not a stranger anymore

Today felt... light. For some reason.

Maybe because I haven’t seen my mate—

Wait, forgive me, second chance mate—

since that last eye contact from me… under a cabinet.

“I know, shaming me by hiding under her cabinet,”

Cherry deadpanned. I could practically feel her eye-roll.

I chuckled. “Shut up.”

It was six. Or maybe five. Honestly, I didn’t know.

I was sprawled across my bed, staring at nothing, feeling like everything.

Breakfast would probably show up at my door around seven.

I wasn’t even sure if I felt like a maid anymore.

Maybe a princess.

A very lazy one who just happened to clean.

Alex has been gone for days now.

And I’m so goddamn grateful.

Cleaning has been easier without that sinfully handsome face making my life complicated.

Freya left too—makes sense, she’s his advisor.

Haven’t seen Daisy either.

But I’m guessing she’s doing whatever it is healers do during their mysterious healer hours.

So yeah, I’ve been… stress-free.

Temporarily.

But who cares? I’ll take what I can get.

I smiled, thinking about the new friend I made.

Marissa’s betrayal really wrecked the whole concept of friendship for me.

I mean really ruined it.

But Chloe...

Maybe she deserves a chance.

If she even sees me as a friend.

“Bitch, for the love of the Moon, stop wallowing,”

Cherry cut in.

“It’s morning, for goddess’ sake. And you don’t even have an outfit for that party Chloe invited you to.”

Wait.

What party?

Holy shit.

We got invited to a party.

“Moon Goddess, just take me already,”

Cherry groaned.

“What are we even going to wear?” I asked her, already dreading the answer.

“Oversized leggings and a top?”

“What kind of party is it, even?”

Maybe we should just cancel.

I mean, we don’t even know what it’s about.

No details. Just vibes.

“You know what? That’s exactly what we’ll do,” I said to Cherry, nodding to myself.

“We’ll tell her we can’t go because... uhmmm... we have something important to do.”

“Something important to do?”

Cherry scoffed.

“Bitch, you’re a private maid. All you do is clean. You don’t socialize.”

She wasn’t wrong.

“We should go,” she added.

“People in this castle have been ignoring us like the damn plague. I don’t know if it’s ‘cause we’re new or they just straight-up hate us. But apart from Chloe? Not a single soul has tried to talk to us.”

“Yeah, it’s kinda weird,” I muttered.

I mean, I get it. We’re new here in Nightfang.

But not even a bully?

Is this some kind of private maid protocol or what?

I sighed. “I don’t even have the energy to overthink this right now. We’ve got work.”

I dragged myself to the bathroom, bathed, brushed my teeth, and threw on the clothes I wore yesterday.

Didn’t exactly have a closet full of options.

Thankfully, I washed them last night.

Small wins.

When I opened the door—yup—breakfast was there, like clockwork.

I wasn’t complaining.

I mean, it’s not like I had many privileges here.

So I ate, quietly, and made my way to clean.

It helped that there was a storage area for cleaning tools inside the Alpha’s chamber.

“VIP treatment, huh?” Cherry said.

I hadn’t touched his bedroom yet.

But the study?

It kind of had a bed. So I guessed he slept and worked there.

It must be hard for him—running an entire pack alone.

“Bitch,” Cherry snapped, “weren’t we not supposed to think about him?”

I rolled my eyes.

“How do I know he’s not here?”

Two words: mate bond.

“Doubt it’s mutual,” i said.

“‘Cause if it was, he’d be here. With us.”

Even my second chance doesn’t want me.

“Let’s just clean,” Cherry huffed.

“Clean? I’m the one doing the cleaning.”

“Last I checked, I’ve got paws. Not hands.

Blame the Moon Goddess.”

“Bitch,” I muttered.

I swept, dusted, wiped down the desk.

Minded my own damn business.

Honestly, I was surprised they even let me be in this room.

“And we’re done,” I said, brushing the last tiny speck from the desk.

“Let’s get out of here.

Being in this room makes me feel... things I don’t want to.”

I was halfway back to my room when I saw Chloe, leaning against my doorframe like she owned it.

“Well, there you are, cutie,” she grinned.

I blushed.

“Uh, what are you doing here?”

She tilted her head. “I thought long and hard and figured… oh, maybe she doesn’t have anything to wear to the party I invited her to.

And I refuse to let you bail because of that.”

“Damn, I like her,” Cherry whispered.

“Well, Chloe, the thing is…”

I looked at her, at her smirk, her knowing eyes… and sighed.

“You know what? Fuck it. I don’t have anything else to do.

I’d rather go to a party than cry in my room all night.”

“Hell yeah!” she said and grabbed my hand.

We ran.

“Where are we going?” I asked, breathless and giggling.

“To give you a makeover,” she said.

“Not that you aren’t already beautiful.”

I blushed again.

People bowed when we passed.

Wow. She must be high rank.

Some workers were already heading out—maybe for the same party.

I mean, they had to be part-time or something, right?

No way people live here full-time with no phone.

Not me, though. Just saying.

“This place is actually huge,” I said, staring at the endless walls and ancient paintings.

We turned a corner.

There was a training field.

Maybe not the main one—it didn’t look brutal enough.

But still, I could tell Nightfang didn’t play when it came to training their soldiers.

I hadn’t explored the castle fully, but I got the sense there were layers to this place.

“How do you even have time to run around with me?” I asked.

“And go to parties?”

“I’m on leave,” she said, reading my face like an open book.

“You really don’t hide your thoughts well.”

I laughed, cheeks burning.

“It’s okay,” she smiled.

“I kind of guessed. But yeah, frontline duty earns you a lot of leave time. Our Alpha’s nice like that sometimes.”

I smiled to myself.

Maybe Alex did care about his people after all.

We reached her room.

I was still catching my breath when—surprise—Daisy was already there.

I looked from Chloe to Daisy, confused.

“Sorry,” Chloe said, “I don’t really know fashion. So I brought someone who does.”

I wasn’t even shocked at that.

No. What shocked me was when Chloe wrapped her arms around Daisy’s waist—

and kissed her.Not a holy, forehead-type kiss.

Like… a kiss. tongue and shit too

“Hey, baby,” Chloe said sweetly.

Daisy turned so red I thought she might explode.

Holy shit.

“They’re mates,” I whispered.

“No shit,” Cherry muttered.

“I did not expect that.”

“Neither did I,” Cherry added.

“But now that I look at it… they do fit.”

“Stop fangirling and worry about yourself,” she snapped.

“I’m pretty sure we’re the only ones without a mate. And it’s your fault, ‘cause you keep avoiding him.”

“Okay, okay, I get it,” I muttered, rolling my eyes.

“Sorry about that,” Daisy said softly. “You didn’t know.”

“No, no, don’t be sorry,” I said quickly.

“I’m just… a stranger. You didn’t have to tell me.” I kind of wonder if that's why she befriended me, though,h because of Daisy

“Stranger?” Chloe frowned.

“You’re not a stranger. You’re our friend. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.

And no, I didn’t befriend you because of Daisy. Your face kind of has no filter.”

She took a breath, her voice firm but kind.

“I like you. I don’t know what you’ve been through that makes you doubt that,

But I think you’re smart and beautiful and worth being friends with.”

I laughed—tears stinging the back of my eyes.

It felt… nice.

To be liked for me.

For once.

Marissa’s name ghosted through my mind, and my heart ached.

I hoped she was happy with Ronan. Or whatever she was doing.

“And fuck her,” Cherry added.

“Sorry, I think a lot,” I whispered.

“It’s okay,” Chloe said, opening her arms.

“Come here.”

I walked into the hug.

And then Daisy joined too.

Yeah.

This felt nice.

And gods, I really, really hope it lasts.