Present Day — The Summit

Elowen’s POV

“You missed a spot.”

I kept polishing the marble.

“No, I didn’t.”

Celestine Mosswood’s heels clicked against the entrance hall of Thornfield Summit Estate, announcing her arrival before her expensive perfume reached me.

She stopped beside my bucket and inspected the floor.

“I think you did, Elowen.”

“Then perhaps you should show me where.”

The silence that followed was brief but satisfying.

Celestine’s smile tightened.

Behind her stood her three favorite companions: Mia Chou, Amy Ashford, and Isabella Sinclair.

They called themselves the Velvet Vipers (cue the eye roll).

They were the sort of women who could turn an innocent conversation into a public execution and still leave everyone thanking them for their company.

Mia glanced at the floor.

“She’s actually talking back.”

Amy laughed.

“Maybe she thinks the Summit has made her important.”

Isabella tilted her head.

“Or maybe she’s forgotten she’s a servant.”

I dipped my cloth into the bucket.

Celestine crouched beside me, careful not to let her gown touch the marble.

“Look at me when I’m speaking.”

I raised my eyes.

“Do you know why I tolerate you?”

“Because this is my father’s estate?”

Her expression hardened.

Mia covered her mouth.

Amy whispered something to Isabella, and all three laughed.

Celestine stood.

“My mother insists because she feels sorry for you. My mother allows you to stay because she doesn’t want unnecessary trouble.”

She leaned closer.

“Don’t confuse charity with belonging.”

I returned my attention to the floor. That was what she hated most — not my silence, but my refusal to look defeated.

“Actually, I think we should make her useful.”

Mia snatched the polishing cloth from my hand.

“Let’s see how much work she can do without this.”

“Give it back.”

She dropped it into the bucket.

Dirty water splashed across my uniform.

Amy shrieked with laughter.

“Look at her!”

Isabella stepped around me.

“Honestly, Celestine, how do you tolerate this?”

Celestine examined the stain.

“She’s careless.”

I retrieved the cloth.

“Then perhaps you should stop distracting me.”

Mia’s smile disappeared.

Celestine slapped me.

The sharp sound carried across the entrance hall.

My cheek burned, and the cloth slipped from my fingers.

For a moment, I heard nothing but the distant movement of servants preparing the estate for the Summit.

Then Amy laughed.

“Oh, she actually looks angry.”

Celestine caught my chin.

“Do you have something to say?”

I pulled away.

“No.”

“Then why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m looking at you normally.”

Her fingers tightened.

“Remember who you’re speaking to.”

I held her gaze.

“I’m aware.”

She released me.

Mia stepped forward, delighted.

“Should we remind her?”

Before I could move, Isabella grabbed the front of my uniform and pulled me toward the reception table.

“Come here.”

I stumbled against the edge.

Champagne glasses rattled.

“Careful,” Amy said mockingly. “We wouldn’t want you breaking something you can’t afford.”

Isabella shoved a tray into my hands.

“Take these to the reception.”

“I haven’t finished cleaning.”

Celestine glanced toward the entrance.

“Then you should have worked faster.”

I started walking.

The tray was heavy, and my fingers were still trembling.

Mia suddenly stepped into my path.

“Wait.”

She reached for a champagne glass.

“Do you think she knows how to serve these?”

Amy laughed.

“Probably not.”

Isabella tilted her head.

“Perhaps we should teach her.”

Mia poured champagne into the glass.

Then deliberately tipped it across the tray.

The liquid spilled over the silver and soaked my hands.

I stepped backward.

“Stop.”

Mia looked delighted.

“Oh?”

“You’re going to make me drop it.”

Celestine approached.

“What is happening?”

Mia immediately changed her expression.

“Elowen is being difficult.”

Amy nodded.

“She nearly spilled everything.”

I stared at them.

“You poured it.”

Celestine’s eyes narrowed.

“What did you say?”

I swallowed.

“Nothing.”

“No. You accused my friend.”

“I told the truth.”

Her expression turned cold.

“Then perhaps you need to learn what happens when you embarrass this family.”

She seized the tray.

The glasses rattled violently.

“Clean it.”

I looked at the champagne dripping onto the marble.

Then at the women surrounding me.

The entrance hall was filling with guests, but none of them seemed willing to interfere. Who would? I was the wolfless daughter of their Alpha, and Celestine was the priceless jewel of the pack.

I set the tray down.

Celestine stepped closer.

“You will apologize.”

“For what?”

“For wasting our time.”

My jaw tightened.

Mia smiled.

“Go on.”

I looked at Celestine.

“I’m sorry.”

“Not good enough.”

I forced myself to continue.

“I’m sorry for wasting your time.”

Celestine nodded.

“Better.”

Then Isabella kicked the bucket.

Dirty water spread across the marble.

Amy burst into laughter.

“Oh, no!”

Mia pointed at the floor.

“Now look what you’ve done.”

I stared at the spreading water.

Celestine crossed her arms.

“Clean it before the guests arrive.”

I knelt.

My cheek throbbed, and the wet fabric clung to my skin.

As I reached for the cloth, Celestine leaned down.

“And Elowen?”

I looked up.

“Don’t embarrass me again.”

She walked away with her friends.

Their laughter followed them toward the reception area.

I remained on my knees, cleaning the mess they had made.

This was the shape of our relationship.

Six years of insults disguised as instructions.

Six years of learning that the easiest way to survive the Mosswood household was to become so quiet people forgot you were there.

I had become very good at surfaces.

But Celestine’s cruelty had never been the real danger.

Her mother was.

Cordelia Mosswood had spent years building an empire on secrets, and six days ago, I discovered the one she had buried deepest.

The paper in my boot pressed against my ankle.

I had found it inside Cordelia’s lockbox.

Read it, set it down and read it again.

My mother had not died of an illness. She had been murdered.

Offered deliberately as payment for a spell powerful enough to manipulate a mate bond, suppress a wolf, and alter the lives of two people.

Me and my mother.

And now I intend to use my stepsister’s alpha against the woman who destroyed my family.

Cordelia had built her empire on my mother’s grave, and now I was going to build something on hers.

“Move.”

I looked up.

A servant hurried past carrying flowers, and I shifted aside to let her through.

Then the atmosphere changed.

Conversations faded.

The Alphas gathered near the entrance straightened.

Even the servants stopped moving for a moment.

Someone important had arrived.

I kept my eyes on the floor.

Furniture. Invisible.

The footsteps approaching were unhurried.

I looked up.

Leander Thorncrest stood at the entrance.

Tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a black suit that made his already intimidating presence seem almost unreal.

His storm-grey eyes swept across the room.

The whispers about him had never captured the weight of his presence.

He was the most powerful Alpha in the werewolf realm.

And in four days, Celestine intended to claim him.

She immediately abandoned her conversation with her friends.

“Leander.”

Her voice softened.

“I was beginning to think you wouldn’t arrive until the ceremony.”

“Then you thought incorrectly.”

She laughed.

“Of course.”

Celestine approached him, her smile carefully arranged.

“I hope the journey wasn’t exhausting.”

“It wasn’t.”

“Would you like something to drink?”

“No.”

She hesitated.

“Perhaps something to eat?”

“No.”

Her smile faltered.

Then she glanced toward the entrance hall.

“Allow me to show you around.”

Leander’s attention shifted.

Not toward Celestine.

Toward me.

I was still kneeling beside the champagne-stained marble.

His gaze settled on my face.

Then the tray.

Then the bruised cheek I had been trying to ignore.

I lowered my eyes.

The silence stretched.

Celestine noticed.

“Leander?”

He didn’t answer.

Instead, he asked, “Why is she on the floor?”

Celestine’s smile returned.

“She is cleaning.”

“Why?”

“She made a mess.”

Mia stepped forward.

“She spilled champagne.”

Amy nodded.

“We were helping her.”

Isabella added, “She’s rather clumsy.”

Leander looked at the bucket.

Then the tray.

“Who poured the champagne?”

The question was quiet.

Celestine laughed.

“It’s not important.”

“I asked a question.”

Her fingers tightened around her clutch.

“Isabella was helping.”

Isabella immediately looked uncomfortable.

Leander turned toward her.

“Then perhaps you should learn to help without making a mess.”

Her mouth opened.

Nothing came out.

Celestine stepped between them.

“Leander, there has been a misunderstanding.”

“Explain it.”

She lifted her chin.

“We’re preparing for the Summit. Everyone is under pressure.”

His gaze returned to me.

“Did she strike you?”

I froze.

Celestine’s expression changed.

The warning was unmistakable.

Six years of knowing exactly what would happen if I said the wrong thing.

I lowered my eyes.

“It’s nothing Alpha.”

Leander’s voice hardened.

“That wasn’t my question.”

I looked at him.

Then at Celestine.

Her face had gone pale.

“She did.”

The entrance hall fell silent.

Leander turned toward Celestine.

“Why?”

She laughed nervously.

“She was being disrespectful.”

“By cleaning your floor?”

Celestine’s cheeks flushed.

“Leander, I don’t think you understand how difficult she can be.”

His expression remained cold.

“Then perhaps you should explain it.”

Nobody spoke.

For the first time that afternoon, Celestine had no answer.

Cordelia appeared before the silence could become more uncomfortable.

Her smile was immaculate.

“Alpha Leander. Welcome to Thornfield.”

He inclined his head.

“Cordelia.”

She glanced at the tray, then at my cheek.

Something flickered across her expression.

“You can return to your duties.”

I picked up the bucket.

Cordelia turned toward Leander.

“Perhaps we should discuss the Summit arrangements.”

He followed her toward the reception area.

Celestine hurried after them.

But before she disappeared, she looked back at me.

Her eyes promised consequences.

I returned to polishing the marble.

My hands were trembling, but I forced them to steady.

The paper in my boot pressed against my ankle.

And for the first time, I wondered whether Leander’s attention might become a problem.

Not because I wanted him.

Because Cordelia had noticed him looking.

“A word.”

Cordelia’s voice reached me before I could finish cleaning.

She stood beside the service corridor, still smiling at the guests.

I straightened, set down the cloth and followed her inside.

The door closed.

Her smile disappeared.

“You will stay away from Leander Thorncrest.”

I met her gaze.

“I was cleaning the floor.”

“Do not play games with me.”

“I haven’t.”

She stepped closer.

“I saw the way he looked at you.”

I shrugged.

“I’m not responsible for where powerful men direct their attention.”

Her expression hardened.

“Elowen.”

My name sounded like a warning.

“I mean what I say.”

“You always do.”

She studied me.

Looking for cracks but finding nothing.

Then her gaze dropped to my cheek.

“Did Celestine strike you?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because she wanted to.”

Cordelia’s jaw tightened.

“Celestine is under considerable pressure.”

I almost laughed.

Almost.

“She has a claiming ceremony in four days,” Cordelia continued. “You will not interfere with her future.”

“I haven’t.”

“Then make sure you don’t.”

She turned toward the door.

“Elowen.”

I lifted my eyes.

“If Leander becomes interested in you, it will not be because you have anything worth his attention.”

Her voice was almost gentle.

“It will be because you have made a mistake.”

I held her gaze.

“Understood.”

She opened the door and returned to the guests.

I stood alone in the service corridor.

My cheek still burned.

My uniform was stained.

The paper in my boot still pressed against my ankle.

Cordelia had just warned me away from Leander on the first day of the Summit.

Four days remained before the claiming ceremony.

And she was already afraid.

I smiled.

Because her warning had revealed something she hadn’t intended.

Leander Thorncrest was no longer simply Celestine’s future husband.

He was a weakness Cordelia couldn’t afford.

And I had just discovered where to press.

I straightened my uniform.

Then slipped my fingers beneath the edge of my boot.

The paper was still there.

Six days ago, my mother had been nothing more than a name I was forbidden to speak.

Now she was the reason everything was going to burn.

I lifted my chin.

Let Celestine believe she had humiliated me.

Let Cordelia believe her warning had frightened me into obedience.

And let Leander believe I was nothing more than a servant with a bruised cheek.

Because none of them knew what I had found.

None of them knew what Cordelia had done.

And none of them knew that the moment Leander Thorncrest looked at me, the carefully constructed future of the Mosswood family had begun to unravel.

I almost felt sorry for him.

Almost.

Then I smiled and thought, Let’s see how worried I can make you.