11: Lady Elizabeth Jane's POV

The bitch couldn’t have them.

I don’t who the hell she thought she was, but she needed to take a step back. Ada Lennox, the imbecile that is the Selected surrogate, had no idea who she was messing with. The crash of the drink cart that I threw against the flowery wallpaper of my lodgings echoed through the space. I reveled in the feeling of the tearing of the fabric of a pillow I pulled apart. *I should have been the one.* The fact that there was a Selection for the surrogate was beyond infuriating.

It should have been the other way around. I was destined to be Luna of the Kingdom of the Moonglade. My mother and father had told me so since I was a little girl. There was no need for a surrogate to secure the future heir. These men should be competing to be selected by *me.* I am a pure blooded royal of the Ashford bloodline. Not some random whore off the streets from somewhere within the Kingdom.

The jewelry box I held in my hands started to crumple within my grip. I threw it against the wall, watching the jewels encased within fly out in all directions. Just as I was about to reach for a painting on the wall opposite from my throwing target, there was a knock on the large wooden door. It opened slowly, revealing the Royal Butler, Viktor. He bowed his head and waited.

I snorted, “Get along with it, old man. What is it that you want?”

He straightened, his face flat, “The King wishes to speak with you.”

I glanced down at my cotton and lace nightshirt, which clung tightly to my body until it ended at the middle of my thigh, “Just like this?”

The butler straightened his onyx waistcoat and cleared his throat, “That is entirely up to you, miss. It seemed rather urgent.”

With a smirk, I slid on a pair of black heels that I had thrown against the wall but had not succeeded in breaking. They added about four inches to my height, but made my legs look longer and sleeker. The heels coupled with my tight nightshirt would certainly be a good look to hopefully run into one of the Alpha Princes in. Viktor led me from the room and down the hall, toward the throne room.

I expected my uncle to be there, on his great dark throne, but he wasn’t. Viktor continued on, leading me up the grand spiral staircase. I was led through a series of halls and doors, until he finally pulled on a book on a random staircase and the wall opened up into a cozy den. My uncle was seated in a large black leather Chesterfield chair with a small glass of whiskey in his hand that he was swirling around. He sat facing a large, roaring fire. He was in dark lounge-pants and a maroon satin robe that was tied around his waste. The fire was the only light in the room, emphasizing the dark shadows of his face. The thick, black hair atop his head was pushed back. His beard must have just been shaved, as he had a small bit of shaving cream just below his strong jaw.

The familiar pool of warmth formed in my lower belly as I looked at this older man, the complete opposite of his brother— my father. My father had been a dreamer, a hopeless fool. All blonde-haired and blue eyed and rosy-cheeked. He’d seen the best in people. Which is how he’d lost the throne to his wicked, smart younger brother. Somehow, my Uncle Everett’s lack of compassion for my father and his untimely demise made him all the more attractive. And, well, as they say… like father, like son.

The door clicked shut behind me. I glanced around, realizing that Viktor had left the two of us alone. I strutted over to the chaise lounge across from the Alpha King and fluttered my eyelashes at him, “You summoned me, Uncle?”

His eyes grazed over my body from head to toe as I laid across the chaise, propping myself up on my elbow. My hair cascaded over my shoulder for added effect, revealing my bare neck to him. He brought his glass to his lips and took a big swig, his eyes now locked on my mostly-bare legs. They raked up to where the fabric ended and I could tell what he was picturing. It was what every wolf pictured when he looked at an unmated shewolf, no matter the age difference or relation: their naked bodies entwining, mixing fluids in the dark.

He spoke gruffly, “It’s been brought to my attention that on more than one occasion today, you were less than kind to individuals in this castle.”

My body tensed with his words and my eyes narrowed. Did that dumb bitch *tattle* on me? It took me a second to recover my composure, “What are you referring to?” I bent my upper leg at the knee, sending the laced edge further up my thigh.

Uncle Everett averted his gaze, running his finger around the rim of his glass slowly, “First, there is the matter of the help in the kitchen. You are not ever to return to the kitchen, especially not to berate the staff,” I opened my mouth to argue but he glared at me sullenly, “Secondly, you will watch the way you address my Beta and his wife. For the time being, they are in a respected position here,” I arched my eyebrow, licking my bottom lip, and he cleared his throat before shifting in his seat, “Then that brings me to the final problem: Ada Lennox.”

My hand, which had been slowly pulling the edge of my nightshirt higher and higher, froze. I snapped, “She doesn’t deserve to be surrogate or hold any place in those three’s lives,” I snorted in anger, “She’s a gold digger with no common sense and morally loose if she’s willing to—“ his look made me stop short.

He set the glass down on the table in front of him and leaned forward, “She is nothing more than a surrogate. She will be used and tossed aside,” a smile tugged at the corner of my lips as he continued, “You *will* be the Luna Queen of this Kingdom and will be married to the one of my sons who produces the heir.”

“Promise?” I pouted.

A quick nod, “You will reap all of the benefits of this arrangement,” he leaned back, “You will have one of my sons and a child, and will be Queen,” his dark eyes raked over my body once more, “All it requires is a bit of patience.”

I smiled slowly, bowing my head slightly, “I think I can manage that.”

With a wave of his hand, I was dismissed. I stood and started toward the exit, but just as the door opened, his hot hand grabbed my wrist. His breath was hot on my ear, and I allowed myself to feel the head rush that came from his body pressing against mine. His hard length pressed against my outer thigh and I felt my cheeks go crimson as I thought to myself, *Yes, that’s a good Uncle.*

He spoke, voice tighter than ever before, “And Elizabeth?”

I turned my head, fighting the smile that wanted to creep up when I found my lips were mere inches from his, “Yes, Uncle?”

“Be kinder to the staff,” he whispered.

I fingered the lapel of his robe, arching an eyebrow, “And my reward if I am?”

The great Alpha King Everett Ashford stood completely still while I ran my hand down his chest, over his waist, and cupped his hard length in my palm. A throaty moan escaped from between his lips, “You’ll just have to wait and see.”

With a snap of his finger, the bookcase opened and Viktor was there— waiting to take me back to my room. I dropped my hand and shrugged, tossing my uncle one more small, knowing smile. As I was led down the halls, my heels clicked against the wood and cobblestone hallways. In my mind, I pictured it as thundering applause as I realized that if I could make the Alpha King react this way, surely his sons would be just as easily swayed.

And once I had them, I could take down that Ada bitch. By the time I was through with her, exile and disgrace wouldn’t even be harsh enough words for her punishment.