By the next morning, Diana had still not come out. Thomas was getting angrier by the second. The king requested for him to come with his family member, how come she didn't want to come along?

"Diana! Why do you make me so cross!" He fumed. Diana remained still in her room. She knew that she was only adding to her troubles.

"Why don't you go and answer the king, Tommy." She mocked. Thomas banged the door even harder at the sound of her mockery-filled voice.

"You stinky brat!"

"Go on. I have a lot to do today. Once I'm done, I will come and see the king with you." Diana bargained. Thomas agreed instantly. Anything to get her out of the room. Once they returned home, she was going to see hell!

He hired a cab and left for the castle.

Calhoun was at the tower of his castle, looking down at the vast kingdom. Being a feared king was one of his treasured traits. But now, if he wanted to break the curse, it depended on how feared he was. He hoped that the man would come with the girl. When he saw the cab stop in front of the castle, his stoic face cracked into a small smile. He watched the man come out, waiting for the girl.

Alas, his wait proved useless because the cab man drove off. The small smile that cracked his cold expression seemed to freeze and then disappear. Did the man want to defy him?

"Sire, it seems that the man you requested has arrived." His assistant said to him. Calhoun didn't move an inch.

"Did he come with any member of his family, George?"

"No sir. He came alone." George answered with a bow, despite having Calhoun's back to him.

Calhoun hummed. "Then I shall not see him. He did not fulfill the requirements for today's meeting."

"What shall I tell him, sire?"

"Tell him I said if he wishes to defy me, he should do it completely. So that when I visit him in rage, he shall have no guilt whatsoever."

George bowed again and left. Calhoun squinted his eyes at the castle gate. He stood there for hours, staring at nothing in particular. No one ever could defy him. Not his second in command, not his third in command, not any noble in town. He was the Alpha of Wisteria. Curse or no curse, he was unstoppable.

Calhoun returned to the castle after spending a few hours, doing nothing, to find the man still there. He turned to glare at George who had his face on the floor.

"Seems like someone has become incapable," Calhoun said, tapping his chin. He walked around the meeting chamber in his thick scarlet robe, making a trail after him. He walked with all manner of pride and dignity, to the throne where he sat. His movements were very precise.

"Why is he still here, George?"

George bowed again. "My king, I had asked him to leave. But he returned a few minutes later with a young maiden, saying she was his family member."

Calhoun became interested. "Well, where is the family member? Is she a ghost?"

"She left, sire," Thomas replied. Calhoun ignored him. After a few seconds of silence, he smirked down at Thomas.

"She left? How disrespectful." He murmured. "Do you know the punishment for refusing the generous offers of the king?"

Thomas bowed. Truly, Calhoun was a menace. Listening to him bellow from his throne was akin to hearing the voice of the gods.

"Forgive me, My Lord. I'm sorry on her behalf. I will bring her to apologize personally to you." Thomas begged.

"Apologize? I do not need apologies." Calhoun said.

"Then what can we give to you, My Lord?"

"I want her as a slave."

"S..slave? My Lord, what if she refuses?" Thomas stuttered. He knew how stubborn Diana was. She was never going to accept being a slave.

"Figure something out. I give you twenty-four hours, Thomas. If Diana isn't in my castle by then, you will have your head rolling." Calhoun said with a small smile. Thomas gulped. He bowed and left.

Diana sat beside her stepfather in the cab that took them to the castle. Although she was unnerved, she also couldn't help but notice that Thomas seemed happier that she was leaving.

"You look as if you are the one marrying the king," Diana whispered. Thomas scowled at her.

"Don't utter such nonsense about the king. Learn to close your mouth and bridle your tongue!"

"What's there to bridle? I was only asking.." she shrugged. "I was only referring to your happiness. It's more unnerving than the thought of being married to King Calhoun."

Thomas scoffed. "Keep your mouth shut and let me do all the talking."

Diana turned her face away. She looked through the window, watching the road through to the castle. The cab slowed down at the entrance to the castle and she came out with Thomas. Diana stared at the mighty but familiar building before her.

She was once again here. For the third day in a row. But now she was here for a different purpose. To be married to the king.

She wondered what he looked like. Alighting from the vehicle, she turned to take a glance around the castle. The previous day she was mad and hadn't bothered to enjoy the castle's beauty. The other day, she was bothered by how to escape, also it was night.

Her eyes went up to a particular side of the castle. She thought she could see a man staring down at her. She blinked twice and the man was no longer there.

"Diana! What are you staring at?! Hurry up and let's get in!" Thomas whispered. Diana scrunched up her nose. She followed him into the castle. The servants would occasionally stare at her.

Diana frowned a little. The castle did not look like they were preparing for marriage. What exactly was going on? She narrowed her eyes at her stepfather. He looked way happier than he was supposed to.

George was the man who had seen them. He had watched them come in and run to meet Calhoun in his chamber, dressing up. He was dressed in a white shirt and grey pants. Then he wore his purple robe over his attire. He stood before the mirror watching as the maids dressed him up. Very soon, it will be Diana, his maid, dressing him up so nicely.

"They are here, my Lord," George said, bowing slightly. Calhoun turned left and right before the mirror.

"What do you think, George? Do I look like a man who is ready to accept a woman?" Calhoun asked lightly. George frowned slightly.

"Pardon me, my Lord, but isn't the lady going to be employed as a maid in the castle?"

Calhoun turned to stare at the man. "Maid? In the castle? No no no no no."

"Diana is going to be bought, a slave for the king. She isn't a maid for the castle. Meaning, she serves only me."

George scratched his head. "I might have misunderstood then."

"I hope you haven't blabbed a thing to the poor lamb," Calhoun said distastefully. He took three steps forward then stopped abruptly. "Do you not know how to answer me?"

"Oh? No no, my Lord. I haven't blabbed a word about the business to her. She is as ignorant as her stepfather would have told her."

Calhoun smiled. "Good. Now, come with me. We have guests to welcome. Inform Nichole to prepare a mini feast for the guests. Tell her I want blood mixed in the wine. Just like we royals feast."

George bowed in response and turned the other way, towards the kitchen. Calhoun watched him leave, his smile darkening as he did. He turned and resumed his journey to the meeting chamber.

Once he got in, he went to his seat and sat down, he spared them no apology. They stood up to greet him and he simply waved the greeting off.

"Let's get down to business then. I believe we all know why we are here?" Calhoun asked.

"Yes," Thomas answered immediately. "I have briefed my stepdaughter about the arrangement."

"Did she accept it?" He asked. Then turning to Diana, he asked as well. "Do you accept it?"

Diana was perplexed. Did he expect her to reject it? "Yes, my Lord."

Calhoun hummed. "Well, in that case, it's settled. She will begin to live in the castle from now. No need to get her clothes or anything, those things will be taken care of."

Thomas grinned and nodded. "That's good, that's good. Do you hear that, Diana? You get to live in the castle."

Diana managed a smile. She had a gut feeling about the scenario playing before her and it wasn't good in the least.

George arrived. "My Lord, the meal is ready and has been served in the dining room."

Calhoun turned to them with a smile. "Let's dine."

Thomas and Diana stood up after him and followed him to the dining. Calhoun sat at the head. Thomas pushed Diana to sit beside him while he sat two seats away.

"Relax, I don't bite," Calhoun whispered to her. Diana shuddered. Why did it sound like a wolf beckoning on a sheep?

She focused on the meal. Whatever went on between the king and her stepfather, she didn't understand. Not long after, Thomas stood up and requested to leave.

"Alright, it was nice doing business with you. The rest of your package is with George." Calhoun said.

"George!" He called almost immediately after ending his first speech. "See Mr. Thomas out and make sure to give him the remainder of his promised package."

"Yes, my Lord," George said with a bow. "This way, Mr. Thomas."

Diana watched her stepfather leave. Her heart sank with each step he took away from the room.

"If you want, you can go with him. I'm sure all he needs is a few dollar bills and he can have you back." Calhoun said.

Diana scowled. "Have me back? I don't think I want to return."

"Your expression tells a different story." Calhoun pointed out.

"A different story? What might it be?"

"You look as if you want to follow him. You have that look of longing, like the ones the women who have previously climbed my bed held."

Diana gagged at his words. She glared at him. Was he that shameless? Calhoun chuckled darkly.

"I'm not longing for Thomas, and that is so disgusting! I'm just confused."

"Confused? What about?"

"Thomas said I was getting married to you. I was wondering why he was leaving without the wedding banquet." She said, Calhoun laughed. His laughter sounded nice in her ears, but the sound shook her heart. How could one man make her feel different emotions all at once?

"Your stepfather told you that you were getting married to me? And you believed him?"

Diana frowned. "What do you mean by 'and I believed him?' Was I supposed to not believe him?"

Calhoun stared fixedly. "You do what I say. I ask the questions. You haven't earned the right to ask questions yet."

Diana shuddered. "But, if not marriage, then what?"

Calhoun tapped his chin. "If you complete your daily task, you get a chance to ask two questions."

Diana exhaled softly. "What tasks am I supposed to do?"

Calhoun grinned. "I like the sound of that. But I prefer you ask, "What do I want you to do?"

"What do you want me to do?" Diana asked slowly. Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"First, go to the kitchen and bring me a bottle of wine mixed with blood." He said. Diana stood there, waiting for directions.

"Well, get to it." He said.

"I don't know where the kitchen is," Diana replied. "What's the way there?"

"You haven't earned the right to ask any questions yet. Follow your instincts. Use your sniff to find the kitchen. Don't tell me you're truly a lamb and not even a cub." He teased me. Diana turned around and left the dining room.

The moment she left, Calhoun's jovial expression disappeared. How did Thomas end up telling her that he was to marry her? Did he not tell her he wanted her as a slave? Did he also trick him? He narrowed his eyes.

"Pray to your god Thomas, that she does everything I ask." He murmured. He got up and left the dining room, returning to his chamber.

Diana found her way to the kitchen. It wasn't difficult to locate, considering she started the journey from the dining room.

She didn't know who Nichole was, and the other maids didn't know who she was, so they couldn't respond to her. They treated her like thin air.

"Nichole?" She called aloud. A few maids turned to see who dared to call the head maid so recklessly.

"Who are you?" Nichole answered from behind.

"Hi, I'm Diana. The king asked me to get him wine mixed with blood from you." Diana said.

Nichole sized her. "Are you the new maid?"

"New, yes. Maid, certainly not."

Nichole eyed her again. "Where did you come out from?"

"That's a rude thing to say. Just give me the wine so I can return to the king before he leaves the dining room."

Nichole walked passed her. "Leave. I will have the wine delivered to his chamber myself."

Diana frowned. "Listen, Nichole, he specifically requested I bring the wine to him."

"And I said I will get it to him. Now go." Nichole ordered. Diana stood stubbornly. She didn't want to miss her chance to understand what was going on.

Seeing that she wasn't going to move, Nichole grabbed the wrong bottle and gave it to her. Diana took it and left. Nichole grabbed the right bottle and took it straight to Calhoun's chamber. She knew he would no longer be in the dining room.

Diana reached the dining room and found it empty. "Great." She muttered. "He just had to leave."

She returned to the kitchen to find Nichole no longer there.

"Does anyone know the way to the king's chamber?" She asked. Nobody answered her.

She sighed and left again. Walking through the hallways, she decided to listen closely. She heard muffled words. She closed her eyes to focus. With eyes closed, she walked through the hallways and found Calhoun's chamber. She opened her eyes.

She touched the door handle to open the door when she heard George's voice.

"You should knock before entering." He said. Diana turned to find the unfriendly man behind her.

"He did request for me to bring the wine to him, what's the essence of knocking?" Diana asked with a shrug.

"Diana, right? Listen, your stay here will be harder than you thought. But you must persevere. King Calhoun is cruel and aggressive. The alpha male in him is more primal than his human nature. So you must be careful." George advised. "Don't make any mistakes whatsoever."

Diana worked her ass off in the castle. The other maids in the castle were jealous of her. She didn't take orders from anyone else but the king. Although they knew how cruel he was, they all would give anything to be that close to the king.

Diana would prepare Calhoun's bath water. Sometimes, he made her wash his body. At the start, it was disgusting. But gradually, she began to feel a strong affection for him. All he wanted from her was to break his curse. Diana had fallen in love with him along the line.

She would wash Calhoun's body while he lay still in the water, sometimes it ended up with him mating with her. That was the break of the curse. Calhoun was to never reproduce or bring an heir. But being with Diana changed that. Diana had thought it would change his feelings for her, but nothing changed.

He still ordered her around, sending her to do difficult tasks and giving her little rewards at the end of the day.

Diana was saddened. Her heart was weary. She hoped that he would one day change, especially when she found out that Calhoun was her fated mate.

"Diana," George called. "King Calhoun has summoned you to his chamber."

Diana got up with a sigh. She was very exhausted. She hadn't had any rest for two weeks. Calhoun had been very busy with meetings with the other kings, and the kings' makers. There seemed to be a starting problem in the kingdom.

"George, is it urgent?" She asked. "I don't think I can find the strength to move my legs."

George sighed. "You cannot ignore him, Diana. You signed up for this."

"I did not!" She whispered. "I did not sign up for this. I never knew what was going on. I was tricked." Her eyes welled up with tears.

George felt bad for her. He knew how terrible Calhoun could be. That was why he was feared even by the kingmakers. That was the problem the other kings were having with him.

Diana sobbed lightly. She heard footsteps that sounded heavy on the floor. She could tell it was Calhoun. Her senses were able to pick his scent, his heartbeat, and even the pattern of his footsteps.

"Speak of the devil." She murmured. She took three large steps and she reached the door just as Calhoun pulled it open.

"What kept you?" He growled. "I need a massage."

"My Lord." Diana whimpered. "I'm afraid I cannot give you a massage.. my shoulders are a little sore from the last one I gave."

Calhoun bent over to her level. "Do you dare refute me?"

Diana shook her head slowly. "I dare not, my Lord."

Calhoun nodded. "Now, don't let me get to my chamber before you do." He ordered.

Diana had heard the rest of the conversation. After everything she had done for him? Did she take care of all his needs, enduring the gossip, the afterpain, the heartache, only for him to still see her as a slave?

"I. I can't take this anymore." She whispered. Slowly, she backed away from the hallway. She made her way to the kitchen and then out of the castle using the back door. She journeyed through the thickness of the forest behind the garden. The paths were lonely, but she reminded herself that she was no longer a lamb nor was she a cub. She was a full-grown werewolf.

Calhoun finished speaking to George and returned to his chamber. He found it empty.

"Diana!" He bellowed. There was no response. He went into the inner chamber. She wasn't there. He stormed out again.

"George!"

"My Lord," George answered from the side. "What is the matter?"

"Diana, where is she?" He demanded. He didn't know why, but his heart was racing. Where was she? He tried to listen for her scent, or her heartbeat, or anything at all. He couldn't pick up anything. Her scent was nowhere near the castle. Did she leave?

"My Lord, perhaps she must have gotten tired and sneaked out to the maid's room. I will have the entire castle searched." George exclaimed.

"Don't just stand there, get going!" He growled.

George scurried away to find the missing maid, praying for her in his heart that she had a plausible explanation for her disappearance.

The search lasted three days. In those three days, Calhoun realized how much she meant to him. He realized how much she cared for him and how he had gotten used to her affection.

But one thing that caused his heart to ache for her, was the realization that he was also in love with her.

With every negative news about finding her that he received, his heart sank further.

He had to find her. He just had to find her. Where could she be? How did she leave?!

"George!"

"My Lord," George answered tiredly. Ever since Diana's disappearance, the castle had been upside down.

"How did she leave? Isn't the castle guarded enough?"

"My Lord, I heard a maid say she saw her sneak out through the forest behind the castle," George answered. He had said this to Calhoun several times.

"She saw her sneak out? And she did nothing? Bring me this maid! I must sip her blood!"

"My Lord, you have to calm down." George pleaded.

Calhoun growled. His eyes began to glow and his hair elongated. His eyes sunk inside. George could tell that the anger in him was much to turn him to his werewolf form. If the maid wasn't brought, he was going to enter into a primal rage where he wouldn't be calm until he was satisfied or worn out.

"I will bring her immediately," George said and ran out. Calhoun took deep breaths.

He turned back to the window of the tower. His eyes looked to the farthest point.

"I will find you, Diana. I will go through the ends of the earth to find you. No matter what comes, I will bring you back. I can't cope without you." He swore. "I swear to you, Diana."