004
1175 Words
Breathing heavily, I rub the back of my palm across my forehead to wipe off sweat and resume scrubbing the floor vigorously. The more I scour the hard floor, the more my heart tightens in anger, threatening to burst.
I came to Eclipse Pack, Alpha Draven's pack, with a deal to please him, but here I am, doing the duties of a maid.
The cleanup ends two hours later, and I trudge to my small chamber, yawning when the sound of wolves cheering from a distant brush passes my ears.
Curious to know if Alpha Draven is back from his five-day journey, I dash to one of the windows in the hallway and look out.
Seeing him riding slowly on his black horse freezes my heart. My hands become clammy as I trudge downstairs to welcome him. I wish he had stayed away a bit longer to give me ample time to prepare for the time we'll spend together.
I fake a smile as I stand with the crowd watching Alpha Draven and his soldiers ride towards the castle from a distance. He has plenty of company traveling by foot, including children, and they reminded me of the day I left the Howling Pack.
My gaze falls on the camels, packhorses, donkeys, and a mule loaded with numerous goods and other valuables. Where did all that come from?
The smile I tried to muster for Alpha Draven vanishes as they approach the castle; the faces of the wolves on foot become clearer and more familiar. Howling Pack members. My Pack. He overthrew my pack.
A tight knot aches in my stomach, and I dash forward to run towards them only to be held back by a strong hand on my wrist.
“Do not, my lady,” Edith says in a hushed tone. “We shouldn't provoke him more than we already have. He might change his mind about the antidote.”
“Antidote?” I scoff, cleaning my tears. “What if there's no antidote? What…if he only said that to use me as a pass to escape the soldiers?”
“We still have a lot of time to find…” She quickly inclines her head as Alpha Draven hops down from his horse. “Head down, my lady.”
His hazel…my heart cuts as I notice something different about his eyes; they have changed colors. I remember vividly seeing grey eyes the last time I saw him. I would have said a wolf different from the one who visited our pack six days ago is behind that mask and cloak if he didn't have his familiar scent, pine. What is he? A monster, or a ghost?
Chilled by the weird changes, I incline my head, losing his gaze. Goosebumps coat my skin at the thought of what he could be hiding behind that mask.
A shower of coins surges to the ground, and suddenly the crowd lurches forward; some of them bump into me, propelling me forward without my consent. I look up and see wolves struggling to pick coins but find Alpha Draven's gaze still on me.
His soldiers keep strewing the ground with coins and jewelry, Howling Pack's assets, when I join the crowd.
While they keep fighting for coins that will never be enough, I search for Mother and Gunther, looking at each face. My heartbeat doesn't normalize when I don't find them. What if he had them killed in Howling Pack?
Eager to get answers about my family's whereabouts, I search for Alpha Draven with my frantic eyes. He's heading to the hall, so I quickly dash towards him, weaving through the crowd when Rain throws a bag of coins at me.
My heart leaps as a herd of wolves lunges at me while Rain and the other soldiers begin to laugh. They push me off my feet, and I groan when a wolf sifts through my hair in an attempt to pick out coins that fell in it.
“No! No!” I cry, holding a hand that tries to get into my dress. “Stop!”
Suddenly, the wolf on top of me flies miles when a powerful hand tosses him aside. Others run for their lives, and panting, I look up at Alpha Draven, who surprisingly comes to my rescue.
He leans forward, grabs my hand, and drags me to my feet. His touch sends a jolt of electricity that sparks in forbidden places. Without letting go, he heads to leave the baffled crowd. Rain's dark expression trails us until we're out of sight.
At the hall, without regarding me, he leaves my hand and continues on his own. I walk behind him, desperate to get answers that only he can offer.
“Do not follow me,” he says, without breaking his elegant strides or looking over his imposing shoulder.
“It's urgent, my king.” I pause. “And thank you for saving me. I owe you my life.” I shrink in on myself at my comment, but it's the best way to show acknowledgment in a time like this.
I resume following him, and he doesn't stop me. When he gets to his chamber, I quickly rush before him and help him with the door, step aside, and then bow.
He doesn't walk in immediately, and I feel his intent gaze on me. “If it is about the deal, it's still on.”
“I do not mean to bother my king with worthless questions, but why has my liege attacked Howling Pack?” I ask, fiddling with my fingers. “Wasn't it part of our deal?”
“I made a deal with Godric and his five allies thirteen years ago, way before we made ours.” He walks in, and I close the door and stand against it. “The deal states that each of their first daughters will be given to me as my bride, but your father broke the deal when he gave me a handmaid.” He pivots to face me in a leisurely manner. “Don't you think he deserves punishment?”
“I think so, My King.” I kneel with my hands on the floor. “But will my King please have mercy on my mother and brother? They're innocent.”
“Where's the fun in hurting them?” he asks, walking towards me as he unstraps one of his gloves. “I left your family to sort themselves out without the assistance of a servant.”
A soft sigh leaves me. I know the task won't kill them. “Thank you for sparing their lives.”
“You may leave.”
I rise and begin to leave but spin to face him. “When will I please my king?”
He takes his boots out of his great wardrobe and tosses them to me. “Clean them.”
Wondering what's going on, why the officials in the pack keep treating me as a maid, I pick up the boots and leave.
- Writer
