Map of the lost city

The Next Morning:

Yohana tapped her fingers on the table while sitting on the chair. Her hand was rested beneath her chin as she looked outside the window. Last night, Iskander asked her to leave his chamber after giving her a good lecture and didn't even call her in his service after that.

"Why am I even bothered? It's better to stay away from that wolf than staying close to him," Yohana murmured and she leaned back on the chair. She looked at the giant tree visible from the window and decided to go to it. Sitting under it would be much better.

She went out of her small room within the King's manor. Reaching the tree, she found it was much bigger than she imagined. Placing her hand on its thick bark she began to circle it. "Iskander is now scared of me. That's why he didn't call me in his service. I never knew the King of Werewolves would be this weak," she mocked while smiling.

Yohana halted as her eyes met Iskander who was standing opposite to her with his back leaning against the tree's trunk. She bit her tongue lightly before taking a step back. Now, she wanted to run away and hide from him.

"Stop there!" Iskander said as Yohana took one quiet, backward step.

"What is the mighty king doing here? Wasn't he supposed to be at work?" Yohana asked.

Iskander didn't respond to her and commanded her to come forward. Yohana didn't ignore his command and went toward him. Standing in front of him, she bowed to him.

"You call my name behind my back and even called me weak," Iskander remarked.

"Ahh, that... I apologize," Yohana whispered. She wondered what was the King even doing there. She was happily having fun and then, he came to end her fun. Rising her head, she looked into Iskander's eyes. "Is His Majesty still upset about the last night?"

"You can call me by my name. I won't punish you. So far, I have not," Iskander said.

"Then, why are you upset? I know I made a mistake by accidentally putting the aphrodisiacs pill in the milk. I understand if it entered your body, you could have undergone your rut. But you should not be upset about it. A king cannot stay angry about one matter when he has hundreds of matters to look into," Yohana explained.

"In my rut, I would have marked you," Iskander pronounced.

"No. I'm wolf-less. Alpha is more triggered around an omega werewolf," Yohana stated and she put her hands behind her back. "You didn't buy me as your slave to make me work as a slave. Why don't you say the truth?" she asked.

"There is only one truth. I bought you as a slave," Iskander declared.

"Why are you here?" Yohana switched the question.

"To spend some time alone," Iskander replied.

"You could have done that inside your chamber." By now, Yohana's tone had turned more casual with him. She pivoted to look ahead and saw other smaller trees ahead.

"My mother planted this tree fifty years ago," Iskander answered.

Yohana turned to gaze at him. She realized she didn't know about his origins. She had heard that Iskander Linwood belonged to a pack, which were known for their ruthlessness.

"When did she pass away?" Yohana asked, her tone slightly softening.

"When I was three," Iskander answered.

Yohana felt upset to learn that. Iskandar never got to feel a mother's love. At that moment, she recalled his brothers: Angelo and Marvin. "Are Prince Angelo and Marvin not your brothers?" she inquired.

"They are my half-brothers," Iskander replied.

"Hmm. So, you grew up under their mothers care?" Yohana pried too much into his personal life, but she couldn't help it. She wished to know more about him after her interest piqued.

"No. My father's care," Iskander replied.

Yohana furrowed her brows to hear him. Wasn't that the same thing? She felt that Iskander had a complicated past. It was just a feeling, but she decided not to ask him further questions. Yohana took a step back when Iskander stood straight.

"I have a work for you, Yohana. Will you do it?" Iskander asked as he reached his hand to her temple. Brushing the hair behind her ear, "Answer quickly."

"I cannot refuse since I'm your slave," Yohana replied.

Iskander chuckled to hear her response as he pulled his hand back. "You are right," he stated.

"What is it?" Yohana asked.

"You have to bring a map for me," Iskander replied.

"A map?" Yohana was confused to learn that. "What kind of map?" she inquired.

"A map of the lost city from one of elders house," Iskander stated. "You are right. I didn't buy you to pleasure me, but I wanted a brainy woman like you to stay close to me," he revealed to her.

"Why don't you do that yourself? You can ask this Elder to bring that map to you? Why do you want me to bring it to you?" Yohana was puzzled by his order.

"Because the Elder is my uncle. He had lied about not holding such a map. If I ask him, he will lie again. I cannot punish him either because he will choose death than to tell me about the map," Iskander stated.

"Your uncle wants to hide it from you. That means I should not bring the map to you," Yohana proclaimed.