002 — An Unexpected Guest

Soraya Miller’s POV

“Soraya! Wake up!”

The sharp voice dragged me out of my sleep alongside the continuous shaking.

“What?” My mind was still fuzzy from sleep. “What is it?”

“Open your eyes, Soraya,” Clara’s voice registered in my head as my eyes fluttered open. “Get ready quickly. We are expecting important guests.”

I sat up, looking around my room as bits and pieces of memories from earlier this morning filtered into my mind. I noted how I was back in my night shirt, even though I was sure it wasn't my doing.

My bed still smelled like him.

It still smelled like the sin we had shared.

“What's funny?” Clara snapped, rather annoyed as she pulled open my curtains. She was already dressed and ready for the day, prim and proper as always.

“W-What?” I stuttered.

Oh Lord, I hadn't realized I was smiling like a fool.

She cast me one more glance before leaving my room. “Be quick!”

As the door closed with a bang, I let out a tired sigh. Another day to flutter around the Blackwell Manor with a polite smile, even when I literally felt like combusting.

But the early hours of this morning, though...

My hand reached up to my lips, and the emotions from before rolled in like a flood. I groaned, falling back onto my pillow. I felt wet down there all over again.

After so long of stolen touches and midnight kisses, I had finally let him have all of me. And it felt so fucking good!

Giggling, I kicked my legs in the air, ignoring how sore I felt between them, as I pressed my mouth to contain my joy. But it hurt so good, a ten-over-ten experience, and I'd do it a thousand times over with Cas.

I could sense Clara returning, so I jumped out of bed and ran into the bathroom, closing the door the very second she yelled out my name again.

Still in quite the joyous mood, I showered quickly and changed into the official female manor staff uniform: a long-sleeved, dark green gown with light gray detailing and a light gray apron tied neatly around the waist.

I didn't do too much, only pinning up my dark hair in a bun and applying a bit of lip gloss. After spritzing my favourite perfume all over, I attached the Blackwell silver crest pin to the chest area of my gown.

I would admit, I was quite nervous at the fact that I would see Cassian again, especially after what happened between us. But Cas being Cas, I was sure he wouldn't make me feel awkward about it.

Mate, Azura purred, bringing a huge smile to my face.

Taking one last look in the mirror, I assured myself I looked presentable enough and left the room.

Outside was a whirlwind of bodies, people rushing everywhere, carrying everything. It was so disorienting, like a beehive that had been kicked in.

“Hey, hey,” I tried to stop Liza as she sped past me down the stairs. “What's going on?”

“Hurry up, Soraya! We’re behind schedule.” Liza barely spared me a glance as she briskly walked away.

These guests must be really important, I thought to myself, rolling my eyes.

The scent of blueberry pie and roast lamb clashed as they wafted out of the kitchen once I reached the ground floor. I stepped into the war zone where, on one side, vegetables were prepped and proteins were seared. On the other side, more pastries were being made as the previous ones were removed from the industrial-sized ovens. In the middle, Clara was doling out instructions to the ones wiping antique glass bowls and whatnot till they gleamed beneath the chandelier light.

I let out a long sigh just knowing in my gut that today would be a very hectic day.

“Soraya.” Clara appeared beside me so suddenly that I nearly jumped out of my skin. “Stop standing there and help polish the glassware. And make sure that the crystal set is arranged in the general dining hall before the guests arrive.”

“Yes, Mama Clara,” I groaned.

“Don’t Mama Clara me,” she snapped, already walking away. “Move.”

Muttering under my breath, I grabbed the nearest drying cloth, settled at the edge of the large preparation table, and carefully cleaned one crystal glass after another.

“Christ, Sora. So tight... so fucking perfect.”

Cassian’s words from before flashed through my mind as heat crept up my cheeks, and that was when someone cleared their throat dramatically behind me.

“You look entirely too pleased with life this early in the morning.”

I looked up to see Ronan Quinn leaning against the doorframe with two supply crates balanced between his arm and hips.

“Hold on,” he said carefully, his pale gray eyes narrowing to slits as he came closer to me. “Why are you glowing?”

My eyes widened instantly as I slapped a hand over his mouth.

“Shut up, Ron,” I seethed.

A few of the older attendants sent us disapproving looks before returning to their tasks. I removed my hand slowly and backed into my seat.

His jaw dropped theatrically, well-manicured fingers going up in the air like I’d just assaulted him.

“Oh, I get it.” A slow, knowing smirk formed on his glossy lips. “Someone absolutely got ridden like a horse.”

“Ronan!” I gasped at the same second Clara reappeared and gave him a firm smack at the back of his head.

“Ow!” Ron yelped, almost dropping the crates as he turned to her. “Take a chill pill, Mama.”

Clara scowled. “Back to the Gamma’s with you, Quinn.”

She was unnecessarily bossy today for some reason.

“Don’t make it so obvious you hate me, Mama Clara.” Ron scrunched his nose, assuming a stubborn expression. “I just wanted to have a chit-chat with my bestie.”

I quickly looked away from him, focusing on the wine glass in my hands.

“Really, bitch?” he sighed dramatically.

“Language,” Clara cautioned him. “And out of my kitchen this instant.”

A small smile forced its way to my face. At least, she’d saved me from Ron’s probing for now.

“You have some serious explaining to do, Raya,” he said in a singsong voice as he stalked out of the kitchen.

Clara sent me a warning glance and moved to another section to scold the person burning the bread.

I released a shaky breath and resumed wiping the final set of glassware. Two younger attendants rushed past carrying trays of fruit, while someone in the back argued about seating placements in the general dining hall.

“Careful with those,” Beatrice, an older attendant, hissed as a younger girl nearly knocked into the exposed rack of blueberry pies.

My hands paused briefly over the polished crystal tray, and that was when it occurred to me that something felt... off.

It took me a while to realize that there was no silver in sight. Like absolutely none.

Usually, Blackwell Manor practically crawled with the stuff in the cutlery, serving trays, and even the ornaments. But today, every single piece had been removed. Even the kitchen knives had been switched out.

And that only meant one thing: whoever was coming mattered enough for the manor to inconvenience itself.

Honestly, as long as nobody spilt hot lamb sauce on me today, I couldn’t care less.

I caught myself glancing towards the kitchen entrance, half expecting Cassian to stroll in with that lazy smirk of his and pull me aside with his ‘scary’ Alpha-heir authority just to say something completely inappropriate while Clara wasn’t looking.

But he hadn’t come by, and it had been hours. That was odd.

Cas usually found me somehow; even in a manor filled with hundreds of people, he always did.

“Soraya, enough with the glasses.” Clara promptly tapped me on the shoulder. “Help out with dicing the onions.”

“Mum,” I whined, already dreading the tears that were sure to flow from peeling and dicing a whole basket of onions.

“Daughter,” she mimicked my tone, tugging at my cheeks.

I maintained a pout, hoping to at least wiggle my way out of this one.

“Fine.” Clara finally gave in. “Get out and go help arrange the general dining hall.”

She didn’t have to tell me twice, as I bounced out of my chair with a grateful smile.

“Take the crystal set with you.”

“Thank you, Mama.” I placed a quick kiss on her cheek before balancing the tray carefully in my hands and leaving the kitchen.

The massive space had already been completely rearranged by the time I stepped in. Fresh flowers were lined neatly in the middle across the length of the obsidian dining table while Liza and the other attendants hurried around making last-minute adjustments.

I barely had enough time to set the glasses and crystal bowls down at strategic spots before the doors opened again.

Instantly, every attendant, including me, straightened and backed into a straight line against the wall.

Clara stepped in first, and then Elara Blackwell, the Luna of Blackwater Pack, entered behind her in an elegant black dress that made her look more imposing than usual. Alpha Dominic followed beside her, his presence alone enough to make the atmosphere tighten.

I lowered my head immediately, suddenly finding my low pumps interesting to observe.

More steps echoing behind them made me lift my head a bit, and that was when I saw Rhoda Thorne, Luna of Thorn Pack, one of the founding families, poised and graceful in deep wine-coloured silk.

Why was she here? Was there a founding families meeting? And even if there was, they never used this floor.

Azura reacted before I did as Cassian finally came into view.

His black dress shirt was rolled up at the sleeves to his elbow, exposing his maddeningly attractive, veiny forearms, while his midnight hair looked frustratingly tousled as always. For one horrible second, my stupid heart leapt in excitement.

The small smile on my lips faltered when I saw her beside him.

Golden blonde hair spilt down her back in soft waves while bright hazel eyes scanned the room in quiet curiosity. She looked almost unreal, standing next to him, like daylight embracing moonlight. She was so soft and elegant and beautiful in the way sunlight filtering through stained glass was beautiful.

My grip tightened against the lower part of my gown.

Two girls around our age stood behind her, dressed in fitted ivory uniforms bedazzled with muted gold and deep wine stitching, nothing like the Blackwell dark green. I didn’t need a soothsayer to tell me they were Thorne attendants.

One of them, a sharp-faced brunette with icy eyes, immediately swept her gaze across the room before landing on me briefly. The judgment in her eyes almost had me touching myself to make sure I hadn’t grown an extra pair of limbs without realizing. The other girl beside her looked much quieter and friendlier.

“Ah,” Alpha Dominic spoke warmly. “Everything seems ready.”

“Yes, Alpha,” Clara responded instantly.

I forced my attention to remain on my feet even though every instinct inside me screamed to look at Cassian again, to feel the serenity of his eyes on me. But he still hadn’t looked at me, not once.

“Thank you again for hosting us,” Rhoda Thorne spoke gracefully as they all settled around the table.

“The pleasure is ours,” Alpha Dominic answered in an easy-going tone.

Almost immediately, the hall was flooded with attendants carrying servers full of varying pastries, fruits and tea as conversation flowed effortlessly between the adults.

“We thought it would be best for the families to become properly acquainted before the official engagement announcement,” Alpha Dominic said in between bites of his slice of blueberry pie. “What do you think, Rielle?”

The room seemed to go still around me.

What official engagement?

I remained beside the wall with the other attendants, doing my best to ignore the ache building steadily inside my chest.

“Honestly, the estate is even more beautiful than I imagined,” Rielle admitted softly, her voice just as warm and airy as her appearance. “I can already see myself liking it here.”

Luna Elara smiled faintly. “You’ll settle in quickly.”

I forced my legs to move when Clara signalled toward the table for tea.

Right...

My fingers tightened slightly around the porcelain teapot as I approached Cassian’s side first. Still, he refused to look at me or offer any form of acknowledgement.

“And the engagement party this weekend will give you the chance to meet everyone properly,” Rhoda Thorne added.

The words, engagement party, nearly hollowed me out from the inside as hurt lodged itself deeper beneath my ribs.

I carefully tilted the teapot towards his cup, and then his arm shifted against the table.

A gasp escaped me as the hot liquid splashed across the sleeve of his shirt and trousers. Panic slammed into me instantly as I quickly apologized. “Oh, my God. I’m so sorry...”

Without thinking, I grabbed the cloth napkins nearby and crouched beside him, trying to wipe the tea away before it hurt him any further.

My words tumbled over each other. “I’m so sorry, Alpha Cassian. I didn’t mean—”

His hand suddenly wrapped firmly around my wrist, and everything inside me froze as Cassian finally looked at me. But there was no softness in his cerulean eyes now, only ice.

“Step away from me.”

His words landed like a rude slap across my face. For one horrible second, nobody moved as my breath caught painfully in my throat.

Then Cassian took the napkins from my hand himself without another word. I swallowed hard, forcing my trembling fingers to unclench.

“My apologies, Alpha,” I whispered again, hating how shaky my voice sounded.

Keeping my head lowered, I stepped away from the table and returned to my place beside the wall. Azura whimpered somewhere deep inside me.

I stared straight ahead, refusing to look at him again, even as humiliation crawled beneath my skin like poison. And as much as I'd like to deny it, as much as I'd like to feign ignorance, I knew it in the depths of my heart, the way I knew his body, that he knew all along.

Cassian fucking Blackwell knew he was to be engaged, and he said absolutely nothing.

I pinned my gaze to my feet, my fingers curled into my palms, nails biting into my skin, almost drawing blood as I forced myself to remain still.

Last night replayed in cruel flashes behind my eyes. I could vividly remember his hands on me, his voice in my ear, the way he said I meant something to him, the way he had caressed me so softly.

It was all a lie. Every single fucking moment of it.

Azura snarled inside me, restless and furious, clawing against my control.