Ch.005

Arley

A place I should have arrived as a bride, I’m arriving as a maid instead.

But this is a risky move. There’s a high chance I might run into Risa here. Still, I don’t have a choice.

When I ran from my father, I ended up in the rogue camp Jay had told me about. Apparently, he grew up among them. His sister, Jane, who he asked me to find, looked exactly like the female version of him, and for the past hellish months, we could barely feed.

Then rumors spread that maids were needed in Beyhos Pack. It was a great opportunity, yet nobody was willing to go. The rumor said the pack had become a death hole for maids who served Alpha Janus directly, that he had suddenly gone mad.

Looks like I dodged a bullet. Congratulations to Risa for marrying a lunatic.

Still, staying in the rogue camp was a death pit on its own, constantly being attacked by slave traders. I decided to go, and Jane followed.

She made a disguise for me. Even though she is just fifteen, she’s a powerful witch. My eye color changed from its natural sea green to black, my golden brown hair shifting into dark blonde, with bangs falling over my face.

I turn to the metal tray in my hand, my reflection staring back at me. I look completely different.

He would never recognize me. I don’t even think he knows it wasn’t supposed to be Risa, but me. He probably has no idea I even exist.

And even if I tried to tell him I’m his true fiancée, it wouldn’t change anything. I’ve already been marked. If I speak, I might only bring about my own death sooner. Anyway, the requirement for being here is simple, not to be mated and not to be pregnant.

As a maid in the pack house, you swear loyalty till death. You must have nothing to your name, no family and no bond. Therefore, breaking those laws meant getting thrown into the dark dungeon to die as a traitor.

Simple… but impossible for me.   I'm mated and marked.

The memory of my mate that night comes to mind. Where can I find him? I lost my chance, I know, but if the Moon Goddess can grant us another opportunity to meet again.

Before that, I will work here peacefully, save enough money to register to be part of another pack, where I can develop my mother's cooking and healing skills and be able to know herbs and spices just like my mother before she became Luna.

My mother had written the journal with all her knowledge, the diagrams, as well as how to prepare them. The journal carefully explains how different foods and herbs can heal a wolf. She had prepared it for my 18th birthday, but she wasn't there to give it to me. I'm happy Father fulfilled Mother's last wish and gave me the journal. It's the most valuable thing to me.

That's why I couldn't just leave it behind and run away. I let out a long breath steadying the tray in my hand, I settle the plate and medication properly before walking down the hall toward the Alpha’s room.

The lights in this part of the pack are dull, almost suffocating, as if whoever lives here prefers to stay hidden from the world but has no choice but to remain in it.

“Knock three times to indicate you're a maid.” I repeat Beta Sager’s words under my breath as he sent me off to what now… my grave?

I sigh, bracing myself. “We shouldn’t be shot, Arley. Just be careful.”

I tap on the door three times and wait, but there is no response. I tap again, still nothing. Slowly, I twist the handle and push the door open.

The room is dark, far too dark to make out anything clearly. If I were completely wolfless, I wouldn’t be able to see at all. Even though Kydra has been dormant since we separated from our mate without accepting the bond, I was still marked. It was incomplete, but enough for me to see through the darkness.

Before I can take another step, something flies straight toward me. I duck immediately, and it crashes into the door behind me, shattering on impact.

My breath catches, my heart slamming hard against my chest. Thanks to my stepmother always throwing things at me, my body reacts before my mind can process anything, but that doesn’t stop the slight tremble in my hands as I lift my head to look at the figure sitting in the dark.

The room smells strongly of smoke mixed with alcohol. The scent makes my stomach tighten, something about it suddenly makes me sick.

But I can’t turn back now.

I take a slow breath in and let it out carefully, trying to steady myself as I step further inside.

From the hallway behind me, I hear hurried footsteps, but they suddenly stop, as if whoever it is decided not to come in.

“Apologies for entering without your permission, Alpha,” I say, my voice trembling slightly despite my effort to stay calm. “I’m the new maid, Arley. Here is your meal and medication. Beta Sager asked if you could meet him at the table.”

Before I can even finish speaking, something else comes flying at me. I shift to the side quickly, dodging it again. 

It seems my ex-fiancé has quite the temper.

My fingers tighten around the tray, irritation rising despite the fear sitting in my chest.

“Forgive my foolishness, Alpha,” I say, my voice coming out firmer than I expected. “I was told to make sure you take your medication, and you have an important guest to meet.”

The room falls into a strange silence after that makes my skin prickle.

For a moment, I wonder if I have gone too far, if I just signed my death sentence by talking back to him.

Still, I stand my ground.

“Pardon me, I may need to turn on the light,” I add, my voice quieter now. “I can’t see properly.”

There’s a brief pause as I find the switch before a click follows, and the lights come on.

He winces slightly at the sudden brightness, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe.

He’s sitting there like he owns everything, like the entire room bends around him without question.

A loose sweatpant hangs low on his waist, his chest bare, a glass of alcohol resting lazily in one hand while a cigarette burns between his fingers. The ashtray beside him is filled, like he hasn’t stopped smoking for hours.

His hair is dark and slightly messy, clearly… he’s been dragging his hands through it, a few strands falling over his forehead. His dark eyes are sharp and cold, it's hard to hold his gaze for too long.

His jaw is defined, his face cut with hard lines that don’t soften even when he leans back.

He’s… freaking handsome.

But there’s nothing soft about him.

“You have a death wish?” he rumbles, his voice rough at the end.

My body betrays me with a slight tremble, but I step forward anyway, holding out the pills.

“I’m sorry, but you need to take this.”

His eyes flick down to my hand, then back to my face, I bite down hard to pause the uneasiness in my jaw.

“Drop it and leave.”

“Forgive me, but I can't.” I reply, shaking my head slightly. “I was told to make sure you take it.”

For a moment, he just stares at me, his brows pulling together slightly as if trying to figure something out.

I push my hand forward a little more. “Here please.”

After a brief pause, he finally reaches out and takes the pills from me, his fingers brushing close enough to make my skin tingle before I pull back.

“There,” he mutters. “Now leave. You insolent maid.”

I stand there looking at him, he raises his head again, “I said, you can leave.”

“You're yet to throw it in your mouth, how sure am I that you won't just throw it away the moment I leave?”

Ah, Arley… your mouth. I know it, I've crossed the line and gone too far.

Then suddenly, Janus takes one long stride towards me, his hand shooting out to grab my arm and drag me closer, the tray shaking in my grip as my breath hitches. 

His hold is tight at first, almost bruising, but then it falters slightly, his brows pulling together like something just caught him off guard. 

For a second he just stares at me, confusion flickering across his face before he leans down, his nose brushing lightly against my neck.

“Your scent… it smells familiar.“

I flinch immediately, my body going stiff in his hold as a sharp inhale leaves him, his grip tightening again, this time different, his gaze dropping to my neck. My heart stops, my hand flying up instantly to cover the spot.

No… that’s impossible. He shouldn’t see it. Jane made sure—

“You…” his voice comes out lower, not as cold as before, something off in it. “That mark…”

My eyes widen, color draining from my face.