"You seem awfully sad for someone who was happy to spend her night in the King’s Chamber Anya." Maya spoke for the first time that night.
They were gathered at the open terrace of the harem where they usually discussed amongst themselves.
Maya had noticed that ever since Anya came back from the kitchen this morning, she has been quiet which is unusual for someone like her.
Although they don’t usually see eye to eye, Maya has known Anya for a long time. She was not the type to keep quiet. If she wasn’t bragging about the Lycan King, she was bragging about something else.
She was always talkative. Always the life of every gathering. She was the King’s most special mistress and she always made sure to rub it in their faces from time to time but this time, it was different.
It felt like her tongue had been clipped; her mouth sealed shut for some reason.
"You didn’t even tell us how your night went like you usually do." She went on to say.
"What’s wrong? Did the King send you away?"
Anya darted her eyes at her with a hard glare. "As if. He has never turned me away and he won’t start now. I know that you’re envious of me but could you please tone it down so that it’s not noticed?"
"It’s embarrassing even for you, Maya." She clicked her tongue at her in rage.
"I was just concerned."
"You’re not concerned." She shunned her. "None of you are and you have never been concerned so don’t start with me. Drop that fake act cause it’s not going to work on me. I’m not in the mood."
"Why would she be fine?" Dilber chimed in. "I heard from the maids that the new Luna put Anya in her place this morning."
Shocked gasps echoed around the room. No one could believe their ears. They all looked at Anya as if waiting for a reaction to admit or debunk what Dilber had said.
"She even went as far as threatening her." Dilber laughed mockingly. "I told you that this woman will be different from Natalia. She hasn’t even been here for three days and she’s already challenging you."
"I, for one, can’t wait to see what will happen next." She grabbed a grape fruit from the basket and threw it in her mouth as she chewed slowly.
"B-But what exactly did she tell you?" Eileen asked, looking at Anya curiously.
"It’s so embarrassing that even Anya can’t bring herself to tell you about it even if she wanted to." Dilber taunted her further.
"But since I’m nice, I’ll tell you what the Luna said." Dilber sat upright, adjusting her dress. "She told Anya that she was nothing but the King’s mistress and that she will never be Cullen’s wife."
"Oh—!" She gasped excitedly as though she had forgotten something. "She also told Anya that if she doesn’t fix her disgusting attitude when next she speaks to her then she will report her to the council of special elders and let them decide her fate."
"No way!" Maya’s hands flew over to cover her mouth.
They all knew that everyone was scared of Anya. Not because she was Cullen’s mistress but because she had him wrapped around her finger.
They knew that she was very close to him and that If they so much as disrespected her, the consequences would be damning.
Anya has always reveled in the attention and respect that came from being the only woman Cullen permits anywhere near him. The only woman who so much as shares his bed.
But this was the first time someone was questioning that authority. Not even the King’s late wife did that.
Natalia was a soft and calm woman who hid away at the slightest provocation from Anya.
She never once stood up for herself or spoke her mind until she passed away so no one had expected his new wife to challenge her.
"Is this Luna trying to take your place?" Eileen asked, her tone rigid. "It seems like she’s trying to put up a fight. I won’t be surprised if she does."
"I don’t think she is." Dilber commented. "From what I heard, she’s not even interested in becoming the King’s wife. She hates him so much and doesn’t even want to be anywhere around him."
She leaned in closer, "She even said that to his face and that’s why he punished her." She said in a whisper and another wave of shocked gasps echoed round the room.
"She’s not scared of him?" Maya was horrified. "Everyone is scared of the Lycan King."
"Even Alphas from other packs are scared of standing in his presence. No one dares to speak to him inappropriately so how is she not scared?"
"She doesn’t look scared to me. If anything, she looks more determined to end the marriage." She was quick to add.
"Do you know what’s even crazy?" She asked, piquing their interest. "She doesn’t even want the King to look at her or glance in her direction. She hates him that much."
"Well, I can’t say I blame her. The King is not someone who’s liked by anybody. He is feared across all seven kingdoms for a reason." Nurbanu said for the first time since the conversation started that evening.
They all darted their eyes at her, stunned that she could even speak. She doesn’t even join in on most of their conversations.
Usually, she was always seated by herself, lost in thought to even spare them a glance.
"But if anything," She continued "I’m glad that this Luna is different. I have a feeling that things are about to become a little interesting here in Valtheris."
"And what if she only makes life difficult for us?" Eileen chimed in. "She’s already stirring up a storm and soon, that storm is going to wreck and consume all of us."
"Exactly!" Maya conceded. "What if one day she gets the Lycan King more upset and forces him to take it out on us?"
"I doubt that." Dilber disagreed bluntly. "Why would he lash at us or get upset at her when he probably doesn’t even like her to begin with? She’ll only be putting herself in more danger by defying him."
"I just hope that the King sees through her madness and leaves her alone for good." Eileen said tiredly.
"That’s where you underestimate men, my dear." Nurbanu said. "Men tend to chase after things that sadly, do not want them. The more it disapproves, the more they go after it."
"They love the thrill of claiming something difficult and making it submit to them and the King is a man. He’s no different from the rest."
"Not only that but he’s a wild animal at his core and if there’s one thing animals love is the thrill of a good chase so trust me, things are about to be different around here." She eyed Anya who was fuming angrily as she spoke.
"And I can’t wait to see how different they’re about to become from now henceforth."
Anya looked away, her emotions choking her. If the Luna had spoken to her without fear today then what would she do tomorrow? Just the thought of it made her restless.
She might’ve said that she wasn’t interested in Cullen but what if it’s a lie? What if she was only trying to get in her head?
I have to do something. She thought to herself otherwise she might lose her place in Cullen’s life before she achieves her goal and she doesn’t want that.