The Crown's Obsession

41  Come and pat

"Brother Calhoun," Sophie started again as she wasn't able to receive a reply earlier. But the girl was a stubborn one, and she would make sure the King's attention would get back to her which it did, "Do you have the wolves tied in the kennels?"

"They are," answered Calhoun.

Sophie then turned to look at Madeline as it was much easier to get Calhoun's approval by first befriending the girl and then pushing her out of the picture so that nothing would appear to be out of place, "Do you know, Lady Madeline, that the King has four wolves in the castle? They are gorgeous to look at," she conveyed it to the human who was standing in front of them with her hands holding each other.

"Aren't they supposed to be rabid?" asked Madeline not wanting to appear to be a mum doll here while the vampiress decided to show off that she knew everything and anything while Madeline knew nothing.

"Isn't that why they are kept here?" asked Sophie, "They need to be rabid."

"On that thought, let's go visit the wolves," Calhoun stood up from his throne and he stepped down, to stand in front of Madeline where she appeared small in front of his height, "I am sure you will love them," he said to her, a small smile playing on his lips.

Calhoun walked next to Madeline. Madeline didn't slow down or increase her pace of walking as it would only make her look childish because there was already a child amongst the four who were walking towards the kennels and that wasn't the King's right-hand man, Theodore. It was Lady Sophie who tried to keep up with the steps and made sure she was walking on the left side of Calhoun.

It wasn't anything new that the King had a woman or a girl accompanying him around the castle who entertained him either by words of praise or in the bed. Sophie didn't care about the King's endeavours, and though she was a young girl, she was ambitious, and her eyes were on the throne next to the King.

The fact that King Calhoun had ignored her mother's words and had insisted on keeping this girl around showed his interest in the human. Sophie tried to keep her patience as she knew things that were done in haste, never went right.

When they reached the kennels, two guards stood on either side who bowed their heads upon seeing Calhoun step in their view.

"Welcome to the kennels or den as I like to call it," said Calhoun to Madeline who looked at the wolves that were lying on the ground. One of them had its eyes closed, and the other three looked at them with their intelligent eyes.

"Why are they chained inside?" though they were inside the kennel, each one of them was tied by chains around their neck where the chain was connected to the wall.

"To make sure they stay still and don't break free from their kennel," answered Calhoun, "These are no ordinary wolves but wolves that have been bred and groomed to search and kill people on my command."

Madeline wondered what was the need to have wolves, when Calhoun was good at hunting and killing them himself. But she decided to keep the thought to herself. There was no telling when one of the people here would throw her in the den of the four wolves. The wolves were of different colours- black, grey, brown and another one which was a mix of brown and black.

"I think having wolves as pets is the best. I even asked my mother for it, but she is wary of them," laughed Sophie. The girl then turned to look at Theodore with whom she was familiar with, "You said you would find a pup for me."

"Yes, milady," answered Theodore with a small bow, "We found one during the last hunt, but the pup died quite early."

"What a pity," sighed Sophie in disappointment.

"We will be sure to find a better one. It would be rude to give something that is not best," Theodore smiled, pushing the glass back up on his nose that he wore to receive a look of approval on Sophie's face.

Sophie looked at Madeline, who looked scared about the wolves and to show her her place.

The vampires stepped in front of the kennel to go to touch the wolf which was sleeping. Calhoun and the others looked at the girl who was brave enough to go towards the door of the kennel. The black wolf that had its eyes closed snapped its eyes open when Sophie's hand almost reached its head, and it growled with its mouth pulling back to bring out its feral teeth, and Sophie quickly pulled her hand back before the wolf could take a bite at her.

"Looks like Sophie wants to turn to a meal for the wolves today," commented Calhoun and Sophie turned around to laugh to hide her nervousness.

Theodore then said to Sophie, "The wolves listen and respond only to the King, Lady Sophie. They aren't familiar with you."

"How are they not familiar with me? I meet them every time I visit the castle," Lady Sophie reasoned out, "I thought the wolves were trained."

"These are no dogs who will listen to you just because you feed them a slice of meat or two. These are the wolves that grew up with me and they listen to only my words," said Calhoun confidently, and he now stepped forward. Madeline's heart had almost jumped when the black wolf had opened its eyes and had snapped its teeth at the vampires.

The wolf continued to snarl and growl at Sophie who had stepped behind Calhoun. Madeline saw how he moved close to them and sat down on his heels. He raised his hands in front of the ferocious animal that calmed down when it sniffed Calhoun's hand. The animal turned quiet, and Calhoun rubbed behind its ears.

Madeline noticed how the wolf turned tame and content with the ear rubs it was getting from Calhoun. He then turned around to look at Madeline.

"Why don't you come and give him a pat," that was nowhere a question but an order. Calhoun must have been ready to sacrifice her to the wolves, thought Madeline to herself.

"I am not fond of wolves," she responded back to see him staring at her.

"I wasn't asking if you are fond of them. Come."

Madeline felt sweat forming on her back due to the tension. With slow deliberate steps, she walked towards him and then sat down to notice the wolves were bigger in size and their teeth far worse. One bite could end up leaving a person on the bed for weeks.

"His name is Maddox," stated Calhoun, "The loyal amongst the loyal. He leads the rest of them at Her brown eyes turned to look at Calhoun, "At night?"

"Yes," he answered with a smile, "The wolves are let loose during the time of night to roam around the grounds of the castle. We never know which thief might enter the castle or...who might try to run away from here."

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