SAVANNAH
His demeanor screamed, 'I am the master, the owner of everything here.'
I immediately lowered my head, trembling. It didn't matter that I lacked an inner wolf—the power radiating from him was suffocating, as if he could strangle your soul, and he wasn't even that close to me.
He was a Lycan—the ultimate evolution of werewolves—and I was almost certain he was the most powerful of them all, Fenrir Lycros, the Lycan King.
"Almasi, make sure to take out the trash and ensure my next maid isn't a conniving snake. Otherwise, she'll lose more than her head," he growled, his voice rough and cold.
Footsteps echoed as he walked away.
"This is a disaster, the fifth one in two months. What are these girls thinking? I warned them," the Housekeeper muttered, shaking her head. She snatched a small vial from the victim's hand.
"Another one trying to give g the King an aphrodisiac. Foolish woman. I'll have someone take her away. Your first task is to clean this mess up."
And so, scrubbing fresh blood off the floor, I began my work in the Lycan King's castle.
The first lesson I learned: Never, ever try to outsmart that dangerous man, or you'll lose your head—literally.
Unfortunately, I soon found myself teetering on the edge once more.
Almasi introduced me to the castle's service staff, a group of she-wolves and wolves who attended to the Guardians.
They all looked at me like I was a monster, but I didn't care. I just wanted to keep my head down and survive.
The Guardians—that's what they called the five Lycans who lived in this dark, ancient castle.
They upheld the laws of our world—at least for werewolves—and maintained balance with the other supernatural creatures.
Justice, protection, and punishment were their responsibilities, executed in the cruelest ways possible, especially by the Lycan King.
That's what I had always heard.
I was forbidden from going upstairs or poking around beyond the service area, and I had no intention of testing that rule.
Instead, I focused on working and healing, using a medicine the Housekeeper had given me. The food here wasn't bad, either.
Apart from that first day, I hadn't encountered any of the Guardians in the three days since I arrived.
Until this morning.
"Hey, I overheard the Housekeeper saying she still hasn't found a suitable candidate to be the King's maid. Maybe we'll get a chance," someone murmured.
I was scrubbing the kitchen floor on my knees, half-listening to the gossip floating around.
My head hung low, long black bangs almost covering my eyes, shielding the disfigurement on my face.
Though my hands kept moving, cleaning the tiles, I couldn't completely block out the whispers.
Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. The clack of heels echoed down the hallway, and everyone stiffened.
It was the Housekeeper.
"Stop what you're doing. Line up," she ordered sharply. Everyone—cooks, maids, even me—scrambled into position, standing like prisoners awaiting inspection.
The Housekeeper began her inspection, walking past each trembling body with her usual cold, calculating gaze.
When her shadow fell over me, I thought she'd move on. But she didn't.
"What's your name again?" she asked, her voice low.
"Savannah, ma'am," I whispered.
Her cold fingers gripped my chin, forcing me to meet her piercing green eyes.
"I think I'll try a new approach this time. Come with me," she said, walking briskly toward the kitchen door.
A sinking feeling washed over me.
As I glanced at the other women, their faces were twisted with envy, anger, and bitterness. Nothing good would come from this, I knew it.
"Listen carefully, Savannah. You're going to be King Fenrir's personal maid," she announced, as if it were no big deal.
"Do you know how to cook, iron, organize a man's belongings?"
"Y-yes, ma'am, but... I don't think I'm suited for the job. Maybe someone else—"
"It's not up for discussion," she snapped, turning on her heel.
"Either you accept the role, or you're out. I need a maid for the King, not a floor scrubber. Understand?"
I had no choice but to nod. Sometimes, I forget that this strict woman saved my life.
Why she's now sending me straight into the lion's den, I have no idea.
"Pay attention. The lord wakes at... He doesn't like... Make sure this is done that way... His food is only prepared by one cook, always from this kitchen... You must taste it before serving him..."
She walked me through the kitchen, laundry, and service areas, rattling off the King's preferences and rules.
I tried to follow along, but my brain felt like it was on fire from the flood of information. I'll have to write this all down later!
"Alright. You'll serve the first breakfast. Do exactly as I've instructed." She handed me a silver tray, its contents hidden beneath metal covers.
"And Savannah, remember—keep your head down. Stay invisible. You're just another piece of furniture."
Her parting words echoed in my mind as I carried the tray to the King's chambers.
"Also, remember the lesson from your first day. If you betray the King, believe me, he was merciful with that woman."
I swallowed hard and nodded.
I'm not a coward, but as I climbed the forbidden stairs, the dimly lit corridors stretching out ahead of me, I felt like I was walking to the gallows.
I reached the large wooden door with intricate carvings and mentally reviewed the instructions.
"Do not knock at this hour; just enter."
So I did. I shifted the tray in one hand and opened the heavy door with the other.
I stepped into the lair of the beast, keeping my eyes low and movements careful.
The large wooden table in the center of the room was barely illuminated by the dim lighting, and I set the breakfast tray down as quietly as possible.
But then, I heard it—and smelled it—the unmistakable scent of lust and sex.
Through the strands of my bangs, I glanced at a black door that seemed to lead to another room. Muffled female moans filtered through, even though it was closed.
There was more than one woman.
The steady sound of something repeatedly hitting the wall—perhaps the bed—escaped too, but I didn't know and didn't care.
The most important rule: head down, you're just furniture. Don't speak, don't look, don't listen.
I was so focused on remembering every detail of the lord's preferences, circling the table, that I didn't even notice when the noises stopped.
"Who are you?" A deep, commanding voice from behind made me jump.
I clenched my trembling fists, slowly turning to face the gray carpet.
"Your Majesty, my name is Savannah. I'm your new maid," I managed, thankful I didn't stutter.
A towering shadow loomed over me. Every instinct screamed danger, urging me to flee, but I stood my ground as he placed a finger under my chin, lifting my face to meet his gaze.
I expected to see disgust at my ugly face, but I only saw intimidating, fierce gray eyes examining me, so fascinating they seemed like the deadliest steel in the world.
"Where is your wolf?" he asked, frowning. I tensed.
How had he noticed it with just a glance?
"I… honestly, I'm not sure. I had a traumatic experience before I turned 18, and the spirit of my wolf never appeared. But I can shift into its animal form. Others think it's a curse."
I added that last part, fearing I'd be dismissed on my first day. Ugly and cursed—what a perfect maid.
"Is that why those scars on your face haven't healed?"
"I suppose so, Your Majesty. My healing isn't very strong."
He said nothing, just scrutinized me, making my nerves fray even further. I prayed I'd said the right thing.
I didn't want to dwell on his features, but it was becoming clear why women would risk losing their heads for just one night in his bed—Fenrir Lycros was a man built for sin.
Standing nearly two meters tall, my neck ached from looking up. He was muscular, rugged, imposing—every inch of him exuded power, dominance, and raw masculinity.
His strong, bare torso was inked with red and black tattoos, covering white skin that bore the scars of battle.
His aura was icy, but his shoulder-length hair was a fiery dark red, like his short beard, the color of blood he'd spilled without hesitation.
"I don't care about your peculiarities, but I expect you to understand the rules. I don't tolerate disobedience or deceit," he warned, his voice low and dangerous.
I swallowed hard and nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"And call me Lord. I'm not fond of the whole 'Your Majesty' thing," he added, finally releasing me before walking to the other end of the room.
I exhaled, realizing I had been holding my breath the entire time. Yet, even then, I caught a scent lingering from his skin—like aged wine, intoxicating from the first sip.
Could it be cologne? I couldn't perceive the pheromones of other werewolves.
"They'll be coming for those women soon. Make sure they leave and that everything is spotless," he ordered without a glance, disappearing into what seemed like another room.
I stood there, rooted to the spot, feeling foolish.
Gritting my teeth, I headed toward the task of removing his lovers from the bed of passion.
I opened the door and was immediately greeted by a chaotic sight. The room was dim, clothes scattered across the floor, and three naked women lay in a heap on a massive oak bed.
The air was thick with the scent of unrestrained lust.
"L…ladies, it's time to leave," I announced, standing at the foot of the bed. They didn't respond, eyes closed, utterly exhausted.
Their bodies were marked with bites, bruises, and streaks of semen mixed with blood between their thighs.
"The Lord ordered you to go. You need to—"
"Shut up, you're so annoying!" snapped the busty blonde between the two brunettes, throwing a pillow at me, which I dodged.
Well, they've still got some energy left.
This wasn't going as I'd imagined. They were already settling in to sleep, seemingly unbothered by the mess on their bodies.
But I couldn't fail on my first task. I knew he'd done this on purpose to test me.
I headed to the bathroom and filled a basin with cold water, setting it down by the bed.
Rolling up my sleeves, I walked over to the large window, grabbed the heavy burgundy curtains, and yanked them open.
"Aaahh, close it! Close the damn curtains!" they shrieked like banshees, even though it's cloudy outside.
In this place, the sun rarely shines, the world always cloaked in dense fog.
I picked up the basin, and whoosh! I threw the cold water over them to wake them up.
"Are you insane, you damn maid?!"