Chapter 11

Soraya and Rayena gave chase, trying to catch up to the thief that had taken her basket, but the person was faster, maneuvering his way through the narrow roads, jumping over stalls and avoiding other customers, nimble as a cat. The gap between them and the thief grew wider, and it seemed like they would never catch up to him when someone burst out from a corner, bumping into the thief and causing him to crash to the ground, the basket spilling away from him and its contents falling out onto the ground.

Rayena checked out who it was. Judging from the uniform he had on, he looked like a soldier from the palace. They eventually caught up to the thief, who was still curled on the ground, hiding his face and gasping for breath.

"Thank you for stopping him," Soraya rushed out through ragged breaths, glaring at the boy on the ground.

"It's no problem, miss..." the tall uniformed man responded, voice gruff. Both of them froze, recognizing the voice. Snapping their heads toward him, a soft gasp escaped Soraya's lips, her mouth open in shock.

General Morvan? What is he doing here?

But the latter had already bent down, picking up the boy by the collar and leaving him dangling in the air. He sniffed the air around him and his eyes flashed, his irises changing color. He let out a growl and the boy whimpered in submission, his eyes clouding with tears.

"What do you think you're doing?" he growled, the sound sending shivers down Rayena's spine. "Why are you stealing?"

"I'm sorry!" the boy cried out in a high-pitched voice, flailing his legs.

Soraya went to pick up her things that had scattered on the ground, and Rayena went ahead to help her, retrieving her basket. Thankfully, nothing was broken or damaged. Done, they rose to their feet.

"Is everything you purchased complete?" General Morvan asked, glancing at Soraya.

"Yes, and nothing is broken. Thank the moon goddess for that. I'm thankful once again," she said, giving a small bow before smiling at him. Morvan acknowledged her thanks with an incline of his head. Soraya turned to the boy he held and began scolding him.

"Hey, you! Why are you going about stealing from others?! Don't you know it's wrong?"

"I'm sorry..." the boy said through tears. "I really am," he cried, his voice thick with shame.

The anger deflated from Soraya, seeing his countenance. "Now, you're going to be punished for this. Do you think your mother will like this?"

The boy began to cry, his tiny body shaking with sobs. "Please, I'm sorry. I won't do it again. I was desperate."

"Enough..." General Morvan growled. "We will be leaving now. Have a good day, ladies." To the boy, he muttered underneath his breath, "You'll pay for this, young man."

"Hold on!" Rayena cut in, moving forward. Everyone stopped, watching her. She walked towards the boy, giving him a small smile. "What's your name?"

"D-darrel," he stuttered, sniffing.

"Darrel. Why did you do it? Why did you try to steal from my friend?" she asked, her voice soft.

He cried again. "I needed the money. My mother is sick, and I have no money to treat her. I-I was going to sell the things I got from the basket to buy the medicine for her." He dropped his gaze, shameful. "Now, she's going to be disappointed that I tried to steal from others. I really am sorry."

Rayena sighed, reading the sincerity in his trembling voice and downcast eyes. She looked to Morvan. "Will you let him go? He says he didn't mean to."

Morvan appeared conflicted. His jaw tightened as he spoke. "Unfortunately, what he did is still an offence. He has to be punished for it. It'll serve as a deterrent to others."

"Very well..." Rayena muttered, turning to the boy once more. "You will be punished for your actions, but after that..." She cut herself short, handing him three gold coins from her pouch. "Use this to get medicine for your mother," she said. And then another gold coin. "And something for yourself."

Darrel's eyes widened as he held the gold coins. "Now don't do this again," she warned, her voice gentle.

"I won't," he said, a huge smile on his face. "Thank you so much!"

Rayena smiled and straightened to her height. "Could you please ensure he gets the medicine for his mother after you've released him?" she asked, glancing at Morvan.

She caught him watching her skeptically. Eventually, he nodded, letting out a breath. "I will do so," he muttered gruffly.

"Thank you!" the boy cried out once more as Mavron carried him away. Rayena watched them leave before turning around, gripping her basket tight.

"Let's go..." she said to Soraya, walking ahead while Soraya followed behind, ignoring the onlookers' stares.

As they sat in the carriage, Soraya let out a sigh. "Now I feel bad. I didn't give him anything," she mumbled, glancing at Rayena who sat across.

Rayena seemed surprised. "You didn't have to. I just wanted to help the boy. He looked so frightened, he was literally shaking. But why was everyone so shocked that I did that? Even Mavron seemed skeptical."

Soraya shrugged, adjusting her posture as the carriage rode forward. "The boy was probably a weretiger and, well, since we still don't get along, it would have caused more problems for the clan," she explained.

"I see..." Rayena muttered to herself. Then she glanced at Soraya, a pensive expression on her face. "Would my stepping in cause more problems?"

Soraya thought about it for a moment. "Hardly. In fact, I think it might help," she said, smiling at Rayena.

Rayena furrowed her brows. "Why?"

"You're human, so most people would be shocked by your act of kindness."

"Oh..." Rayena trailed off. She didn't know what to say to that. The carriage continued out of the market and onto the main road. When she glanced at Soraya, she caught her smiling to herself. "Why are you acting so sheepish?"

"Oh, me? I'm just glad the encounter made me meet my crush. He keeps saving me, as usual," she said, letting out a dreamy sigh. "My knight in shining armor."

Rayena chuckled. "You're being ridiculous." Soraya giggled, a light flush staining her lips.

As they rode, Rayena's thoughts drifted to Lylall. He must be a weretiger as well. Was he facing the same discrimination too? Rayena sighed, worry for him twisting her stomach into knots. She hoped he was alright.

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Morvan returned from the market after bringing the boy back to his mother, but not before delivering a hard scolding. He was still stunned by what happened—the human princess stepping in to help the boy like that. He hadn't expected it at all. Usually, people were eager to punish offenders, especially if they learned they were from the weretiger clan. He was glad she stepped in; he was able to save the boy from a more brutal punishment and help his mother too.

He recalled the smile on the mother’s face when her son delivered the medicine. It was moments like that that made his work worth it. As he was crossing the great hall on the ground floor of the palace, a guard rushed to meet him. His body instantly tensed, his eyes narrowing in concern.

"What's wrong?" he asked before the guard had a chance to speak.

"It's the king. He asked us to summon you the moment you returned," the soldier said.

That didn't sound good. He’s going through another rut. Morvan let out a deep breath. He didn't like this one bit. Quickening his steps, he made his way to the king’s chambers, where the snarls and growls grew louder the closer he came. His own tiger inched to the surface, already alert.

He knocked on the door, but when he didn't hear a response, he pushed it open and stepped in. He found the king pacing restlessly, clad in only a loose tunic and breeches, the rest of his robes thrown carelessly on the floor. Taking a moment to steady himself, he inhaled deeply and spoke as calmly as he could.

"Your Majesty, you summoned me."

Xenon turned to him, pulling at his hair and scratching his neck. "Morvan, you're back..." He groaned, tensing and hunching over as if he were about to shift. He gritted his teeth, groaning through it.

"What's wrong?" Morvan asked, stealthily moving closer, careful not to agitate him further.

Xenon clutched at his shirt, suppressing another growl, his knees almost buckling to the ground. In a split second, his fingers transformed into claws but soon reverted, a whimper slipping past his lips.

Morvan watched as the king reached for a handkerchief, stuffing it against his nose and taking in a deep inhale. A bit of the tension radiating off him eased, but he began to salivate.

"I'm not okay..." Xenon finally groaned, collapsing to his knees, sweat pouring from his body like rain.

"Is it the wolf? Are you going into another rut?" Mavron’s pulse race as he spoke, heart pounding.

"No..." Xenon groaned, wiping the sweat from his brow and scratching himself in the process. "It's both."

"Both?!"

Xenon nodded. "I used the suppressants. They're not working. I'm craving something else. Someone." He let out a pained howl, clearly trying to resist a shift.

Morvan's ears perked up. "Who? Who is it?!"

"Rayena."

Morvan stiffened. "Rayena? The human princess?!"

"Yes. I want to see her. I need to see her."

She should be back from the market by now. "I’ll summon her!" Mavron blurted, already bolting for the door.

"Wait! Not like this! She can’t see me like this!" Xenon shouted after him.

Morvan skidded to a halt. "W-what do you mean?"

"Don’t tell her the king called for her. Bring her here another way."

"And how am I supposed to do that?"

Xenon thought hard. "A tour. Tell her you want to give her a tour of the palace. Hurry!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Mavron answered, racing out of the chambers.

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Rayena was in her room, arranging the things she had bought when an urgent knock rapped at her door. Heart skipping, she hurried to the door and pulled it open—only to find Morvan standing there, his broad frame filling the doorway, his expression grim.

General Morvan!" she gasped, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of his hardened gaze. "What’s the matter?"

"I came here to summon you," he stated in a curt voice that brooked no argument.

"W-why?" Rayena stammered, her grip tightening on the door handle.

"To give you a tour of the main palace. Come with me, please," he said, walking ahead.

Rayena stood frozen in the doorway, breath caught, torn between confusion and unease. A tour of the main palace?!