Arabella
With that, she left, and I slowly pushed the door open before stepping inside.
"Wow," was the only word that escaped my lips.
The room shimmered under the warm glow of golden lights. I walked further in, my eyes drinking in every detail like someone afraid the beauty would disappear if I blinked. The room was enormous, far bigger than any room I had ever seen back in my pack. Everything looked elegant, expensive, and untouched.
A massive bed stood proudly at the center of the room, dressed in smooth silk covers that gleamed softly beneath the light. Beside it stood a delicate bedside table with a crystal lamp resting on top. My gaze wandered around the room slowly, absorbing everything.
Expensive curtains draped over tall windows that stretched almost from the ceiling to the floor.
Curiosity pulled me forward.
I ran toward the window, my fingers brushing against the curtain. The fabric felt unbelievably soft, sliding smoothly between my fingers like flowing water.
When I pushed the curtain slightly aside and looked outside, my breath caught.
Fresh flowers bloomed everywhere. An endless garden stretched out before me, filled with colors so bright they looked almost unreal. Roses, lilies, and flowers I couldn't even name swayed gently in the wind. The air that drifted through the window carried a faint sweet fragrance.
For a moment, I simply stood there in silence.
Then exhaustion finally caught up with me.
I turned around and walked toward the bed before collapsing onto it. The mattress was unbelievably soft, as if it swallowed me whole the moment I laid down.
The warmth of the silk sheets wrapped around my tired body, and before I even realized it, sleep claimed me.
In my dream, I saw him again.
Blond hair.
Violet eyes.
Those piercing eyes stared straight into my soul.
"Wake up, you dirty, stinky rogue!"
The harsh voice sliced through my dream.
My brows furrowed in irritation as I shifted slightly on the bed, trying to return to sleep.
Then suddenly,
A hand shoved me violently.
The force was so strong that I immediately realized it was not a dream.
I jerked awake.
Standing before me was a girl who looked around my age, maybe slightly older. She wore what appeared to be a maid's uniform, but the expression on her face was anything but kind.
Her eyes were filled with pure contempt.
"Are you deaf?" she snapped sharply. "Stand up from that bed before you stain the sheets with your filthy body."
Her nose wrinkled in disgust.
"I wonder where our king even found you."
I scrambled to my feet quickly, nearly twisting my ankle in panic.
"What are you doing here? And who sent you?" I asked nervously.
The girl rolled her eyes dramatically before turning toward two other maids standing behind her.
"To think she is not only deaf," she scoffed mockingly, "but also dumb."
The two maids burst into laughter immediately.
My cheeks burned.
"Listen carefully, rogue," the first maid continued coldly. "We are here to prepare you for the king. And who else would send us if not His Majesty himself?"
Her lips curled into a cruel smile.
"The king personally ordered us to wash you thoroughly. Just like we would wash something filthy."
She leaned closer to me.
"Because you stink."
Her words pierced straight through my chest.
"And honestly," she added, glancing at me from head to toe, "I don't blame him. You actually do."
She pointed toward the mirror behind me.
"Why don't you take a look at yourself?"
Suddenly I became painfully aware of my appearance.
My hands were still dirty.
My clothes were torn and stained.
Slowly, I hid my hands behind my back as shame crawled up my spine. My head lowered on its own.
So he really thinks I'm filthy.
The thought twisted painfully inside my chest.
"Strip her."
The maid's voice rang sharply through the room.
My entire body flinched.
I instinctively clutched the king's clothes tighter around me.
"What are you hiding?" she mocked. "It's not like you're pure."
Her voice dripped with venom.
"I bet you're just a whore. That's probably why the king brought you here."
My heart pounded violently.
"When he's done with you," she continued cruelly,
"he'll throw you away."
Her eyes darkened.
"That is… if you're even able to walk out of here alive."
A chill ran down my spine.
"Most girls never leave the same," she whispered coldly. "Some leave broken."
Her lips curled again.
"Some never leave alive at all."
My fingers trembled.
"Now," she clapped her hands sharply, "what are you waiting for? Take her clothes off."
Before I could react, the two maids lunged forward.
"No….!"
I tried grabbing onto the fabric desperately, but they were stronger than me. They tore at the clothes roughly until the fabric ripped apart.
Within seconds, everything was gone.
I stood there completely naked.
My arms crossed over my chest quickly as I tried covering the most sensitive parts of my body.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," the maid clicked her tongue mockingly.
"Why are you acting shy now?"
Her eyes scanned me shamelessly.
"Weren't you practically half-naked already when the king brought you back to the palace?"
My face burned with humiliation.
"You were exposing half your body earlier," she continued. "Why the sudden modesty now?"
I glared at her, though shame still drowned my entire being.
"Take her to the bathroom," she ordered coldly.
She waved her hand dismissively.
"Scrub every bit of dirt from her body. Make sure that stench disappears before she steps out."
The two maids grabbed my arms immediately.
"Let me go!" I struggled. "I can wash myself! Don't touch me!"
But they didn't listen.
Their grip tightened painfully.
No matter how much I twisted or fought, it was useless.
They dragged me into the bathroom and forced me into the bath.
Cold water splashed against my skin.
Then the scrubbing began.
The rough cloth scraped against my skin over and over again.
It hurt.
They scrubbed so hard that tears quickly filled my eyes.
I tried biting my lip to hold them back.
But they still fell.
All the pain I had buried deep inside suddenly resurfaced.
First Victor.
Now King Enzo.
Both of them looked down on me.
For what?
What did I ever do to deserve this?
Silent sobs escaped my lips as the maids continued scrubbing my body until they were satisfied that every inch of dirt had been removed.
Finally they stopped.
They dried my body roughly with a towel before
bringing out a new set of clothes.
They forced the dress onto me.
Once it was on, they turned me around so my back faced them and began tightening the corset.
The strings pulled tighter.
And tighter.
I could barely breathe.
But I said nothing.
At this point, I was already numb.
When they finished, they pushed me toward the dresser where a large mirror stood.
I stared at my reflection.
For a moment, I didn't recognize the girl staring back.
My long black hair had been carefully combed and styled. A silver flowing ribbon rested gently on top of my head.
My lips were painted a deep red.
The dark green gown hugged my body tightly, highlighting my waist and giving me an hourglass shape. The corset pushed my chest slightly upward, creating a modest but noticeable cleavage.
My emerald eyes seemed brighter against the rich color of the dress.
On my feet were simple flat shoes.
"Perfect," the maid said with satisfaction.
"Now you finally look worthy of standing in the king's presence."
Then she leaned closer to my ear.
Her voice dropped into a whisper.
"Don't get any foolish ideas."
A cold smile spread across her lips.
"The king will never take a liking to someone like you."
My chest tightened.
"Whatever reason he brought you here for," she continued softly, "it won't last."
Her eyes gleamed.
"Once he beds you, he'll lose interest."
She straightened up.
"And then he'll find another flower to water."
My heart ached.
Tears burned behind my eyes.
But I refused to cry.
I would not give them the satisfaction of seeing my tears.
"Let's go," I said quietly.
"Lead the way."
Inside my mind, a different thought echoed.
The sooner the king gets what he wants… the sooner I can be free.
I lifted my head high and followed them.
As we walked through the palace corridors, whispers began spreading around us.
"Who is that?"
"That's the new breeder the king brought back."
"She is beautiful… more beautiful than the others."
"Well, that's probably why the king brought her."
"I heard she's a rogue without a pack."
"Pretty face or not, the king will eventually throw her away."
"Of course. She cannot compare to Miss Aurora."
Everyone knows the king holds Miss Aurora dearly in his heart."
"She is the only breeder the king visits regularly."
"They say she will become his mate soon… once she bears his child."
"How can you even compare Miss Aurora, a noble Lycan, to this nobody she-wolf?"
The mocking laughter echoed through the halls.
Every word stabbed into my chest.
But I kept walking.
My head remained high.
I refused to let them see how deeply their words hurt.
Silently, I followed the maids toward the king.
My heart churned with confusion, fear, and something else I couldn't name as I tried to understand how my life had changed so drastically in suc
h a short time.
And deep down, I wondered,
What exactly awaited me when I finally stood before King Enzo. What will become of me when he is done. Will he cast me aside? Where will I go from here? Those questions plague my thoughts as we made our way to the king.