Chapter 11 WHISPERS BENEATH THE WALLS
Ginnie
I scrubbed my hands longer than necessary at the basin outside the staff quarters, as if it could wash away the humiliation of last night off my skin.
Especially from Varkos.
The way he’d produced the bracelet at the perfect moment, like some knight in shining armor I never asked him to be. Before deliberately tearing down the small, foolish hope that tried to bloom in my chest.
Don’t be stupid, Ginnie.
One good deed could never erase what he’d done to me that night, nor did it suddenly make him have a heart.
Bastard!
If anything, it only proved how dangerous he was—how easily he could lift someone just to crush them harder moments later. I couldn’t let myself believe there was even a shred of humanity buried inside Alpha Varkos.
Stop thinking about him, Ginnie.
He’s not worth it!
He’s not worth it!
I pushed the thoughts away as the staff quarters door creaked softly, I slipped inside, careful not to draw attention. The room was dim, the only small window letting in a weak streak of morning light.
“Lily,” I whispered, exhaustion heavy in my bones from all the cleaning we servants had done last night after the party.
“Mom—be quiet.”
I stepped fully into the room to see Lily sitting upright on the bed, her small body tense while her head was tilted slightly as if she were listening to something far away.
“What is it?” I asked softly, my pulse picking up. “Did something happen?”
She lifted a finger to her lips, “I’m listening to their conversation.”
“Who’s conversation, baby?” A chill crept up my spine at what she had said.
“The Lycans,” she whispered, as if that explained everything, “I can hear them talking down the hall all the way from here.”
A laughter almost escaped me—almost, but I forced it down. “Oh, Lily,” I said gently, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes, “You must’ve heard voices in your dream. You were asleep when I left.”
“I wasn’t asleep,” she snapped, her eyes turning to face me, something in her tone made my stomach tighten. “I can hear them,” she continued, “One of them is angry…really angry.”
I knelt in front of her, brushing a hand through her hair to calm her down. “Baby, you shouldn’t joke about things like that, you know how dangerous—“
“I’m not joking, Mummy,” she cut me off before I could finish, her voice trembling now. “Listen.”
I froze for a moment, holding my breath to know if I would hear anything. But nothing. No voices, only the faint hum of the villa settling around us as silence pressed in, heavy and ordinary.
“Lily,” I whispered, forcing myself to sound calm despite the fear creeping inside me, “there’s nothing—”
“He’s asking Miss Maria why the trash is yet to be disposed of,” she cut in softly.
“What?”
Her head tilted slightly, eyes unfocused, as though she were listening to something far away that I couldn’t hear.
“I can’t hear anything, Lily.” I said slowly, “Maybe you’re just imagining it.”
She shook her head immediately, “No, he’s really barking at Maria,” Lily whispered. “He’s telling her she had one job to do,” she went on, her small fingers curling into the blanket. “He’s…he’s baring his teeth, Mum. I think he wants to hurt her.”
I strained my ears to listen, desperate for even the faintest sound. But only silence mocked me in return
“Lily!” I snapped, fear seeping into my voice despite trying to ground myself. “Stop saying things like that. You’re scaring me.”
Before I could part my lips to say another word—
BANG!
The door burst open with a violent force. It slammed against the wall as Maria barged in, her hands clenched tightly into fists, not to mention her eyes blazing as if she’d been dragged straight out of hell.
She stood there, breathing hard, glaring at me like I was already condemned. “Why are you still here!” Maria barked, “Didn’t you hear me calling you?”
How the—
I hadn’t even heard her footsteps, so how did she come up here with such suddenness?
“Throw the trash out now,” her voice shattered through my thoughts. “That’s if you don’t want a death wish.”
Before I could part my lips to respond, she turned sharply and stormed back into the corridor. Lily looked up at me, her eyes widened in relief, “See, Mum? I told you the Lycan was questioning her about the trash.”
My mind raced with different thoughts that I couldn't say out loud.
How did she hear that?
The walls in here are too thick, no human child would be able to hear Lycan conversations— especially not the high-ranked ones.
Unless…
“Ginne!” A sharp bark thundered from the hallway as Maria called out my name, “I won’t call you again!”
My body moved on instinct, and I stood up abruptly. “Stay here, Baby” I whispered fiercely, clutching her little fingers to make sure she understood me perfectly. “Don’t tell anyone what happened today, do you understand?”
Lily nodded immediately, fear finally breaking through her brave little mask as I hurried out, my steps quickening as Maria’s glare pinned me in place.
“Move,” she snapped, throwing the trash at my feet. “Before you get us both killed.”
The trash was heavy, the stench thick as I hauled it through the hallway down to the disposal area behind the villa. If anyone notices Lily…
If they realized what she was—
No. No, no, no…
My hands shook as I reached the bin, yanking the lid open and lifted the bag— before my eyes landed on something white peeked out from beneath the refuse.
A crumbled note.
I hesitated only a second before finally reaching in and pulling it free, my fingers trembling as I unfolded it.
The rogues are ready to attack.
The Blood Moon Pack won’t see it coming.
Meet at the old border….before the next full moon.
My breath hitched.
“Rogues…?”