The Mate Switch

CHAPTER 9.

“Get up, Gloria.”

The voice cut through the haze of sleep clouding the atmosphere. But even in the state of near unconsciousness, it still managed to pick up an annoying undertone. Annoyingly Persistent.

“We have a party to prep for.”

“Party?” Giselle blinked several times, her lashes heavy, her head throbbing as if she’d been dragged out of a dream by force. The dim light of the servants’ quarters swam before her eyes. At first, she didn’t recognize where she was. The low ceiling, the narrow cot, the faint scent of cleaning herbs and damp stone snapped back into place.

Reality came flooding back. She’d left Valemont a week ago.

She groaned softly and turned her face into the thin pillow. “You’re mistaken,” she muttered. “No one throws parties that involve me.”

A sharp tug at her blanket followed. “Up,” the voice hissed. “Now.”

Giselle cracked one eye open. Lucia, another omega and servant, stood over her with her hands on her hips, her dark hair pulled back too tightly and eyes darting nervously toward the door as if expecting someone to burst in at any second.

“What’s wrong with you?” Giselle asked, pushing herself up on one elbow. Her body felt heavy, her wolf sluggish and irritable, curled deep inside her chest, not fully woken either. “It’s barely morning.”

Lucia leaned closer, lowering her voice. “The Luna asked for you.”

That did it. Giselle sat up fully, the remnants of sleep evaporating in an instant. “The Luna?” she echoed.

Lucia nodded quickly. “She sent someone down earlier. They said to fetch you, but you were out cold. I told them I’d wake you.” Her lips pressed into a thin line. “If you don’t show up soon, she’ll start asking questions. And if she starts asking questions, it won’t be just you who suffers.”

Ah.

Understanding slid into place, cold and sharp.

Of course Lucia hadn’t woken her out of kindness. No one ever did. No one ever spoke to her unless they needed something—or needed to protect themselves.

Giselle’s wolf stood alert, a low growl rumbling faintly inside of her. Coward, it muttered, though whether it meant Lucia or the entire pack, Giselle wasn’t sure.

“I see,” Giselle said quietly.

Lucia exhaled in relief, mistaking her calm for compliance. “Good. Get dressed. Quickly.” She turned to leave, then paused at the doorway. “And Gloria?”

“Yes?”

Lucia hesitated. “Just… don’t ask questions. Do what you’re told.”

The door shut behind her.

Giselle sat on the edge of her cot for a moment, staring at the wall. Her fingers curled into the rough blanket. Don’t ask questions. As if she ever got answers anyway.

She swung her legs down and stood, moving on instinct. There was no time to think, no time to wonder why the Luna suddenly wanted her. That alone was dangerous.

She splashed water over her face at the small basin, the cold making her hiss softly. Her reflection stared back at her—pale, tired, her eyes too sharp for someone who was supposed to be meek and broken.

Careful, her wolf warned. Mask on.

She lowered her gaze, let her shoulders slump, practiced the small, submissive nod that had kept her alive this long, then she hurried out.

Luna Iris didn’t bother looking up when Giselle entered the solar. “You’re late,” she said coolly, inspecting her nails.

“I’m sorry, my Luna,” Giselle murmured, lowering her head.

A scoff. “If apologies fixed incompetence, you might be useful by now.”

Giselle bit the inside of her cheek and stayed silent.

“There’s a celebration tonight,” Iris continued. “Everything must be perfect. The hall, the food, the guests’ quarters. I don’t want excuses.”

“Yes, my Luna.”

“You’ll oversee the preparations.”

Giselle’s head snapped up before she could stop herself. “I—oversee?”

Iris’s eyes flicked to her, sharp and disdainful. “Is that a problem?”

“No,” Giselle said quickly. “I just—what is the celebration for?”

The Luna’s expression darkened. “You don’t need to know why,” she snapped. “You need to make sure nothing goes wrong. If even one detail is off, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

Her wolf bristled, fury licking at Giselle’s spine, but she swallowed it down. “Yes, my Luna.”

Iris waved a hand dismissively. “And before you start, take a bath. You reek.”

Heat crawled up Giselle’s neck. “Yes, my Luna.”

“Go.”

She left with her head bowed. What kind of lunatic doesn’t tell its servants what a party is for? Giselle thought grimly as she headed for the bathing quarters. How am I supposed to prepare properly?

That’s the point, her wolf answered darkly. So they can punish you when something inevitably goes wrong.

She scrubbed herself raw, letting the water sting her skin as she went deep into detective mode, thinking hard. Focus. Listen. Learn. If she didn’t know what the party was for, she’d find out the old-fashioned way.

By listening.

She was just stepping out of the servants’ bath, tying her damp hair back, when voices drifted down the corridor. It was much too excited and giddy to be coming from this low section of the house. The maids were often quiet and too worn out to engage in any type of fun.

Giselle slowed, pressing herself closer to the wall.

“…can you believe he’s finally back?”

“I heard he stayed away longer than necessary. Loves learning too much, that one.”

“The Alpha must be thrilled.”

She frowned. None of their words made any sense.

“Older son,” someone else chimed in. “Imagine that. I didn’t even know he existed until last year.”

Giselle frowned. Older son?

“…welcome party tonight, obviously. Luna’s been on edge all morning.”

Giselle’s breath caught. So that was it. Alpha Fredrick had another son. She stayed frozen until the maids passed, laughter echoing down the hall.

Her mind raced. An older son. Returned from studies. Important enough to warrant a celebration.

It didn’t change anything. Her plan didn’t hinge on Fredrick’s offspring. Darkhowl would still burn for what it had done.

Still, curiosity got the better of her.

Pay attention, her wolf urged.

She swallowed, taking in a breath. “Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”

She spent the rest of the day moving like a shadow—issuing quiet instructions, adjusting table placements, double-checking supplies. All the while, her ears remained sharp, her mind cataloguing every whisper and look thrown her way.

She noted the tension in the air. The way some wolves seemed excited, while others were tight lipped. The way Elias and Celeste snapped at servants more than usual.

Speaking of Celeste—

“Gloria.”

Giselle stiffened as the kitchen door swung open.

Celeste swept in like royalty, her nose wrinkling in distaste. “Why is this not done yet?”

“We’re still arranging the—”

Celeste cut her off with a scoff. “Useless. Here. Carry this.” She shoved a heavy crate into Giselle’s arms without warning.

Pain shot through her still healing shoulders. She nearly stumbled.

“And after that, clean the north wing again. I don’t care if it was cleaned yesterday.”

“Yes, my lady,” Giselle said quietly.

Celeste leaned in, talking in a low, cruel voice. “Smile more. You look like you’re plotting murder.”

If only you knew, Giselle thought.

She did as she was told. Took the abuse, swallowed the rage burning her throat. By the time she retreated to her small chamber later, her hands were shaking. She shut the door, breathing hard, forcing her wolf to settle.

It wasn’t until she saw a single red rose laying on her pillow that she mellowed down. She stood frozen to the spot, tilting her head in astonishment.

Beneath it was a folded note. Her fingers hesitated as she picked it up.

You looked like you needed this.

—E

Her heart did a flip, the warm gesture melting her cold still heart. The traitorous little organ.

She laughed softly, refusing to fight the feeling, pressing the rose to her chest. i***t, she told herself. He’s a complication.

Her wolf purred in response. She was definitely head over heels for the tall, dark, and handsome wolf, who no doubt had broken a few hearts and was now gunning for hers.

Back upstairs, the hall glittered with light when evening fell. Giselle stayed near the exitss, pretending to busy herself while watching everything. The Alpha stepped forward first, smiling broadly.

“My pack,” Fredrick began warmly. “Tonight, we celebrate family.”

Applause rippled through the room.

“I’ve missed my son dearly,” the Alpha continued, chuckling. “Though I suspect he stayed away longer than necessary. Always loved his books more than his home.”

There was more laughter, but Giselle barely heard it. She was scanning the crowd, searching.

“Where are you?” she wondered aloud.

You told him to stay away, her wolf reminded her. Why are you looking for him now?

Giselle sighed, ignoring the question. Zoning back in, she heard the speech taking place right in front of her once more.

“And now,” the Alpha said, spreading his arms, “allow me to welcome home my firstborn…”

The doors opened. Giselle’s breath stopped. Enrique stepped forward, confident, composed, his eyes sweeping the room until they met hers.

Her wolf howled. Mate.

“…Enrique Fenrirson,” Alpha Fredrick announced.

And suddenly, everything made terrible, perfect sense.