The Kingdom of Phanteon is vast and grand. Naturally, I would place watch towers in every
boundary to make sure our land was well-guarded. In addition, I ordered guards to make rounds
every hour day and night. The realms have had nothing but peace ever since it was created, but it
pays to be vigilant sometimes.
My men were doing well with their duties, but being the King that I am, I also preferred to check the
lands from time to time, be outside the castle and see if everything was in order.
Evenings were my best times to shift into my lycan form. Id run all over the kingdom, sometimes
not stopping for hours until dawn hits the horizon. It was my way of keeping up with my form and
stamina. I found running exhilarating and I found it a good way to de-stress from the dramas of my
court.
Like for example, in this very night where I just found out my crown was under threat.
My father was known to use underhanded means in getting what he wants. I never expected he'd
use it on me. When Elijah told me about the decree, I immediately called the council, ordered them
to eradicate it, but unfortunately for me, they refused, saying my father's words were absolute,
nonnegotiable and executory.
I had to control myself not to deliver all of them six feet under. I'm now the Alpha. I'm now the King
I was supposed to have full control over my subjects but it seems my father made it sure I couldn't
worm my way out of this problem.
The hell.
Running around my kingdom successfully decreased my anger of the night's unfortunate events. I
had calmed down, but still the thought of having to take a woman to be my queen still lingered on
my head. As to how I'd do it, I do not know yet, but I'd be sure to use underhanded means to fulfill
the decree.
An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. It's time to use my fatherâs teachings against him.
When the early morning sun hit my metallic black fur, it was my cue to return, but instead of going
back directly to the castle, I went to my manor that was located in a nearby lake, northeast of my
kingdom. Made with the finest stones in the land, my father gifted this abode to me when I
successfully first shifted at the age of twelve.
This manor had since become my place of sanctum. The only place free of worries, ministers, and
women. Mostly especially them.
I was looking forward to a peaceful bath inside my bathroom; however, exactly the moment I
stepped inside the entrance of the building, I sensed a presence. Someone was inside and it was
giving out a scent that was both enticing and poisonous to my nose.
I was in a guarded mode immediately.
Slowly, I traced where the scent was coming from and it led me to my chamber. The intruder had
the gall to actually trespass my most sacred space.
But instead of frowning more, I grinned, looking forward to ripping this intruder's head off with my
bare hands.
As I entered my bedroom, the scent grew stronger and stronger. I was torn between gagging and
relishing it. I was certainly almost tempted to do the latter and that made me angry all the more.
This intruder could be using magic in order to get to me.
Once inside, I looked around but there was none in my chamber. No sign of any soul at all, both
living or dead, or otherwise.
It was only when I opened the double doors of the bathroom when the scent really did hit me in
large volumes. I growled in displeasure.
Maybe it was the oils used that threw me off earlier, that's why I hadn't really realized who it was
immediately, but now, as I stood in front of a very naked woman using my pool, I knew for a certain
who she was.
The first thought that crossed my mind that moment was, âI'm going to wring Elijahâs head for this."
The woman was sitting comfortably on a partly submerged section of the pool, but I could see
clearly she was butt naked like I was whenever I shift back to my human form. I was certainly naked
earlier too, but all thanks to witch magic, werewolves and lycans alike didn't need to worry about
procuring a dress post shift. Now, I was properly garbed in my casual outfit of white tunic and loose
trousers; a perfect look to interrogate this woman again.
The way her back curved and the way it looked flawless and pristinely white against the sun's rays, it
tempted my eyes to ogle instead of looking away. I clenched my hands, feeling disappointed with
my idiotic show of weakness. She was just showing a lovely, feminine back. No big deal. But I hated
how I couldn't keep my eyes off of it.
I continued to look on, still deliberating on how to interrupt her, but then out-of-the-blue she
stopped drying her hair and glanced up.
Our eyes met; hers instantly showed surprise while mine, seesawing between anger and amusement.
âShit!â she cried out before she jumped into the water.
I neared the pool, chose to stand directly above the sloping steps to block her exit and then waited
for her to resurface
After a minute, she did, but she was on the other side of the pool away from my reach.
âHere I thought I still had time to take a bath before your arrival. I guess I was wrong,â she stated,
flatly giving me a disappointed look. Her face was to me, but her body was pressed up against the
pool tile as if trying to shield her nakedness from my view.
Huh, as if I wanted to look at those insignificant pieces of reproductive organs.
I cocked a brow and puffed my chest, feeling proud of myself. âI wouldn't argue with that.
Unfortunately for you, I'm a fast runner.â
âYou're not surprised with my presence here,â she pointed out.
I crouched down the floor and dipped a finger on the water, testing its temperature. It was oddly
warm and inviting. As if the stream that sourced my pool's water approved of this woman's bathing
activities.
âI haven't yet fully grasped as to why you magically ended up here instead of the dungeon, and with
a complete head at that,â I started, âbut I have a strong suspicion my dear brother had a hand on
this. He'll get what's due to him and as for you, well, I'll decide later once you step out of my pool.
You see, I just came from a good run and I'm feeling dirty and tired. I'm yet to take a bath and
peacefully enjoy my water.â
She tipped her chin up, picking up the hint I gave her. I'm not fond of sharing my possessions, my
water included, so that means she's absolutely not welcomed here.
âThen, would it be too much for His Highness to leave?â she stated and then pointed her eyes down
the water. âI'd appreciate if you'd give me a private time to..wear decent clothes.â
âNo,â I answered quickly, a tick on my jaw appearing. âI'm the King. This is my manor. You don't get
to order me what to do.â
âI heard you hate women, Your Majesty.â
âCorrect.â
âThen, I presume you also hate watching them fully naked right?â
"Of course.â
For a millisecond, I almost hesitated to answer. The vision of her naked back earlier popped inside
my head. I didnât want to admit it to myself that my eyes enjoyed it. Damn sense organs. They are
traitors.
âThen it's a win-win solution,â she continued. âYou leave. I get to wear my clothes privately. You get
to bathe in your pool.â
She had the audacity to negotiate with me. My eyes turned to slits and I stood up.
"How about this? You leave now. I bathe. I don't care a thing whatever you flaunt with that ghastly
body of yours.â
Her face cringed for a moment. âPrince Elijah warned me about your colorful words.â
"Good. That means I don't need to sugarcoat everything I say to you. Now, are you going to leave
or not? You're wasting my time, woman. I'm not a patient man.â
Her brows knotted, showing that she was under stress. I couldn't care less if that was the case. It was
her fault she decided to bathe in my pool in the very beginning.
âI'm going to stay here until you leave,â she finally stated, lifting her chin again and giving me a
serious gaze. âI'm not a voyeur, Your Highâness, and I'm certainly not the kind of woman who
struts her tits and genital in public.â
Quite a problematic woman as expected.
Clenching my teeth, I took in a deep breath so as to control my anger. If she didnât want to leave my
pool then so be it.
âNot my problem then,â I said and then I started stripping.
âWha..what are you doing?â she asked, suddenly her voice shaky. Was it because of fear or
awkwardness, I cared less. Let her feel it as a form of my punishment.
I dropped my tunic on the floor and continued unbuckling my belt whilst giving her a sharp glare.
âTaking my well-deserved bath of course.â
When I pulled down my trousers, she immediately turned her head away. From a fair skin
complexion, her face turned red.
This was a first.
Normally, whenever my female subjects see me, they usually drop their heads low with their faces
white as a chalk. This would be my first time seeing a woman responding differently at the sight of
me.
Well, this was also a first stripping myself naked in front of a woman. Never in my life had I expected
I would do such, but I didn't have a choice. I couldn't let a woman win. I couldn't let her win.