"The pack bows to whatever it is told is beautiful. It always has."
— Pack Lore
012.
"There," Cade, the pack’s healer, smiled as he finished rubbing some ointment on Seyra’s back. "I don’t understand why it hasn’t fully healed, though."
Seyra pressed her lips into a thin line. There was no need to tell him that her wolf was weak and couldn’t speed up the healing and recovery process.
Not everyone needed to know her shame and weakness.
"Whatever you do today, do not strain your back or stress too much. Let Head Maid Ophelia know your condition so she can let you rest a bit."
Seyra almost laughed. That... was going to be an issue.
Still, she nodded. "Okay."
"Come back later in the evening so I can rub the ointment again." He smiled and moved back. "You can leave now."
"Thanks, Cade. You’re a lifesaver." Seyra forced a smile at the tall, olive-skinned healer, who hadn’t looked at her like she was trash but like she was something delicate.
He had handled her with care and had been nice ever since she was brought it. From what Mira told her, he had personally picked her maid uniform and allowed Mira wear it for her after she was cleaned.
And on top of that, he was really good-looking.
"Shut up. We don’t have time for that." Her wolf purred.
Seyra rolled her eyes. "Glad you’re finally back, Red."
Red growled lowly. "You don’t sound excited. After everything we’ve been through, I was expecting you to jump in elation."
Seyra smiled. "Yeah. Because the first thing you told me after retreating to the back of my mind and staying there was asking me to shut up just because I found someone attractive."
Red scoffed. "Yes, because you’re being delusional. Look at him. He doesn’t look like someone in our league."
Seyra looked at Cade and smiled at him. Cade returned the smile and nodded towards the door as a maid walked in to take her.
"And besides, has your experience with Cassiel not taught you enough?"
Seyra sighed as the maid led her out of the room. She looked around, cringing at the sight of injured and sick wolves. She looked ahead, trying her best not to think about the smell of herbs mixed with blood that lingered in the air.
"It would actually be nice to love someone without getting hurt, though."
Red purred. "When we find our mate, he will love us that way."
Seyra bit her lip. She didn’t believe it.
Red noticed her hesitation. She scoffed and cut off the mind link. Seyra sighed, but she was happy that her wolf was back at least, and not just that, she was back with an attitude.
When they got to the entrance to the palace, the maid stopped. "You can go in."
She didn’t say anything else before turning and leaving.
Seyra sighed and looked around. The air seemed quite chilly today. When was the air not chilly in this palace anyway? Orin’s aura was enough to turn the whole palace into an Iceland.
Ignoring the guards at the door, who whispered to each other as she passed, she stepped into the palace.
She almost got knocked over by a maid who was rushing with plates stacked in her hands. "Watch it!" the maid snapped and walked away.
"Sorry," Seyra said, even though the maid wasn’t there to hear it anymore.
When she got to the halls, she was shocked to see so many maids and guards, all rushing to and fro with plates, curtains, drapes, golden cups, and several other things she didn’t have any idea about.
She looked around. What the heck was going on? Why was the place looking so busy today? She recalled it wasn’t like this when she got here for the first time yesterday.
Her eyes darted to the clock on the wall.
10 a.m.
Her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten anything since the previous day. She bit down on her lower lip and pressed her stomach.
She’d asked Mira about the palace rules. But one thing she’d forgotten to ask before Mira left for her duties was when the maids usually ate breakfast. She groaned and threw her head back.
"Get out of the way! Why are you standing there like an idiot?!" A maid pushed her out of the way.
Seyra was suddenly brought back to reality as she stumbled and fell flat on the ground.
Pain shot up her back the moment she hit the floor, and she bit down on her lip to keep from crying out.
"Ow," she hissed.
"Ignore her," Red muttered in her head. "Get up before someone steps on you."
"I’m trying," Seyra whispered.
She pushed herself onto her elbows, but her arms shook. The maids kept rushing past, none of them slowing down, like she was just another piece of furniture in the way.
Then a hand appeared in front of her face.
"Come on."
Seyra looked up and saw the brunette maid who had led her to the maids’ quarters the day before.
Ruth.
She took the hand, and Ruth pulled her to her feet, then quickly guided her to the side of the hall, away from the crowd.
"You shouldn’t be standing in the middle of the hall today," Ruth said, keeping her voice low. "Are you okay? I heard what happened."
"I’m fine," Seyra lied.
Then her stomach growled loud enough for both of them to hear.
Ruth blinked. Then she sighed and reached into her apron pocket. She pulled out a small bread roll wrapped in cloth and pushed it into Seyra’s hands.
"Eat that. Quickly. Don’t let Ophelia see."
Seyra stared at it. "Why are you helping me?"
"Because you stood up for Mira," Ruth said with a small shrug. "She hasn’t stopped talking about it. She... is my cousin."
Seyra smiled and nodded. She took a big bite, and it was the best thing she had eaten in days.
"What’s going on?" she asked between bites. "Why is everyone running around like this?"
Ruth glanced around before answering. "Beta Magnus ordered the whole palace to be ready by noon. No one knows why. Not even Ophelia, and she’s furious about it."
"Ready for what?"
"That’s the thing. Nobody knows." Ruth’s brows pulled together. "He hasn’t ordered anything like this in over a year."
Seyra chewed slowly, a strange feeling settling in her chest.
"Sounds like trouble," Red said.
Seyra didn’t answer. She swallowed the last of the bread and hid the cloth in her sleeve.
"Thank you, Ruth."
"Don’t thank me yet." Ruth’s eyes moved past her shoulder, and her face went pale. "Look behind you."
Seyra turned.
Ophelia was walking straight toward them, her keys jingling with every step, and the way she was looking at Seyra made it clear she had been searching for her.
She stopped in front of them, her jaw tight.
"The Alpha is asking for you," she said, each word forced out like it hurt. "You have to go fulfill your duties, right now."
Seyra swallowed and nodded slowly.
She noticed a faint purple mark on Ophelia’s neck. She was about to ask but kept quiet. Ophelia didn’t look like someone who liked being asked questions.
The dull sting on her back was evidence of that.
"Why are you standing there looking like a moron?!" Ophelia snapped.
Seyra and Ruth jumped and quickly walked past her. Ruth went to her duties, while Seyra headed for the Alpha’s chambers.
When Seyra got to the dark hallway leading there, she couldn’t help the feeling of dread that settled in her stomach.
This was the first time she was going to be cleaning his chambers. And not only that, he was going to be there. Watching her. Any little mistake or slip-up, and he would kill her.
The door was open when she got there. She took deep, calming breaths and entered, but a voice from inside made her stop in her tracks.
"Yes, Alpha."
It was Beta Magnus.
"I already asked the maids and guards to get everything ready. Once you speak to her and she qualifies to be Lady Royal, we will start planning for the ceremony immediately."
Seyra raised a brow. What were they talking about?
Would it be okay if she walked in now? Should she stay back?
"Out of all the candidates you talked about," Orin’s rich voice came next, and Seyra held her breath just at the sound of it. "You’re saying Astrid Bruce is the only candidate worthy of the Lady Royal role?"
Seyra gasped. "Astrid?"
"Yes," Beta Magnus responded. "I strictly interviewed the women, Alpha. They didn’t match the standard the Lady Royal of Harlow Hades requires."
"Which is?"
"Beauty, Alpha. Blood that comes from a respected line. A wolf strong enough to be seen beside yours." Magnus’s voice lifted with pride. "Astrid has all three. The pack already calls her the most beautiful she-wolf Harlow Hades has ever seen, and my son is her mate."
Seyra’s fingers curled into her apron.
Of course. Everything always came back to Astrid.
"Beauty," Orin repeated, in a tone so flat she couldn’t tell if he was impressed or bored. "And that is enough to stand beside me?"
"Everyone will bow to her, Alpha. The packs coming for the hunt festival next moon will see a Lady Royal worthy of the palace."
There was a short silence.
Seyra held her breath. Her back throbbed, but she didn’t dare shift her weight. One creaking board and they would know she was there.
"Bring her at noon," Orin said at last. "I will decide then."
"Yes, Alpha."
Footsteps came toward the door. Seyra panicked, then stepped back into the shadows of the hallway as Magnus walked out. He passed her without a glance, like she was part of the wall.
She let out a slow breath.
"You can stop hiding, little maid," Orin said from inside. "The door is open."