Chapter 13 Perfect Bed
ADRIANA
Hazel walked ahead of me through the entrance, giving me space to absorb everything around me.
The moment I stepped inside, my jaw dropped.
This wasn’t a house. It was a palace.
Everything about it felt like something out of a storybook. It was magical. The ceilings soared impossibly high, showcasing an enormous crystal chandelier that cast prismatic light across the marble floors.
The entrance hall alone could have fit my entire house back at White Crescent. Instead of furniture, there were ornate vases and what looked like ancient artifacts displayed throughout. Each piece probably cost more than my father made in a year.
I’d never seen anything like this, not even in the wealthiest parts of the Wolf Kingdom.
No wonder Lycans and wolves had been at odds for so long. This kind of wealth, this kind of power bred jealousy.
“Come on. Your room’s upstairs.”
I snapped my attention back to Hazel and nodded.
“I’m Hazel, by the way. Elijah’s Beta. I also oversee military training.” She glanced back at me with a warm smile. “I’m hoping we can be friends.”
I almost tripped over my own feet.
The Beta wanted to be friends with me? With someone who’d been treated like property her entire life?
And she was a woman. A female Beta. In White Crescent, that would’ve been unthinkable. My father would have burned the pack to the ground before allowing a woman that kind of authority.
“This is usually where people respond…”
Her teasing tone made me laugh despite myself.
“Sorry! My name is Adriana. And, um… that’s really all there is to know about me.”
We both laughed at that.
“If you need anything at all, just ask. I’m here to help, okay?”
I nodded gratefully as we climbed the stairs.
Watching her walk ahead of me, I couldn’t help but notice how… free she seemed. Confident. Happy. Like she could do whatever she wanted without fear of consequences.
I’d never experienced anything close to that.
And she trained warriors. Actually led them.
“Hazel?” I hesitated. “Can I ask you something? I don’t want to overstep…”
“Don’t be ridiculous. What is it?”
I took a small step backward, old habits kicking in. Hazel frowned at the movement.
Lisa had conditioned me to expect violence whenever I asked for anything. Her hand had always been quick, and she’d never hesitated to use it when I said something she didn’t like.
“Could I… could I join the training sessions?”
When she didn’t speak, I chewed on my bottom lip, immediately regretting that I even asked. She was probably offended that someone like me would even—
“I didn’t catch that. Can you repeat it?”
My heart hammered against my ribs.
“I was wondering if I could join the daily training. If you don’t mind, of course.”
“Oh! That’s not a problem at all. Honestly, it would be nice to have another woman around. The testosterone levels get overwhelming sometimes.” She grinned. “But why do you want to train? You’re safe here.”
“I know. It’s just… When I was younger, I loved training. I was actually pretty good at it too. I won several coyote hunting competitions.”
Hazel’s eyebrows shot up. “Coyote hunting competitions?”
Right. That was probably a wolf-specific thing.
“Yeah, competitors see who can hunt down the most coyotes in a set time period.”
“They made children do that?” Her expression was somewhere between shocked and disgusted. “And they call us animals.”
“We were teenagers, actually. And we genuinely enjoyed it.” I paused. “Everything changed when I turned eighteen without getting my wolf. Then my mom died, and… everyone started treating me differently. I wasn’t allowed to train anymore. I became more of a servant than a pack member. Lisa made sure to remind me constantly how weak and useless I was. Eventually, I just stopped trying.”
Hazel went completely silent.
The way she was staring at me made me uncomfortable. I was about to ask if something was wrong when she finally spoke.
“I had no idea you’d been through that much. Well, you’re definitely joining training. We can’t let all that talent go to waste. Fair warning though—I train the men, so I don’t go easy on anyone. Think you can handle it?”
I managed a smile.
“Honestly? After everything I’ve survived, this will probably feel easy.”
The smile wavered slightly as doubt crept in. What if coming here had been a mistake? What if I’d traded one nightmare for another?
Elijah saving me had felt like a miracle. If he turned out to be just as cruel…
“Hey.” Hazel grabbed my hand, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts. “You’re not there anymore. No one here will treat you the way they did. If anyone gives you trouble, you stand up for yourself. You have a voice here. And if you can’t fight back, you come find me or Elijah. Understood?”
The genuine concern in her voice made my throat tight.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
We continued down the hallway in comfortable silence.
“Here we are.”
She pushed open a door, and I stepped inside.
“Wait, this is mine? That entire bed is for me?”
It was massive. A lot bigger than the room I’d been sleeping in back home.
“Of course it’s yours. Where were you sleeping before? Didn’t you have a bed?”
My expression must have given something away because her face immediately softened.
“You know what? Don’t answer that. I’m just glad you have a proper room now.” She gestured around. “Everything here is yours. Get some rest, and I’ll come get you for dinner later.”
After she left, I explored every inch of the space.
The bed was enormous and looked incredibly comfortable. The window overlooked a beautiful garden. The bathroom was bigger than my old bedroom, and the closet was filled with clothes that actually looked like they’d fit me.
I spent what felt like hours in the shower, scrubbing at my skin like I could wash away every terrible memory and watch it disappear down the drain.
Afterward, I tried to sleep but couldn’t settle. Too much nervous energy.
I decided to explore a bit.
I’d barely made it to the hallway when my foot connected with something small and hard. Looking down, I spotted a toy train.
Before I could pick it up, a little boy appeared, reaching for it. He wasn’t watching where he was going and tripped over his own feet, hitting the floor hard.
I moved to help him, but he scrambled up immediately and ran.
I’d seen blood on his knee though. He was hurt.
Following the sound of crying, I found him in a bathroom, tears streaming down his face.
The second he saw me, he lifted his arms.
I didn’t hesitate. I picked him up and held him close, letting him cry into my shoulder.
Who was this child? Where were his parents?
Maybe Hazel would know—
Suddenly, someone ripped him from my arms.
Before I could process what was happening, I was on the floor, pain shooting through my back from the impact.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing to my son?”
Elijah stood over me, fury written across every line of his face.