Chapter Nine

I couldn't sleep. I spent my night tossing and turning on the bed until the first light of the morning streamed into my room.

The word mate rang through my head all through the night. It couldn't be possible, right? But it had to be, that was the only explanation for what had happened. Rowan hadn't seemed exactly shocked, I didn't know if he knew or if he heard my wolf— I had no idea how true mating worked, and I hadn't needed to.

All my life it was obvious that I was going to get mated to Caspian when we both came of age so we didn't bother ourselves at any point to think of our true mates who were out there, it didn't matter. Caspian and I loved each other and had eyes for just ourselves.

But now he was dead and my wolf had for the first time called out to another as mate and the goddess had an ironic sense of humor because it just had to be Rowan.

I'd been too stupefied to say anything more and so all I could do was slowly make my way back into my room with Rowan a few places behind me. He didn't lock the door anymore, I had no idea why but I had a feeling I wouldn't like the answer.

A loud knock on the door jolted me and I sat up from the bed just as Kara walked in with an older woman behind her.

“Get up!” Kara snarled at me.

I watched her with confused eyes. “Excuse me?”

“This is not some getaway holiday, Scarlett. This is the Nightshade pack and in here, we are productive, we don't lay around expecting things to fall at our feet so get the fuck up when I tell you to!” She yelled.

Shock spasmed my body at her words. I'd never had anyone talk to me in that tone and I couldn't get my jaw off the ground so I simply stared at her, eyes wide open.

“Good to see we have that cleared up.” She turned to the woman behind her, a stern-faced woman with greying hair. Her lips were set in a thin line and she watched me with an unimpressed gaze, her worn hands folded neatly across her apron.

“This is Matilda,” Kara introduced. “She is in charge of the household duties and you will work with her and report directly to her. Is that understood?”

I snapped out of it and got up from the bed, “are you asking me to work as a servant?” I asked, bewildered by the sheer audacity.

I’d been born and raised as royalty. My father being the Beta of the pack and our close relationship with the Alpha’s family made mine a dignitary. We had servants roaming the house at all times of the day, ready to serve us so how dare Kara stand in front of me and request that I become a servant?

I didn't think it was possible but somehow the hatred in her eyes flared even more. “What, you think it's beneath you or something?” She took a step closer and we stood face to face but she was slightly taller and it gave her an advantage.

“Listen to me, girl,” Kara began. “This isn't your pack where you get to live in comfort and have other people do the toiling so your tyrant of a father can give you a majestic life? Over here, we work and we do not oppress each other so if you are against working then you should return to your pack. If they'll take your blood-hungry ass, that is, after all, you slaughtered their golden boy, no?”

Flames engulfed me and before I could stop myself, I lunged at Kara, fury propelling me forward but before I could even land a blow, she had me in a grip swiftly. She twisted my arms, using my own strength against me, and I felt myself flying through the air, landing hard on the floor

My wolf stirred, demanding to be let out.

I tried to scramble up, but Kara was too fast. She pinned me down, her knee digging into my chest. I struggled and flailed, but she held firm, contempt burning in her eyes. In a flash, she had me flipped over, my arm twisted behind my back. I felt a searing pain in my shoulder and I heard a snap as she managed to break my shoulder.

That did it! My shift was quick, my wolf tearing out of my skin in rage and exploding at Kara but she didn't seem deterred in a bit.

I watched as she took a step back and settled into a fighting stance, her expression cold, betraying nothing. Matilda looked horrified, her eyes widening at the size of my wolf and she ran out, a guttural scream escaping her throat and echoing through the walls of the hallway.

“Come on, Wild Wolf,” Kara sneered. “Show me what you got.”

She drew a knife from her belt and flipped it so her grip on it was sturdy. I lunged at her, flying into the air toward her and she swerved just in time but she was still no match for my wolf because I managed to run my claws through her skin, swiping on her back and tearing through her clothes, drawing blood.

“You stupid beast!” Kara cried, she moved quickly with precision, flinging herself against the wall and trying to attack me from above but I lunged at her and caught the hem of her shirt in my teeth, flinging her to the floor.

I turned to her, a growl rumbling in my throat, just as the door creaked open and a dark shadow fell across the room. The air thickened with barely contained fury, and from the corner of my eyes, I saw Rowan’s imposing figure.

“Shift back!” he snarled at my wolf, his voice low and menacing. “Now!”

And to my raw horror, I felt my wolf recede, my claws retracting as my body contorted back into its human form.