Chapter 22: Chapter 22 An Invitation To Fear
I picked at my breakfast, barely managing a few bites. The food looked incredible, but my stomach churned with every attempt to swallow.
An hour later, silent servants collected my barely touched plates. They moved like ghosts, never meeting my eyes before disappearing back into the shadows.
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.
