Tabitha's POV

Being the king's woman is not my choice, nor part of my plan. He can be my key to freedom once I figure out how to break his curse, but I must know its origin.

I cannot go near his library as people still treat me differently. Their eyes were filled with suspicion, and I can tell they're not going to accept me as the king's woman.

This palace is full of secrets. Secrets that only the king and his trusted people knew, and I'm not allowed to interfere with them. He was distant, cold, and ruthless, yet I could feel his warmth. He was hiding it, and that's what I need to win.

“What are you doing here?!” The cook shouted when she saw me.

This middle-aged woman, wearing an apron covered with dry condiments, was looking at me with sharp eyes. She gritted her teeth and added, “You are not allowed to go here! An Omega like you has no place in here!”

I swallowed and smiled forcefully, “I would like to help.”

She laughed, “Help? Great. I will need a new pair of hands to bring the king's food to his chamber.”

“I'll do it,” I said.

“Bring the cart!” She yelled.

A young female maid pushes a cart with food. After that, she carried the long tray with the king's food and handed it to me despite its heaviness. I almost dropped it because she handed it to me, but I managed to keep my posture.

“Why are you still standing here?! Leave!” She screamed.

I nodded before leaving in a rush. She's making me run for my life. The way she shouted at me is terrifying enough, but gladly I'm used to being a slave in my father's house. I marched to the third floor where the king's bedroom is. I unlocked and pushed the door, revealing his room.

I put the tray down and looked around when my eyes spotted an open book. I looked at it, trying to read what was written on the pages of that book when my eyes landed on the picture frame beside it. It was the king with a woman. He was smiling in the picture yet I haven't seen him smile like that.

I picked it up, stared at it intently. This picture can't dent their happiness that ended in a short time, making me realize he once fell in love but lost it. His smile was mesmerizing, as if it was pulling me closer, but something was wrong with it.

“What are you doing here?” His voice stunned me, causing me to face him and hide the picture behind me.

I widened after seeing him. He was half naked, only his torso down to his knees was covered while the water on his hair was dropping on his chest. I swallowed when my eyes trailed his body, but I quickly averted my eyes and put the picture frame down on the desk.

“I deliver your food, my king…” I said.

He didn't answer. He takes his shirt off the bed and pants, then puts it on. Even though I'm not looking at him, I can see what he is doing in my peripheral vision.

Donovan approached me, touched my chin, and lifted my head to make eye contact with me. His blue eyes were staring back at me behind that mask, it was empty yet warm.

I raise my hand and touch his mask, “Why are you hiding your face behind this thing?”

He grabbed my hand before pulling me away, “Watch your move, Tabitha.”

Being this close to him was enough to analyze the pain he had been feeling for years. I don't know his story, but I'm willing to learn it. I will break his curse and leave this cruel world.

Donovan let go of me. He went to his couch and sat down, crossed his legs, and leaned on it. “I made you my concubine for a reason, Tabitha. Your job is to break my curse, not become my personal maid.”

“Yes, my king. However, this is my only way to thank you for saving me from the hell I came from…” I reasoned. “And for protecting me.”

“Focus on what we discussed, Tabitha. If you really want to thank me, then you should start finding a way to break my curse. You failed once and if you keep failing me, I will have you killed.”

I gulped when he seemed to mean it. “I have a proposition, my king.”

“Another one?”

“I notice that we failed the first attempt because we didn't know each other. I was forced to be here due to my father's selfishness. If we want to successfully break your curse, we must know each other.”

Silence prevailed between us. He was just staring at me like what I suggested was some sort of joke. He leaned his head on his hand, looking at me uncomfortably.

“What are you trying to imply?”

“As a king, you are required to have an heir.”

“What makes you interested in the council's desire, Tabitha?”

“I will give you an heir,” I said without hesitation.

“Come again?”

“My blood is your key to break free from the curse you've been suffering, right? I don't think it will work if we're distant from each other, we need to work on our relationship, and once the bond is created. We can try and try until the curse breaks.”

“So what's the point of opening the conversation about my heir?” he inquired.

I paused because I didn't know what to say.

He sighed, “I will comply with your desire to work on our relationship but you're not going to be my surrogate. I will not have an heir come from a weak Omega like you, not with my rival pack.”

I felt a pang of pain in my chest. I should've felt relieved because I'm not going to be this man's woman in bed, but somehow I'm disappointed. But why?

He rose and came to me, he leaned to my ear and whispered. “Break my curse. You will have your freedom. Giving me an heir is not part of your job description. The next full moon is coming and if you fail, I will bring you back to your cruel family.”