A New Disguise

A New Disguise
Nicole woke to the warmth of the morning sun against her face.
Her heartbeat was steady, and as her blurry vision slowly cleared, she recognized the lavender curtains, the familiar ceiling, and the faint scent of wildflowers and parchment.
She was back in her room.
Relief washed over her as she slowly pushed herself up. Her body still felt heavy, and a dull ache pulsed through her head.
Then she remembered what had happened.
Reading the fox’s mind had already drained most of her strength, but transforming into Zirah afterward had pushed her far beyond her limit.
No wonder she felt terrible.
The door suddenly opened, pulling her attention away from the memory.
Nadine entered carrying a tray with a steaming bowl of herbal soup. The moment she saw Nicole sitting up, she froze.
“My lady!”
She quickly placed the tray on the table and hurried to the bed.
“Are you okay? How are you feeling? Should I call the physician?”
Nicole smiled at the worried look on her face.
“I’m fine, Nadine. How long was I unconscious?”
Nadine pressed her lips together.
“A week, my lady.”
Nicole’s eyes widened slightly.
“A week?”
“You wouldn’t wake up no matter what I did. The physician told me not to force you because it could make things worse, so I could only wait.”
Nadine’s voice began to shake.
“Thank the Goddess you’re finally awake. I didn’t know what I would do if you never woke up.”
The sincerity in her words warmed Nicole’s heart.
“I’m sorry I worried you. My body probably needed time to recover.”
Then she remembered something.
“You mentioned the physician. Did he come to check on me?”
“Yes, my lady. Every day. He said your energy was changing too quickly for a normal wolf, but you weren’t in danger.”
Nadine’s worried expression suddenly brightened.
“And after you transformed into the white wolf, everything changed.”
Nicole raised an eyebrow.
“What changed?”
“Nobody dares to bother me anymore!”
Nicole almost laughed at how excited she sounded.
“The people who used to bully me avoid me now. They’re afraid you’ll punish them if they even look at me the wrong way. They don’t even dare gossip about you anymore.”
“Is that so?”
Nadine nodded eagerly.
“Even the Alpha’s personal guards came yesterday to ask about your health. They were very respectful. I still can’t believe you’re the one with the white wolf. I’m so happy for you, my lady. I could barely sleep.”
Nicole smiled.
It felt good to see someone genuinely happy for her without secretly waiting for the chance to betray her.
She reached out and gently brushed a loose strand of hair behind Nadine’s ear.
“Thank you for staying beside me.”
Nadine blushed and lowered her head.
“Always, my lady.”
She’s loyal, Zirah said inside Nicole’s mind. Keep her close. This time, we won’t make the same mistakes.
Nicole silently agreed.
I will. I’ll protect her and the people I care about.
“Oh! Before I forget.”
Nadine hurried back to the table and picked up a small cup filled with steaming green liquid.
“I made this every day while you were asleep, just in case you woke up. It’s the strengthening herb tonic. You need to drink it. It’ll help restore your strength.”
Nicole stared at the familiar green liquid.
Even the sharp herbal smell brought back memories.
In her past lives, Nadine had often made this tonic for her. But after Nicole began doubting everyone around her, she had convinced herself that Nadine might be poisoning her.
So she stopped drinking it.
Only later did she discover the painful truth.
Nadine had never been poisoning her.
The tonic had been helping her.
Without it, Nicole had only become weaker until her body could barely support her wolf’s strength.
She accepted the cup.
“Still green. Still dreadful.”
Then she drank it in one go.
The bitter liquid burned down her throat and left behind the same terrible earthy taste she remembered.
Nadine giggled.
“My lady...”
Nicole quickly placed the cup down.
“Don’t get sentimental. Tell me what happened after I fainted, especially with Alicia.”
Nadine’s lips immediately twitched.
Nicole caught it.
“You’re smiling.”
Nadine quickly lowered her head.
“Forgive me, my lady.”
“Don’t apologize. If you’re trying that hard not to laugh, something interesting must have happened. Tell me.”
Nadine’s cheeks turned red.
“Well... after you fainted, Prince Zandro covered you with his fur cloak and carried you back to your room himself.”
Nicole blinked.
“Zandro?”
“Yes!”
Nadine leaned closer, unable to hide her excitement.
“It was so romantic, my lady. All the women in the courtyard were jealous. Prince Zandro wouldn’t let anyone else touch you, and he looked worried that you might catch a cold.”
Nicole nearly choked.
Romantic?
Zandro?
If Nadine knew what Nicole knew, she wouldn’t call it romantic.
Across Nicole’s past lives, Zandro probably wouldn’t have blinked if she were bleeding to death in front of him.
Now he suddenly cared because she had fainted?
Nicole rolled her eyes.
“Enough about him. What happened to Alicia? Did she transform after I passed out?”
Nadine’s expression immediately became excited again.
“No, my lady. She couldn’t.”
Nicole’s attention sharpened.
“The Alpha ordered her to shift, but she started making excuses. She said she was sick and too weak. Everyone was watching, so when she still refused to transform, people started whispering that maybe she had lied about having a wolf.”
Nadine struggled not to laugh.
“And when the whispers became too much, she fainted. Or at least, she pretended to.”
“Pretended?”
“It was terrible acting, my lady. She couldn’t even keep her eyes completely closed.”
Nicole laughed.
Nadine finally allowed herself to laugh too.
“Her maid and stepmother made everything worse. They were acting terrified and making such a dramatic scene even though they obviously knew she was pretending.”
A slow smile spread across Nicole’s face.
“Some things never change.”
Alicia had escaped the confrontation for now.
But pretending to faint wouldn’t answer the question everyone was beginning to ask.
Did Alicia actually have a wolf?
Nicole pushed the blanket aside and got out of bed.
Her muscles protested after being unconscious for so long, but she ignored the discomfort and stretched.
Nadine immediately became worried.
“My lady, what are you doing?”
“Getting ready.”
“For what?”
Nicole looked at her.
“I’m going to the main courtyard.”
Nadine blinked.
“The main courtyard?”
“There’s something happening there that concerns me. I think it’s time I made an appearance.”
Nadine still looked confused, but she nodded.
“Yes, my lady.”
Nicole started toward the hidden box beneath her bed before remembering something else.
“Oh, Nadine.”
“Yes?”
“Prepare two sets of men’s clothing.”
Nadine stared at her.
“Two... sets of men’s clothing?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
A faint smile touched Nicole’s lips.
“I have something to do outside.”
Her eyes moved toward the box hidden beneath the bed.
“And I can’t use the same disguise as last time.”
Nadine looked even more confused, but she knew better than to argue.
“Yes, my lady.”
Nicole turned toward the window.
A week had passed while she slept.
Alicia’s lie was beginning to crack.
The pack now knew Nicole possessed the white wolf.
And whatever strange game Zandro was playing, she wasn’t foolish enough to trust his sudden concern.
But first, she had business outside the estate.
And this time, she needed a new face.