My Savior, My Keeper

Chapter 2 - Opulent Beginnings

Jupiter slowly opened her eyes, expecting the familiar, weathered walls of her small bedroom in the pack's communal lodge. Instead, her gaze met a sight so foreign it felt like stepping into someone else’s dream. Soft sunlight filtered through silk curtains, casting a golden glow across a room dripping in opulence. The intricate carvings on the furniture, the rich tapestries lining the walls, and the sheen of polished wood floors beneath her feet—all of it screamed wealth and power.

For a fleeting moment, she clung to the hope that the events of the previous night had been a vivid, anxiety-fueled dream. But the soft weight of the bedding pressing against her, and the lavish unfamiliarity of her surroundings, quickly shattered that illusion.

This was real. Too real.

Her breath quickened as panic surged in her chest. Her world had been upended in a single night—Alpha Calhoun’s claim, the disrupted ritual, the loss of control over her fate. Every part of her life now felt like it belonged to someone else.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed, her feet meeting the cold, polished floor. For a moment, she hesitated, uncertain. She reached out and touched the bedding again, its silk smoothness grounding her. *This is your life now,* she thought bitterly. *A gilded cage.*

Her stomach turned. Suddenly, nausea gripped her, and she doubled over, retching violently onto the fine rug beneath her. She wiped her mouth with trembling hands, her cheeks burning with humiliation. The rug, clearly expensive, would never be the same.

*Perfect,* she thought. *Just the impression I need to make.*

The door creaked open, and a maid entered, her presence soft and unobtrusive. She was young, her dark braided hair framing a face carefully composed into a look of deference. Her posture was low, almost submissive, as she curtsied. “Good morning, Lady Jupiter. I hope you rested well. Master Calhoun requested that I assist you in preparing for the day.”

*Lady Jupiter.* The title felt wrong, a weight she hadn’t asked to carry. Her mind spun, the word echoing in her ears. She managed a faint nod, too overwhelmed to form a coherent response. The maid quickly retrieved cleaning supplies, tending to the mess without a word or a glance of judgment.

The maid then guided Jupiter to a lavish bathing chamber. The tub, surrounded by rose petals and flickering candles, felt more ceremonial than practical. Jupiter hesitated on the edge, her emotions a swirling storm. The warmth of the water beckoned, but it also felt like a surrender to this foreign world.

*You agreed to the ritual,* she reminded herself. *You knew what was coming. You were prepared to die for them.*

But she hadn’t died. Instead, she was here, draped in silk and drowning in guilt.

Finally, she sank into the tub, the heat soothing her aching body. She let herself relax for a moment, her thoughts drifting to her sisters. Jennifer, with her sharp tongue and endless curiosity. Liliana, with her quiet smile and delicate laugh. The ritual had been her way of ensuring they would be cared for—a future without struggle, a promise of safety.

Now that promise felt broken.

The maid worked around her, brushing out the tangles in her hair with gentle precision. “You’re strong, my lady,” she murmured suddenly, as though sensing Jupiter’s thoughts. “Stronger than most who have stood in your position.”

Jupiter blinked, unsure how to respond. The words felt oddly sincere but hollow at the same time.

When the maid finished, Jupiter was dressed in a gown so soft it felt like air, its delicate fabric hugging her form. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair gleamed in dark waves, her skin radiant from the bath, but the woman staring back felt like a stranger.

The maid led her to a breakfast table, the spread a decadent feast of pastries, exotic fruits, and rich coffee. Jupiter stared at the fine china and silverware, the weight of guilt pressing on her again. Her sisters were still out there, living the life she had sacrificed herself for. *And now, here I am,* she thought bitterly. *Drinking coffee out of crystal cups.*

Forcing herself to eat, Jupiter felt each bite like ash in her mouth. The maid stood nearby, her expression unreadable but expectant. “Is there anything else you require, Lady Jupiter?”

“Where is Alpha Calhoun?” Jupiter asked. The name felt heavy, weighted with too many unanswered questions.

The maid’s face remained neutral, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—worry, perhaps? “Master Calhoun is attending to pack matters. He will join you later.”

Jupiter’s stomach twisted. The thought of facing him again filled her with a mix of unease and... something she didn’t want to name.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the creak of the door. A striking woman entered, her dark eyes sharp and commanding. There was an elegance to her that made the room feel smaller, as though her presence alone could reshape its boundaries.

“Good morning, Lady Jupiter,” the woman said, her voice honeyed but with a cutting edge. “I’m Seraphina, the Alpha’s sister. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

Jupiter rose awkwardly, her instincts prickling. Seraphina’s smile was warm, but her eyes gleamed with something colder—assessment, calculation.

The woman linked arms with Jupiter, her movements fluid and practiced, as though she were leading a performance. “I trust the accommodations are to your liking?” she asked, her tone deceptively casual.

“They’re... fine,” Jupiter replied, carefully choosing her words.

Seraphina’s smile widened, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Wonderful. Come, let me show you the estate.”

As they walked through the winding halls, Seraphina spoke of the mansion’s history, weaving tales of the pack’s legacy and Calhoun’s rise to power. But beneath her polished words, Jupiter felt the probing intent of each sentence. Seraphina’s questions, though framed as casual conversation, felt like tests.

“Tell me,” Seraphina said as they stepped into the garden, “what do you think of pack life so far?”

Jupiter hesitated, sensing the trap in the question. “It’s... a lot to take in,” she said carefully.

Seraphina’s gaze lingered on her, as if trying to peel back her layers. “I imagine it must be overwhelming, given your... background.”

Jupiter bristled but forced a polite smile. “It’s an adjustment, yes.”

The tour eventually ended back at her room, where Seraphina gave her a parting smile that felt more like a warning. “We’re hosting a tea party tomorrow. It will be an excellent opportunity for you to meet some of the pack’s most influential women. I’m sure you’ll find it... enlightening.”

“Thank you for the invitation,” Jupiter replied, her tone neutral.

As Seraphina left, her final words hung in the air: “It will be intimate.”

Jupiter let out a shaky breath as the door clicked shut. The lavish surroundings felt suffocating, and her mind raced with thoughts of her sisters, Calhoun’s claim, and the tea party that loomed like a battlefield. She clenched her fists. This world was beautiful, but its beauty felt like a trap. And if she was going to survive it, she would have to tread carefully.