Chapter 2

Selena's POV

I didn't cry. I couldn't, and especially not in front of them. I didn't cry in front of Hermione and her fake pendant, I didn't cry in front of Zevran either, who'd willingly tossed me away like yesterday's leftovers. I still didn't cry when the guards shoved me onto the street like I was a stray dog who'd walked in and destroyed the beta's favorite portrait.

I didn't cry, but it still didn't mean I didn't want to.

I forced myself to my feet, after forcing myself to swallow the emotions that threatened to spill across my face. Luckily, the trip to the hospital didn't take as long as I thought it would. The hospital smelled like herbs, disinfectant and heartbreak, one of the world's deadliest combinations if you asked me.

“You're here!” Eleanor sprung up in her bed the moment I entered into her room. Her face lit up in an instant, and I didn't miss the excitement coating her voice. “I thought you'd be busy with the mating ceremony? Tell me, tell me. Did he announce you?! Are you mated now?! Tell me”

My heart broke at her excitement. As carefully as I could, I made myself sit right next to her, before taking her hands in mine.

“No.” I shook my head slowly. “He chose someone else.”

“What?” her smile fell so fast it cracked my soul. Like she couldn't believe her ears, she whispered. “But, he loved you, didn't he?”

“I thought so too.” I sighed. Right now, I had no idea who was more pained by the idea of Zevran’s betrayal, me or my sister. “I guess he didn't love me as much as he loved the idea of marrying a noble. He claimed Hermione as his Luna.”

Eleanor went quiet, and I wouldn't say I blamed her. She stared at me, and since I knew what it meant, I pulled her in for a hug. She buried her face in my chest, and I didn't miss the soft sobs that raked through the room. She wasn't crying just for me, but for herself too.

I'd lost my job at the palace, which meant noore income, and no more income meant no more SilverCreek War college.

It had always been Eleanor's dream to attend that college, and it seemed plausible at the time I worked in the palace, but now, even if I slaved myself away for the rest of my life at a nearby company, I wasn't sure I would be able to afford it.

“It's okay.” I murmured, stroking her hair. “You're still going to apply. I don't care if I have to sell my kidney and half a lung. I'll definitely get the money somehow.”

“But..” she sniffed. “You've already done so much and…”

“I'm not giving up on your dreams, Eleanor.” I pressed a kiss to the side of her head. “One of us has to become something legendary, and I vote you.”

Whoever came up with the quote Easier said than Done , was definitely referring to me, because that was the first harsh lesson I'd learned this afternoon.

If a model was needed for heartbreak, then I would be the perfect fit. I stared at the huge WANTED FOR THEFT posters staring back at me. They were scattered across the bakery windows, and a small part of me couldn't help but feel like there were more from where that came from.

I'd walked into twelve different job sites today, and all of them had fallen through. The only offer I'd gotten was from a dingy man who wanted me to scrap blood off the floor of a fighting pit. Another one wanted to hire me for his personal pleasures.

Like that wasn't bad enough, I couldn't help the whispers that followed me around.

“Isn't that the palace thief?”

“She stole a diamond and it was huge.”

They weren't just annoying and humiliating, they threatened to choke the life out of me, and by the end of the day, I made a decision; I was moving to StormCreek.

I had nothing with me, but I just knew my friend Belinda would take me in, and she did. I arrived her tiny apartment a day later, and after a couple of drinks, we decided it was high time I started a new life that didn't involve kissing anyone's ass.

If anyone had told me fate’s idea of a new life for me was nannying, then I would have laughed so hard till I peed myself, but guess who had the last laugh now?

I'd applied anyway, why? Because I loved kids, even though they were nothing short of tiny humans who lived and breathed to cause chaos. What better combo than a very chaotic human being and those devilish creatures?

I got a call a couple of days later, but believe me when I said it wasn't what I'd expected.

I hadn't just gotten the job, I had to work at the StormCreek palace.

Oh fuck my life.

I hated fate's sense of humor, but I dressed nearly, tied my hair back and arrived at the palace exactly on time. Given my last run in at royalty, I figured it was better to not piss them off, and especially not on the first day.

The palace was stunning, beyond what I actually imagined. The building stood in the center of the huge compound, like golden towers scraping the sky. The high windows reflected the sunlight, bathing the place in an almost ethereal glow. It looked like something straight out of a fairytale, but for some strange reason, it was nothing like Zevran's palace.

My footsteps echoed around me as I walked inside. Since it was quiet, I decided to wait at the entrance hall. One would think that with the massive size of this place, it would be teeming with people; servants and guards alike, but I guess I was wrong.

I had barely spent a couple of minutes in the foyer when a little girl walked up to me.

“Hi.” She said quietly. Her wild hair sat haphazardly on top of her head, and she was bare feet too. “This way.”

“Are you, the guide?” I didn't bother hiding my confusion.

She nodded instead, before dashing into one of the hallways. I took that as a sigh to trail after her, so I did. I half expected a guard to stop us, but in the absence of many I followed my little tour guard. She stood a little later, and in front of a heavy oak door.

“Here.” She pointed innocently.

I didn't know what to think. I was here for an interview, so it was only normal for me to think that the interview was on the other side, right?

Wrong. I was very very wrong.

Stupidly and fatally, I knocked, before pushing the door open.

Remember when I mentioned Fate’s twisted sense of humor? Apparently, I hadn't seen half of it.

My breath caught in my throat at the sight in front of me. Naked bodies pressed against each other, with a man the size of a Greek god ramming into a poor woman from behind.

My soul left my body at the sight, and I slapped my hand over my eyes in an instant, like it was going to erase the memory from my mind.

“I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!” I muttered frantically. “I didn't mean to, there was this little girl… and she said…”

The man whipped around, forcing me to stare at him. My breath caught in my throat again, but for an entirely different reason this time.

He was tall, furious, and covered in sweat and authority, but that wasn't all. He bore a stark resemblance to Zevran, but I knew better.

He was ten times bigger, hotter and definitely angrier.

He was Cassian, The Alpha of StormCreek pack.

“Guards!” He roared.

“I'm sorry.” I pleaded, trying to backpedal. “I thought this was where the interview was being held. Your daughter….”

“My daughter doesn't speak.” He barked, matching my steps like a predator cornering prey. “And she never leaves her room…”

“She, she…” I muttered, not wanting to believe my ears. “She said this way and led me here…”

“She. Does. Not. Speak.” His voice was icy, but not as icy as the hands that grabbed me from both sides. Guards.

“I swear, I'm telling the truth.” I kicked and thrashed as they pulled me away. “She talked! She led me…”

“Lying to cover a perverted intrusion.” His eyes burned with rage. “How interesting.”

“I'm not lying!” I watched my life flash before my eyes. This was it, in my search for a better life, I was going to end it before it even began.

“Mummy?” A small voice floated in from the end of the hallway, and everything froze..

Cassian stilled, even the guards were shocked, and I felt their grip on me loosen a bit.

Cassian turned slowly, and the girl was there again.

She didn't look the least bit confused as she turned to me. “Mummy?”

What the hell?