Her Unwanted Mate On The Throne

#Chapter 6 Doris, was it you?

Doris sat up quickly, desperate for air. Her gown felt soaked through, every inch of her skin felt tainted and wrong. Her head ached, she had to scrub herself clean again to rid herself of him—

“Doris!” Beth whispered harshly for her attention, it took her a moment to realize she was in the room with Beth and not being eaten in the forest by a giant wolf. Doris touched her neck and looked down to see her hand was clean, there was no blood. Slowly, her heart beat calmed and she was able to breathe. It felt so real… she was so sure she was about to die at his hands. “Get up, quickly! Prince William is here, he asked for all of the maids to be checked!”

That woke her, she scrambled out of bed and almost tripped over herself. Doris paled at the thought of facing him. “Checked? Checked for what?”

“Apparently he left a mark on one of the girl’s neck.” Beth already looked delighted from the gossip, she started shoving clothes at Doris before she paused. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling alright?”

“Nothing’s wrong!” Doris turned away to change, the nightmare still fresh in her mind. “I was just wondering what he could possibly want with her. She’s just a maid, after all.” Doris touched the mark at her neck beneath her dress. The makeup she used would surely have rubbed off by now—she needed to reapply it before she left.

If he found out it was Doris he was looking for, would her nightmare become reality? She was silently thankful that he must’ve been too drunk to remember her face.

“I’m not sure, he’s probably not through using her yet after they slept together.” Beth laughed a little, though it sounded empty. “Remember with Lisa? He wanted her all to himself until he didn’t. But—this girl doesn’t seem like she wants to be found by him. Every other girl here would gladly announce themselves as his lover, but no one has come forward yet.”

No, we definitely didn’t sleep together. Doris silently corrected her friend. At least he didn’t get to take that from her.

valet and almost touched her neck to cover it more than her dress already did. “You

she turned to face Doris, her brows furrowed. “Doris? What’s

a deep breath. “I’m fine, give me a moment.” Beth squeezed her hand and nodded. She didn’t care if it looked suspicious, she just needed a minute alone. Once Beth left, she quickly opened her drawer and grabbed her cheap container of makeup to cover the mark. Her shaky hands dabbed at the bite, she could still see a

She took her spot next to Beth and listened to those around her gossip silently amongst themselves. Each one of them looked even more confused than her, but just as eager as Beth to find out who it must be. She wondered how many of them wished it was them that the Prince was looking for, Doris wished it was

the crowd, she felt her heart still for a

have been surprised if he did. He looked out into the crowd like

this is the last group of maids in the Golden Palace.” Mr. Carson announced, his hands clasped tightly behind

of emotion as he took in the sight of each girl. “Do your

left a mark upon just the other night. Please, line yourselves up by Ms. Shirley so she can

up. The old maid had been serving Royal House Arnold for over

to. They were all curious to see who this mystery maid could be, the one that Prince William was so desperate to find. They hung around a bit away from the booth, watching as each maid was dismissed and the line grew shorter. Doris forced herself

as the one he’d left his mark upon. And why wouldn’t she come forward? It would be an honor to be his mate, her resistance angered him more than he liked to admit. He waited for her to come to him yesterday,

wolf declared in his mind with a deep growl. “Our

here, than pick her already you useless wolf.” William shot back silently. “Why must you make it so impossible? Other wolves would have brought her to me

with her wolf. It’s as

me. She must have a wolf if she’s my mate.” Otherwise how