Chapter 5

Chapter 5

PIPER

The next day, I was feeling a lot better and more refreshed than I had been in years. Five maids showed up in my room to make my bath, serve me breakfast, and clean my room.

I was relieved, knowing I wouldn't have breakfast with Sage or Kaius.

My mood brightened when Kaela showed up, and I had the same concoction. She wanted to leave immediately, but I stopped her.

“How well do you know the Pack house?” I asked, striking up a conversation after noticing she didn't want to talk to me.

“I live here, Faye, I have a room in the west wing,” she replied, wearing her charming smile.

“Do you mind showing me around? If…it's not going to be a problem for you.”

“Not at all, prin…Faye.”

Kaela’s lips curved into that easy smile of hers, and I felt relieved. She didn’t seem to be in a hurry anymore.

She led me out of my room, “Let’s start from here,” she said, gesturing toward the tall double doors at the end of my room’s hallway. “You are in the east wing, the Alpha resides here, and a few other private quarters like that of Beta Kaius.”

Kaius.

My stomach churned, recalling our encounter last night.

“Princess,” Kaela called, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Sorry, I spaced out.” I apologized, with a smile.

We walked into another corridor, and the scent of polished wood and fresh flowers filled my nostrils.

Portraits of past Alphas were lined on the walls, their eyes following us with unnerving intensity.

“This way leads to the central hall,” she explained. “It’s where meetings, pack gatherings, and sometimes… celebrations are held.” She glanced at me briefly, as though gauging my reaction to the word celebrations.

My wedding, I guess, will be a part of that celebration.

The central hall was breathtaking, with high, vaulted ceilings painted with a mural of the Moon Goddess surrounded by wolves mid-howl.

An enormous chandelier of crystal and silver hung overhead, catching the light like frozen rain. Several warriors passed through, nodding politely but curiously at me.

“Past here is the Alpha’s council chamber,” Kaela continued, her voice dropping slightly, “and that’s… off-limits unless you are summoned.” She didn’t have to say who would be doing the summoning.

We walked down a grand staircase into a lower level that led us out of the pack house.

“ I know I am supposed to show you every inch of the pack house’s interior.” Kaela stopped as we got outside. “But I want you to see the garden in morning bloom, you will love it. It's a breathtaking sight.” She sounded excited.

“Well, now I am curious,” I replied.

“Come on.”

We made a turn, heading to what seemed like the back of the mansion. The sound of multiple grunts caught my attention and I paused. “What's that sound?”

Kaela stopped as well, “Oh it's the warriors training. Nothing interesting.”

“Fight!” I heard a familiar voice yell.

“Alpha Sage is with them?”

“Yes, but…”

“Can you take me there, I want to watch.”

“Urm…of course.”

Kaela led me to the training field, but she made us stop by the trees surrounding the large grassy field, “This is a good view.” She said, but I knew it was more than that.

Regardless, it was a good view, I could see Sage looking fierce and cold as always, standing by the side, glaring at the warriors as they sparred amongst themselves.

Suddenly, a lady stepped in, and the warriors stopped fighting. It looked like she ran the place, like she dominated the training field.

“Who is that?” I asked, glancing at Kaela, and then back at the lady, who picked one of the strong-looking warriors, and they began to fight.

She was ferocious. Like a beast in the field, knocking down each man that stepped in her way.

She was fast, faster than my eyes could register, she delivered clean blows that knocked down the man in one go, and then she called for another.

My eyes left her, landing on Sage, he looked so engrossed in watching her, his face remained stoic, so that no one could even imagine what was going on in his mind.

But from the amazing moves of this lady, I knew he was impressed. “Who is she?” I asked again, returning my gaze to Kaela.

“She’s…” Kaela paused, staring at me, I could see the hesitation as she opened her mouth but said nothing.

“She's who?” My curiosity was starting to rise close to its peak.

“She’s no one.” Kaela revealed, which didn't sound right to me.“Let's continue the tour, we can come back to the field once the Alpha is done.” She suggested, brushing off my words.

Something isn't right.

I took my gaze to the field, and the lady had walked up to Sage; they were talking, but from where I stood, I couldn't understand.

My heart swelled when Sage walked away with the lady by his side. “Seems training is done, where are they heading?”

“Princess…”

I cut Kaela short, “I am going after them.” I said and followed in the direction they went. “Princess!” Kaela called behind me, but I didn't stop.

The path they took led to a large open corridor. It was wide, with arched windows letting in streams of morning light, at the same time giving pretty views of the garden and training field.

Kaela caught up with me, grabbing my hand to stop me from moving any further. “This isn't right Princess, it's too dangerous. You could get into trouble if the Alpha sees you lurking around this path.”

Kaela's words confused me, “What do you mean?”

She didn't reply; instead, she kept looking over her shoulder and forward as if we were going to get attacked anytime soon.

“What is wrong with you Kaela? Why can't I be here? It's just a random corridor anyone can pass through. I am also not a nobody, I am pretty sure I have enough authority to walk around.”

Kaela shook her head, eyes widening in terror. “You don't get it. Has no one told you yet?”

“Tell me what?”

“Ahh…” a moan, faint but audible, slammed into my ears, like a shock wave, making my body jerk.

“W–What was that?”

Kaela gulped, her jaw tightening as if she had plunged into some kind of danger.

“We have to leave…”

“No.” I cut her off, “I am not leaving until I understand what is going on here.”

“Oh! Yes…” Another moan, louder this time. Is someone in pain? It didn't seem like it, but I still had to find out. Kaela was refusing to say anything tangible, so I snatched my hand from her grip, walking in the direction the sound was coming from.

She didn't yell for me to come back this time, but when I looked back at her, her face still held that fearful expression.

I ignored her and continued forward. The moans grew louder, and for a second, I wanted to turn and go back, but my curiosity got the better of me. I got to the end of the corridor, turning to the right.

I froze, my heart sinking at the eyesore happening just a few miles away from me. I subconsciously took a step back.

I couldn't believe it and neither could Nara, she purred in my head, but it wasn't from joy, but pain.

Sage and the warrior lady were wrapped in each other's arms. He had her pinned to the wall with one hand, and the other was buried in her shorts.

Their lips were locked in a fierce kiss, their ragged breathing filling my ears. It made my heart burn as if it had been lit on fire.

Suddenly, Sage stopped as if sensing something, he was about to look in my direction when someone roughly pulled me away, out of his sight.

“We have to go now, Princess. I promise I will tell you everything, so please don't refuse.”

It was Kaela. I couldn't reply due to the shock, but I nodded and followed her.

My sluggish steps were pulling her behind, but she didn't stop, not until we reached my room.

I gently sat on my bed, the scene, continuously replaying in my head.

“Princess…”

“I need some time alone, please.” Kaela nodded and left without another word.