A Dangerous Obsession
Chapter 29 - 28

Chapter 29: Chapter 28

I knew I said I would do anything, but this... My stomach twisted as I stared at the outfit laid out before me—delicate lace, sheer fabric that barely covered anything, and soft ribbons that tied in all the wrong places. It was as if someone had tried to turn me into a living, breathing doll. The maid assigned to me stood nearby, her face blank, though I swore I saw the faintest hint of sympathy in her eyes.

I almost burst out laughing, but it wasn’t from amusement. No, it was the sheer humiliation of it all. My hands shook as I touched the fabric, feeling its thinness under my fingertips. This wasn’t just clothing; it was a command, an expectation I couldn’t refuse. I didn’t even need to meet him to know what he wanted from me.

The maid, sensing my hesitation, stepped forward and began tying the ribbons, adjusting the lace with clinical efficiency. Her fingers moved quickly, wrapping me in this mockery of an outfit as I stood there, barely able to look at myself in the mirror. I felt like a stranger, standing there dressed like... this.

Once she finished, she stepped back and nodded, as if to say it was time. As we moved through the hallway, I glanced at the chamber opposite mine—the one meant to be the Lycan King’s, though I had never seen him use it. In all the time I have been here, that door has remained firmly closed, untouched. For whatever reason, he had never slept there.

Not that I was complaining. The idea of him being just across the hall, knowing how close he’d be as I tried to sleep—it made my skin crawl. I couldn’t imagine resting with the constant awareness of his presence so near.

I stared at the unopened door, grateful when the maid gave me a small, almost imperceptible bow and gestured for me to follow her. With a deep breath, I gathered whatever shred of dignity I had left and walked after her, my bare feet silent against the cold stone floor. She led me through the corridors, passing doors and windows that overlooked the courtyard, until finally, we arrived at the entrance to his study.

The door loomed before me, dark and foreboding, but I forced myself to take a step forward. The maid opened it with a quiet creak, revealing the Lycan King sitting behind his grand desk. His eyes, which had been fixed on a file, lifted as I stepped inside, and I saw them light up with amusement the moment he saw me.

He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest, the smirk on his face unmistakable.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, lowering my eyes as I curtsied. "Your Majesty," I greeted him, the words barely escaping past the knot of humiliation lodged in my chest.

For a moment, there was only silence. His gaze raked over me, taking in every inch of the ridiculous outfit I’d been forced to wear. I could feel my cheeks burning, the heat of embarrassment creeping up my neck.

"Well," he drawled, his voice rich with satisfaction. "I wasn’t sure if you’d go through with it." His smirk widened, and I hated the way his eyes sparkled with that twisted amusement, like this was all just some game to him.

I knew it was probably just a game to him, but still!

I kept my eyes down, hands clenched into fists at my sides, trying not to show how much I wanted to bolt from the room. "You called for me," I managed to say, my voice strained.

"I did," he said, standing slowly from his chair. His movements were graceful yet predatory, like a wolf stalking its prey. He stepped around the desk and came toward me, circling me as he did so. His eyes roamed over me, and the smirk never left his lips. "And I must say, you look... stunning."

My stomach flipped, and I fought to keep my expression neutral. I knew better than to respond, knowing that anything I said would only make things worse. So I stayed silent, focusing on keeping my breathing steady.

He reached out, lifting my chin with his finger, forcing me to meet his gaze. His touch was gentle, but it carried the weight of the power he had over me, a reminder that he held all the control here. "I know you said you would do anything," he murmured, his voice soft but dangerous. "So I wonder, just how far are you willing to go?"

I stiffened under his touch, refusing to let my fear show. "Whatever you ask of me," I said quietly, though every word felt like a betrayal of myself. I had no choice. I had to play this game, no matter how much it cost me.

He smiled, a slow, wicked smile that sent a shiver down my spine. "Good," he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. "I want you to dance for me."

I blinked, caught off guard. Dance? Was that what... I wasn’t even a dancer. I had no idea how to—

But there was no room for protest. The glint in his eyes made it clear this wasn’t a request. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to gather myself, feeling the weight of his gaze on me. How was I supposed to do this?

Taking a shaky breath, I awkwardly moved my arms, attempting some sort of graceful movement, but I knew immediately it was terrible. My body didn’t flow the way it should; my limbs felt heavy, disconnected. I stumbled slightly, nearly tripping on the hem of the dress. I forced myself to continue, every second more humiliating than the last.

Suddenly, the sound of laughter filled the room. Yes, laughter!

The Lycan King burst out laughing, a deep, hearty laugh that echoed against the stone walls. He laughed so hard that he had to brace himself against the desk, his eyes watering with amusement.

I froze, my cheeks burning as his laughter echoed around me.

"You—" he gasped between laughs, shaking his head. "You’re absolutely terrible! The worst dancer I’ve ever seen!" He doubled over, his laughter continuing, and I stood there, stiff and mortified.

I clenched my fists at my sides, my body trembling with a mixture of embarrassment and anger. This was a game to him, nothing more. I was nothing more than his entertainment, his toy to mock and humiliate.

Finally, his laughter subsided, and he straightened, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. "That was... truly something." He chuckled again, though quieter now, as he walked toward me.

I didn’t move, didn’t speak, every muscle in my body tense with rage.

"You’ve done enough for today," he said, still smiling. "You may go."

I bit back every retort, every insult I wanted to hurl at him. Instead, I gave a stiff nod, curtsied again, and turned to leave. My hands were shaking, my face still flushed with humiliation as I exited the room.