Stolen by the Beastly Lycan King-Chapter 116: Not Worthy of His Love

Lorelai blinked her eyes open, but the bright morning sunlight filtering through the partially drawn curtains made her squeeze them shut again.

Gradually, as her eyes adjusted to the blinding light, she looked around and realized she was still in her bedroom.

Did I dream it all? she wondered, recalling Rhaegar’s final words before she had once again succumbed to exhaustion. Every time they made love, the intensity was too much for her to bear, leaving her nearly lifeless from both pleasure and fatigue.

Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but despite herself, her lips stretched into a wide smile. The lycan king had done it again—driven her to the brink of insanity with sensation. And yet, as she lay there awake, she felt alive, as though she had been reborn.

He was right... I already regret my decision. I miss him even now.

Lazily, she rolled over and slid her hand across the pillow beside her. Rhaegar’s scent lingered so strongly on the fabric that if she closed her eyes, she could almost imagine him lying there next to her.

The thought formed a vivid, dreamy picture in her mind, one that made her heart clench with a bittersweet pang of regret.

She wished she could run away with him. She truly wanted to. But no matter how many times she tried to convince herself to say yes to his proposal, her lips refused to release the words that would set her free.

I could have become the queen of the beasts... Then, I would not have to worry about my life anymore. I would not have to see the queen or her son. I would not have to endure Duke Kalder either. I would be free. Just like he promised I would be.

The word freedom shattered the fragile balance in her mind, sending sharp, needle-like pain shooting through her skull from every direction. Pressing her hands against her head, Lorelai tried desperately to steady her breathing and calm herself, but the agony refused to release its grip.

It had returned.

It always started the same way. Ten years ago, the nightmares had begun, each one followed by unbearable, searing headaches the next morning. Years of bloodletting, herbal teas, potions, and even opium had failed to bring her any lasting relief.

Recently, things had been better. Even her injured leg had not troubled her much. But now, after her latest encounter with Queen Althea, the pain and torment had returned, crashing over her like a relentless tide.

And disturbingly, the pain only seemed to come when she thought about breaking free.

It makes sense, she reasoned bitterly once the headache finally began to subside. I was raised to be loyal to the crown. Even my own body rejects the idea of rebellion.

Her thoughts grew heavier, sinking deeper into despair.

That’s right... I would be a fool to leave. There is no place for me anywhere but here. I am not worthy of his love.

***

It was an unusually quiet morning.

With the beasts’ delegation preparing to depart, Lorelai had anticipated a flurry of activity. It was still her duty to oversee the kingdom’s guests, even on the day of their departure.

But something felt off.

Her unease deepened when Marianna did not come to help her get ready. In fact, none of the ladies-in-waiting assigned to the princess had arrived to greet her or assist her in changing into a fresh dress. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

When a maid Lorelai had never seen before knocked on her door, her anxiety surged again.

"Where is Marianna? Where are my usual maids?" Lorelai asked as the unfamiliar maid picked up a wooden hairbrush and began tending to her hair.

"Oh, you have not heard, Your Highness?" the maid replied, feigning surprise. "We were hired just yesterday to replace your entire staff, my lady. The new ladies-in-waiting will be arriving at noon—by Her Majesty’s order."

"What?" Lorelai nearly gasped, her green eyes widening in shock.

Althea had not told her anything about such a decision. Replacing the entire palace staff in a single night? It was beyond extreme.

Even if Lorelai’s authority within the royal court was limited, she still retained the right to select her own maids and ladies-in-waiting without interference from anyone, including the queen. This blatant disregard for protocol was more than unsettling—it was an outright violation of her autonomy.

With her hair still cascading down her back in unruly blonde waves, the princess leapt to her feet, grabbed her cane, and hurried out of her bedroom, making her way toward the queen’s quarters. Whatever Althea was planning, this was too much. Lorelai had to put an end to it.

Though her hip was not bothering her, the loud clanging of her cane against the marble floors fueled her determination. She marched forward with the defiance of a warrior ready for battle.

Once again, her deliberate stomping went unnoticed. The halls of her quarters were eerily silent, giving her the unsettling feeling that she was the only soul left there.

But when she arrived at the queen’s palace, the atmosphere was a stark contrast to her own.

Althea’s quarters were in chaos. Maids and ladies-in-waiting darted frantically from one end to the other, their pale faces painted with terror and shock. The noise was deafening, a cacophony of hurried footsteps and panicked whispers.

Lorelai froze on the spot, unsure of how to proceed. Something was clearly wrong, but she did not know who to approach for answers.

At last, one of the queen’s ladies-in-waiting collided with her in a rush, stumbling back to mumble an apology. Seizing the moment, Lorelai grabbed her by the shoulders, fixing her piercing green eyes on the woman’s panic-stricken face.

"What happened? Why is everyone so agitated?"

The woman swallowed hard, her nervousness evident as her mind seemed to falter for several agonizing moments. Finally, she let out a shaky exhale, tears spilling down her sunken cheeks. "It’s Lady Lucia, Your Highness... She—she took her own life!"