Chapter 012

Back in my room, I couldn’t keep still.

I paced from one end to the other, the hem of my dress brushing my thighs as though it remembered his touch, his hands pressing me against the wall, the heat of his breath on my neck, the way his voice had dipped low when he called me a distraction.

A shiver coursed down my spine, leaving me both restless and ashamed.

I collapsed onto the edge of the bed, pressing my palms over my burning face. Goddess, what was wrong with me? How could one man’s touch unravel me like this? What would happen when I finally let all three touch me?

It wasn’t just attraction. It was hunger. Dangerous, reckless hunger.

And worse… he seemed to know it.

My thighs pressed together involuntarily at the memory of his hand, of how close he’d been before Amelia’s voice had cut through like cold water. The interruption should have relieved me, it should have, but all I felt now was a deep, aching frustration gnawing at my insides.

I lay back against the mattress, staring up at the canopy as the thoughts swirled.

Draven. A very long line away from his brothers.

Calm and calculative.

The way he looked at me, like I was something forbidden he intended to claim anyway and left no room for denial. And yet, what terrified me most was the way my body responded, betraying me every second we were near each other.

I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the memories to fade. But they didn’t. They clung to me, every word, every glance, every ghost of a touch burned into my skin.

And somewhere, in the silence of the room, the question I feared most lingered.

How long could I keep pretending I didn’t want it too?

A sharp knock rattled the door.

I jolted upright, heart hammering as if I’d been caught in the middle of something shameful.

“Yes?” My voice came out tight, strained.

The door opened and a young maid stepped inside, arms full of folded fabric in rich jewel tones. She couldn’t have been older than me. Her hair was pale brown, her steps small and deliberate as though she feared each creak of the floorboards.

“Good evening, my lady She stopped herself, lips pressing together. “Alpha Darius asked me to help you prepare.”

Of course he did.

“Please call me Rain,” I said, sighing at the endearment .

I let my gaze fall to the fabrics in her arms. Deep emerald silk, midnight velvet, a slash of wine red. All far too fine, too polished. Not chosen for me, but for what I was supposed to become.

I leaned back in my chair. “What if I’d rather wear something else?”

The maid hesitated, then said softly, “Then I would still lay these out for you. But the Alpha was… insistent.”

I almost smiled. I haven’t know him long enough but that sounded very much like Darius. Always a command, never a choice.

“Set them down,” I murmured.

She hurried forward, laying the gowns carefully across the bedspread. Her hands smoothed each one until the folds fell just right, though none of them looked like something I would have chosen.

As I studied them, another servant wheeled in a cart. The scents of roasted meat, herbs, and fresh bread filled the room, making my stomach tighten. I hadn’t realized how empty I was since breakfast, how distracted.

The maid stepped out of the room without acknowledging me while the one with the clothes pushed the cart further into the room, her voice still careful. “Your meal, Rain. He wishes for you to eat before the preparations.”

I looked up at her, caught by that small difference, Rain, not my lady. Finally, someone that actually listens to me.

“Thank you,” I said quietly.

I sat at the small table while she uncovered the dishes: a steaming bowl of stew, roasted vegetables, a loaf of dark bread split open to show its soft center. The smell alone nearly undid me. I picked up the spoon, tasting the broth, letting the warmth sink into me.

The maid lingered near the bed, hands folded in front of her like she wasn’t sure if she should vanish into the wall. I ate in silence for a while, but her quiet fidgeting scratched at me more than the clink of the spoon.

“What’s your name?” I asked finally, glancing over.

She blinked like she hadn’t expected the question. “Clara.”

“Clara,” I repeated. “You don’t have to stand so stiff. You’ll make me choke on my food.”

A startled laugh slipped from her before she caught herself, ducking her head.

“I mean it,” I said, softer. “Just… relax a little. I don’t bite.”

She shifted her weight, eyes darting toward the door as if someone might walk in and scold her. But after a moment, her shoulders eased slightly.

I tore a piece of bread, chewing slowly, then asked, “Clara… these dresses. Are they always for gatherings like this?”

“Yes,” she said quickly. “Chosen for the occasion. The Alphas prefer their guests presented in a certain way.”

I swallowed. “And have they had many? I mean guests?”

Her gaze flickered nervously. “ The brothers are rarely in the same place at the same time except on occasions like this and yes they do have Guests. They… aren’t here long. Most come for a night, maybe a week.”

I pushed the bread around my plate. “So, the kind that share their beds.”

A flush crept across her cheeks. “Yes.”

That silence that followed was heavier than the bread. I forced a smile. “And now they’re dressing me like one of them.”

Clara’s mouth parted, but she didn’t argue. She smoothed a crease on the green gown, as if that answered more than words could.

I set down the spoon, appetite waning. “What are they like? The brothers.”

Her eyes lifted briefly, then dropped again. “They are… very different from one another. Alpha Darius is strict and hot tempered being the last horn of his father caused him to be different. Alpha Draven is measured, though less forgiving. Alpha Daemon…” she trailed off, as though choosing her words carefully, “likes to unsettle people. He enjoys it.”

That earned a small huff of laughter from me. “That’s one way to put it.”

Clara looked quickly toward me, almost startled by the sound. I realized then how rare it must be, someone laughing in this house.

“And this summit, what’s it about?,” I pressed, leaning back in my chair. “And Who’s coming?”

She seemed relieved by the shift in subject. “Alphas from across the northern and southern territories. Their Lunas. Warriors, emissaries. The summit will last until the new moon.”

My brows lifted. “So the house will be full.”

“Yes.”

I drummed my fingers lightly against the table, thinking of the way eyes had already lingered on me this morning, how Amelia’s stare had cut into me like a knife. And that was just the beginning.

“Clara,” I said suddenly, softer now. “Stay with me tonight. As company. Just until the gathering starts.”

Her eyes widened. “I… I don’t think I’m meant to—”

“Please.” The word came out rawer than I’d meant, surprising even myself. “I’d rather not be left alone with only my thoughts. And I’d rather not walk into that hall with no one on my side.”

Her lips parted, uncertain, but she finally nodded. “If that is what you wish, my lady.”

I gave her a small smile. “It’s Rain please.” I throw her a genuine smile. “Now tell me—between the green and the blue, which would you pick?”

She glanced at both gowns, then back at me, her face softening. “The green. It will bring out your eyes.”

I nodded, turning back to my now warm soup as I ate slowly, watching as the sun dipped over the trees.

Could it be possible that Caius would be here tonight or my father?

My Father travelled a lot, I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw him here but what would be his reaction? Will he try to force me to go back with him?

No. Not when I have Darius And Daemon and maybe even Draven.

That didn’t come out right. I’m not staying here, so I shouldn’t count them as people that will save me. Who knows what they actually want from me.

“Rain? We need to start getting you ready.” Clara said softly.

I half smiled then stood and moved to the mirror as she lifted the gown. Her hands were quick and practiced as she undid the ties of my simple dress. Cool air brushed my skin, then the weight of silk slid over me. Clara adjusted the seams, tightened the bodice, smoothed the skirt until the reflection staring back at me looked like someone who belonged at an Alpha’s side.

Not me. Not Rain.

But perhaps someone I could pretend to be.

Clara stepped back, studying me with quiet pride. “You look beautiful.”

For once, I didn’t argue.