The Mate's Forbidden Secrets

Chapter Seven

I was still seated on the floor, my head resting on my knees, my mind blank. I thought of everything and nothing all at once.

I jumped halfway into the air at the sound of the wooden door pulling open. My head jerked up, and I held my breath as I watched a dark figure walk into the room.

Two ladies followed behind, and I let out a gasp at the sight of them. Three pairs of eyes snapped toward me.

They exuded a more pristine energy.

Was every wolf in the royal pack this different and unique?

The Elder from this morning let out a small chuckle at the sight of me.

"How do you feel, child?" she asked, her eyes shining with myth.

I nodded wordlessly, still uncomfortable with their presence in the room.

"Are you sure? You pulled quite a stunt." I cleared my throat to speak. She must be Elder Isolde the King had mentioned.

"I'm fine," I answered quietly, my eyes drifting back to the tall and regal women.

"They are here to get you ready for dinner." At the crease of my brows, she explained further. "The King wants you present at dinner."

I waited for her to say she was jesting, but she only watched me expectantly.

I fidgeted with my fingers and bit at my lips. If dinner here was anything like at my old pack, then it involved the entire pack members.

My heart began to race at just the thought of it.

I was never invited to dine with the pack members back at home. After the several beatings my presence alone ignited, I learned to avoid the area—especially during mealtimes.

Was this a prank?

Were they planning to get me into trouble?

I could feel my chest rising and falling heavily. The two young women were watching me with heavy eyes, one of them displaying a large scowl as she stared at me like I was a stain beneath her shoe.

That look—I was used to it. Elder Isolde’s look of interest and amusement, which quickly switched to one of concern, was what I was not used to, and it left me confused.

I was terrified to reject the King's invite, but I was even more terrified to upset him with my presence at the dinner table—especially after what had just occurred.

"I'll—I’ll have dinner in here." The eyes of everyone in the room widened at my words. I could feel a growl rumbling from one of the young women’s chests at my open disrespect toward the King's invite.

My throat felt heavy, and my palms grew clammy, but appearing at the dinner would lead to a worse fate.

"Child," Elder Isolde called, bending to my height, her worried eyes meeting mine. "You cannot defy an invite from the Alpha King." She tried to explain, but I was already shaking my head at her before she could finish.

"I don't belong here," I told her, blinking against the pressure in the back of my eyes.

"How dare you?" one of the young women snarled, startling me. Her eyes darkened, and I found myself hugging the wall behind me even tighter.

Elder Isolde raised a hand, and the woman's eyes hesitated with confliction, but her anger remained.

"She dares to defy the Alpha King when she's a nobody. I can barely sniff out her smell. She's not worthy to step foot into this Kingdom, and he sends us to attend to a mere peasant," the woman all but growled, greatly displeased.

I tried not to look afraid, but I was certain they could all feel my fear dangling through the room in waves.

"Enough, Neila," Elder Isolde ordered softly, turning her eyes to the woman behind her. I had no idea what she saw in that glance, but the woman calmed instantly, her anger shrinking into nothing but a scowl.

Elder Isolde sighed heavily before turning back to me.

"I should have made the introductions earlier, dear. This is the Beta female, Neila, and that is the Gamma female, Aria."

My eyes widened in surprise. I looked from the scowling Beta female to the calm Gamma female. She’d barely spoken since they walked in, but I could feel her eyes watching me.

No wonder they exuded such aura and strength. I understood why she was upset the Alpha King had ordered her to attend to me.

Elder Isolde's eyes stayed on me and then glazed over. I knew she was mind-linking someone. A werewolf experience I might never have.

Her eyes returned to normal, and she sighed again before speaking.

"Unfortunately, little one, you do not have a choice here. The Alpha King has commanded that you be at the dinner table in forty minutes, or he’ll come down here to drag you himself."

I swallowed down the thick lump stuck in my throat.

"You told the King she had refused to attend dinner earlier?" the Gamma female spoke for the first time, her voice incredibly soft and low.

"Yes," Elder Isolde answered, getting to her feet.

"And he said nothing?" she inquired curiously, but my heart sped as I awaited the Elder’s reply.

"He expected her to do just that." Her answer did not ease my mind.

"He's broken bones for much less before," the Gamma female stated plainly.

"Look at her. Does she look like she has enough bones to break?" the Beta female chipped in harshly.

"As long as she remains in the pack as the King's guest, you will accord her that respect, Neila—if you don't want to get into trouble," Elder Isolde demanded.

The woman in question took in a long breath, like she would need it just to stand me.

"Alright, come on," Gamma female Aria softly called, stepping closer and offering me her hand.

It took me a moment and some strength not to flinch—to process that she only wanted to help me up.

"We have a lot of getting ready to do," she announced, and I began to fidget with my fingers.

I felt extremely small and malnourished beside the elegant and powerful women. I stepped away from all three of them, feeling more like an outcast than ever.

"I can get ready myself," I whispered, but I knew they could hear. I felt all eyes on me, but I looked away, overwhelmed.

"It's fine. Neila didn’t mean it. We don’t mind," Gamma Aria tried to say soothingly.

"No, it’s not that."

I was used to being by myself and helping myself. I didn’t need help—and I couldn’t let them see that I did.

"Child," Elder Isolde called softly.

"Please," I whispered again, desperate to be alone and away from people before I had to face a crowd—or else I would lose my mind and run.

Gamma Aria came closer and handed me a dress and a pair of underwear.

"They are new," she assured, and I looked away to hide my reddening face.

My feet halted on the way to the bathroom.

"Valeriana. My name is Valeriana, but you can call me Valerie," I said with a small shrug, looking directly at Elder Isolde. I had an inkling she kept calling me child and dear because she didn’t know my name.