Chapter six

Harley’s P.O.V.

The honesty of Vincenzo’s tone directly hit my heart. But I couldn’t react to this unexpected situation as the cold seeping through my fevered skin made me shiver. My every nerve felt raw, as if I had been dragged naked over the snow.

Desperate for a moment of relief, I curled closer to the heat beside me. A whimper escaped my mouth as I tried to move. 

Vincenzo saw me struggling and instantly wrapped his arm around my waist, careful but firm, grounding me against the storm of pain. His warm scent of pinewood filled my lungs, reminding me of that maddening undertone of musk I had missed for five years. 

“I am here!” He whispered hoarsely, “I swear I won’t let you go through pain alone.”

I let out a breath that shook. “You already did!”

The mention of that brutal rejection wasn’t to hurt him, but a reminder to myself that whatever this was, it was dangerous. That breakup had left deep wounds on my soul which would never fully heal. 

Vincenzo rubbed slow circles on my back and as much as I wanted to stay angry, my body betrayed me. I leaned towards him, seeking his warmth like a flower towards sunlight.

Vincenzo’s voice cracked as he responded.

“But I am here now. You need me, Ashley. Just let me help you. Other matters can wait!”

The magic of our divine bond came to action as Vincenzo’s warmth enveloped my existence, applying balm to open lacerations. The ache in my bones dulled as we stayed like this for a while. 

Taking a deep breath, I felt the fire in my blood ebbing and blurted out.

“How is this even real?”

Blinking against the soft light filtering through the curtains, I voiced my amazement. 

“How can you be my cure after hurting me in the worst possible way?”

Vincenzo sighed, sliding his fingers into mine.

“This is the Moon Goddess’s plan, Ashley. She has made all the rules. I only know that your wolf is suffering without mine.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, hot and unbidden, I spoke helplessly. 

“So, from now on, I have to beg my ex for a remedy. It seems that the Moon Goddess really hates me.”

My leftover pride started torturing me as the pain subsided, making me hate myself. Vincenzo’s soft tone was the only thing that yanked me back to the challenges of the present, as he said. 

“It’s not a favor, but a work-treatment setting as I told you before. Others get paid by money as they need it, while you will have your cure. 

It’s only fair!”

As if in a daze, I listened to him silently, weighing my options. This arrangement didn’t look bad after Vincenzo put it in that way. Without much consideration, I agreed with him, believing in his words. Not because I forgot what he had done to me, but for the sake of my sanity. Living in pain even for a day was impossible for me.

Mustering up some courage, I spoke firmly.

“Alright, Alpha. I will do as you say.”

…

For the first time in years, I woke up fresh in the morning, not like a chronic patient pushing herself to function properly. The hot bath washed away the fatigue of years, rejuvenating my soul. Even Ivory was in a good mood.

“You did the right thing, Ash. I am feeling better.”

The last night’s scenes flashed across my mind as Vincenzo’s addicting touch felt like home, making me realize that somewhere beneath the scars, our connection was still there. 

I believed in him when he promised to be my cure!

The maid’s uniform was waiting for me on the table side when I came out of the bathroom. So, I kicked off all the other thoughts from my head and dressed up for my new life. Ivory assured me.

“Just focus on work, Ash. We can do it!”

Feeling determined, I walked out of the room, the scent of polish and citrus cleaner clung to the halls of Anderson mansion welcomed me. That magnificent building was the same as I remembered it to be, clean, cold, and perfectly maintaining the glory of Alpha bloodline. 

Lowering my head, I adjusted the stiff fabric of the uniform against my sensitive skin. The soreness from last night’s episode still lingered, dull, but persistent. It was like an echo of that bond I couldn’t sever. 

A clipboard thrust into my hand before I made it past the kitchen, halting me in my tracks. Martha, the head maid, didn’t bother to spare me a glance and ordered.

“West wing, guests’ quarters. Clean the room and don’t touch anything valuable.”

Listening to her instructions, I nodded obediently. But two younger maids spotted me during dusting and paused, recognizing me in a heartbeat. They didn’t even lower their voices while commenting.

“That’s her. The pack’s traitor!”

Five years had passed, and the news of my non-existent crime was a hot topic there. The other maid scoffed.

“She is here because of Alpha Vincenzo. He was in her room last night.”

My jaw clenched at her rudeness, but I wasn’t in the position to cause a scene on my first day. More importantly, I wasn’t here for their approval. 

Just work, heal, and leave!

I ignored their sharp words and went to the west wing. The whole area was quiet, apart from the whisper of my soft-soled shoes against white marble. I entered the guest room. The sunlight slanting across polished oak and gold trimmed furnishings, expensive decoration pieces, and antique paintings, this kind of luxury reminded me how far I had fallen. Once the future Luna of the Eastern Garden Pack, and now, I was washing sinks for the people who had turned their backs on me. 

Sighing dejectedly, I stripped the bed and started cleaning, trying to find distraction, as swallowing my pride wasn’t an easy task for me. I was scrubbing the stains on the floor when the door was knocked, making me flinch.

I raised my head and couldn’t believe my eyes for a moment. 

“Jenna?”

My heart waltzed in my chest as the sight of my only familiar person evaporated my worry into thin air. Leaving the cleaning supplies, I rushed to hug my kind friend from the rogue pack. 

“I am so glad that you are alive, Ash.”

Jenna hugged me tightly, expressing her heartfelt joy at seeing me. She was one of the survivors of that gruesome battle.

“There was blood and dead bodies everywhere, Ash. I tried to search for you, but you were nowhere to be found. 

I was so scared!”

We sat there for a while, catching up on the previous days. Jenna was also appointed as a maid like me. She took out a bottle from her uniform’s pocket and said.

“You have to take this supplement before breakfast, Ash.”

She explained the importance of those multivitamins, arousing my suspicion. I couldn’t help but cut her off sharply.

“Has Vincenzo sent you with these pills?”