Work begins

The kitchen smelled like baking bread and simmering soup, and despite everything, Sera's stomach growled. She'd barely eaten in days, too focused on preparation and planning to remember basic things like food.

Elder Moira noticed. Of course she did. Those sharp eyes didn't miss anything.

But she didn't comment; instead, she led Sera down another hallway and into a small office. It was tidy and efficient, with a desk, two chairs, and filing cabinets. A window looked out onto what appeared to be an overgrown garden, wild and beautiful and somehow sad.

"Sit," Elder Moira said, taking the chair behind the desk.

Sera sat, hands folded in her lap, projecting calm even though her heart was hammering.

Elder Moira pulled out a file-Sera's application, she realised, along with the false references she'd carefully constructed.

"Your references are adequate," the older woman said, flipping through pages. "Though I notice you've moved around quite a bit in the past two years. Oregon, Washington, Northern California, now here."

"Yes, ma'am." Sera let real emotion colour her voice-not hard, when the pain was always so close to the surface. "I lost my parents in an accident two years ago. I've been... trying to find somewhere that feels like home again. It's been difficult."

Elder Moira's expression softened slightly. "I'm sorry for your loss. Losing family is never easy."

"Thank you." Sera took a shaky breath, perfectly calculated. "I know moving around so much doesn't look great on a resume. But I'm ready to stay somewhere now. To build something stable."

"What brings you to Silvermoon specifically?"

Sera had prepared for this question. "I'd heard good things about the pack. That Alpha Stormridge runs a fair, honourable operation. That he takes care of his people." She met Elder Moira's eyes directly. "After everything... I wanted to be somewhere I'd feel safe. Somewhere I could maybe belong again."

It was a beautiful lie, wrapped around a kernel of truth. She had heard those things about Kael Stormridge-everyone said he was fair, honourable, a good Alpha. It was one of the things that made the evidence of Marcus's assassination so hard to reconcile.

But evidence didn't lie. And Sera couldn't afford to doubt now.

"The work is demanding," Elder Moira continued. "Long hours, early mornings, physically exhausting at times. You'd be responsible for cleaning and maintaining the main house, which has over forty rooms. You'd also be expected to help with special events and pack gatherings. The upcoming mating ceremony, for instance-all staff will be involved in preparations."

The mating ceremony. Where everything would end.

"I'm not afraid of hard work," Sera said firmly. "And I'm good at what I do. I pay attention to details. I'm reliable and discreet."

"Discretion is important here." Elder Moira leaned back in her chair, studying Sera with those sharp eyes. "You'd be living in the household, seeing and hearing things that are private pack business. The Alpha values loyalty above all else. Can you give me that loyalty, Miss Blackwood?"

The irony of the question would have been funny if it weren't so bitter.

"Yes, ma'am," Sera lied smoothly. "I understand the importance of discretion and loyalty. You can trust me."

Elder Moira was quiet for a long moment, and Sera had the uncomfortable feeling that the older woman could see straight through her carefully constructed facade. Could see the rage and grief and deadly purpose underneath.

But then Elder Moira nodded. "I'll be frank with you, Miss Blackwood. We're short-staffed at the moment. Two of our regular housekeepers left to join their mates in other packs, and we have the mating ceremony in six weeks. I need reliable people, and I need them quickly."

Six weeks. The timeline matched what Sera had learned from her research.

"That said," Elder Moira continued, "I'm a good judge of character. I've been running this household for twenty years, and I know when someone is being honest with me."

Sera's pulse jumped. Did she know? Had she somehow seen through everything?

"You're running from something," Elder Moira said quietly. "Pain, probably. Loss. I can see it in your eyes, child. You have the look of someone who's been hurt deeply."

Sera's throat tightened. That, at least, wasn't a lie.

"But," the older woman continued, "I also see someone who's trying. Someone who wants to rebuild. And that's what we do here at Silvermoon. We give people a chance to belong."

The kindness in her voice was almost unbearable. Sera wanted to scream at her, *I'm not here to belong! I'm here to destroy everything you've built!*

Instead, she ducked her head and whispered, "Thank you. That means a lot."

Elder Moira stood. "The position is yours if you want it. Room and board included, plus competitive wages. You'd start tomorrow morning at five AM. I'll show you to your quarters now, introduce you to some of the other staff, and give you a tour of the areas you'll be responsible for."

It couldn't be this easy. Sera had expected more scrutiny, more questions, maybe a background check that would take days.

But apparently, the pack's desperation for staff was working in her favourr.

"I want it," Sera said, standing as well. "Thank you so much for this opportunity, Elder Moira. I won't disappoint you."

Another lie. She was going to disappoint everyone here so catastrophically that the pack would probably remember it for generations.

"Come along then." Elder Moira headed for the door. "I'll show you around before the Alpha returns from his border patrol. He likes to meet new staff members eventually, but there's no need to bother him with it today."

The Alpha. Kael Stormridge. Marcus's killer.

Sera's hands clenched into fists before she carefully relaxed them. "Does he... does the Alpha interview all the staff personally?"

"Not usually, but he likes to know who's in his household. Security concern, mostly." Elder Moira led her back through the kitchen, nodding to the cook. "Don't worry, dear. He's intimidating at first-all Alphas are-but he's fair. As long as you do your work and stay out of trouble, you'll never have a problem with him."

*Stay out of trouble.* If only Elder Moira knew.

They climbed a back staircase to the second floor, then down a long hallway. The mansion was even larger on the inside than Sera had expected-endless corridors, numerous doors, the kind of space that spoke of old money and older power.