The gentle knock at the door startled Aurora out of her daze. Her heart leapt into her throat, but when the door creaked open, it wasn’t him — it was the same maid from yesterday. A girl no older than twenty, with warm brown eyes and a soft smile that never seemed forced.
“My name is Elara,” she said quietly, bowing her head respectfully. “The Alpha asked me to help you this morning.”
Aurora’s fingers tightened on the sheets, the tension in her shoulders refusing to ease. But Elara’s presence didn’t feel threatening, and after a moment, she forced herself to nod.
Elara carried in a neat stack of folded clothes and set them gently on a chair. “Let’s get you cleaned up first.”
Aurora hesitated when Elara reached for her tattered dress. Shame burned her cheeks, her hands clutching at the
