Chapter 8
Maximus's POV:
As i sat in my throne there lost in thought, i heard a commotion outside the throne room. It was my servants returning, and i jumped up, eager to know what news they had.
As i approached the entrance to the throne room, I heard the sound of footsteps getting closer. I could hear the muffled voices of my servants as they discussed something, but I couldn't make out the words. Finally, the doors to the throne room opened, and my servants entered. I went back to sitting down and scanned the group, looking for any sign of Felicity. "Where is she?" I asked angrily.
One of the servants stepped forward, bowing low. "Your Majesty, we have not found her."
"And why are you coming back?" I growled furiously "Didn't I tell you not to come back unless you found her?"
"We found this one trying to escape my king!" He said pushing Stefan to the floor in front of me.
I looked down at Stefan, who was now kneeling before me, his head bowed in submission. "Is this true?" I asked him, my voice cold and stern.
Stefan looked up at me, fear etched on his face. "Y-Your Majesty, I...I'm sorry. I was afraid. I thought I could find Felicity on my own and bring her back to you. But...but she's nowhere to be found."
A wave of anger washed over me and I slapped him hard on the face, his head jerked back in shock. "You dare defy my orders? And now you come back empty-handed, with no trace of Felicity?"
I stood up, towering over Stefan. "I'm very displeased with you. You have failed me"
Stefan's shoulders slumped as he hung his head in shame. "Please, Your Majesty, I beg for your mercy. I will do anything to make it up to you."
I paused for a moment, considering his words. Stefan had been a loyal servant for years, but his failure to bring back Felicity was a serious offense. "Very well," I said finally.
As the Lycan king, I was known for my strict orders and unwavering loyalty to my kingdom. Stefan's failure to find Felicity had angered me greatly, and I had no patience for disobedience.
I turned to my head enforcer, Titus," Go and bring me back the prisoner!" I ordered.
Titus nodded his head in agreement and set off on his mission.
Titus returned a few minutes later, he had an unexpected prisoner in tow - an old woman who turned out to be Stefan's mother.
"Your Majesty," he said, bowing low. "I have brought you the prisoner, as you requested."
In case Stefan didn't bring Felicity back, I asked Titus to take me back for someone he cared about.
I looked at the old woman, who was trembling with fear. "Who is she?" I asked, confused.
Titus explained that she was Stefan's mother
As Stefan went to see his mother, he was surprised to see her. "Mother, why are you there?" he asked, tears streaming down his face.
"I don't know" she answered scared.
Stefan turned to me, his eyes filled with desperation. "Your Majesty, please spare my mother's life. She is the only person I have left on this earth for family. I'll do whatever you want, but please spare her life" He begged me.
I looked at Stefan with anger in my eyes. "I cannot spare her life," I said sternly. "You have failed me, and now you must pay the price."
Stefan's mother looked at me in shock, tears streaming down her face. "Please, Your Majesty, have mercy," she pleaded.
But I was not in a merciful mood. "You should have thought about the consequences of your actions before you failed me," I said coldly.
Stefan looked at me, desperation etched on his face. "Your Majesty, please, I beg of you. I'll do anything," he pleaded.
I looked at him, my eyes narrowing. "Anything?" I asked.
Stefan nodded his head vigorously. "Yes, anything. Just please spare my mother's life."
I leaned back in my throne, considering his words. "Very well," I said finally. "But you must pay back the money I gave you for the purchase of Felicity for starters and I'll see after.""
Stefan's mother looked at her son in shock. "You had the money and you didn't buy me the remedies when I was sick?" she asked, her voice filled with sadness.
Stefan tried to explain himself, but I was fed up with their argument. "Silence!" I bellowed. "You will have plenty of time to solve your problems outside my palace."
Stefan tried to negotiate with me,
"Your majesty! I will give you another Breeder even more beautiful than Felicity but free this time" he offered.
I refused in anger. "I will not trade with someone who has failed me," I said firmly.
I turned to Titus, my head enforcer. "Take them to the dungeon, I don't want to see them anymore, they disgust me." I ordered.
Titus nodded his head in agreement and led Stefan and his mother away. As they disappeared through the doors of the throne room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Disobedience would not be tolerated in my kingdom, and Stefan had learned that lesson the hard way. The night as I lay in my bed, my thoughts still consumed with anger and frustration, I heard three knocks on my door. I sat up, my senses on high alert. Who could it be at this hour?
I got out of bed, the door opened and I saw Marcus standing there, a serious expression on his face.
"Come in!" I told him.
He walked in, bowed in front of me.
"Your highness, we have found Felicity's tracks," he said, his voice low and urgent.
Finally, some progress. "Where are they leading?" I asked, my voice barely containing my excitement.
"They lead to the neighboring pack's territory," Marcus replied. "We believe she may be seeking refuge there."
I nodded, my mind racing with possibilities. "Gather a team of our best trackers. We'll go after her tonight."
Marcus bowed his head. "As you command, your highness."
I watched as Marcus left the room, closing the door behind him.
A sinister smile appeared on my face.
Finally, I had a lead on Felicity's whereabouts. And I would stop at nothing to bring her back.