The beastly wolf tired her out to the point of exhaustion. She laid in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder, as he carried her to their room. The fragrance of fruit and musk hung in the air, creating an alluring scent that caused one's heartbeat to rise.
Ramose carried his mate to the bed, and sweeping the curtains aside, gently laid her down. The serpentine was too tired to make any sound. The soft, cushy, bed made her feel nice and warm. Turning to the side, she snuggled into the warm blankets.
The Werewolf King smiled. He kissed her temple and got off the bed, heading to the rack of robes on the side.
"Light looks good in everything. But I like her better in black." As the only black wolf in the entire Underworld Palace, his mate wearing black would be akin to them matching colors. In a subtle way, he wanted to declare to every beast in the Werewolf Clan that the Serpentine Queen was his.
Carrying the two black robes back to the bed, the Werewolf King looked at the soundly asleep Serpentine Queen in satisfaction. Her fair skin had patches of red-pink that rose his heat. As his gaze roamed over the rest of her body, he felt reluctant to clothe her.
Because to see such a view again, he would have to scheme and shamelessly seduce her.
Ramose swallowed dryly and climbed the bed. Setting the robes beside him, he gathered his mate in his arms and massaged her waist, feeling sorry for the torment he put her through.
He didn't expect his strong self-control to be so lousy under her luscious body. Although he restrained himself, the number of times they did the deed was a little overboard for her.
"Light, when you recover, I'll love you to my heart's content." It was a vow.
One he intended to see it through.
He grabbed the black robe and cautiously helped her into it, afraid of disturbing her rest. As his hands and fingers made contact with certain enticing parts, he didn't attempt to put on any façade of being well-behaved.
When his palms grazed a thigh, he kissed it; when his fingers grazed a mound, he sucked it. By the time he finished helping her dress, his face was flushed crimson and his breathing rough.
Ramose climbed down the bed and dashed into the washroom. He grabbed the basin of water set aside for face washing and dumped the entire content over his head.
Huuuu...
"This is torture..."
The water was cool, bringing down his body heat by a bit. But his member was still hard and it didn't show any signs of settling. Dumping another basin of water over his head, the Werewolf King returned to the bedroom dripping wet.
He looked at his still asleep mate with a bitter expression and grabbed his black robe.
Having learned his lesson, he didn't try to touch Versailles again. Instead, he wore his clothes, kissed her forehead again, and decisively left the room.
If he remained within the vicinity of her, he was certain he would lose his mind.
Leaving the Purple-Radiance Palace, the Werewolf King headed directly to the Crystalline Hall. The soothing fragrance of the foliage planted in the bright meeting hall entered his nostrils and calmed his restless heart.
"Oh, King Ramose is quite late today, isn't he?" Seeing his King finally make his appearance, Olsen leaned over and whispered conspiratorially to the rest of the Betas.
The five slightly lifted their heads and secretly evaluated their King. His bright eyes and slight smile told them everything they needed to know.
"Looking at his bright face, he must've finally crossed the threshold." Kugar thoughtfully remarked.
"Heh...how long do you think he lasted?" Julian whispered.
Olsen looked at the fearless wolf and goaded.
"How about you ask him?"
"Olsen, do you think I'm a fool? Why would I purposely stretch out my neck for a beheading?"
"But seriously? I've never seen King Ramose look so happy before. The peaceful and satisfied aura makes him more approachable." Lium's eyes flashed with delight as he scrutinized his King from head to toe.
The others silently nodded in agreement, similarly delighted and happy for their Werewolf King.
As his Beta Wolves, they clearly knew how troubled and restless his heart had been in the past 18 years. Seeing his smile made them inadvertently smile as well.
Their King had finally found his happiness. What more could they want?
Ramose felt his Betas' curious and burning stares the moment he entered the hall. Throwing the gossipy pack a scornful glance, he casually proceeded to his throne.
But this made them gasp in astonishment and surprise...
"Is something the matter?" Pausing mid-step, he coldly questioned the tactless wolves.
Not wanting to ruin his good mood, he had clearly decided to overlook their rude stares. And yet, they just had to attract his attention.
"No, no! Nothing's the matter, King Ramose!" They were only shocked by his amiable air, ok?
The Betas felt like banging their heads on the stone walls. Had they lost their minds? Why had they expressed their shock so openly?
King Ramose hadn't kicked them in the shin when they had openly stared, but they actually dared to take the matter further by exclaiming in his presence?
Now it was just great! Their King was glaring at them as if he would eat them alive!
Shivering in trepidation, the Beta Wolves deferentially bowed their heads and awaited their punishment.
But another astonishing matter occurred that made them blank in disbelief...
"Hmph! Considering the fact that I'm in a good mood today, I'll excuse your disappointing behaviors this time." With wide eyes and open mouths, they watched their Werewolf King walk right past them and sit on his throne.
The wolves exchanged confused glances before understanding dawned on them and a bright light flared in their eyes.
They couldn't help but sigh at the Serpentine Queen's greatness for taming the ruthless King Ramose in one night.
Ramose swept his gaze over the stunned wolves and smirked. He knew what they were thinking, but made no attempt to fix it.
After all, the more they viewed his mate as a formidable force, the greater they would depend on her in the future. And if they begin to depend on her, his mate will have a less difficult time acclimating to the Werewolf Clan.
For her to settle in the Underworld Palace with ease and comfort, he would happily embrace the title of a mate-tamed and mate-fearing Wolf King...
"Olsen, keep an eye on the Ruling Wolf Pack. I have a hunch that they are cooking up a scheme."
"Yes, Wolf King! Do you want me to shuffle the wolves guarding the Crimson Palace?"
"No need. That'll just alert them. I want to see what they're depending on to dare question my decisions in public. If they believe we're unguarded against them, then they'll be more confident in carrying out their scheme."
"You don't need to worry about my mate's safety. One, she isn't an easy target. And two, I would never place her safety in any other beast's hands. Even if that beast is my Beta."
Olsen shivered at the edge in his king's voice. No doubt, he still kept the incident of his mate's near-death experience in mind.
If fate wasn't on his king's side that day, then today...
Olsen's expression turned grave. Solemnly nodding his head, he stepped back without objection.
Turning to the Beta in charge of Management, the Werewolf King crossed his arms and coldly asked.
"Lium, did you take care of the Shapeshifting race's affair?"
"Yes, Wolf King. I started the process and they'll be freed from the slave-bond pledge within the next few days. As free beasts, they'll have to search for a new living environment and secure food for themselves." Lium's face was impassive as he reported to the Wolf King.
"There's no need for them to search for a new living environment. My mate made a promise to help every race secure a livable environment and food. Since they're in need of a place to live, place them among the races that are in need of homes. Until then, they can stay in the Underworld Palace and entertain my mate when she's bored."
"Uh...yes, Werewolf King." Lium didn't know what to say.
The race was already freed from slavery. But now, they'll also get a place to call home.
Wasn't their Werewolf King too generous?
Olsen saw the confused look on Lium's face and nudged the beast.
"No need to look so confused. Our king isn't this generous. All of this is because of our Queen. So you'd better keep your eyes wide open and never offend her. If you do...hehe...may the heavens save you from our King's wrath!"
It was only when he heard his words that Lium saw the light.
No wonder...sigh...and here I was thinking our King had become generous. It's all for the Serpentine Queen. Glancing over at the gloating Olsen, Lium couldn't help but whisper in confusion.
"Okay, our king is doing everything for the Serpentine Queen. But why are you so happy?"
A smug smile on his face, Olsen clasped his hands behind his back and proudly raised his head.
"Because I'm the Serpentine Queen's friend. Our Werewolf King, ruler of the Underworld Palace is a tamed beast under her control. In the future, under her watch, will King Ramose dare to do anything to me? As her friend, I've practically gained immunity from punishment and torture."
Upon hearing Olsen's words, the Betas immediately saw red.
"Da**! Olsen, you shameless wolf! How can you claim the Serpentine Queen as your friend?"
"That's right, that's right! I bet the Serpentine Queen doesn't even know who you are."
"Don't even think about forging a friendship with the Serpentine Queen. Otherwise...heh...I'll tell our Werewolf King that you're interested in his mate..."
"You...!" Olsen almost vomited blood at the Betas' shamelessness.
They didn't have the good fortune of meeting the Serpentine Queen first, so they purposely suppressed him with such threats!
The Nar! If King Ramose heard such news, even if it was fake, he would still butcher him for being strung with the Serpentine Queen in the same sentence!
Olsen fearfully glanced in his King's direction. Seeing the black wolf not paying attention to their interaction, he released a sigh of relief.
Trembling in anger and fear, Olsen turned a resentful glare to the gloating Betas.
Having such beasts as his comrades in arms was his greatest misfortune!
Ramose indifferently watched his Betas whisper and bicker with each other in hushed tones. He felt disgusted at their childish behavior and turned a deaf ear to them, looking out the Crystalline Hall's window with a lost expression.
He wanted to be with his mate. But he was afraid of his body's reactions around her. Once or twice was fine. But if he failed to control himself and did it too many times, she might just break.
As such, he made do with recalling their sweet moments and thinking about her expressive eyes as he wanted for the ice night to descend and see her again.
On the other side, after a long nap, Versailles woke up feeling fresh and energized.
Having been tossed about by a hungry wolf for a day and night, every muscle in her body ached. Luckily, she was a serpentine and her bones were flexible.
Otherwise, she would be cursing the beast until she ran out of curse words!
Sitting up with a long yawn, she stretched her arms and jumped off the bed.
"This...?" She didn't remember wearing a robe. Then, where did this come from?
The face of her shameless mate appeared in her mind. Her face instantly flushed red and she released the edge of the black robe like she had been burned.
Da**! That wolf must have taken liberties with me while I slept!
She stomped her foot in rage, her flame hair floating above her head like tendrils of red-gold sun-rays.
Versailles didn't need to ask the wolf to know it.
She was certain he had taken liberties with her.
Sighing dejectedly, she fixed her robes and secured the belt. There was no point in crying over spilled milk. Besides, they had already done the deed, so there was nothing for her to be embarrassed about.
Moreover, as he liked to say, they were mates.
She took a couple of quick steps and tested her body. She could sense she was almost fully recovered. As a serpentine and an immortal beast, self-healing was an inherent ability for her.
But this ability only worked well on common ailments and bruises.
Life-threatening attacks like the one she suffered were one of the most difficult to recover from.
Surprisingly, however, she recovered quicker than even the time the Healer had anticipated.
"I've been in the Underworld Palace for so many days and yet, I still haven't explored the areas outside the Crimson and Purple-Radiance Palace. As the Werewolf King's mate, I need to know what life in the Underworld Palace is like."
Crossing her arms across her chest, Versailles, the Werewolf King's mate left the Purple-Radiance Palace to explore the Werewolf Clan.