The silence felt foreign. No one barking orders, no demands to scrub floors or tend fires. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been left completely alone. The quiet should have been peaceful, but instead it left me restless, unsure how to fill the empty hours.
I wanted to clean something – anything – just to keep busy, but I had no supplies. More importantly, Flynn had been clear about staying out of sight.
After making the bed with military precision, I drew a bath. The hot water embraced my aching muscles as I sank deeper, letting the heat seep into my bones until my fingertips wrinkled like raisins.
Later, I discovered the reading nook tucked into the room’s second alcove. Shelves lined the walls, packed with more books than I’d seen in years. I selected one at random and lost myself in its pages until my stomach reminded me it was lunchtime.
The collection was massive – I’d have months of reading ahead. This newfound freedom made my pulse quicken with something dangerously close to hope.
I avoided the plush armchair that probably cost more than most people’s homes. Despite the long bath, I still felt dirty. Tainted. The elegant furniture seemed too pure for someone like me.
When had I started thinking so little of myself? A year with Kevin, listening to his constant degradation, had apparently carved out pieces of my soul I hadn’t realized were missing.
A knock at the door made me assume lunch had arrived, but when I opened it, the young woman’s hands were empty.
“Yes?” I asked, distracted by her bright smile.
“My lady, the king requests your presence for lunch.”
“Lunch? Together?” The words hit me like ice water. My throat went desert-dry.
“Yes, His Majesty is waiting in the dining room. I’ll escort you when you’re ready.” Her smile revealed dimples that made her look impossibly young.
I hesitated, remembering Flynn’s warnings. But this was the king’s direct request.
The omega blinked expectantly. “Shall we go, my lady? Or would you prefer to change first?”
Heat flooded my cheeks as I glanced down at my simple black shirt and jeans. I had nothing better. “No, let’s go.”
Relief washed over me when she didn’t sneer at my appearance. I’d braced for mockery – it had become my default expectation.
We traveled the same corridor Flynn had led me through last night, but turned left at the center garden, crossing to the building’s opposite wing. The maze of hallways made my head spin.
“What’s your name?” I asked, desperate to fill the awkward silence.
“Mason,” she replied cheerfully.
She looked about my age, maybe younger. “Hi, Mason. I’m Phoebe.” The introduction felt painfully childish, but if she thought so, her expression didn’t betray it.
Her continued smile seemed genuine, though I’d grown terrible at reading people’s true intentions. After being surrounded by those who despised me for lacking a wolf, for being “bad luck,” I’d learned to expect the worst.
“Here we are, my lady.”
Massive double doors carved from black oak rose before us, their intricate patterns mesmerizing. When a warrior pushed them open, they released a soft groan.
Voices drifted from within – I recognized one immediately. My legs turned to lead.
“Go on, my lady. The king’s waiting.” Mason’s encouragement carried an edge of anxiety. “Don’t keep him waiting too long.” Her pale complexion suggested the king’s mood had been volatile today.
I’d heard how his temper could poison the entire palace’s atmosphere, turning everyone tense and watchful.
“My lady?” Mason’s worried tone snapped me back. She exchanged glances with the equally confused warrior.
“Yes…” I forced the word past my constricted throat and stepped into the room. My heart hammered against my ribs as fear crashed over me in waves.
The moment I crossed the threshold, all conversation died.
Phoebe’s POV
The moment I entered the dining room, all conversation ceased. The king wasn’t alone – a young man with silver-blonde hair and electric blue eyes sat beside him. His eyes resembled the king’s, though softer in shade.
His eyebrows shot up when he saw me walk in, making my stomach twist into knots. I hated being studied like this, and this stranger was watching me with unsettling intensity.
I stood at the far end of the long dining table, my fingers fidgeting nervously while suffocating silence pressed down on us.
Like every other room in this place, the dining hall felt ancient – as if I’d been hurled back centuries. Everything screamed of majesty, reminiscent of the Renaissance or the golden age when the Supreme Kingdom of werewolves still ruled.
Back then, all werewolves bowed to one supreme ruler. But three hundred years ago, that kingdom crumbled, leaving seven separate kingdoms scattered across the continent.
This palace had been the Supreme Kingdom’s heart. I was certain little had changed here across generations.
“You can leave,” Perry told the blonde man without bothering with introductions.
The stranger looked like he wanted to speak, then clamped his mouth shut and grinned. “Alright, I’ll head out now.”
He walked past me, his stare bold and shameless, before vanishing through the double doors.
“Come here.” Perry jerked his chin toward the chair beside him, his gaze locked on me, making each step feel impossibly heavy.
Every instinct screamed at me to run, but my rational mind knew better. That would only unleash his fury – the last thing I needed.
Despite my internal protests, my body moved automatically. I responded to his command like I’d been conditioned to do all year.
I settled into a chair two seats away from the king, but Perry growled low. “I said sit here.” He nudged the chair directly beside him with his foot.
Shaking, I moved to the seat next to him.
I kept my eyes down, staring at my plate while my arms felt weighted with lead.
“What are you waiting for? Eat!” His annoyance cut through the air.
I ate in silence, not caring what passed my lips since everything tasted like cardboard. All I wanted was to finish this meal and escape back to my room, back to solitude.
Lost in my own head, I wasn’t paying attention to what I was eating until Perry grabbed my hand, stopping me mid-bite.
“Do you eat that?”
“Hm?”
Confusion clouded my thoughts until I looked at my spoon and saw what I’d scooped up.
A decorative candle garnish – definitely not edible.
My fear and distraction had blinded me to the elaborate spread before us. Every dish was artistically plated with ornate garnishes.
If I’d been paying attention, I would have noticed this wasn’t a simple meal. It was a feast – far too extravagant for just the two of us.
“Sorry,” I whispered automatically.
Apologizing had become second nature. It saved time and pain.
Perry released my wrist but gripped my chin instead, forcing my head up though my eyes remained downcast.
“Look at me when I talk to you!” His growl made me flinch, which only irritated him more. His grip tightened painfully, nails digging into my skin.
I trembled violently, breath coming in short gasps as my mind went blank. But I obeyed. My body couldn’t help it – Kevin had trained me too well.
“Why can’t I read your mind?” he snarled.
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