Chapter 5

- Ciara

A knock came and the door opened, jolting me from my thoughts. A young servant girl entered the room, wheeling a suitcase, and bowed politely.

 

“Greetings, Lady Ciara. I will be your personal maid from now on,” she said.

 

Personal maid? I had a personal maid? An Omega like me?

 

I stood up, confused and also bowed at her. “Greetings, does that mean I’m to live here?” I inquired.

 

“Yes. The Alpha has given orders for you to remain in the palace until you regain your memory,” she explained.

 

“Really?” My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. “That’s so generous of him, I must see him at once to thank him,” I said, unable to believe my luck.

 

“He is currently not doing well right now, and he has refused visitors, but perhaps, you shall see him at dinner,” she said.

 

Dinner? My stomach churned. I hadn’t even had breakfast yet.

 

She giggled quietly, hearing the rumbling sound my stomach made. “I have brought you clothes and other things you might need during your stay here. I’ll arrange them while you have your bath. Breakfast would be served in a little while,” she told me.

 

“Of course,” I said, and turned towards the bathroom, then stopped, remembering something.

 

“What’s your name?” I asked.

 

“Joan.”

 

“Well, thank you, Joan,” I said, then opened the bathroom door.

 

It was pure luxury. I had washed every bathroom in the Moonstone Pack over a thousand times, but neither of them could be compared to this. I had never seen anything like it in my life, and I eagerly stepped out of my clothes and went straight into the bathtub for a hot bath. It felt like heaven… it was only now I realised I had never truly had a proper bath as mere servants only had access to water from dirty streams.

 

When I was done, I wrapped myself up with the towel and went back into the bedroom. Joan was gone already, and I happily ran to the wardrobe which was now stacked with beautiful and expensive clothes. The drawers were also filled with various cosmetic products and perfumes. I pinched myself for like the millionth time and once again, I was convinced this was reality and I wasn’t dreaming.

 

Gliding around the room, I patted the lotion into my skin, humming a soft tune. I then selected a flare emerald green dress that stopped right above my knees and packed my hair into a messy bun, before applying some lip gloss.

 

I smiled, admiring my reflection in the mirror before heading out of the room.

 

Josiah was right; the members of the Silver Crest Pack were indeed nice wolves and I had been lucky to cross paths with not just anyone, but the princes themselves. My life had been nothing but a tragic story but it overnight became a fairytale; I could only hope that Josiah was fine.

 

“That dress suits you,” Joan said, appearing out of nowhere.

 

“Thanks.”

 

“Let me show you to the dining hall,” she said, leading the way and I followed her through the magnificent corridors, all of which looked like different sections of a museum, laden with rich pieces of their great cultural heritage and majestic artworks.

 

“Have a seat,” she said once we were there.

 

I gasped, marvelling at the huge amount of food placed on the table.

 

“Isn’t this too much for me?” I asked.

 

“Oh. The princes and a few guests would be joining you,” she explained.

 

“Guests? What guests?”

 

“Some messengers from the Moonstone Pack. They journeyed all night just to deliver a vital piece of information to His Majesty.”

 

My heart began to race with fear and beads of sweat broke around my forehead as I bit my fingers nervously. Messengers from the Moonstone Pack? What could they possibly want? Had they perhaps brought a sketch of the late Alpha’s murderer to be shot on sight if seen within the Silver Crest’s vicinity? Worst still, what if they recognised me and took me back to the Moonstone Pack with them?

 

I shook my head, pushing away the negative thoughts. I had just started to live quite a decent life, I couldn’t let it end like this.

 

“I… er… I’m not hungry anymore,” I said, standing up and turning to head back to my room.

 

Again, my stomach rumbled, saying otherwise. Ordinarily, I would have been embarrassed, but not this time around. My life was on the line, and I couldn’t afford to feel shame.

 

“I think you’re just feeling shy, but it’s okay. You won’t be the only female present. I’ll be here as well,” Joan said with a smile.

 

“Thanks, but I really need—“

 

“Oh, they’re here already,” Joan said, just as the doors opened, revealing two huge and muscular men, whom I recognised instantly. They came from a long line of messengers in my former Pack.

 

“Greetings, my Lords. I hope you’ll find our delicacies to your liking. Do take your seats,” I heard Joan say.

 

I had already looked away from them, scared to make eye contact lest they recognised me, and before Joan could try stopping me again, I walked as quickly as lightning and was almost out of the dining hall when a deep loud voice stopped me right in my tracks.

 

“Halt!” The voice strongly commanded.