THIRTY-NINE

I came out of the bathroom wrapped in my bathrobe with my hair damp as I stared at the dress on the massive bed in confusion.

I stared.

And continued staring,

It didn't disappear.

I was sure I placed my casual wear on the bed before leaving for the bathroom, but a gown replaced it.

I looked at Sarah, who opened the door to my mate's room and had an idea of what was happening.

''Miss carmen, his majesty asked me to dress you since you don't have a dress for the evening banquet,'' She smiled.

''I see,'' I nodded in a daze.

Sarah gave me the gown and pushed me into the walk-in closet to wear it.

I came out of the closet, and Sarah, arranging kinds of stuff on the bed, stared at me.

''Is it bad?'' I asked blankly, but I knew that I was nervous inside.

''Miss carmen. I am envious of your body, and his majesty would be happy with the dress he chose for you,'' Sarah squealed in excitement.

''Con- His majesty chose the dress?'' I asked in a surprised tone.

Sarah assisted me in sitting on a chair in front of the mirror and answered, ''Yes, he did.''

I nodded and allowed Sarah to finish dressing me up.

After thirty minutes, when the banquet had started, Sarah finished with my hair and face.

She helped me to wear my shoe, and I stood up, staring at the mirror in a daze.

'This is me?' I thought.

I could see a black, mermaid-fitting gown with an off-shoulder, intricate gold-linning detailing around the lace features gracefully off the shoulders.

The satin with lace gown hugged my hips till the knee, and the tail flared, with gold lining plunging the hem.

The tail of the gown gracefully swept the floor as I moved.

Sarah helped to wear black strapped heels with a golden floral brooch near the toes.

I wiggled my toes in the heels.

'Perfect,' I thought, admiring the shoe.

''Shoes are perfect, the dress is fabulous, and make-up is beautiful and not much.'' Sarah nodded, walking around me.

Sarah used light make-up on me, she told me that I was the most beautiful werewolf female she had seen, and I did not need much make-up on my face, just a little to enhance my facial features, but I didn't take her comment seriously.

Sarah guided me to the banquet and bid me a good evening before I was left alone.

I took a deep breath before I stepped into the hall with an impassive gaze.

I ignored the stares and glances coming my way and searched for Aiden.

I saw him with Scarlett and Hunter and made my way to them.

''My baby looks amazing.'' Scarlett complimented me holding my hands and admiring the dress.

''It seems the king listened to me,'' Aiden said.

''You told him?" I asked.

''Yes, I offered opinions to him not to look for you or Artemis after the conference meeting and told him.

How did you think he knew about your dressing situation? You should thank me well.'' Aiden nodded, appreciating himself.

I nodded at him and took a glass of wine from the passing server.

''Speaking of Artemis, How is she?" Aiden asked.

''She is good,'' I answered.

Artemis woke up, and the first thing she heard was Derek's demand for me.

She didn't give me a chance to calm her down before she took over and almost killed Derek.

The consequences would be too much to bear during this situation with Typhon.

'It's good that Conrad stopped her,' I thought, noticing some alphas with their Lunas heading this way.

''I will stay in a corner,'' I said to Aiden, Scarlett, and Hunter before I left.

I went to a chair to sit in a corner. There were tables and chairs scattered in the big hall, like the last time.

I continued sipping my drink until I finished it and felt bored in the banquet.

I stood up, dropped my glass, and asked the passing server for the way to the closest balcony.

I followed his guidance and opened the glass door leading outside. I leaned forward on the railings and saw a beautiful garden below.

''I wish to go there,'' I muttered as I admired the view.

''You can,'' I smelt him before he spoke.

My mate, Conrad, dressed in a formal suit, all black with silver cufflinks, gelled his luscious black hair backward, looking more handsome than ever.

''You look beautiful,'' He came forward to wrap his arms around my waist, and I stared at him.

I blushed at his compliment.

''I couldn't find you when your beast took over,'' He said.

I coughed to hide my blush, ''Yes, Aiden said he told you not to look for me. He is correct.''

''Why?'' He furrowed his brows.

''Artemis came out from hibernation, and the first thing she heard was my ex-mate,'' I said.

The arms around my waist tightened more at the mention of Derek.

''She didn't want to be with anyone yet, and besides, she doesn't like you yet,'' I added.

He rosed an eyebrow questioningly in an elegant way, making him look more appealing in my eyes.

''You didn't accept us in the first place. Artemis' first impression of you is not good, but she will come around.'' I answered him.

''Oh! she says thank you for caring for me,'' I remembered.

''She is protective of you,'' Conrad said, placing his chin on my shoulder as I turned around to admire the garden.

''Yeah, she was the first family for me after my blood family abandoned me,'' I said softly.

We stayed, enjoying the comfortable silence before he broke it.

''You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to,'' Conrad said.

''It's nothing secretive since some werewolf packs know about it,'' I said, leaning further into his chest, enjoying the peppermint with a mix of musk scent engulfing me.

''To sum it up, I didn't have a wolf during my shifting age, and that's when the abuse started. They abused me physically, mentally, and emotionally.'' I said

''I am sure Sarah told you about the scars on my back and somewhere. I used to have scars in every part of my body until I left the pack that some started disappearing, but others remained.'' I added

''It was a painful experience, but sometimes I am glad it happened unless I won't be able to meet the Millers,'' I continued.

''I should have killed him,'' Conrad growled darkly.

I didn't correct him as I could feel him shaking on my back as he buried his face in the crook of my neck.

''Sorry, my Lycan is livid,'' He murmured.

I patted his arm around my waist to console him.

After calming him down, I said, ''You don't have to tell me yours until you are ready.''

I turned around to face him and added, ''I will be waiting.''

I tiptoed on the strapped heels and pecked him on his forehead as he did to me on mine last time.

I could feel the tingles on my lips when I returned down.

''I will go in to enjoy the banquet with my family.''

I left the dazed king on the balcony.