Chapter 6

Rory

I sat on the floor, my eyes darting around the room. He might have said this was my room, but I didn’t think that would be true.

A knock came on the door, startling me as I struggled to get to my feet. I didn’t get any sleep in the last five hours.

When the door opened, I froze, my eyes on the woman who had just walked in. Her eyes darted from the bed to me, getting up.

“Good morning,” I said, smoothing my light grey dress, then wiping my mouth.

“You didn’t sleep on the bed,” she said monotone.

I don’t respond because I don’t know if it’s a good or bad thing. She looks angry.

“You must be Diane. Nice to meet you.” I extended my hand to greet her, but she frowned, looking at my hand with a disgusted look.

“I’m sorry.” I pulled my hand back, rubbing my still-aching bruises on my arm. She inhaled sharply, walking to the bed.

“You need to get dressed. There’s a presentation in an hour,” she said, placing clothes on the bed, and I narrowed my eyebrows, peering at her.

“Presentation?”

“Yes. When you’re presented as his new woman,” she explained without looking at me, laying out a very beautiful, silky dress on the bed with some high heels.

“Is that for me?” I asked her, and she turned to me with a confused look. “I only ask because if it’s for me, I can’t wear heels.” I gave her a weak smile, trying my best to lighten up the mood.

She inhaled sharply before stepping back. “No heels?”

“Yes. Bad ankle,”

She let out an exasperated sigh before walking towards the bathroom. “I’ll get you a pair of new shoes. Let me run a bath for you,” she said, cleaning the tub, then pouring foam bath in it.

“Any preferences?”

“Um… anything is fine.”

“You just said you can’t wear heels. So how—”

“Oh, you meant shoes? I only have these slippers, so anything is fine.” I showed her the slippers on my feet, which Clara bought for me on my birthday.

She looked down at me, her eyes on my feet, then to my face. “You’re the alpha’s daughter?” She asked, her voice laced with something I couldn’t put together.

“Yes, but—”

“No need to explain. I’ll get you another pair of shoes.” With that, she grabbed the shoes from the bed, muttering curses before walking out of the room.

I stepped into the bathroom, which was three times the size of the room I slept in back home. My breath caught, heart pounding hard against my chest. I got closer to the mirror, seeing my reflection after a week, which made my chest tighten and tears pricked my eyes.

I looked like some rogue who had been on the run for weeks, with a red bruise on my left and cracked lips.

I brushed my soiled hair back before turning towards the bathtub. I dipped my fingers into the warm water, and a smile tugged at my lips. I don’t remember the last time I took a warm bath, and I planned to enjoy this one.

Taking off my dress, I stepped into the warmth, my heart thundering; it felt like a crime to take a warm bath.

I sink under the foam in the water, splashing some water on my face. Closing my eyes, taking a moment as tears fell from the slits of my eyes, I had forgotten about the bruises on my back for a minute, but it stung so much under this water.

I washed my hair clean, letting the soil come out. I lay back, closing my eyes as I enjoyed the warmth that enveloped me in this tub.

“Are you done?” The lady’s voice startled me. My heart thundered as I snapped my eyes open.

“No, sorry. It took too long,” I quickly apologized, getting out of the water. Looking around for something to cover myself.

When I turned to her, she had stood frozen in the threshold, her eyes pinning me in one place.

“I’m sorry… Please… I just…” I stuttered, pulling the towel to my chest.

“Does he know?” She finally asked.

“Know what?” I asked, confused by her question. She stepped into the room, and I took a step back, my hands over my chest.

“The…I’m sorry…. Did he?”

“No!” I cut her quickly. Heart beating fast. “Please, could you not tell anyone about this?”

She swallowed hard, looking towards the door, then back at me—silence.

I waited.

More Silence.

“I’ll not tell anyone. But I need to know what happened,” she said, walking into the bathroom.

“Thank you…” I trailed off, waiting for her to tell me her name.

“Paula,” she said, gripping my shoulder, then turned me around. “Some of these are old.”

Seven years. That’s how old some of those scars were, but I didn’t bother telling her. She couldn’t understand it.

“These should have healed,” she whispered, her finger featherlight on my scars as I closed my eyes. They didn’t because I have no wolf.

“Does it hurt?” She asked, and I sniffled back, then nodded.

She went on inspecting my back and then walked towards the bedroom. “This dress won’t do you any good then.” She picked up the white dress, tsking.

“We should find something more comfortable for you, but then you’ll be late. It’s—”

I cut in before she continued. “I can wear it. I can endure it.” I stepped in, and she raised her eyebrows.

“The back is tight. It will—” She stopped herself, realizing that I was an enemy she should be hating. I saw the way most of the guards looked at me. My father must have done something to this pack—to Orion. I could see the raw hatred he had for me every time he looked at me.

“It’s fine, Paula. I can endure it,” I assured her, and she nodded her head, leaving me to get dressed while she went to clean the mess in the bathroom.

*

“You will get some breakfast before going to your presentation,” she said, smoothing my dress. It felt a bit tight around my arms and shoulders, but I didn’t want to seem too demanding. I’m a salve after all.

When she finished helping me into the dress, she took a step back, looking at my hair and face. “Your curls are just—”

“I know,” I chimed in. I knew my curls without proper care would be all fuzzy; she didn’t have to point it out for me.

“Okay. Let’s get you some food, and then we can send you on your way.” She turned on her heel, leading the way to the door. I smiled at her as I followed her to the kitchen. Whenever I passed by people, I could see their scowls and frowns on their faces. But I was used to that. After seven years of being treated like trash, I have learnt to turn a blind eye to everything that happens around me.

When we got into the kitchen, the smell of freshly baked muffins hit my nostrils. They were laid out on a tray, with different types of freshly squeezed juice.

“Anything you would like? Tea? Coffin?” she asked, grabbing a plate.

“Anything is fine,” I replied, my eyes on the elderly woman who was barking instructions to the omegas. She stared me down, then went back to the table.

“Maryam, can I get some of the bacon for her? I—”

“Doesn’t she have a mouth?” the older lady asked, not even looking at me, busying herself with the plate she was holding.

“Mary,” Paula whispered.

Maryam glanced at me, her eyes narrowing as she put more eggs and bacon on the plate she was dishing.

“You’re skinny,” she said, probably to me.

She put the plate on the table. “I hope you like scrambled eggs.”

“Me?”

“No. Not you,” she said, her eyes on me. I turned to Paula, who rolled her eyes before placing the coffee for me on the table.

“Of course, I meant you, skinny,” Maryam huffed.

I sat down, looking at the food on my plate, but my eyes kept drifting to the muffins. I had a bite of the bacon and toast while Paula and Maryam discussed the upcoming Lunar celebrations.

But when Maryam noticed, she grabbed one muffin, put it on the plate, and then continued. I wanted to thank her, but choked on my food.

“No speaking with food in your mouth. Are you a child to be told what to do?” she scolded, jerking her head to Paula, who poured water for me.

“Thank you,” I coughed, taking the water from Paula. She might be rude and have a permanent scowl, but she seems kind of nice to me. So, I smile at her, finishing up my food.

Once we were done, she took me to the great hall where the presentation was taking place.

“When you get in there. Eyes low, and no speaking,” she said as she led the way in.

People were arguing, shouting over each other.

“She’s a fucking Nightingale. You can’t possibly marry such a woman!” someone shouted, the voice laced with so much anger.

“We should kill her and send her fucking head to her father!” One of them suggested as the doors swung open.

I froze as I stood there, everyone snapping their eyes to me. My heart pounded hard against my chest, and my palms got sweaty. Kill me?

Oh, goddess. Was this my fate?