Chapter 40
Freya's POV
My knees ached against the hard marble as I scrubbed, the harsh chemicals stinging my hands and making my eyes water. The main hall of Grey Estate was massive, with an intricate floor pattern that required detailed attention. I had been at it for hours, and had barely covered a quarter of the space.
Edith had made it clear that I was to finish before morning, when the household would be active again. It was already past midnight, and my arms trembled with fatigue.
"Use circular motions for the stubborn spots," she had instructed, demonstrating briefly before handing me the brush and walking away. "And mind you don't miss the corners. I'll personally inspect every inch."
What she hadn't said, but what was abundantly clear, was that no one would be helping me. The other staff had been explicitly told to leave me to my task. Some had cast sympathetic glances my way, but none dared disobey.
I dipped the brush into the bucket of cleaning solution again, the chemicals burning the raw skin of my hands. My wolf whimpered, not understanding why we were submitting to this treatment, why we didn't fight back or at least protest.
Because we need to be here, I reminded her. We need to find a way to clear our name.
But as the night wore on, my determination wavered. My back screamed in protest as I moved across the floor, inch by painful inch. The wounds from my beating, barely healed, throbbed with renewed intensity.
The grandfather clock in the corner struck two in the morning, its deep chimes echoing through the empty hall. I sat back on my heels, allowing myself a moment's rest. My gaze drifted upward, taking in the grandeur of the space I was cleaning. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their facets catching the dim light. Paintings of past Grey Alphas lined the walls, their stern expressions seeming to judge me from their frames.
I had been in this hall before, years ago, when my family had been invited to formal pack gatherings. I remembered standing tall, wearing a silk dress that matched my mother's, my father's hand on my shoulder as we were announced. The Rileys had been respected then, a high-ranking Beta family with a lineage almost as old as the Greys themselves.
Now I was on my knees, scrubbing the floor where I had once walked with pride.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips, echoing slightly in the empty hall. How quickly fortunes could change. How easily a life could be destroyed.
I returned to my scrubbing, forcing my tired muscles to continue. As I worked my way backward toward the east wing, my brush bumped against something solid. I looked up to see an antique vase sitting on a pedestal near the wall. It wobbled precariously, and I lunged to steady it, my heart racing.
"Careful," a cold voice said from the shadows. "That vase is worth more than your life."
I froze, my hand still on the vase. Edith stepped into view, her expression severe in the dim light.
"I... I'm sorry," I stammered, carefully removing my hand from the vase. "I didn't see it."
"Clearly," she replied, eyes like flint. "Just as you didn't 'see' what you were doing when you attacked a defenseless Beta who loved Alpha Thorne."
I bit back a retort, knowing it would only make things worse. "I didn't attack Kaelin."
A bitter laugh escaped her. "Still maintaining your innocence? The evidence was overwhelming. Miss Kaelin still bears your claw marks." She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I've known Alpha Thorne since he was a pup, and I've served this house loyally for decades. I watched Miss Kaelin grow up. I will not allow you to hurt her again."
She glanced at my progress, her lips thinning. "You're moving too slowly. At this rate, you won't finish before the household wakes."
"I'm working as fast as I can," I said, unable to keep a hint of defiance from my voice.
"Work faster," she ordered. "And do try to keep the noise down. Alpha Thorne's quarters are directly above this section, and he values his sleep." A cold smile touched her lips. "Unlike Miss Kaelin, who hasn't had a full night's rest since your attack."
With that, she turned and disappeared down a corridor, leaving me alone again with my bucket and brush.
I returned to my task, my movements more careful now. The last thing I needed was to break something valuable and give Thorne another reason to punish me.
---
The hours blurred together, a haze of pain and exhaustion. By the time the first hint of dawn lightened the sky outside the tall windows, I had managed to clean most of the hall. My uniform was soaked with sweat and cleaning solution, my hands red and cracked from the harsh chemicals.
I sat back, surveying my work with bleary eyes. The marble gleamed in the pale morning light, every inch scrubbed clean. Despite everything, I felt a small flicker of pride at what I had accomplished.
That pride was short-lived as my body reminded me of its limits. I tried to stand, but my legs, numb from hours of kneeling, refused to cooperate. I collapsed back to the floor, a gasp of pain escaping my lips.
"Here, let me help you."
The voice came from behind me, and I turned to see a young male wolf approaching. He was dressed in the staff uniform, his expression concerned. He extended a hand toward me.
"I'm Thomas," he said, his voice kind. "I work in the gardens, but I come in early to help with breakfast prep."
I hesitated, wary of accepting help that might get him in trouble. "You shouldn't," I whispered. "Edith said no one is to help me."
Thomas shrugged, his brown eyes warm. "What Edith doesn't see won't hurt her. Come on, you look like you're about to fall over."
After another moment's hesitation, I accepted his hand. He pulled me to my feet, supporting me when my legs threatened to give way again.
"Thank you," I murmured, embarrassed at my weakness but grateful for his kindness.
"No problem," he replied. "First day is always the hardest. It gets—"
He broke off suddenly, his body tensing. At the same moment, I caught a familiar scent—pine and authority, undercut with something sharper. Anger.
I turned, already knowing who I would see.