Chapter 7

Ashina's POV

“Esmeray.”

The name echoed inside me. My eyes shoot open. The first thing I saw was the glittering chandelier. Then the scent of sunflowers hit me.

It was familiar.

My hands curled against something soft under me. Silk— silk bedding?

I sat up immediately, looking around. 

This is my room. How did I get here? The last thing I knew was that I was in the woods, running around and enjoying the night air against my fur.

My eyes widened. “My fur?” I touched my skin, looking down at my hands as I recalled all that happened yesterday.

“Esmeray, are you in there?”

I heard nothing. I blinked, worried and shifted where I sat. 

“Es—” I noticed I was wearing a white shirt and I went mute.

How did I get back here? How did I even change?

Or— did it all happen in my head?

I gulped, hoping not. 

Then I got down from my bed slowly, walking to the spot I shifted, just in front of the door.

“My clothes ripped off me, right here. Then— then I started to change form. There was blood. I saw it,” I whispered as I looked around for signs of what had happened last night. 

I looked at the white sheets on my bed. It was spotless. 

“I had bloody paws print all over there last night, didn't I?” My eyes went for the lamp that broke next. It was right there.

I dropped on the bed, sighing. My hand running over my hair. “So it's not real?”

I'm still wolfless?

My shoulders dropped and I rolled my eyes.

“Oh Goddess, common. Am I losing my mind now?” 

“You could say that.” 

“Who's that?” I thought out loud, looking around.

The door clicked open. I stood up immediately as a shorthaired brunette opened and stepped in. 

She waved her hands as a gesture and three other girls walked in wearing the same green checkered uniforms.

Each carrying a silver tray. Food, fruits and water. 

They dropped it on the table and stood beside the lady with their hands behind their backs.

“So, maybe you had lost your mind, that was why we had found you naked and unconscious in the middle of the woods last night.”

My eyes widened as she said that to me. I swallowed and looked around my room.

I was out in the woods last night. They'd brought me back. Obviously I would never leave naked so— that meant it was all real.

I had transformed into a wolf last night and gone out, but how did I lose my consciousness?

My eyes blurred for an instant as a memory flashed in my mind.

A memory of me slowing down in the woods, breathless. Had I exhausted all my energy in excitement and lost consciousness?

She snapped her finger. I came back. The maids that followed her filed out of my room.

She followed and closed the door, then came back to me with a full teethed smile.

“We brought you breakfast. So you could regain your strength and try escaping again.”

I blinked, raising a brow. “Huh?”

She chuckled and sat next to me. “I know you don't like it here. That was why you made a mess of this room last night, so we would think a wild animal came in, wounded you then dragged you out, right?”

I shook my head slowly. “Huh?” I was confused.

“You don't have to pretend. I'm on your side.” 

On my side? What exactly is my side?

“Sorry for the rush, I need to properly introduce myself. I am Vera, head of kitchen affairs.”

“Hi, I'm Ashina, but you're mistak—”

She cut in again. “Ashina, when you came, I heard that you are wolfless. You made that up, didn't you?”

“I didn't—”

“So you could escape and make us think another animal had wounded you? That was smart.”

Why the heck is she not letting me speak? What is she drawing all those conclusions for?

She came to me, her blue eyes sharper than her dress. “I'm sorry that plan failed. But I'm here to help you. Just eat up and regain your strength. You look frail.”

“Do you always talk this much?” I asked. She raised a brow and before she could start again, I added. “If you had let me speak, you would have understood that I don't want to escape.”

The color drained from her face. Her hands went cold and she left me, stepping back.

“You— you don't want to escape?” She asked, seeming shocked.

“Did I stutter?” I asked, raising a brow at her. I sighed and got up from my seat. “Thank you for the food, I'm famished.”

After sitting at the table, taking a bite from the food, I looked back to see she was still standing where I left her.

“Vera, are you okay?” I asked. I watched her fist curled up and I gulped.

She turned, wearing a tight lipped smile, quite different from the one she had a while ago.

“Sure, I'm good.” She moved closer to me.

Then I felt a stirring inside me, it was stronger than my guts. It felt familiar and I knew what it was.

Esmeray. 

“You're awake,” I thought to her.

“I wasn't sleeping,” she thought back to me.

“So why did you make me worry a while ago? I called but you didn't respond.”

I felt her smile mischievously. “Let's say I enjoyed the part where you thought you were going crazy.”

I growled inwardly. “You little—”

I paused when Vera was standing right next to me.

Esmeray drew back into my head. “I don't like her.”

I dropped my spoon and chewed slowly as I looked up at her. “Is everything okay?” I asked her. 

She bit her bottom lip, looking down at me. I noticed her eyes flashing. It was like her smile was fading away.

“Are you sure you don't want to leave?” She asked, slowly.

Where would I leave and go to? Back to Blood moon pack? Was that even my home to begin with? 

I didn't even want to face Leo and Kate, that liar and Luna— who didn't think twice to send me to a beast. At least Leo agreed because he knew Warrick was not a beast.

I looked back at my food. “Well, I have no home to go back to.” I faced her. “Besides, there is no reason for me to leave.”

She narrowed her eyes on me. “What if I give you a reason to?”