Chapter 30

Lila’s POV.

“How dare he!?” I growled, turning around to watch him taking the other path. “What’s he trying to do?” I asked as I faced my front.

My hand combed my hair, almost pulling at the root of it at what he did. The hall was almost empty, with few eyes gazing in the direction I had come out from.

“You profess love to me, but you put me in situations that could get any of us killed or banished from your father’s pack,” I said, rubbing my hands over my face.

The brief break he lied to get me to him influenced my body. My bones felt weary from working, rumbling against each other as I made my way back to the kitchen.

“Where did you go to?”

Lady Helga’s face was not smiling as she stood, holding a lace fan in her hand to blow away the heat from the kitchen.

“I went for a brief break,” I said, lowering my head to the ground. The words spilled from my lips came unexpectedly. I cursed at myself for telling a lie as fruitless as that.

She scuffed as she turned around. “You will become Luna soon, but it doesn’t exonerate you from doing your share of duties in the pack.”

“I’m sorry, Lady Helga,” I apologized, happy she believed the lie as I followed her until we were standing in front of a boiling pot. The aroma from it was heavenly and I could guess she had done the adjustments to it as she pulled a ladle, drawing food from the pot.

She hummed, nodding her head as she turned to the servant responsible for it. “This meal is perfect. You’re getting better.”

That was the first time I heard Lady Helga compliment any food as perfect since I came to this pack. I could see the pride in the servant as her smile widened, lowering her head in appreciation before Lady Helga.

I stopped, standing at that spot while she walked again to another spot.

“Did I give you permission to not follow me?”

I raised my head, turning my gaze to where she stood. Her eyes spoke much of a fate way worse than spending my days in the kitchen if I did not walk after her. Our walk continued, while she tasted each meal prepared by the people here.

It seemed like she was showing me the things she expected and wanted me to do while we walked around, but my mind wasn’t with her.

Kyril’s body was firmer. His scent was exotic and called for you to want to sniff him for as long as possible. If only he knew I wanted to remain on his body when held me against him. I sighed as I thought of it, leaning on the counter.

“Nine o’clock, Rose section.”

His words echoed in my head as he called after me. “What did he want to tell me?” I asked myself in the bustle of the kitchen. The response was those of the chefs calling out to each other for one ingredient or the other.

I walked behind Lady Helga, but I wasn’t with her. My mind had transported itself to the rose section, hoping he would profess his love for me. Take me away from the grasp of his father and into a land far away.

“Lila.”

I jerked to the call, turning to Lady Helga’s frown. “Yes, Lady Helga.”

“How about you can rest in the dungeon if you are tired of standing in the kitchen?” She asked with a frown deepening.

“I was just think....” the words drowned in my lips as I thought about the words I was yet to say.

“Don’t think. Work.”

My shoulders dropped, walking behind her again until each of the meals they served was to her taste and carried to the alpha’s place. I gave a sigh of relief as they took the last meal to the alpha, yawning loudly.

It felt like a load left my shoulders as she called out to me, giving me permission to leave. I walked to my room, passing by the dining where the alpha ate. He seemed content with what he was eating. A smile on his face that I could tell wasn’t from the food.

I shrugged my shoulders as I walked by, having not seen the face I thought I’d see. “Why are you thinking about him?” I asked myself, rubbing my temple with my hands.

The man in charge of putting the lights on made no mistake this time as I walked into a lightened room.

It was warm from the heat, and the closed window. I walked into the bathroom, pouring over the pail of water I had fetched earlier in the evening into the tub.

A moan escaped my lips as I pushed myself into the waters. I needed to wash the sweat, smoke and ash of the kitchen if I wanted to see Kyril.

“Why do you want to impress him?” I asked myself, shaking my head to clear the thoughts away. There were thoughts in my head I knew I had to get rid off before I met him.

I cleaned my body, stepping in front of the mirror to stare at my body. It was still me, but I knew it expected something, but I could not tell as I slipped the gown on my body. It was the only gown I felt would be fitting to take a stroll in.

I walked out of my room, following the path of the dining to check on the men eating. They were still there, laughing loudly and raucous. The alpha was no longer with them, neither was Kyril at the table.

I pulled away, searching around the room to be sure of what was in front of me. I was having more than second thoughts now that I could not find the alpha in their midst. “This is a bad idea,” I said to myself as I turned towards the entrance of the castle.

The wind blew at my coming, causing me to shiver. I rubbed my palms against my arms to heat myself. “I should have worn better clothes.”

It was nothing now as stepping back into the castle could cause me extra work if Lady Helga was to find me walking around the dining premises.

I shook my head as I walked down the stairs. The moon was shining in her glory, guiding my path as I walked towards the garden. I wrapped my hands around myself as I made for the path to the rose section.

“This is a mistake,” I said to myself as there was no sound around. It wasn’t odd, but there was no one outside. The guards outside were scanty, and the food cooked was by far one of the biggest we’d done.

“Why would I care about the things they do?”

I sighed, raising my head to the moon. It was freezing and my body was the one suffering. “Where are you, Kyril?” I muttered as I reached the rose section. There was no one present, almost empty aside from the flowers.

I stopped, looking at the opening to be sure he had not tricked me, but here I was, standing and waiting while, hoping no one saw me standing there.

“Why would my future wife be standing outside in the cold?”

I froze in my step. The voice was unfamiliar, muffled more, but only one person addressed me as his future wife.

I lowered my head, turning to meet my doom. “I’ve fucked up,” I said to myself as I raised my head to meet the alpha.