My Most Precious Human novel Chapter 21

"W-what?" I mumbled, terrified.

"I heard those wolves were standing at the castle gates for several hours demanding an audience. They said that they were coming in peace, and only because the Duke has something that belongs to them…" Martha explained.

"And those wolves were let inside the castle?!" I called out anxiously.

She replied hesitantly, "They must have said something that finally convinced the Duke to let them in."

My heart started to pound erratically. I wondered how werewolves knew that I was in the Duke's castle. Was there a spy working for my father that lived here? Or perhaps there was someone at the auction who saw me and notified the wolves? I was in a complete panic. I had no time to tell Sariel the truth about where I came from and who my parents were. Now, things could get drastically complicated.

I had no idea what those wolves could have said to convince the Duke to give them an audience. I was terrified at the mere thought that they were really able to talk to Sariel and tell him something about me.

"What if Sariel thinks that I intentionally deceived him?! What if he thinks that I had some ulterior motive to get close to him?!" My mind had already created all sorts of conspiracy theories, increasing my level of anxiety.

I was still wearing my nightgown when Martha came. I hectically ran to the closet and tried to pick something from the new clothes that were brought for me there. My hands trembled so much I could barely hold anything without dropping it to the floor.

"Here. You should wear this." Martha handed me a no-sleeve, white fitted dress with a stand-up collar.

"This? Isn't it too elegant? I don't feel too comfortable wearing something as fitted as this…" I grimaced awkwardly, completely unconvinced.

"Clothes are a woman's best weapon. This will make you look sexy and innocent at the same time," Martha claimed confidently.

"But… how do I even walk in something this tight?" I tried to find any possible reason not to wear the dress.

"Don't worry, it has slits on both thighs. They don't go very high up, but they are enough to help you walk," she stated, forcingly putting the dress over my head.

I couldn't argue with her anymore. Furthermore, I had no more time. I wore the dress in a hurry and ran out of my chamber. I walked fast. I still prayed that when I walked inside the room, I would only find Sariel there. I opened the door while holding my breath.

I walked through the left-side entrance. At the end of the hall, on my right side, was a platform with a throne on it. Sariel was sitting there. As soon as I entered, he turned his head my way and glared at me coldly. Chills ran down my spine. I started to wonder in a panic whether he was angry at me for some reason. I couldn't recall that he had ever looked at me that way before. I took a deep breath trying to calm down, but then I turned my eyes to the left and saw something I had feared the most…

"Princess! It's so good that you have finally shown up! Do you know how long we have been looking for you?" I heard a harsh voice filled with vicious venom.

The voice belonged to Declan, Derek's spiteful twin brother. I could easily recognize him by the scar on his cheek, the one I gave him while trying to escape from him and his team of wolves ten years ago. Now, he was standing in the audience hall along with ten other wolves that came for me. They were all in human form, but their claws were already prepared to capture me.

It looked like there was no one else in that hall except for Sariel, the wolves, and me, but none of the wolves dared to move unless they received Duke's permission. That made Sariel my only chance. I could be safe only if he was willing to save me…

"Lilith, come here and stand beside me," Sariel called.

I rushed to his side, my heart feverishly pounding. I looked at him with hopeful eyes, seeking his protection only to meet his gaze frightfully indifferent. I couldn't understand his change of attitude towards me. I bet it must have been something that Declan or the others said. I wanted to shout that whatever it was that Sariel heard was a lie, but before I could even open my mouth I heard Declan's voice.

"We hope that the Duke will make a reasonable judgment. Lilith is the dearest princess in our pack. She is also soon to be married to the Northern Alpha. She rebelled and caused us a lot of trouble over the years, but we wish for nothing else than her happy return," he spat his words full of lies.

Sariel looked into my eyes with a cold smirk. My heart pounded wildly.

"That's a lie! You can't believe them!" I called out desperately.

"Silence!" Sariel roared at me, clenching his teeth.

I gulped. It looked like my worst fears had become reality. Sariel was staring at me with eyes full of hostility. Perhaps he really believed that I used to live happily among the pack, and now he felt deceived. If only he let me explain…

"Please, no…" I mumbled softly.

Sariel grabbed my hand and forcefully pulled me closer to his throne. Then he used his strength, pulling my hand down and making me lean over him.

"If you don't want to go with them, don't say a word and don't even try to resist me," he whispered sternly.

I nodded nervously, willing to do whatever it took to gain his protection. He chuckled maliciously, let go of my hand, and then gazed at Declan and the other wolves.

"You claim that she belongs to the pack… yet she is a human," Sariel stated nonchalantly.