River’s lips parted as she let out a rough exhale. Her gaze locked with his beast’s. Her throat became dry when she saw him coming towards him. She wanted to run, but she stood there, rooted to her spot. It was too much for her to take it all. She had never thought that she would encounter real demons in her life and that the encounter would be this close. She felt dizzy and shocked from all the adrenalin rush. She fainted. The last she knew were strong hands gripping her against
very warm chest. Someone covered her with a shirt.
When River opened her eyes, it was very dark. She didn’t know where she was. Moonlight was filling the room with its soft rays. She inhaled the cedar and mist scent around her. Warm blankets covered her. She turned to look around her and saw a dark silhouette sitting on a chair. When she had her wolf, she could easily pierce her eyes through the darkness and see things clearly, but now…
She raised her head to see as she tried to support herself on her elbows.
“Please keep lying down,” his deep cello-like voice came to her.
“Alpha Hunter?” What was he doing with her? “Where are we?” she asked. And how long was he sitting over there. He looked… disheveled. He was just wearing jeans and there were dark circles under his eyes.
Hunter came to sit beside her. “We are in the Veil and right now you are in my castle.” He switched on the bedside lamp. Their gazes locked, his green ones in her blue ones. “This is the breeder’s living space,” he added.
River winced at the word ‘breeder’. She bit her lip and tore her gaze away. She got up as her hand traveled to her chest. Something out there didn’t feel good.
“How are you feeling, River?” he asked softly. “Please keep lying. Don’t get up.”
“I am feeling fine,” she replied with lowered eyes.
When she didn’t speak further, Hunter touched her forehead to check her temperature. She jerked her head back but he still touched her. “I think you are fine now.” He pointed to the bedside table. “Your food is right over here. Eat it. You will feel better.” He leaned over the table and gave her a glass of water.
She took it from him and gulped it down. “Thank you…”
Hunter pursed his lips. He didn’t want to leave her, but the girl was too scared. She was away from home and must be feeling awkward. He was happy that she was in his castle. Near him. “I will leave you alone for now,” he said, getting up. “There is a maid assigned for you. She will assist you if you need help.”
Not used to this kind of attention, she blurted, “No, I will be fine.”
“No, you wouldn’t know what to do in this castle initially.” He rose to his feet.
Her gaze went to his torso that was covered in a buttery glow. A pale blush rose on her cheeks. He looked at her for a long moment and then grabbing his shirt from the chair, he walked out of the door.
River took a deep breath in. Her stomach growled and she looked at the food. She slept after eating a sumptuous amount of two varieties of chicken and mashed cheese potatoes.
“You must be River!” an excited voice jerked her awake. She got up immediately and rubbed her eyes. A very beautiful and timid girl was standing there looking at her with her sharp green eyes. “Hunter told me about you!” Her blond hair cascaded wildly around her shoulders.
River blinked at the maid who was in her night pajamas.
“Hi! I am Mia, Hunter’s younger sister!”
River blushed, embarrassed. “Hi,” she replied softly. Mia looked… very young. Almost her age or maybe younger.
A maid entered after Mia. “Mia, you have to go to school. Go get dressed.”
“Ugh!” Mia’s lips downturned.
“Go Mia. Lady Rosalie will not like it otherwise.”
“Double ugh!”
“You know she wants your best,” the maid explained.
Mia rolled her eyes. “No, she wants her best. She has been after Hunter to send me to a boarding school!”
The maid gave River a quick look and blurted, “Please go to your room and get dressed. I have to help the breeder over here to make her presentable for the Alpha.”
Mia pursed her lips as her shoulders dropped. Then she turned her face to River and said, “How about we both have breakfast together?”
The maid sighed. “Rosalie won’t like it. You must be there in the dining hall with your brother and Rosalie, okay?”
Mia rolled her eyes. “Okay, but get her to the dining hall.”
“But she’s a breeder-”
“I don’t care!” Mia said. “Just get her.” Saying that she stomped out of the room.
The maid shook her head as she closed the door behind her. She came to River who was still trying to make sense out of the conversation that took place in front of her.
“I am Faria,” the maid finally introduced herself. She looked middle-aged and was wearing a black shirt paired with black. pants. On her pocket was embroidered a golden rose. Her black hair was neatly tied in a low bun. “I have been asked to attend to you.”
“I am River.”
The maid shrugged. “I don’t care about your name. You are just a breeder. But if you like I can call you River.”
River swallowed the humiliation. Obviously, the breeder was considered too low. “I would very much like that,” she replied. Faria shrugged again. “You have to take a bath now. Alpha Hunter will be out for half of the day, but Rosalie would like to see you. She has asked me to dress you up and take you to her.”
River felt like she was some dog to be taken to the owner for show purposes. “Who is Rosalie?”
Faria took a deep breath in. “She is the future Luna of the Lycan King,” she said condescendingly implying that she would be used and thrown. Soon. “She will be marrying the Alpha as soon as you are pregnant.”
River felt… ****. And she was surprised as a ***notion flashed through her that she was also… jealous.
She pursed her lips.
The queen of the Veil wanted to see the mistress of the Veil. Her heart cried at the word ‘mistress’ but that was the truth. At least mistresses lived. But breeders?
