The morning sky was pale and cold when the summons came. I had barely finished scrubbing the washroom floors when a guard entered.
He tossed a folded piece of parchment onto the nearest table. My name was written in Kael’s sharp, precise handwriting. Seeing it always made my stomach twist, part fear and part something I didn’t dare name.
“You’re wanted in the Alpha’s study,” the guard said. “He’s meeting with Alpha Thorne. You are to serve them tea.”
He didn’t wait for a reply. The door closed behind him, leaving only the crackle of the hearth and the rush of blood in my ears. My fingers trembled as I unfolded the parchment.
There were no instructions beyond that single command. Serve tea. But that was enough. Kael did not ask for servants in his study unless he wanted control of eve
