Chapter 32

SARA 

I was momentarily buoyed by a flicker of genuine excitement when, after I had successfully finished the grueling task of healing Alpha Tristan, Paige arrived to collect me. Her presence was like a sudden ray of sunlight in a dark tunnel.

"Congratulations, Sara! The Alpha has made a formal declaration, and I am here specifically to see that it is carried out without delay. You will not be returning to that cold, damp, and wretched cell of yours for even a second longer. Please, gather what you can and come with me," she had said, her voice brimming with a warmth I hadn't expected. She led me away from the dungeon wing and toward the upper floors of the servants' quarters.

She showed me to my new room—a tiny, modest space, but a palace compared to the stone floor I’d been sleeping on—and helped me settle in.

"Thank you so much, Paige. Truly. You have been incredibly kind to me during a time when everyone else treated me like a plague," I whispered, feeling a lump form in my throat.

"You are more than welcome, Sara. I believe you are a good person at heart. And for your information, many of the domestic staff and the maids in this pack house do not believe for a second that you are guilty of the crimes the Alpha is accusing you of," she said encouragingly.

Her words made me pause, a thread of suspicion weaving through my relief. "Really now? And why exactly do they think that? Tristan is very convincing when he’s angry."

Paige leaned against the doorframe, her expression softening. "Personally, I knew you long before your parents died, back before the all-pack war shattered our peace. You may not remember me—I was younger and much quieter—but I lived just a block away from you. My parents were overprotective and didn't really let me out much, so you probably wouldn't recognize my face, but the truth is that I know who you are. I knew how close you and Claudia were. You were inseparable. I just can’t bring myself to believe that you would ever kill her, especially not over a man."

Her statement hit me with such force that I realized my mouth was hanging agape. The memories of Claudia flooded back—her laugh, her smell of jasmine, our shared secrets.

"Paige, I’m so sorry... I’m really trying to recollect, but I just can’t place your face in my memories of that time," I said, feeling a flush of genuine embarrassment.

"Don't be embarrassed," she chuckled. "I remember a very specific event at our high school prom. Do you remember that tall, arrogant guy who had asked both you and Claudia to the dance? He wanted to play the Alpha male, thinking he could handle two beautiful girls at once. You and Claudia found out, and you absolutely took him to the gutters in front of everyone."

A small, genuine smile touched my lips as the memory surfaced.

He had been a handsome, manipulative boy who tried to sleep with both me and Claudia at the same time. We had often spoken about the "mysterious" men in our lives; he had given us different names, but I hadn't bothered to verify the details since our descriptions of his behavior were identical. At the time, I was secretly in love with Tristan, who was always too busy with pack business to notice a girl like me. It wasn't until the night of the prom that Claudia and I realized we were being played by the same person. It had shattered Claudia’s heart because she had truly loved the image he projected.

"Yeah," I laughed softly. "Whatever became of him? I haven't thought of him in years."

"After you left the territory, he had the audacity to challenge Tristan for a leadership position. He wanted to be an Alpha himself. Tristan absolutely whooped his ass in the sparring ring. He fled the territory in disgrace and hasn't been seen since," Paige clarified, her eyes dancing with amusement.

I was immensely grateful that Paige was here, but after everything I had been through, I wasn't sure if I was ready to open my heart to friendship again. "Oh, poor boy. He always did have more ambition than sense."

"Well, let me get out of your new 'lair.' If you ever need anything—extra blankets, a bit of news, or even just a listening ear—don't hesitate to ask me," she offered, turning to leave. She stopped at the threshold, snapping her fingers as if remembering something. "Oh! I almost forgot. Some of the maids contributed a little money to buy some basic clothing for you. We know you lost everything."

The gesture hit me like a physical blow. "Aww, Paige... you’re going to break my heart," I said, a single tear escaping and tracing a hot path down my cheek.

"Don't let it break. I actually went by your former apartment a few days ago, hoping to save some of your things, but I found out that someone had broken in and carted away every single item. There was nothing left but dust. The life of a maid isn't much, but you can at least get to experience a bit of comfort on your off—"

I didn't let her finish. I surged forward and pulled her into a tight hug. She gasped in surprise; it clearly took her a moment to process the contact before she finally dropped her hands and returned the embrace.

"—days," she finished with a watery chuckle. "Now you’re going to make me cry too. I’ll see you around, Sara."

That was how my new life in the servants' quarters began. Even though the walls of the Twilight Zone pack house were no longer made of damp stone and cold iron, they felt just as thick. My room was small and drafty, tucked away in the attic wing. I had a window, yes, but the view felt like a cruel mockery—a narrow strip of gray, overcast sky that I was strictly forbidden to walk beneath.

I was a ghost in a simple dress, allowed to breathe the air of the upper floors but never allowed to taste the freedom of the outdoors. Since being moved, I hadn't been allowed outside the front gates; I hadn't felt the grass under my feet or the wind in my hair. No one would give me a straight answer as to why, but the isolation was beginning to gnaw at my sanity.

Eventually, the frustration became too much to bear. I needed answers, and I knew Paige wouldn't risk her position to tell me the dark secrets of the Alpha’s council. Aside from Paige, the only person I knew who would be brutally truthful with me was Harlan.

When the evening was still young and the halls were busy with the dinner rush, I slipped into the deep shadows of the laundry corridor. I navigated the back stairs, my heart hammering against my ribs, until I reached his small room. I prayed he would be alone.

He answered on my first tentative knock. Although he looked slightly better—cleaner, fed, and standing straighter—he was still a haunting shadow of the warrior he had once been.

"Harlan," I whispered, darting a glance over my shoulder to ensure the hall was empty.

He seemed genuinely startled to see me. For a fleeting second, something I couldn't quite identify—longing, perhaps?—flickered in his gaze before being extinguished by a crushing weight of sorrow. "Sara. You shouldn't be wandering the halls. Tristan is... he is different now that he’s healthy. He is looking for you constantly, watching your every move."