Shadows of Expectation

Elsa’s POV

The gown lay across the bed like a trap. Rich velvet dyed the color of midnight, its sleeves embroidered with threads of silver that shimmered like frost. It was beautiful, far more beautiful than anything I had ever touched, let alone worn. But as I sat on the edge of the bed staring at it, I felt no pride. Only heaviness.

The Luna’s chamber was quiet except for the crackling of the fireplace. Everything around me gleamed polished wood, silk curtains, a carved wardrobe filled with gowns I had never dared imagine. And yet all of it felt alien. A cage wrapped in velvet.

My mind wasn’t here. Not in this room, not in this house, not in this life that had turned upside down in the space of a single day. My thoughts drifted back, again and again, to Lila.

I pictured her small frame hurrying about the servant’s quarters, her bright eyes flashing when she scolded me for forgetting to eat. Was she safe? Was she still at the mercy of Crystal’s venom? I had left her behind without a word, ripped away from the only friend who had stood beside me through years of cruelty.

How I wished I had the power to bring her here, to shield her from it all. If I could, I would have dragged her with me into this gilded prison. At least then my heart wouldn’t ache so much.

A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. “Come in,” I called softly.

Three maids entered, their heads bowed respectfully, their arms full of fabrics, pins, and brushes. They moved gracefully, yet I could feel their curious eyes flicking toward me when they thought I wasn’t looking.

One of them, a plump young woman with kind brown eyes, finally spoke. “My lady… are you well?”

The title still startled me. My lips parted, but I hesitated. I wanted to tell the truth that my chest ached, that I felt trapped, that I missed my friend so much it hurt to breathe. But I had already learned what honesty earned in this house.

“Yes,” I lied with a faint smile. “I’m fine.”

The girl nodded but did not look convinced. She set down the folded cloth and exchanged glances with the others.

Another maid, older, with streaks of gray in her hair, cleared her throat. “Forgive me, my lady, but… it would be wise to prepare yourself. The Alpha’s mother is not easily pleased.”

My heart skipped. “His mother?” I whispered.

The woman inclined her head. “Yes. Lady Selene. She is strong, even though her body betrays her at times. She cannot walk far without her cane, yet make no mistake—her spirit has not weakened.”

“Selene,” I repeated under my breath, tasting the name. It carried weight, like the moon itself.

The plump maid leaned closer, lowering her voice. “She sees through everything. Lies, false smiles, fear… she despises all of it. If she looks at you, you must meet her gaze. Do not tremble, no matter how much you wish to.”

My palms dampened.

“And his sisters,” the older maid added grimly. “They will be there too. Lyra and Neris.”

Lyra. Neris. Names that sounded sharp, like claws dragging across stone.

“What are they like?” I asked softly.

The youngest maid, a shy girl with freckles dusting her nose, spoke up this time. “Lady Lyra is the eldest. She carries herself like a warrior direct, unyielding. She has no patience for weakness.”

“And Lady Neris,” the plump one added, her voice dipping with unease, “is… clever. Too clever. Her words are sweet, but her tongue is a knife. Be wary of her questions, for she hides traps in them.”

I swallowed hard.

The older maid folded her arms, studying me as if weighing my chances. “They will not welcome you easily, my lady. To them, you are an intruder, an outsider who has stolen a place that belonged to no one until now.”

My stomach churned. “So… what should I do?”

They exchanged glances again. Then the eldest said, “Listen more than you speak. Show respect, but not servitude. They will test you, but if you bend too far, they will despise you for weakness. If you stand too tall, they will call it arrogance.”

I let out a shaky laugh. “And if I fail either way?”

The plump maid gave me a pitying look. “Then they will make you regret it.”

The room fell into silence, heavy with warnings and unspoken fears.

I touched the gown on the bed, my fingers brushing the soft velvet. It was beautiful, yes, but it felt like armor. A fragile kind of armor that could not truly shield me from the sharp eyes waiting to judge.

The freckled maid hesitated, then asked gently, “Do you wish to hear more about Lady Selene?”

I nodded, though my chest tightened.

“She is not cruel,” the girl said carefully. “But she is proud. She does not forgive easily. She has endured much, and she believes that strength is the only shield worth having. If she does not see strength in you…”

“She will tear me apart,” I finished for her, my voice small.

The maid lowered her gaze. “Yes, my lady.”

The fire crackled louder, filling the space left by her words.

I sat very still, my hands clenched in my lap. In my chest, Amy stirred restlessly, her growl brushing against my thoughts. We do not bow. Not to them. Not to anyone.

But what choice did I have? This was Dylan’s world, not mine. His blood tied him to Selene, Lyra, and Neris. Mine marked me only as the girl who once carried buckets and scrubbed floors until her skin bled.

How could I ever match them?

My throat tightened. I thought again of Lila, wishing more than ever she were here. She would have found some way to lighten the heaviness pressing on me. She would have teased me, told me I was stronger than I believed.

Instead, I had only strangers dressing me in silks and whispering warnings of wolves waiting to devour me.

The plump maid placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Do not be afraid,” she said, though her own voice quivered. “You are the Alpha’s mate. That alone will protect you.”

Her words should have been comforting. Instead, they felt like another chain.

The Alpha’s mate. His claim was my only shield, and if it ever faltered, I would be nothing.

I drew a deep breath and straightened my back. “Help me dress,” I whispered. “If I must face them, I will do so as he expects.”

The maids hurried to obey. They lifted the velvet gown carefully, sliding it over my body, lacing the ties snugly at my waist. One brushed my hair until it shone like dark silk, another fastened silver earrings at my ears, while the third painted my lips a soft shade of rose.

When they stepped back, I turned to the mirror.

A stranger stared back at me.

Not Elsa the servant, with calloused hands and worn skirts. Not the girl Crystal had slapped into silence. This girl looked almost regal, her figure framed in velvet and silver, her face calm even as her heart thundered.

And yet beneath the paint and silk, I was still me. Still the girl who missed her friend, who feared the storm she was walking into.

I touched the glass lightly, my reflection’s eyes wide and uncertain. “Will I survive this?” I whispered.

No answer came. Only silence, thick and heavy.

Behind me, the maids whispered to one another, their voices urgent and low. “She looks the part,” one said. “But will it be enough?”

Their words stung, though I pretended not to hear.

Enough. Would I ever be enough for them?

I lifted my chin, forcing myself to breathe deeply. Amy growled again, fiercer this time, her strength rippling under my skin. If they test us, we endure. If they push us, we push back.

I clung to her voice.

Not today. Not yet. But soon, I would have to show them that I was more than velvet and fear.

Because if I didn’t, they would destroy me.