." Calhoun returned sharply as well. Damita quietened.
"I don't know what she slipped in the soup. You can ask her yourself." Damita said, turning her gaze away from Gigi's surprised expression.
"Mom!" Gigi whispered. "How can you do that to me?!"
Damita ignored her. If she was to get the crown, she didn't mind sacrificing her children. After all, they weren't hers.
"Don't listen to her, she was the one who gave me the drugs!" Gigi announced. Damita's face turned rigid.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Damita said. "And who's your mom by the way? You're not my child!"
Gigi gasped. Thomas stared on in surprise. Calhoun only chuckled. Finally, something to ease his stress.