Chapter 7

~~CASSIE’S POV~~

I followed the maids down the long, winding corridor, my mind still reeling from the events in the pack square.

The sheer audacity of it all! One moment, I was a lost, rejected wolf, and the next, I was being presented to an entire pack as their...their proposed Luna.

It was all sudden, like the moon goddess was using me to create a sort of entertainment for herself.

That word, "proposed," kept echoing in my head.

It wasn't "Luna." It wasn't a done deal. It was a suggestion, a plan, maybe. My initial, dizzying excitement began to deflate, replaced by a growing unease. I was yet to be the Luna.

The Alphas, Mark and Lark, had declared me their mate, their chosen one. But that didn't automatically translate to acceptance by everyone else. Daisy's furious outburst was a stark reminder of that. And who knew what other opposition I might face?

The maids, their faces carefully blank, led me to a massive, ornate door. It was carved with intricate designs of wolves and moons, and the sheer size of it made me feel like I was about to enter a royal chamber. Which, in a way, I guess I was.

They opened the door, and I stepped inside, my breath catching in my throat. The room was...overwhelming. It was larger than any apartment I'd ever seen, filled with luxurious furniture, plush carpets, and shimmering fabrics.

A huge, four-poster bed dominated the center of the room, draped with what looked like pure silk. Sunlight streamed in through tall, arched windows, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air. This place screamed wealth, screamed power. I couldn't quite believe this was my room now.

Just a few days ago, I was sleeping under the stars, scrounging for food, and fearing for my life. Now, I was surrounded by opulence that felt both surreal and slightly terrifying. The maids bowed and left, closing the heavy door behind them. I was alone, finally, with my thoughts. I wandered around the room, my fingers trailing over the smooth, polished surfaces of the furniture.

A velvet chaise lounge, a mahogany writing desk, a vanity table overflowing with crystal bottles and brushes – every item spoke of a life I had never imagined for myself. My inspection was short-lived.

A soft knock on the door startled me, and I turned to see who it was. The door creaked open slightly, and a familiar face peered in. Daisy. My stomach clenched. Of all the people I expected to see, she was at the bottom of the list. She was the same lady that almost ruined my chance of becoming the Alpha."Can I come in?" she asked, her voice surprisingly hesitant.

"Can I come in?" she asked, her voice surprisingly hesitant. I hesitated for a moment, torn between my instinctive distrust and a strange sense of...curiosity.

Why was she here? Had the Alphas sent her?

"Yes," I replied, the word coming out more like a whisper than a proper invitation.

Daisy walked in, her long emerald gown clinging to her hips and flowing seamlessly as she moved. She looked...different here, away from the pack square and its judgmental eyes.

"Please, sit," I said, trying to sound as composed as possible.

She still radiated a certain cold beauty, but there was a vulnerability in her expression that I hadn't seen before. I gestured to an armchair in the corner of the room, near a small table laden with fruit and pastries."Please, sit," I said, trying to sound as composed as possible. Daisy sat down, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.

An awkward silence settled between us, thick and heavy with unspoken words. I didn't know what to say. I was still trying to process everything, and the last person I wanted to have a heart-to-heart with was the woman who had so vehemently opposed my presence.

Finally, Daisy broke the silence."I'm sorry," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm sorry," she said, her voice barely above a whisper."Sorry?"

"Yes," she said, her gaze fixed on the floor. "I was really wrong and behaved rudely to you."

I sat still, unable to say a word. I stared at her, my mind reeling."Sorry?"

"Yes," she said, her gaze fixed on the floor."I was really wrong and behaved rudely to you."

I sat still, unable to say a word. I couldn't tell if this apology was sincere or if the twins had forced her to come here. It felt too sudden, too out of character.

"No, they didn't. I came by my own choice," Daisy replied, her head snapping up. I was shocked. Had I thought aloud?

How did she possibly hear what was in my mind?

"It's fine," I said, trying to sound gracious, though I was anything but. "I believe you had your reasons for doing what you did."

I wanted to believe her, I really did. If not, how did Daisy know what I was thinking?

Was she..."I hope... could she read minds? The idea sent a shiver down my spine.

I wanted to believe her, I really did. But my gut, the same instinct that had kept me alive in the forest, was screaming at me. Daisy looked up at me, her eyes searching mine.

"I hope... I hope we can be friends?" she requested, offering her hand for a handshake. The gesture felt...wrong. My wolf, who had been strangely silent since we arrived at the Greyer Pack, suddenly roared to life in my mind.

One word, clear and urgent: "Run."

I stared at Daisy's outstretched hand, my heart pounding in my chest. Every fiber of my being was telling me to reject her, to put as much distance between us as possible. But another part of me, the part that craved connection, the part that was tired of being alone, hesitated. Was this a genuine attempt at reconciliation? Or was it a trap?