Chapter 7 - The Gate.

As a new day started, Nyssa was up.

Just as the head of the maids asked, she was up and ready to go about her day.

In her mind, she knew what she was after.

Of course, she didn't give a fuck about the mad Alpha. Not one fuck. Everything she was doing was one way to find a route of escape.

She wasn't awake when she was shipped into the Pack - else, she would know one or two ways to run away. “Good morning, Lady Emilia.” An ordinary maid who walked past her room, greeted with a bow. Nyssa could only nod as her thoughts were occupied - she needed to think.

Her legs stopped moving when she got there.

The door leading to and fro the Alpha's chamber. “Good morning. I have come to attend to the Alpha's needs.” She told the man who watched the door. “This is the time to clean his chamber.”

The man didn't speak.

He only nodded and opened the door, walking in to do something before coming back to let her in. “Don't wake them.” He mouthed before she completely got in. “The Alpha doesn't like it.”

Who are they?

Nyssa had an idea while she strode into the room. And just as she predicted, a woman was on the bed with the Alpha - both eyes closed.

Without trying to disrupt their moment, Nyssa admired the woman.

She wore rich clothes, her long hair looked soft, distangled - and a glowing skin she had. The woman was fine - the kind of fine she liked.

And the Alpha - he clung to this woman like a baby would its mother - she could see a happy smile on his countenance, even. Why should she care? Nyssa moved away, turning around as she looked for something to attend to.

While she arranged his closet, something moved.

“Who the fuck are you?” A lady's voice sounded. She wrapped herself with a duvet and tapped the Alpha, whose eyes opened. “Who is this, Zevran?”

“Good morning—” Nyssa greeted. “I—”

“My new maid—” Zevran interrupted before she could complete a sentence. “Ignore her. She's here to fulfill her morning duties.” He tried to hug her, but she pulled away; anyone could read anger.

“Your new maid?” She got up.

“What's wrong with having a maid, Thalia?”

Thalia. She knew it.

Hugging herself with the duvet, Thalia reached for the door. One turnaround, and she muttered. “You didn't tell me you were having a new maid. Shouldn't you have said something, my lord?” She opened the door and was out of the chamber before the Alpha could utter a word.

Nyssa looked at him.

What could she say? Nothing. Not even the story about how he had a hand in her misfortune.

She turned around to continue when he asked. “Did you grow a lump in your mouth that you can not suddenly greet your Alpha?”

“Good morning.” She simply said.

“I am lord to you—” Zevran got off the bed. “I shall take a bath and leave you to this. I'm sure Agnes filled you in on what you should do.” He caught up with her, supervising the closet for a minute. “My meal, you shall bring it to the dining hall. Don't be a minute late. What can you cook, maid?”

She faced him. “What do you want?”

“What do I want?” He snatched a towel, caught up with another door. “Make soup. And yam.”

Before she would say a word, he was out of her sight. Ignoring him, Nyssa concentrated on what she had to do. Although she hated being his maid, she didn't have a choice but to play along - act as if she doesn't mind being his maid.

This way, the beast would not notice.

And she would have more than enough time to look for a way out of this place.

While she busied herself with cleaning, the Alpha Zevran splashed water from the bathroom. As soon as he was done cleaning himself up, he was on his way back to the chamber. One glance at the bed, he snapped at Nyssa. “Why is my bed not made? Did Agnes not tell you everything?”

“I wanted to finish with the closet first.”

Zevran sighed.

“Ask for directions to the dining hall.”

He walked to the closet, snatched some items, and began changing while naked. Nyssa could see he didn't care that she was there - all he did was look away from her while he was busy with it.

When he finished, he caught up with the main entrance. One turnaround, he commanded. “Don't make soup. Yam porridge is what I'd like to eat.”

And just as before, the Alpha walked out.

Without waiting to hear Nyssa confirm she could make the meal. The door shut, and she let out a sigh. All of these things, she would do - until she found a way to escape. There was a smile on her face as she thought of it - but it faded when she thought about where she would go.

She had no place to go.

One thing she knew was - it was better to be eaten by the wild wolves than be slaved around by a man she sure hated.

After the closet, she faced every other part of the big chamber. By the time she was done, all that remained were the clothes she would wash. But there wasn't enough time to do that before cooking, so she made up her mind to cook first.

As she stepped into the kitchen, everyone looked at her. Just like yesterday. “Good morning, my lady.” Many greeted, while some bowed.

“Good morning.” She greeted back, catching up with the corner she was shown just yesterday.

How was she supposed to know what to do?

One glance around, she found that door. The one the moon goddess talked about - the one that had many food items in it. “Yam.” She said when she caught up with it - opening and checking, catching a sight of the right size - the very one she needed.

“Do you need help?” Someone asked.

She spun around and saw a lady. “No, yes. I mean, I need some items for cooking yam porridge.”

“What do you need?”

Nyssa listed them. The lady, on the other hand - showed her where everything she needed existed, including the things she didn't need.

“Thank you.” When they were done and back to the kitchen, the new maid assured the other one she knew what to do and how to do it. But to be on a safer side, she added. “I'll let you know when I need help, thank you.” And so she began.

From peeling the large yam to getting other items ready. It was now the head of the maids came in. “Good morning, ladies.” She greeted the women who bowed. “How are we doing today?”

They exchanged pleasantries.

“Good morning, Lady Emilia. How was the night?”

What could she say?

“It was alright. Thank you, my lady.”

“Do you need help with anything?”

“No, I'm alright.”

“That's good to know.” She paced the corner before asking. “Do you know you're in charge of your own meal? Lucky you, you eat alongside the Alpha - unlike the other maids. On special occasions, you have a right to our meals, though.”

“I get to eat the Alpha's meal?”

“On another plate, yes.” The head of the maids explained. “You serve the Alpha and get back to dish your own meal. Do you understand now?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Do you have any questions?”

“Not at all.” She carried the boiling pot from the cooker and poured into a large filter. “I'm alright.” She looked at the woman who smiled at her. Nyssa hated it - so much. Could she go already?

Just as she wished, Lady Agnes was on her way.

Before she finished, almost every maid had left the kitchen. Picking a plate from the royal shelf, Nyssa poured some food in it, adding more than enough so she didn't come back on that bastard's demand. The one in the pot seemed enough for her - more than enough even.

Purring the plate in a tray, she added water before reaching the door.

“Can you show me to the dining hall?”

“Yes, my lady.” A man bowed and led the way. They took a route Nyssa had never seen. And as she moved, she studied everything - one by one, marking them in her head as they caught up with an entrance she recognized as the first door.

Stepping further, she caught sight of a gate.

A big one she recognized even though it was the first time she would see it. It was as big as the one they had in The Silvermoon Pack.

Alas, this was what she wanted.

The very moment she was waiting for.

“My lady?” Someone called, snapping her out of her thoughts. “Is there a problem?”

A problem?

Not a single one.

As a matter of fact, this was a solution.