Chapter 16 - The Cursed Second Chance Bond

A sharp clap snapped me from my thoughts. Madame Beatrice had brought her hands together, drawing the servants’ full attention. “You don’t have all day,” she said. “Undress the Alpha’s wife and take her for a bath.”

Alpha’s wife. Not Luna.

I wasn’t sure if that was intentional or not.

I didn’t care about titles, but it was strange. They could have simply called me Luna like they would with any Alpha’s bride. But I wasn’t any Alpha’s bride, was I? I was Draven’s. And I was cursed.

Shaking the thought away, I obeyed Madame Beatrice without a word, sitting in front of the vanity mirror as the maids removed my cloud veil, jewellery, and makeup.

The heavy fabric slipped from my shoulders, and I exhaled deeply, trying to push away the weight of the night. But it clung to me, poisoning my thoughts and making me remember everything I wanted to forget.

Draven forcing me to become his bride.

Draven standing up for me.

And Draven insulting me.

I hated how much space he occupied in my mind.

Two maids guided me toward the bathroom. Steam curled through the air, thick with the scent of vanilla and lavender.

Madame Beatrice’s voice cut through the haze. “Use the lavender oil,” she instructed. “In case the Alpha changes his mind and decides to visit tonight.”

My blood ran cold.

Draven? Coming here?

After everything?

I clenched my jaw. No. He had insulted me. Humiliated me. Let others disrespect me. I had no business with him, and he had no business coming to my room.

And hadn’t he already told me that bedding me wasn’t in his plans? So why would he-

I quickly caught myself.

It didn’t matter. He wouldn’t come. He shouldn’t.

Before I realized it, I had already been stripped of my gown and submerged in the warm bath as the maids scrubbed my skin. Their hands were firm and methodical, but at least not as harsh as before.

I felt the warm water soothe my aching feet, but the tension in my muscles didn’t ease, though.

I barely noticed when the servants finished. I barely noticed when they dressed me in a thin nightgown.

It was only when they draped a robe over my shoulders that I finally exhaled, some tension leaving me.

I stepped out of the bathroom just in time to see Madame Beatrice close the door behind someone.

She turned to me, expression unreadable. “The Alpha will not be visiting you tonight.”

A rush of relief filled my chest, and I masked it well.

Madame Beatrice wasted no time leading me to a small dining area near my bed. The moment I sat, my eyes landed on the food before me.

It was… appetizing.

Freshly cooked meat, seasoned vegetables, rich golden bread. The aroma curled into my senses, making my stomach twist painfully.

As if to mock me further, my stomach growled. Loudly. I clenched my fingers.

One of the servants quietly poured wine into my goblet.

I ignored the warmth in my cheeks. I was not going to be embarrassed over needing food. I had barely eaten all day. And it was thoughtful of them to do this for me.

Just as I was about to reach for my drink, a thought hit me.

Azul.

I looked up at Madame Beatrice. “Where is Azul?”

Her expression remained neutral. “She will be with you once she has learned our pack’s rules.”

I frowned. “What?”

Madame Beatrice clasped her hands behind her back. “The rules in Mystic Furs are different from Moonstone.” Her tone was calm, but there was a subtle edge to it. A subtle insult.

I understood immediately. She didn’t trust or acknowledge the training from Moonstone. She thought her pack was superior.

And after everything I had seen so far, she wasn’t wrong.

But still. Azul was the only familiar face in this place, the only person who had ever truly cared for me. And now she was being trained before she could even be allowed near me?

Madame Beatrice must have noticed my displeasure because her face hardened. She turned to the maidservants and asked them to leave. Immediately, they walked out and shut the door.

Madame Beatrice lifted her chin slightly. “You made a mistake today.”

I blinked. “What?”

“At the wedding,” she said, her voice levelled but firm. “You embarrassed our Alpha in front of the entire werewolf hierarchy.”

I tensed.

“The servants saw it. And as a result, they don’t respect you.”

I could guess that already, but the way she said it made something cold settle in my stomach.

“The lowest-ranking wolves,” she continued, “are still wolves. And despite our discipline, their loyalty can be easily bought.”

A strange chill crept down my spine. I narrowed my eyes, trying to read between her words.

She wasn’t just talking about servants.

She was talking about enemies. Spies. People who wanted me gone.

She let the silence stretch before giving me one final warning.

“If you want to keep your life for a long time,” she said, “I suggest you respect Alpha Draven. And be loyal to him.”

Be loyal to Draven?

‘How impossible!’ I wanted to snap back but held my tongue in the end.

“Because he is the only one who can protect you,” Madame Beatrice’s gaze darkened as she finished.

And with that, she turned and left the room, shutting the door behind her.

I sat there, unmoving. For the first time since arriving at Mystic Furs, I understood something clearly.

I wasn’t just an outcast here.

I was a target.

Third Person’s POV.

The cold night air bit into the servant’s skin as she walked briskly along the stone corridors, rubbing her arms for warmth. The banquet had ended hours ago, and most of the pack had retired for the night. She was exhausted, looking forward to resting in her quarters.

But then-a shadow moved.

Before she could react, two guards emerged from the darkness. One grabbed her left arm. The other seized her right.

The servant gasped, her body stiffening in shock. “What-? What’s happening? What did I do?”

The guards said nothing.

Fear clawed its way up her throat as they began dragging her down the hallway.

<< Previous Chapter

Next Chapter >>