CARLA'S POV
The Castle rooms were nice, I had to give them that at least, especially this one. With all the trappings of affluence, it offered superb creature comforts and then some, with it's enormous bed with numerous duvets and pillows,all of exquisite taste, to the wonderful wooden gold inlaid furniture, to the gold and silver goblets and the dresses in the king-size cupboard, it truly was beautiful…..for a prison at least.
A prison of my own making actually, you see I had vehemently refused to leave my room since that hateful inauguration and the proceeding sham announcement. It's been days now, how long, I didn't exactly know, the days and nights were blurry in my mind
Especially considering the fact that I hardly rose out of bed these days and ate only what I could to keep myself from starving to death. I hadn't had my bath either so naturally my hair was all a mess and sweat clung to my skin like so much glue.
I hardly did anything anymore, no I did do something, that something being to cry and mope all day, everyday, sometimes I actually thought about ending it,of putting myself out of my misery and ending it once and for all
But I couldn't, not out of fear, but I wouldn't let myself show weakness, I wouldn't run from this, that was not the werewolf way, not the way I was brought up, and besides dying would only mean that he won, that he had power over me and I refused to accept that, i refused.
In my many hours of self isolation, refusing to see anyone and shutting out all pleas and entreaties, some part of me thought about what he said to me some time ago, that he loved me. Could it actually be true? No I thought to myself, love shouldn't be made to bear upon an unwilling participant.
Which then lead me to the question: was I really unwilling? It was a first as far as I knew for an omega to become a Luna, oh some of the more beautiful ones certainly caught the eyes of an alpha here and there, but the best they could hope for was the position of concubine or mistress if they were lucky, as usually they only served as a recreational activity for the alphas who saw us omegas as playthings to use and be discarded at the slightest opportunity.
Besides Alpha Dawson wasn't one to lie needlessly,why would he need to? What had he to fear from me or anyone of my lowly station for that matter? So if he professed love for me, it might've been true, I knew as much from the very first time he said the words, yet I was more than a bit skeptical about the part of me being his mate.
It could just be him trying to get back at me as retribution for my rejecting him. It wasn't as if I didn't feel anything for him, that was just a blatant lie I told him just to wipe that eternal cocky grin from his face.
I didn't want to be just another one of his conquests, just another in a long list of girls he had philandered with over the years, so I refused him and I had to admit it brought me some measure of satisfaction to see his face flicker with shock and surprise, flabbergasted that I or anyone really could refuse him.
But in truth, I was attracted to him, who wouldn't be, with his chiseled features and charming personality– when he wasn't being so damn arrogant that is---plus I couldn't forget the day he protected me from the disgusting advances of Alpha Michael and his lecherous cohorts.
It wasn't as if I didn't know how to handle men like those, but I found it kind of sweet, that was until he implied that us omegas were just 'staffs' he could order around as he liked, we were just tools to him, and it disgusted me. And that was basically how it went between us ; anytime he did something good or noble, and I began to let down my guard,he would behave in his characteristic callous selfish manner. Case in point being the inauguration announcement.
Nevertheless I still had feelings for him but that did not mean I was ready to forgive him for what he had just done to me. As I lay on my expansive bed thinking a knock sounded on the heavy wooden door, thinking it was just another one of Dawson's pleas to let him in I said,
"Go away"! While I wrapped the bed covers up and over my head.
"Please my Luna I've been sent to see to your needs today" said a female voice "by order of Alpha Dawson" it added after a pause.
"Then you can tell Alpha Dawson that I do not want my 'needs' seen to by him or anyone else" I replied , my voice a little bit muffled as a result of my head being submerged under a boatload of bed covers.
"Please my Luna he forbade me return unless I made sure that you were well cared for and made presentable for your first lessons in court etiquette as Luna" the voice outside the door said
"He— he also threatened me with the lash if I failed to do as he commanded ma'am" the voice added tentatively.
Another example of his callousness I thought.
"Sigh– give me a second then" I said as I groaned before sitting upright and stretching my arms, yawned for a second or so , then walked across the room to open the door.
On opening it, I saw a round faced girl on the plump side, who seemed no older than seventeen years of age, smiling up at me wearing servant clothes.
Stepping aside for her to enter I said "you can come in, I'm sorry about the mess, cleaning up has not really been a priority for me for a while"
"No need my Luna I'll have it near and tidy in no time" she said as she rummaged around the wardrobe and produced two silk dresses, one white, the other violet .
"Which would you prefer my Luna, the purple one"? She said as she lifted it just a little bit higher for emphasis. "Or the white" which she also lifted up
I looked at the dresses and shook my head and asked as I walked to the wardrobe to peruse it's contents for myself. After four minutes of searching, I pulled out a bkack girdle with a hooded leather halter vest along with leather breeches.
"This seems more to my taste" I said with satisfaction. "Or what do you think umm err….. I'm so sorry I forgot to ask your name" I said my cheeks turning red.
"Beatrice ma'am and yes I think that's an excellent choice as it would compliment your skin tone but I wonder if Alpha Dawson would approve" she said as she cast furtive looks at the ensemble. "He favors dresses you see ma'am" said Beatrice.
"Well I don't give a hoot what alpha Dawson favours Beatrice, I'm the Luna now and being Luna means I can wear whatever I desire, don't you think so Beatrice"? I asked , laying the clothes down on the bed.
With a smile she said, "yes I do ma'am"
"Call me Clara" I said warming up to the personality of the young girl.
"Oh I could never majesty" she said as she stepped back a little chuckling nervously . " Besides it's not proper" she said as she drew me a bath of warm water.
"But if your Luna commands it you have to obey….yes"? I said while picking at the buttons on my gown
Smiling she said " please…. Carla could you step inside the tub so I can wash u*
This elicited a smile from me as well to which I replied " that sounds better doesn't it" before entering the tub.
The water was warm and soothing especially against the cold drafty breezes of the castle and Beatrice's hands were gentle and massaging, as she used a soft sponge swathed with foamy soap to vigorously scrub and brush my back. I let out a soft sigh of "aaahh" to express my deep satisfaction.
After my bath, my hair was next to be cleaned, all the knots in it, as a result of it getting tangled up, when she was done, Beatrice waxed and oiled my hair and body, perfuming both before giving me an amazing hair do that left a single long lick if hair hanging in each side of my face, giving me a distinguished yet playful look.
I insisted on putting on my clothes however , and while doing that Beatrice sat on the bed looking at me lace my breeches up while keeping me company
"I think you should talk to Alpha Dawson about his wine intake" she said as she swung her legs to and fro from the edge of the bed on which she sat.
"I didn't take him as one who had a drinking problem" I said, my brows furrowing. This was just great, I thought not only did I have a selfish dick of a man for an alpha and husband, but a drunk too?
"He's been drinking alot since the day of the inauguration. And it worries most of the servants especially those of us in the kichens" was Beatrice's reply as she continued to stare at me while I wore some dark brown boots.
"I honestly don't know how exactly I am to stop him " I said in reply while watching her now forlorn expression.
" You're the Luna…. His Luna, his mate, if anyone can it's you" she replied
I laughed "I don't know if you've noticed but no one can make Alpha Dawson do anything he doesn't want to do"
"Forgive me my Luna" she said her tone contrite, but if u saw the large cask of wine he made housekeeper Ann bring in for him some days ago you'd be worried too"
"I'm sure he can take care of himself" I said my voice cold. I did not want to allow myself feel any sympathy for him.
'Joyce was the only one who checked up on him to make sure he was alright" said Beatrice , "he probably must've been considering the noises he and her made" she added blushing.
My heart plummeted to my stomach, I struggled to maintain a neutral face. "Noises? What do you mean noises"? I asked already fearing the answer.
"You know…..noises" she said and blushing even harder this time around.
I didn't know why I expected more from him, he would always remain who he had always been and I shouldn't expect him to change , he had never hidden his nature and would always remain true to it.
Telling myself this did not however, lessen the hurt I felt, he said he loved me ha! what a joke, he loved me and yet he still shagged Joyce
"The bitch" I muttered low enough for Beatrice to not hear me.
Though this wasn't her fault, no Alpha Dawson was solely responsible for this…. Everytime I started to think he could change….
"Thank you Beatrice for your assistance, you can go now" I said as I turned my face away to blink tears from my eyes but not before catching a glimpse of some weird sort of smile on her face.
"It is no problem at all ma'am" she said as she walked out.
I sighed as I sat back down on the bed putting my hands on my face
this was a hopeless situation and I didn't much care for salvaging it .
If he was going to carry in like this then good luck to him. I would keep my distance more so than I already had. I'd give him his space so he could fuck Joyce and as many other women as he pleased without interference from his dowdy Luna.
With this, I stood up and walked out into the sunny passageway slamming the door of my room with a loud thud.
I had lessons to attend.