Betrayed By My Mate, Claimed By His Lycan King Uncle
Chapter 139: I’m now the beta lord woman.

Chapter 139: I’m now the beta lord woman.

"Dimitri will have no choice but to name my son as Crown Prince. And he won’t reign for long. Once my child comes of age, I’ll make him step down. That’s where I’ll need your help, Father."

The Gamma Lord’s lips curved into a proud, knowing smile as he studied his daughter with narrowed eyes. He clasped his hands behind his back and took a slow step forward.

"You’ve changed," he said at last, his tone laced with both admiration and caution. "You’re no longer the naïve girl I raised. You’ve become... clever. Dangerous, even."

He folded his arms across his chest, his voice turning businesslike.

"So tell me, what do you need from me?"

A calculating gleam sparked in Melissa’s eyes. She slowly straightened, sitting upright with deliberate grace.

"You’ll know when the time is right," she said smoothly. "For now, support the Beta Lord. Make sure he ascends as Emperor. I need the transition to appear clean...for appearances’ sake, of course."

Her smile widened.

"Besides..." she added with a slow, poisonous sweetness, "I have games to play in the Inner Court. Especially with that lowborn servant girl...Sorayah. Word is, she’s now the Beta Lord’s favored concubine. Soon to be declared Imperial Concubine, should he take the throne."

Melissa leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper. "She has no idea the storm that’s coming for her. I’ve prepared something special... something long and cruel. And I do hope the other concubines enjoy what’s coming."

She laughed softly, the sound echoing through the chamber.

****

The next day arrived swiftly, with golden morning sunlight streaming through the silk curtains and bathing Sorayah’s face in a warm glow. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open. She stretched slightly before sitting up, the silken sheets falling to her waist.

Her gaze instinctively shifted to the space beside her...still untouched.

Dimitri hasn’t returned... she thought, concern crossing her face.

Where could he have gone? Why didn’t he come back last night?

Before she could sink too deeply into her thoughts, the sound of light footsteps approached. Two young female servants entered the room, their heads respectfully bowed as they curtsied in unison.

"Greetings, my lady," they chorused politely.

The elder of the two lifted her head and offered a soft smile.

"It is time to serve morning tea to your senior wives. They are waiting for you in the courtyard."

"Oh..." Sorayah murmured, her voice soft as she slowly nodded in understanding. She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, then looked at the maids again.

"Do you know where the Beta Lord is?" she asked carefully. "Did he return late last night and leave early this morning?"

The younger servant glanced briefly at her companion before shaking her head.

"We do not know, my lady. We are not permitted to inquire about the Beta Lord’s movements. Only his personal guards are privy to that information—especially his chief bodyguard, Sir Liam."

Her words caused Sorayah to swallow hard, her chest tightening with unease. She released a quiet sigh, her thoughts swirling.

"All right," she said after a moment, her voice steadier now. She pushed the covers aside and rose gracefully from the bed.

"I’ll get dressed and head to the courtyard. There’s no need for assistance today since I’ll be wearing a plain white outfit, no hairpins, no cosmetics."

The servants exchanged glances but nodded in obedient silence.

"As you wish, my lady," they said, stepping aside to allow her privacy.

Without wasting much time, Sorayah moved to the bathhouse and bathed quickly and washed her golden hair. She then got dressed into a modest white skirt and blouse, her long, damp hair cascading down her back to her waist. No ornaments adorned her body...no makeup and no hairpins

She stepped out of her chambers and made her way toward the courtyard, where Mira and Arata were already seated. As her footsteps echoed lightly against the stone path. She was still the youngest wife, a newly raised concubine among women who had long since secured their positions. Until Dimitri became Alpha Emperor, her rank remained the lowest.

As she entered the courtyard, the morning sun spilling golden rays over the ornate stone tiles, Sorayah lowered herself to her knees in a deep, respectful bow.

"Good morning, Lady Mira. Good morning, Lady Arata," she greeted warmly, her tone clear and polite.

Mira’s hand slammed against the table, the loud crack startling the sparrows nesting in the nearby tree.

"Your first day as the Beta Lord’s concubine, and you’re already breaking the rules," she snapped, her voice sharp and cutting. "You dare show up late to serve your senior wives!"

"I’m terribly sorry, my lady. It won’t happen again," Sorayah replied calmly, a serene smile gracing her lips as she slowly stood. Her posture remained respectful, but her eyes sparkled with unspoken wit.

Arata chuckled darkly, sipping from her cup with practiced elegance.

"You’re forgiven, Sorayah. It’s your first day, after all. You must’ve been... preoccupied, satisfying the Beta Lord in bed." Her lips curved into a sly smirk. "We all know how... vigorous he can be beneath the sheets."

Sorayah swallowed hard but kept her composure. She straightened slightly, hands folded before her.

Before she could speak, Mira cut in again with an eye-roll.

"The Beta Lord didn’t even spend the night here. He was at the Empress Dowager’s manor. Satisfying him in bed? What a laugh. Maybe you were with someone else, Sorayah. Is that why you were so exhausted this morning?"

Gasps rippled through the line of servants standing nearby, but Sorayah didn’t flinch.

"I would never betray the Beta Lord," she replied with an arched brow and a small, knowing smile. "And have you forgotten, my lady, that the former Emperor died just last night? Neither I nor the Beta Lord were in any condition to indulge in... such pleasures."

She tilted her head slightly.

"But..." she continued sweetly, "the Beta Lord did inform me that we would begin sharing the same chambers from now on. So I suppose we’ll have plenty of opportunities soon enough."

Her smile deepened, every word laced with hidden barbs.

"I should apologize in advance, then, as I may be offending you more frequently. But it’s hardly my fault. The Beta Lord’s stamina is... considerable. And I do intend to satisfy him, thoroughly."

Mira shifted furiously in her seat, her cheeks burning with rage. Her fingers curled into fists atop the table, but she bit back a response.

A maid stepped forward with a tray carrying two porcelain teacups filled with steaming tea. Sorayah calmly took the pot, poured the tea carefully into both cups, and carried one over to Mira...who, as the first wife, was to be served first.

Sorayah knelt gracefully before her and raised the cup with both hands.

"Please accept my tea, sister," she said, her voice warm and respectful.

But Mira only stared at her with cold disdain. Seconds passed. The weight of the cup began to strain Sorayah’s arms, but still, she waited.

Finally, Mira reached out...not to take the cup, but to slap it aside.

Crash!

The porcelain shattered on the tiled floor, and scalding tea splashed across Sorayah’s thighs. She gasped quietly, the burning pain making her wince, but she did not cry out.

SLAP!

The strike came so fast she barely registered it. Mira’s hand landed hard across her cheek, the sound ringing through the courtyard.

"Are you trying to ruin my skin?!" Mira shrieked, her face contorted with fury. "A servant will always be a servant no matter how she dresses, what title she’s given, or who favors her. You can’t even serve a cup of tea without fumbling! How do you expect to please the Beta Lord beyond being a common sex slave?"

Snickers erupted from some of the watching maids, though a few looked uneasy.

Sorayah slowly rose to her feet. Her face was red from the slap, her thighs stinging from the burn, but her posture remained poised and unshaken.

And then...

SLAP!

The sound rang louder than before.

"How dare you... " Mira began, but...

SLAP! SLAP!

Sorayah struck again...two swift, vicious slaps across Mira’s face. The woman stumbled backward and collapsed gracelessly into her chair, clutching her cheek in shock.

"I am no longer a maid, nor anyone’s sex slave," Sorayah said clearly, her voice strong and sharp. "You insult me in front of these servants, but more importantly...you insult the Beta Lord. Are you prepared to face the consequences of marring the very thighs he treasures?"

Mira lurched to her feet in outrage, hand raised to strike again...but Sorayah caught her wrist midair, her grip firm.

"Enough," she said, pushing her gently but firmly back into the chair. "If you’re not interested in tea, I won’t insist. I must prepare for the Beta Lord’s return anyway."

She dusted off her hands with dramatic flair, as though brushing off dirt.

"Don’t you dare mess with me again, Lady Mira. I’m now the beta lord woman."

A heavy silence fell over the courtyard only to be broken by a commanding voice that echoed across the stone.

"What’s going on here?"

All heads turned instantly toward the voice. The courtyard servants gasped and bowed low. The wives stiffened.

Sorayah slowly turned, heart racing.

They all recognized the voice.