The Lie Beneath the Flickering Lamp

Winnie’s POV

A warm bed below me.

That was the first thing I felt as my eyes fluttered open.

For a second, I thought I was dreaming.

But the sharp hospital scent told me otherwise.

My head felt like someone had stuffed cotton inside it, and my tongue was so dry.

“Winnie?”

A hand touched my wrist. I turned to see it was Clara.

I blinked almost a hundred times until her face became clear. Her eyebrows were raised with worry.

“Oh thank Goddess,” she breathed out. “You scared us. You fainted at work. They had to carry you here. What happened? What type of call did you get?”

A call?

Oh Moon Goddess!

I jumped out of the bed while Clara flinched.

“What happened, Winnie?” she shouted.

“No.. no, no, no. I have to go.” My heart was racing hard against my chest.

“There's no way you are leaving this hospital. You are weak,” she said.

Then hot tears came running down my cheeks before I could stop them, and just then, Mrs. Halden, one of the top doctors, came in.

“What's going on?” she queried. Clara explained.

“I think it's best you explain what's happening, Winnie dear. We can't let you leave,” she said with an unusual softness in her voice.

“I.. I got a call from the hospital. Mama is… They said they would stop her treatment tomorrow due to the debts… Mama is going to die without treatment. I don't know what to do,” I cried out.

“Oh no!” Clara exclaimed, pulling me into a hug.

“She’s all I have,” I choked out. “I don’t have anyone else. If she dies—if she leaves, I’ll be alone.”

“I am sorry,” she whispered, hugging me tight.

“ I'm so sorry about this, Winnie,” Mrs. Halden said, but all I could do was nod.

I couldn't say anything.

I can't think.

I can't lose Mama, not when I haven't made it. I have to make her proud of the daughter she raised all alone.

“I.. I think I have a solution. The issue is all about money, right?” Mrs. Halden suddenly asked.

I wiped my cheeks quickly, trying to sit up straighter, nodding like a puppy expecting another loan opportunity.

She exhaled, then spoke slowly.

“For weeks now, the Elders have been insisting the Alpha needs a special carer. His health hasn’t fully stabilized after inhaling that high concentration of wolfsbane. I've been looking out for someone who would be able to cope because he can be difficult.”

Typical Alpha behavior.

Mrs. Halden continued, “I’ve been watching the staff closely. I needed someone calm. Someone patient. Someone who won't crumble under pressure.”

Her gaze softened.

“And you, Winnie… apart from the fact that you need this, I think you fit the position.”

“She's got admirable strength,” Clara chirped in.

“I—I don’t understand,” I said, my heart beating faster again.

She smiled a little. “Winnie, the compensation for this role is extremely high. Enough to clear your mother’s debt. Enough to give you comfort for years. If you accept… I can authorize an upfront payment today, at least half.”

Half?

Half was already enough to save my mother’s life!!

This is a beautiful opportunity—a miracle from Selene.

I won’t be able to worry about our debts anymore.

I wanted to scream yes, but something held me back—my mother’s voice echoing in my mind.

Stay away from the higher ranks, Winifred. Promise me.

She never told me why, but even though I was a child then, I still remember how white her face was—something that always happened whenever she was scared.

I swallowed. “My mom… she never wanted me near the hierarchy.”

Mrs. Halden’s brows lifted slightly. “I get some people are scared of nearing those in the higher hierarchy, but Winnie, a life is on stake, and it's time for you to stop living in fear.”

Fear.

My whole life was built on it.

Fear of being different.

Fear of being seen.

Fear of losing the only person I loved.

“I think I need to breathe, can I?” I whispered.

“Of course,” she nodded. “Rest. I will be back in an hour for your response.”

“Thank you.”

She left quietly, closing the door behind her.

I stared at my hands.

Working in the Royal Hospital is gold!

But was I scared?

Yes.

But also I was tired—tired of struggling, tired of debts, tired of watching my mother fade.

Since this job could save her… then damn the rules.

I chose her.

And I accepted.

---

The morning was strangely beautiful.

It was as if the sky was smiling, happy for me. Happy for me because the Moon blessed me with the biggest miracle of my life.

I went to see my mother first.

I cleared our debt from the upfront payment of my new job at the Royal Hospital.

I smiled my way to Mama's ward.

She looked pale, with machines connected to her here and there.

Her eyes were shut really tight in a way that made my heart sink, but I hoped she was fine.

I grabbed her hand in mine and squeezed it slowly.

“You would be fine, Mama. I promise.”

After that… I went to the palace for my first day.

Immediately I stepped through the gate,

I was a trembling mess.

My palms became sweaty.

The palace was huge—far bigger than anything I had seen from afar or on the media.

The spotless marble floors stretched endlessly, glowing under gold lights.

Tall white pillars stood here and there like guards themselves.

The air even smelled different—fresh, expensive, important.

Workers moved around gracefully, their uniforms shiny and their movements so perfect it almost scared me.

Yet they were shockingly kind, offering greetings, directions, and soft smiles that I tried (and failed) to return without shaking.

Yet my heart was throbbing the entire time.

What if I messed up?

What if the Alpha threw me out?

What if I wasn’t enough?

My heart kept doing backflips in my chest.

One of the guards walked me up the final corridor toward the Alpha’s wing.

The hallway was quieter, colder, and heavier.

“We are in the Alpha's corridor. Good luck. You will need it.”

Really?

That's not so comforting.

I inhaled deeply and stepped forward, following the other guard leading me.

But then—

A scent hit me.

Cinnamon.

Sharp and thick.

It flowed through the hallway like smoke from a burning candle, curling into my lungs and freezing me in place.

My breath stopped.

The exact scent from that night.

The weird man who kissed me and took me to a hotel.

No.

No way.

Does he work here too?

That… could be good.

I would be able to figure out who he was and what he wanted from me.

But the more we walked into the magnificent Alpha's chamber—the tall carved doors, the quiet hum of magic in the air…the thicker the scent became.

My footsteps slowed on their own.

My throat tightened.

The cinnamon smell wrapped around me like a hand dragging me toward something I wasn’t ready to face.

The scent hit so thick.

I looked up, straight in the direction it was coming from.

My body became heavy.

“Oh Goddess…” I whispered.

It wasn’t a random wolf from the palace.

It wasn’t a guard.

It wasn’t a visitor.

It was coming… from the one man stepping into the room.

The cinnamon-scented stranger—

Was the Alpha.

How?