The Hayes packhouse had lost its mind.
I had seen it busy before during important ceremonies, festivals that I was not allowed to attend as a guest and was instead required to serve at. But this was different.
Lana and Cole's engagement ceremony was tonight, and the pack had to look the part for the biggest formal ball in Ashbourne. Rumors were, the Queen would attend.
Hence, the ruckus. Every surface had been polished twice. The kitchens had been running since before dawn and the head cook had already threatened to use my head as a mopping stick if I didn't keep my head down and mouth shut today.
I carried a tray of glasses through the main hall and kept my eyes forward. Low.
My back was sufficiently healed, but it was itching so terribly, it made my eyes water. I gritted my teeth as I made it over to the hall where the Alpha received his most important guests.
I just had to make it through the evening. Through serving the Hayes'. Through the Luna's remarks and Lana's tittering laughter. Through the pain that had been pulsing in my chest all morning.
I just had to make it through today, I thought as I entered the formal reception hall.. Everything was going to be fine–
"The Queen extends her deepest apologies for being unable to attend, Alpha Dante," a dark, familiar voice echoed across the space, crawling along my spine like a caress.
Alpha Dante sat at the head of the long mahogany table set for twenty. Luna Kaida to his right, dressed in emerald silk. The Braxtons down the left side. The Calloways down the right. The Reeves. Three visiting delegates from the Southern territory whose names I didn't know.
And Cole and Lana, side by side, their hands entwined.
But my attention was on the man on the cushioned seat by Alpha Dante's left.
My fingers started to tremble on the tray as my gaze fell helplessly on Prince Soren. His chin rested lazily on his fist and his lashes drooped slowly, like he was dozing off mid-conversation. Dressed in a rich, dark coat embroidered with glittering amethyst threads, a crown hangs askew on his brow, giving him an air of royalty and superiority.
As if feeling my gaze, those violet eyes landed on me.
I drew to a sudden halt. My shoes squeaked.
Loudly.
The sound echoed and the collective attention of nineteen people sank through me.
Soren's eyes skimmed my figure for one long second, lingering on my dirty shoes. Then he dismissed me completely, like I was some piece of furniture he'd found interesting for about one second.
Oh goddess. My skin felt like I had taken a trip to a sauna.
"Will you keep ogling our guest, Adams, or shall I get someone else to do your job?" Luna Kaida chided.
I jerked forward, lowering my head to hide the flush creeping into my cheeks. Don't look at the Prince. Why on earth is he even here–No. Eyes down, Maisie. Fill the glasses and leave.
Conversation resumed. Alpha Dante was asking Soren about the Queens Councils' position on the eastern territory disputes. Soren was chuckling at something Beta Braxton said. It was clear the entire table was in awe of him and revolved around the next thing that fell off his lips. Alpha Dante was practically salivating for Prince Soren's approval.
Luna Kaida was speaking with Mrs. Braxton about something I couldn't hear, while glancing wistfully at the Prince.
I guess even the adult women weren't immune to Soren's beauty. I swear every woman on the table was eye-fucking him.
I moved around the table. Filled glasses. Stepped back.
I had just made it to Cole's end of the table, reaching across to fill his glass when I felt Cole's fingers slip under my skirt.
His thumb slid over the inside of my knee inappropriately, inching dangerously towards the curve of my ass. In front of Lana. In front of his parents. In front of the guests. In the direct view of the Prince.
The shock of it had me jerking backward in confusion, terror, anger–too many emotions to process at once, my heart racing erratically in my chest.
And I slammed into Cheryl who had been holding the food tray behind me. Her warning yelp was all I got before the tray went up.
And everything came down.
Meatballs. Pasta. Sauce. Roasted duck. Pastries.
All of it. Down my front. Onto the floor. Onto the edge of Lana's white skirt.
The collective gasps were immediate.
I stood there in the ringing silence, covered in food, and thought, Of course. Of course this is how today goes.
"I'm so sorry–" The words came automatically. My hands were already reaching for Lana's skirt, the way they had when we were little and she cried at the slightest discomfort and I would kneel in front of her and fix whatever had gone wrong.
Lana shoved me.
My back hit the foot of the table and the impact sent a bolt of pain up my spine.
"Get your filthy hands off me."
Tension rose heavy in the air.
"Lana–" Regina started, but Lana cut her off. "Shut up, Ginny. Fraternising with the help seems to have confused you about where your loyalties belong."
Regina opened her mouth but the look Beta Braxton gave her was enough. Regina lowered her gaze. Her hand tightened on her fork until the knuckles went white.
Cole caught Lana's wrist. "Stop."
She pulled free.
"Why, Cole?" Her voice had gone very soft. "How does she ever learn her place if no one shows it to her? And when better to show it–" she looked around the table, at the guests, at the delegates, at Prince Soren whirling the wine in his glass with boredom, watching it all unfold. "--than when we are all here?"
Her gaze to me. "Every single time, you get in my way and make everything about you."