"I want them all lined up." The king suddenly bellowed, "I can't see any of them when their nearly lying on top of each other! And I want all the men removed from this room, their presence is not needed at this point. The women who are not selected will come and be rejoined with them in a few short moments."

And just like that the whole room was in a mad fury to follow his orders. For a brief instant I stood completely still, jaw dropped as everyone raced around me. I was certain that no one in the world would respond to an order from me with such speed. I was a lowly slave, I hardly expected anything more, however these people moved like the best trained animals. Women all desperately tried to get in line, standing shoulder to shoulder and grinning broadly at the king while men slithered out of the room, dejected but hopeful that the lady they had brought with them would be chosen to be the next queen. I just awkwardly squeezed my way in between too women, nearly as far away from the king as I could get. The only thought that ran through my head was that it was quite impressive that this many human beings could be in a single room together. If we tried to squeeze this many women into my master's whole house I'm sure it would explode.

Then there was silence once everyone had found a spot in the line and the king began making his way down. The women on either side of me arched their back so their breasts were pushed out more and smiled so wide it was actually quite frightening. I noticed immediately that they were both women of noble birth as anyone with a less expensive upbringing would not have such extensive confidence. Thankfully, when I quickly surveyed the room I noticed that I was not the only one in a simple dress who kept her head down and didn't bother with better presentation.

The king neared my position in the line and in the brief moment that I looked over at him I noticed he halted his stride. For a fraction of a second he looked puzzled and almost surprised. I watched his brown eyes widen slightly and his lips part. Then, he was moving down the line faster. Instead of looking bored he now looked driven, almost angry and I found myself talking a step back, hoping the two women would hide me. I had heard garish things about this man and if this was the beginning of a war path I would rather be skimmed over.

But luck was not on my side.

As the king passed women they would relax and shoot each other concerned looks. He hadn't said a word, neither accepting nor rejecting them immediately. Most of them he hadn't even stopped to look at for more than a millisecond. However, as he got closer to me his strides became slightly slower. He now searched each girl with intensity that some women found to be a good sign while it made others look frightened. I took another small step backwards.

He stared long and hard at the woman on my right, running his eyes over every inch of her in the process and when I peered over her shoulder I noticed the beginnings of scar tissue peeking out from under his shirt. I almost took a step forward to get a better look, but then he moved on to the woman on my left. I let out a sigh of relieve, thankful that my poor slave attire had not been worthy of his attention. But then I heard his boots stop hitting the floor, then the steps were coming backwards me. I held my breath and jammed my eyes shut, telling myself this would all be over soon.

A hand closed around my wrist and when I opened my eyes in surprise I saw the king staring back at me.

"Everyone out." He ordered coldly.

"No." I protested, not wanting to be alone with this beast, half man half wolf.

"Out!" he shouted, turning away from me to look at his guards.

The men in uniform immediately spread out and began guiding women out of the room.

"Please don't go." I whispered to no one in particular.

But no one would listen to a slave. They all left, not even sparing me a second glance while I trembled in front of the king.

After about a minute, though it felt like no time at all, everyone had cleared out of the ballroom aside from myself, the king and a handful of guards.

I couldn't meet the king's sharp brown eyes as we stood in silence though I knew he was staring intently at me. His hand was still holding onto my arm tightly, like he was afraid I would disappear. Maybe werewolves could read minds and he knew how badly I wished I could just fade into a mist and vanish out of this room, back to my farm and my dreadful owner. I didn't know what was happening, or why I had been chosen as it surely couldn't have been because he deemed me to be queen material. Perhaps he needed a lady's maid. Or maybe I would be one of those girls who never made it home and no one knew why, but everyone assumed. My heart clenched almost painfully in my chest at the thought and I had to blink away sudden tears.

"Who are you?" King Archer demanded.

I wanted to respond to him. I wanted to make this as easy and as quick as I could so I could go back to my master, but the words were all stuck in my throat and my mouth refused to open a centimeter. I just stood completely still, staring down at my dirty, modest dress as fear took over my body.

"Who are you?" he asked again, his voice rising with anger and authority.

I still remained silent, despite the fact that I did want to answer him. I would've even settled for making any noise at all, even if it had just been a scared whimper at best. But I didn't, I just started trembling all over again.

The king released my arm finally, and took a step back. For the briefest instant I had thought he had given up and he was going to find some other girl to torment, but it seemed he was just trying to get a better look at me. I wanted to hide myself from his view. Everything about him was dark, his hair, his eyes, his boots, and all of his clothing. But the thing that was the darkest was the unwanted feeling that floated around me when his eyes scanned me over.

He took his time, looking at my knotted hair, my flimsy shoes that were falling apart, and my dingy dress. I felt awful in his presence. He was tall, and appeared to have strong arms, broad shoulders, and good legs. I was thin as I was only given enough food to survive, my hips jutted out severely enough to be seen under the dress and unlike the women who had surrounded me previously I had to breasts to flaunt around. If I was tossed out of the castle now people would simply think I was a spinster who couldn't work.

With a heavy sigh, the king shook his head, "Well, I suppose it doesn't truly matter who you are. I just have to bed you." He murmured so softly I almost didn't hear it.

Whether it was his intention or not, his words caused me to finally take action.

"No." I blurted out.

The king watched me for a second, his eyes staying on my face that I knew was bright red with fear and embarrassment.

"No?" he repeated, "Who are you to tell me, the king, no?"

I took a slow step back, shaking my head as I tried to assemble a sentence again, "M-my owner," I stammered out, "he won't let you have me. He needs me." I protested meekly. I was impressed that I could even form real words that made sense. The only thing that was running through my head at the time was that the king had said something about bedding me.

"Your owner?" The king's dark brows furrowed for a moment, then he shrugged, a gesture that was almost too boyish for him, "Very well. Guards, please find this woman's owner and have him brought to me immediately."

There was the sound of footsteps, then a door being opened and closed, but I was unable to turn around and watch the guard leave for myself. I could only watch the king, scared he might suddenly pounce on me or something of the sort.

"So you're a slave then." The king stated.

I didn't answer him. He seemed to have expected this as he didn't say anything else until we both heard the door reopen and more than one set of footsteps enter. Now I wasn't sure who to be afraid of, my master who would be furious with the position I had put myself in, or the king who was part human and part animal.

****If you liked this little tidbit please hop over to The First Queen! It's also completed now!****