Elena's
1313 Words
I rubbed my eyes gently, trying to shield my face from the sunlight bathing the entire room from between the drawn curtains.
I could swear I closed the curtains last night before I fell into bed crying myself to sleep. I stiffened in bed as I thought I heard a noise.
I sat up in shock and let out my long held breath as I saw it was just one of the maids.
“Good morning, Your Highness,” she said softly, curtsying slightly.
What was a maid doing in my room this early?
“Good morning, …” I paused.
“Lydia, Your Highness. My name's Lydia,” she supplied.
“Good morning, Lydia.” I finally said. I could swear she was one of the maids who refused to serve me at breakfast yesterday.
“I have drawn you a bath, Luna and I have picked out your dress for breakfast. The Alpha is downstairs at the table already.” She prattled.
I sat with my wild hair, gaping at her. Where was this sudden niceness coming from?
I finally found my voice. “It's okay, Lydia. Thank you, but I can take care of myself,” I added a slight smile in case my words came across as a bit harsh. I was really not a morning person.
“I'm afraid it's now my job, Luna. Alp– I've been assigned to you as your personal maid. It is my duty to make sure your daily activities are stress-free from now on.”
I stared at her for a few seconds, contemplating between insisting on doing things myself or just accepting her offer. I decided on the latter.
Who knew it was quicker to prepare for anything when you had someone helping with the basics. In an hour, I was on my way down the stairs to the dining.
The initial calmness and peace I had felt on waking up, disappeared at the sight of Kairis. He was going through some files with a hand and munching on a piece of toast on the other.
My throat suddenly felt parched and I longed for a drink.
“Good morning.” I greeted, lowering myself into the farthest seat from him at the table. He grunted in response, barely acknowledging my presence.
I reached for a plate and before I could wrap my finger around a prong, a maid swiftly took it from me. I stared in surprise as she proceeded to put a bit of everything on my plate before placing it in front of me. She bowed slightly and retreated to the kitchens.
My gaze followed her and after she disappeared,y eyes flickered over to rest on Kairis.
He didn't look a bit fazed at what just happened.
What was going on?
I tugged into my food, trying to ignore the slight bop of Kairis’ Adam's apple as he drank deeply from a cup of water.
“If only…” I snapped at my wolf, refusing to follow the trail her thoughts were taking.
“Your parents called to ask if they could come over for dinner,” he said, not looking up at me. I did a double take.
Father and Aurelia always acted like I was vermin and not fit to be in any space with them. And now they're leaving their home to come have dinner at my home. For some reason, I realized I didn't want them around. But how was I going to convince Kairis to say no?
“Um, I don't think that's a good ideas right now. I'm still trying to adapt to living without them, seeing them might make me homesick, and I do–”
He raised his head from the files he was so engrossed in and raised an eyebrow, like the fact that I was making a suggestion to him was incomprehensible. “I wasn't asking for your permission. I was only informing you so you'd act accordingly. I already granted them permission to come.”
I felt tears sting in my eyes and I tried hard to hold it in. Why the hell had I suddenly become extra teary since I moved in here?
I picked at my meal without my former gust. I had lost my appetite.
I shielded my eyes with my lashes and stole a glance at him. His brows were furrowed in concentration as he read and signed his way through the sheafs of paper.
I push back my chair and leave the dining hall. As I climbed slowly up the stairs, I felt a tingling sensation like I was being watched. I glanced at him and our eyes met for a flint and he looked away.
I picked my dinner dress myself, something bothering the line of elegant and chic. I needed to look the part of the Luna if Aurelia was going to be there with Father.
Although he could overlook it, Aurelia was sure to point out every little thing. Even something I considered as minute as my choice of evening dress.
I climbed down the stairs slowly to the sound of laughter. Apparently someone had said something funny and Aurelia had her head thrown back in laughter. But she was not alone. Was that…Sophia??
Of course they were going to bring her along.
I felt a sting in my chest as I stared at a glammed up Sophia smiling up at Kairis like a smitten puppy.
“Hi, everyone,” I said quietly as I took my seat at the other end of the table, few seats away from them all.
“Oh, finally you're here!” Father exclaimed, looking me over. I caught sight of a glint of something like admiration in his eyes, but it was gone as quick as I has seen it.
“Oh, look who's here,” Aurelia said, looking me over as I took a seat. “You know it's funny how times change,” she started. “In few days, you've gone from setting the dinner table to keeping people waiting in you for dinner to start.” She burst into a laugh that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Sophia joined in and Father smiled awkwardly. My confidence dropped even lower than I thought it could.
“Let's eat.” Kairis said curtly, cutting their laughter short.
Everyone seemed to have a healthy appetite except me. I turned the food on my plate over and over with the fork as I listened to Aurelia prattle on about the different ways in which Sophia was more sophisticated.
“Did you know, Alpha, that Sophia took a course about diplomatic relations between packs as a major in her first year in college. She had top grades. Isn't that right, Soph?” She beamed.
It was all I could do to not roll my eyes.
Father excused himself to take a call from the estate. I couldn't wait for this nightmare of a dinner to be over.
“I'm sorry I have to return to the estate now. Duty calls.” Father said as he walked in, laughing awkwardly. “It was nice talking to you, Alpha.” He said, taking Kairis' hand in both of his.
When time came to say goodbye to me, he touched the nape of his neck uncomfortably, “Umm, I guess I'll be seeing you next time.”
And as I was looking from father to Aurelia and Sophia, wondering why they were not attempting to go with him, Aurelia dropped the bombshell.
“Ohh, it's okay, Elena. We talked to the Alpha already. We're staying. To help you settle into life here. Don't worry, I won't disturb your honeymoon,” she said, touching her chest mockingly.
I staye
d silent.
“And I'm sure you and Sophia would have lots of things to talk about, right, Alpha?”
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