Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Rhea
It’s been long, so many days.
I’m growing weaker. Every day, I feel my energy dying, and then there’s the loneliness that seeps right through me. I want this gone, but there’s no end in sight.
My days feel longer than they are, dragging into a painful eternity, taking forever. I thought of talking to Ethel, but then 1 just-
I can’t, not anymore.
It’s been more than a week since the mating ball since it all happened. My body still hasn’t healed from the trauma of the night before the ball, when I was attacked. I wonder if I’ll ever recover. Even the painkillers don’t help much anymore. Maybe it’s time for me to go to a healer, but I doubt my Mom would allow me.
And I can’t afford it on my own.
A part of me wants to believe that this isn’t all just because of that incident. Perhaps it has something to do with Aron and the rejection. It stings. And that feeling isn’t fading.
Not one bit.
I’ve done a few shifts with Elisha on the days when no one is there, or there are very few she–wolves on the training grounds. She helps me practice and build strength, but in return, I know she’s forcing herself. I can see the conflict behind her eyes, the reluctance and slight disappointment.
Because this isn’t her job.
Her job isn’t to train a runt.
“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” She says, tossing me a water bottle. “And work on that. You’re getting better, but there’s still a lot of improvement that needs to be made.”
I nod and thank her. That is the least I can do.
Once I’m done, I hurry into the pack house and change my clothes before returning to work. There’s a change in the pack house, a change that hasn’t happened in a long time.
The servants scurry around the hallways and through the courtyard. I sense their urgency, their desire to get everything done perfectly, and their concern for ensuring that Luna is welcomed to the house.
The whole town is in a frenzy, people taking note of this unusual occurrence. The Alpha had never been interested in this before. A mate? It was hard to imagine, but since the mating ball, he set his intentions on a woman from the pack and made it official.
Catelyn Blanco–that is her name,
I have yet to see her. Her arrival at the pack house was yesterday afternoon. I had taken a break then and was occupied with other things, but I fully intended on seeing her today.
It’s rumored that Alpha Elias will formalize their bond tonight, and he’s planning on a mating feast tomorrow in the yards outside. Though, nothing is yet certain. They are still getting to know each other. Everyone inside the pack house is curious‘ to see where this is heading.
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Chapter 27
It’s known that once the Alpha takes upon a mate, it won’t be long before we all see heirs of the pack–pupe
1 shudder at the thought of it all.
Alpha Elias doing intimates with a woman. So wrong
I shake my head and get on with my work. 1’s then that 1 collide with Tony, who’s making his way in from one of the doors in the back. Once he sees me, be approaches me and miles.
“How are you doing?” he asks
“Good, good.” I don’t think of it much. He’s been asking me all week how I’ve been doing, and I give the same response each
time
7 saw you training earlier when I was near the grounds. You looked great.
“Yeah, I’ve been practicing a lot lately
He flicks up his brow, “Really? And Ethel allows it?”
“Yeah, she’s agreed to it. As long as I get my work done.”
“You mean, as long as no one finds out about it.” He teases, moving his head forward a little, laughing silently. “I guess you won’t be stopping any time soon.”
“I don’t plan on that.”
“That’s good. You should learn some defense as well. When my dad was alive, he taught me some things that are still helpful to this day if I’m found alone and in trouble.”
The way he sounds, it’s odd, almost as if he’s telling me something without telling me.
My forehead creases a little, and I step closer. “Why would I need to learn defense?”
He winces, looking over his shoulder before nearing me. “You know why, Rhea.” The smile that was on his face fades into
oblivion.
I don’t say anything. I look at him with confusion.
His voice lowers even further before he tells me, “I saw you last week when you were in your wolf form on the night before the mating ball. Near the woods at the back.”
In the spur of the moment, I freeze.
“You–saw me?” I’m barely able to force the words out.
“I did,” he nods, an ever so small one. “I saw those two come after you, trying to- Tony’s eyes fall away for a fraction of a second before he finds mine. “I wanted to do something, but I couldn’t.”
“Please, don’t tell anyone.” It comes out more of a desperate plea than anything.
was cut?”
need to tell, Rhea,” He whispers, “They hurt you. And they even hurt you before that, didn’t they? When your arm
“Yes,” I inhale a sharp breath, my throat restricting at the very thought of what had happened that night and my arm aching a little because of it. “But I just don’t want anyone to know–”
“You should tell.”
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“No,” I snap at him, shaking my head. “I can’t just leave it. Act like you didn’t see anything. I don’t want to get in trouble, and I’m sure you don’t want to either. Tony. We both are just working here. So, please, drop it, okay?
A hint of reluctance sifts through his features. “Are you sure?”
I want to say more, but before I can, we’re interrupted. A woman approaches us, and I instantly understand who it is: Luna Catelyn.
Tony seems to recognize her, and he swiftly draws himself to his full length in her presence.
“There’s something I need assistance with,” She looks at Tony and then at me. “Could you come with me?”
“Yes, of course.” I quickly reply, not even wasting a second.
I say goodbye to Tony, leaving him right there alone. Catelyn starts up the stairs. “May I ask where you need assistance, ma’am?
She glances back at me, a quick look over the shoulder and gives me a courteous smile, “I have a slight problem with my things. It’s not that big of a deal. I’m sure you can sort it out.”
We reach the third–floor landing before I can respond and start heading through a massive open space at the end. A large door is to the left side, opposite the Alpha’s room. She takes me inside the chamber, revealing all I’ve seen of her possessions and a few I’ve never witnessed before.
She pushes the door shut behind us and stands in front of me. “Some of my important belongings are scattered, and I need immediate help finding them.”
I nod and take another glance at everything that is there. There are plenty of unopened suitcases, but some are opened, and their contents are on the carpeted floor, the top of the desk, and the bed. Dresses and shawls of every kind of material are strewn across the four–poster king–sized bed, and there is a lot more stuff.
I’m surprised that no one here with her is helping her out with the stuff.
Ethel usually sends someone when someone’s moving in or out of the pack house to help them pack up or unpack. Yet, it appears she doesn’t want anyone here to touch her stuff.
I push down the bewilderment rising inside my head.
Maybe it isn’t appropriate. I’ve been known to assume things before, and I’m doing the same again. I should stay out of it. It’s not my business to be poking around anyway.
“You can tell me what you’re looking for, and I’ll see if I can find it for you,” I say.
“It’s mostly my mother’s antique jewelry collection.” She steps away and is near one of the luggage that is opened. “I’m certain most of it was here, but I have only found some pieces. The rest–I’m not sure where they are.”
I nod, understanding, “I’ll help you look for it.”
After that, she sits down, and I start searching through each box and luggage for the jewelry she’s looking for. It takes me a while before I find some pieces, among other things. But it’s still not all that she had gotten here.
I sit down, opening up another box before looking into the contents inside.
“I didn’t catch your name yet,” She says after silence. “Neither have I seen you working here until now.”
“Yes, I was a little preoccupied with other work when you arrived. I apologize I couldn’t come to you and assist then,”
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Chapter 27
Deave the book on the side, next to the other two on the floor, and begin searching a third.
And my name k Rhea.”
how long have you been working here?” She asks while crossing her legs.
“More than three years now”
You must be young then”
I breathe heavily, slowly going through an assortment of things. “I suppose. I’m almost twenty
There’s a moment of silence after that, but the air shifts and I get this odd feeling that something has changed.
1
I think I did see you once here. Last week” Her voice is strangely calm.
1 smile slightly. “Oh. I don’t think you did. I wasn’t working the mating ball for long and left quite early from here”
Tve got a good memory. I saw you.”
I am trying to understand where she’s heading but unsure what to say next. But I’m sure her eyes are burning holes through my back. I wish I hadn’t turned from her and had the chance to see her expression.
Silence sits before us, swelling before an inevitable release.
“Where did you see me?”
“In the library–or I believe that’s what it was.”
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