SIX

Nora's POV

I could barely feel my legs as I followed the royal guard through the endless halls of the palace. I felt so nervous as my head was filled with thoughts of what the Alpha Prince could want from me. My palms were damp beneath the sleeves of my dress, and my heart refused to calm down no matter how many times I told myself to breathe. The Prince had summoned me to his chambers, at night too.

My stomach twisted painfully. The entire situation still felt unreal. Just yesterday I had been sleeping in a tiny room inside my stepfather’s house terrified of saying the wrong thing and getting hit for it. Now I was walking through a royal palace as the chosen mate of the future Alpha King.

The guard eventually stopped outside a pair of large black doors guarded by two wolves dressed in royal silver uniforms. They both bowed their heads slightly the moment they saw me and I instantly felt awkward again. The guard beside me pushed the doors open carefully. “Her Grace has arrived,” he said.

Her Grace.

I nearly looked behind me again. I still couldn't get used to the fact that I was being addressed like this. The room I stepped into was massive and warm unlike the cold hallways outside. A fire burned quietly near the far wall and soft golden candles lit the space. Everything looked expensive and perfect. Not a single pin looked out of place.

And standing near the center of the room was a young woman with dark skin and curly black hair tied neatly behind her head. The moment she saw me, she bowed deeply.

“My Lady,” she greeted softly. “My name is Elena. I’ve been assigned as your personal handmaiden.”

I blinked in surprise. “Personal handmaiden?” I repeated, surprised by this,

“Yes.” She smiled gently. “From today onward, I’ll assist you with dressing, meals, preparations, and anything else you may need.”

I stared at her for a second unsure how to react. Nobody had ever been assigned to help me before. Usually, I was the one cleaning after everyone else. “Oh,” I said awkwardly. “You don’t need to call me My Lady.”

Her expression immediately turned horrified. “I absolutely do,” she replied immediately.

Elena straightened quickly before motioning toward a chair near the fireplace. “Please sit. We need to prepare you.” She said and I nearly stumbled.

Prepare me? For what? The words made my stomach tighten again but I swallowed my questions.

I slowly sat down while Elena moved around the room gathering things quietly. The more I watched her, the more nervous I became. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore.

“What exactly am I being prepared for?” I asked carefully.

Elena paused for a brief second before looking at me with slight confusion. “For your first night with the Prince, of course.” She replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, and I felt heat rush to my face.

“Oh.” My voice came out embarrassingly small.

Elena didn’t seem to notice my panic. “According to royal custom, the Alpha Prince personally prepares his chosen mate before their first official night together,” she said.

“What?” I froze completely.

She smiled softly, as if this was perfectly normal. “It symbolizes trust and acceptance between mates. The Prince bathes and prepares his future Luna himself before claiming her,” she explained and the room suddenly felt too hot. My pulse began pounding violently in my ears. Was he going to claim me tonight? Actually, mark me?

I started to panic internally. The second he touches me, the second he sees my body, he will see my hickeys and know that I am no longer a virgin. He would see the evidence of the night I spent with my stranger. Just like my stepfather and Alpha, he would discard me.

My stomach dropped horribly. I couldn't help but think about the mysterious stranger... my mate who had disvirgined me. That night had been pure bliss as I was introduced to the pleasure I had never known. I suddenly remembered his mouth against my skin.

At the time, I hadn’t cared. I’d been too heartbroken and emotional to think clearly. But now.. Goddess.

What if the Prince saw them? What if he realized another man had touched me just recently?

Cold fear spread through me instantly. A prince would never want a ruined woman. Especially not one chosen to become Luna.

I swallowed hard trying to calm my breathing. Maybe the marks had faded already. Maybe he wouldn’t notice. But deep down, I already knew I was lying to myself.

“Elena,” I said carefully, trying to sound normal. “What happens if… if the Prince changes his mind?”

Her brows furrowed slightly. “Changes his mind?” she asked, sounding a bit confused.

“About me.” The words tasted bitter in my mouth.

She looked genuinely confused now. “The Prince publicly chose you before the entire kingdom. That cannot be undone lightly,” she said..

I looked away quickly before she noticed the panic on my face.

Elena moved closer and gently began brushing my hair. “You don’t need to be frightened,” she said and I almost scoffed. It was easy for her to say. “You’re very lucky,” she continued softly. “His Highness has never shown interest in any woman before.”

Something about that statement made my chest tighten strangely. I remembered the coldness in the Prince’s eyes earlier. The way he spoke and how he distanced himself from everyone else. He didn’t seem like a man capable of tenderness.

Elena continued preparing me quietly after that. She changed my dress into a thin cream-colored robe that felt softer than anything I had ever worn before and carefully braided parts of my hair away from my face. The entire time, my anxiety only grew worse. Every passing minute brought me closer to the Prince. Closer to whatever would happen tonight.

Finally, Elena stepped back with a small satisfied smile. “You’re ready my lady,” she announced with a smile. I definitely did not feel ready.

A knock suddenly sounded at the door and I nearly jumped. One of the royal servants entered and bowed respectfully. “The bath chamber has been prepared,” she said,

My stomach dropped instantly. Elena smiled encouragingly at me. “Come miss. I’ll take you there.” she said.

I stood slowly on trembling legs and followed her with no words. My legs almost shook as I walked and my heart beat harder with every step until I was convinced everyone around me could hear it.

I stared down at the floor as we continued walking.

Would he touch me gently? Would he be rough? Would he hate me the second he realized another man had already taken what was supposed to belong to him? I felt sick.

We eventually stopped outside another pair of doors, these carved with silver crescent moons.

Elena pushed them open slowly. Warm steam immediately drifted out toward us. The bath chamber was breathtaking.

My chest tightened unexpectedly. “Elena…” I started nervously.

She gave me a reassuring smile. “The Prince will join you shortly,” she said and my heart nearly stopped. Before I could say anything else, she bowed once and quietly exited the room, leaving me completely alone. The second the doors shut behind her, silence filled the chamber.

I stood frozen near the entrance staring at the bath. This was really happening. I slowly walked toward the water, my fingers gripping the edges of my robe tightly. I glanced nervously at my reflection in the dark marble mirror nearby and immediately noticed the faint bruises still visible near my collarbone. I felt panic fill me again. They hadn’t faded enough. Goddess. What was I supposed to do? I touched the marks lightly with shaky fingers and shame burned through me instantly. What kind of future did Luna show up carrying another man’s marks?

I wrapped my arms tightly around myself. Maybe I should tell him the truth immediately. No.

Absolutely not. If he found out I’d slept with another man days before becoming his chosen mate, he might throw me out immediately.

And if that happened.. my mother... the mission.. Everything would fall apart.

A quiet sound near the entrance suddenly made my breath catch. The doors opened slowly behind me. My pulse exploded violently. I turned around too quickly and nearly stumbled backward.

The Prince stepped inside wearing nothing but dark trousers hanging low on his hips and for a second my entire brain completely stopped working.

He looked even larger somehow inside the candlelit room. Water droplets still clung faintly to his neck, as if he had already bathed beforehand and his gray eyes immediately landed on me standing there frozen beside the bath. The air itself seemed to change the moment he entered.

My breathing became uneven instantly. The Prince quietly shut the doors behind him before turning toward me fully. For a few seconds, neither of us spoke. His gaze slowly traveled over me in the thin robe and heat rushed painfully into my face. Then finally, in that same calm unreadable voice, he spoke.

“Strip.”