Adria sat down in front of the full length mirror as the maid combed through her thick long hair.
She was still skeptical about going to the feast tonight but she couldn’t break a lifelong tradition even if she wanted to.
And besides, it was her very first day in his pack as his wife and she didn’t want to get on his bad side so early when she still had a lifetime of suffering left with him.
Moira had told her that all the Lunas and wives before her had done the same as well so it would be impossible to back away from a social gathering as important as this one.
Closing her eyes briefly, her brain pictured the face of the man who had just married her and her stomach did a little flutter.
She snapped her eyes open forcefully.
No!
She wasn’t supposed to feel this way about him. She wasn’t supposed to have even the tiniest bit of attraction towards him.
He was a ruthless man. He had threatened her father and was the reason for her mother’s death. He had broken her family’s ties and relationship. She was meant to hate him and for the life of her, she will.
She will fight against this emotional bond If she had to. She won’t let it overwhelm her. This was one of the reason why she had wanted to refuse the invitation to the feast.
Her mind might agree with her now but her damned body has a mind of it’s own. It was truly a miracle that she hadn’t given herself to him when he kissed her during the wedding ritual.
Her hands flew to her neck and she massaged the spot softly. She would have to stay far away from him as much as she could. It won’t be easy but she would definitely try.
"You look stunning, My Lady. In all my years of serving the King’s wives, I have never seen a woman as beautiful as you are." The maid complimented Adria, forcing her to look at her reflection in the mirror.
She did in fact look stunning but the occasion for which she was getting ready for was what she didn’t like at all.
"Thank you and you are also beautiful too." Adria whispered gratefully and the maid only blushed at her words.
"You are too kind Your Grace but you don’t have to say that just to make me feel better though." The maid said to her but Adria stopped her abruptly. She held her hands and turned to face her.
"You are beautiful." She repeated to her hearing. "And I am not saying it to make you feel better. I am saying it because it is the truth and you have to start believing it, do you understand?" She questioned and the maid nodded her head In response.
"You are different from the other women here. They don’t treat us like we are important and they don’t respect us either."
"They talk to us with disdain and contempt but you actually care about what we think and feel. That is very thoughtful of you." The maid complimented her.
"Where I come from, at my pack, everyone is treated with respect because it is the right thing to do." Adria said, her heart heavy as she thought about her home. She was already missing them now.
Gosh! She hated this place and it hasn’t even been a full day since she arrived.
Back there, they would play games with the maids and have all sorts of fun with all of them. It was always wholesome but she guessed that it wouldn’t be the same here cause of Cullen.
He was a ruthless King after all and he wouldn’t care about things like that. He doesn’t even seem like the type who cares to begin with.
Many people has spread rumours about him and how he doesn’t have a heart and she believes them because not only was it the truth but because she had experienced his cruelty firsthand.
If not, why else would he have married her if he had one?
"Let’s get you dressed up now." The maid said, jerking her from her train of thoughts.
Adria glanced at the bed where her clothes were neatly arranged. Her eyes glaring in unwelcomed anger.
"I would like to dress up by myself for the feast if it’s okay." She requested at last.
"I’m sorry Your Grace but I’m supposed to serve you as your handmaid. It is my duty."
"I know." She faced her "But I need a moment alone to myself. I will get ready myself and you can come back when I’m done and escort me to the feast afterwards."
"But the Lycan King—"
"He doesn’t have to find out and he won’t if no one tells him. I’ll be fine Calla so please..." She gestured at the door and after hesitating, the maid quietly exited her chamber.
Adria looked back at the her reflection in the mirror for the second time. The feast was only less than a few hours away. Would it be nice to just refuse and not attend? The thought of it was eating out at her.
After minutes of ernest deliberation, she decided to attend. She picked up her dress and carefully wore it. Just as she was about to zip up the fabric, it ripped and she froze in place.
"By the goddess!" A silent cry escaped her lips as she looked at the damage that she had just caused.
How would she be able to attend the feast now? And if she didn’t, then everyone would think that she had deliberately refused to attend.
This wasn’t exactly how she had planned her evening to go. Stepping out of the dress, she examined the torn spot carefully.
She would have to find a way to fix this but how? The ceremony was only a few hours away.
Just then, a sudden knock came to her door. She panicked, thinking if it would be wise to answer after what she had just done?
"It’s me, My Lady." She heard the familiar voice of Moira and her racing heart began to slow down as she quickly opened up the door herself.
"I think I’ve made a mess Moira and I need your help." She blurted out to the older woman who looked at her like she has grown another pair of head.
"What do you need my help with?" Moira inquired. Adria stepped aside to reveal her torn dress that was lying on the bed for the older woman to see.
The expression on the woman’s face told her that the situation was bad. This was definitely not how she expected her day to go.