Chapter Six

JUNE

Fiona’s remaining words faded into the background as I stared at the massive chandelier hanging above my bed. The only chandelier in my entire settlement belonged to Alpha Roger — and even his didn’t sparkle like this.

Goddess… were we really that poor?

It seemed Fiona asked a question, and when I didn't reply, she breathed a deep sigh as if to say, ‘don’t test my patience.’

“Dinner is by 8,” I heard before her heels clicked noisily out of my room.

My hands remained behind my head as I continued to stare at the chandelier, imagining all sorts of things. What if it fell on me while I was asleep? Oh wait, that had be great… unless it might get me killed.

Gosh, a little frown settled on my face. I needed some fun around here.

My head dipped around the corners of my room, and a surge of excitement coursed through my veins as I threw my feet off the bed, rushing towards the vanity mirror I sighted just in between the walk-in closet and the bathroom.

I stared at my reflection, my stomach tightening. I had never felt more inadequate than I did today. I would have liked to say we didn't have many mirrors in my settlement, but it seems I was exhausted from writing myself off every goddamn minute.

But that was the truth. Mirrors were a thing of luxury — even Alpha Roger didn’t have one. Well, he did, but someone destroyed it due to her carelessness, and he didn’t see it fit to replace it afterward.

The memory brought a smile to my face as I cupped my mouth to stop my laughter from spilling out. I wished I had a little more time to torment Alpha Roger, but that wasn’t the case for me, as fate had other plans in store.

My hands brushed through my curly hair as I tried to admire my face. I used to think I was beautiful.

But after seeing the women here earlier… I wasn’t so sure anymore.

“Ahhh,” the word left my lips as I slapped my face simultaneously on both cheeks. “Focus, June,” I said to myself. “You are not here to compare yourself with anyone. If possible, fail the first—” I stopped mid-sentence remembering Fiona's words. “You’ve already passed the first round at your settlement.”

“Alright then,” I braced myself, breathing deeply. “You must do everything possible to fail the next round.”

I stood up from the vanity mirror, walking towards the closet. My jaw opened the moment I pulled it apart. Never… not even in my wildest dreams, had I imagined wearing clothes like these. The materials were so silky smooth that my hands had difficulty holding onto them.

The clothes ranged from sleepwear to undies and a whole lot of classic selections. This would have been my own Barbie world if this room wasn't painted purple.

Nonetheless, I loved it. I giggled as I did a little happy dance. Just then, the ticking of the clock in my room caught my attention— it was past seven.

“Oh no,” I muttered, rushing into the other door by my right, and my jaw dropped for the second time that evening, my eyes widening in shock.

I fought the urge to compare it to the tiny washroom back at the pack house.

My wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin, curious and alert as I took in the breathtaking space before me.

There was a bathtub, a clean white toilet that had a lot of buttons beside it, and… to crown it all, another mirror.

I spent a lot of time navigating my way through the bathroom that I almost called Fiona, but I figured it out at last.

The soap smelled of flowers and milk as I brushed it against my skin, watching as the slipping water turned slightly brown. I washed myself properly before quickly gathering my clothes out of the bathroom. I checked the pocket of my shirt, and my parents’ picture was still intact.

Pulling the drawer attached to my vanity mirror, I placed their picture gently inside. “I’ll make you proud, Mum… Dad,” I whispered, pressing a soft kiss to their photo before gently sliding the drawer shut.

I poured almost everything I found inside the creamy bottles onto my skin, even though I might have been doing it wrong.

I ended up settling for a white floral dress that stopped just above my knee. Don’t blame me — I had nice legs, and I would like to show them off. I wiggled in the mirror as I admired myself, styling my hair into a low ponytail.

There was a makeup kit in the room, but I didn't apply any. When I was satisfied with my look, I returned to the bed when a loud bell cry erupted into the room.

On instinct, my head went to the clock; it was 8 p.m. I chose a pair of flat ballet shoes as I walked out of the room, picking the card to my room with me. My room was the last on the left in this section, Fiona and I had to pass about three sections to get here. It turned out only five rooms existed here.

“This shouldn't be so hard,” I smiled to myself as I continued to take turns until I was finally in front of the door that I knew was going to be the dining room.

I wiped my sweaty palms against my dress, silently begging my breathing to steady itself before I got a panic attack. But the chattery noise and laughter behind the door did little to calm my nerves.

I turned around, hoping to see Fiona, but I couldn't find her. Maybe I should skip dinner, I told myself. I wasn’t even that hungry.

Right on cue, my stomach betrayed me with a loud growl.

Just then, I heard approaching feet behind me, and hope returned to my heart. But when their scents hit me: expensive perfume layered over the unmistakable authority of high-ranking wolves… my heart sank.

Oh no. I wasn’t in for any trouble tonight.

I turned around immediately, but I was late.

“Look who we have here,” Mariel, one of the earlier girls who had suggested I was a servant, mouthed, her lips coiling into a smile. She was besides Adeline, the most beautiful and maybe the most influential of the three.

Adeline smiled as she got closer, her blue dress stunning yet simple. Her gaze traveled from my head down to my feet.

Then her voice cut through the air, melodious and clean. “I never knew the servants’ dresses had changed here.”

Shit! I bit my lower lip. This was going to be bad.