Chapter 3

Emily's POV

“Follow Nala.” The female Alpha, wife to Alpha Damon III said, after addressing me for what seemed like an eternity. I'd read about her so much and studied the history of the Damon palace so badly, I feel I knew it even more than their children.

“Thank you, Alpha.” I bowed and turned to take my leave.

“I'm Luna.” She corrected me.

“Thank you, Luna.” I corrected myself. We were taught back at the orphanage school that she was a nice person, but just an hour in her company, and I felt so less of a human than anyone has ever made me feel.

“Take her away, Nala.” She said to the middle aged lady she'd summoned earlier, from what assumed to be the palace kitchen. “One more thing!” She said, and Nala and I stopped in our tracks.

“Yes, Luna.” Nala said, turning right back to face her, and then bowed her head. The dexterity is nothing short of wealth and accumulation of experience.

I did the exact same and almost sprained my ankle.

“You're to serve under Nala.” Luna said, “She'd tell you what the schedule is. But here's my own rule: You must not be found. You're to be in the kitchen, and when you're not, in your quarters. Do I make myself clear?!” She asked.

“Crystal clear, Ma'am.” I said. Bad choice of words! Before I could correct my silly self, Nala whacked my back, sending my knees buckling. I crashed on my knees, and decided to beg Luna on them. “I'm sorry. I mean, I fully understand you.” I corrected.

“Good.” She said, and dismissed us.

Nala walked with speed out of the palace's main living room. I heard there's nine more of them. One could live in the palace without seeing all the four walls of it, ever.

“How old are you?” Nala asked.

“Eighteen.” I replied to her.

“Do you have a wolf?” Nala asked, her voice a little lowered.

I know I was supposed to be scared of her. Seeing as she had total control over me in my stay at the palace, I was too much of a free bird to be caged or fit into norms and customs.

“Why do you ask?” I asked Nala.

I blinked rapidly, expecting another hit, maybe this time to my head.

“Cause if you've got one, you're gonna need her.” Nala said. The hair on my back rose.

“What do you mean?” I asked Nala. “For what would I need her?” I asked again.

“The male and female quarters aren't very demarcated.” She smiled sadly. “While it's no bother for old women like us, the males like to get adventurous with the bodies of young girls like you.”

“Why is that?” I asked. “Aren't you supposed to inform Luna of this?!” I asked.

I've barely ever lived with males all my life.

While it was thrilling to have them closer than I ever did, it also made me a bit scared. The Groomers school was almost ninety percent girls, I didn't know how to deal with guys.

“You think she doesn't know?” Nka asked, chuckling.

She looked so beautiful when she smiled. So beautiful I was almost tempted to forgive her for what she did to me in the presence of Luna.

“That's not so good.” I thought aloud. “And what do you mean by adventurous?” I asked her.

“You'll find out.” Nala said, and branched into a room, off the broad corridor.

I'd love to see the blueprint of the palace architecture someday. It had such a broad corridor, it felt like I was walking on some small street, or a broadway.

“What's life in the kitchen like?” I asked Nala.

“What do you think?” She replied to me.

“You cook?” I asked.

Well, Nala didn't have to reply to me,but she did.

I got to the entrance of the “room” She branched into, and read the inscription above the door, “Kitchen”.

“Yeah. For a thousand people.” She smiled. “Go chop those garlics and get them here once you're done.”

I finally looked away from Nala to see the largest number of people I ever saw in one place at once.

It looked more like an industrial kitchen than a home kitchen.

I made a mental note of the millions of questions I had for Nala.

“You're gawking so hard. You must be the new girl.” A voice said from behind me.

“Yeah. Uhm, I'm sorry.” I apologized, looking down at my feet like I saw Nala did when she addressed Luna.

“Come on.” He said, “You don't have to be that way with me. I'm Zathen.”

“Oh. Hi.” I said straightening up to the very handsome young man. I couldn't believe men could be that fine. I pinched myself back into reality. “I'm Emily.”

“Hi Emily.” He said.

“Hi Zathen.” I replied to him, basically just mirroring what he said cause my brain couldn't be bothered to function.

“I'll see you around.” He said, and walked off into some part of the kitchen fogged and clouded by flour and steam

I sighed and got back to chopping what Nala asked me to. I soon got done, and took them to her.

“What took you so long?” Nala asked as soon as I got closer to her

“I'm sorry.” I apologised first. “I got distracted.”

“I can't afford for that to happen often.” She replied, still not taking her eyes off the big pot she was tending to.

“You won't have to.” I assured her.

“Good.” She said, “Drop those and get to the Onions.”

It was one thing after the other, and soon, the big pendulum clock rang, signifying the end of the day.

The sigh in the kitchen immediately after the clock struck 8pm was the most realistic choreography I ever saw.

The tired faces all straightened out, as they packed up, and took off the aprons.

I had my Groomers uniform on, since I hadn't been given a uniform yet.

“I'll take you to the Servants Quarters in a minute.” Nala said.

“Please let me.” A familiar voice said.

Nala and I looked at the intruder.

“Oh. Hi Zathen.” I greeted him, smiling. I looked at Nala, and while her smile wasn't as wide as mine, she looked quite pleasant.

“I'd be most grateful.” Nala said, smiling.

“Let's go.” Zathen turned to me, and even took my hand.

It took about four minutes of brisk walking to get out of the kitchen through the back door which led to some other part of the palace.

“You're so kind.” I said to Zathen, trying to strike a conversation.

“No I'm not.” He replied. “I think I like you.” He added.