Chapter 30: Chapter 30

~ NYSSA

In hindsight, I probably should have read the contract before signing it, but I was too infuriated to even think about that in the moment.

Rowan had a way of pushing every last nerve, and going back to tell him I needed to see the contract would be like admitting defeat. I’d already signed it. All I could do was hope that I hadn’t signed anything too terrible.

I wouldn’t put anything past him.

Just one interaction had ruined the good day I was having.

Aria was surprisingly good company and she took me to some of her favorite places in town. I wasn’t sure what I expected in a pack filled with lycans but they were all kind to me. No one treated me differently because I wasn’t from here.

For a moment, I forgot why I was in this pack in the first place.

I walked until my legs hurt and a part of me was convinced that I couldn’t actually live here. Unfortunately Rowan just had to ruin it.

I heard Aria call after me when I stormed off from her br0other but I couldn’t bring myself to stop. I headed down the hall, not caring that I was probably going the wrong way. I only stopped once I couldn’t hear either Aria or Rowan again.

I looked around but nothing seemed familiar, not even the map in my pocket could help me when I didn’t know where I was.

“My la—Nyssa?” I turned at the sound of a familiar voice and found Leah standing by a wooden door, a brown in her hands. “What are you doing here? These are the servants quarters.”

“Oh, I didn’t know.” My cheeks grew hot as I explained. “I was lost.”

She shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. “It’s fine, we all got lost during our first week here as well. Can I take you back to your room?”

“Yes please.”

She lay the broom against the wall and gestured for me to follow her.

Like all the other lycans, she walked with an air of grace and sophistication that I couldn’t even dream of having. She kept her back straight, her hands folded neatly in front of her as she tried her best explaining every twist and turn she took.

I did my best to listen. But by the time we got to my room,. I couldn’t remember a word she’d said.

“You’ll get used to it,” she assured me. “I’ll be sure to come get you for dinner so you don’t get lost. The royal family usually eats at-”

“Actually, I think I’ll be skipping dinner today,” I told her. “I’ll prefer to have it in my room.”

Her eyes widened in surprise and I could see the curiosity she tried to hide but I offered up no explanation. I had no interest in spending time with Rowan right now, especially not after what happened.

“The King doesn’t like it when people have meals in their bedrooms,” she explained softly.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Of course the pretentious bastard would have a rule like that.

“Then I guess I won’t be having dinner,” I decided with a shrug. “Thank you for walking me here. Have a great day.”

I didn’t wait for her to respond before rushing into the room and locking the door behind me.

Despite my declaration, Leah still tried to call me down for dinner at eight.

My father used to tell me that I’d inherited my mother’s stubbornness. He told me it would be the death of me. I didn’t believe him then, but as I ignored my rumbling stomach and told Leah that I was fine, I knew he was right.

She waited by the door for ten minutes before finally giving up, and once she was gone, I curled up in bed, pulling the covers over my head in the hopes that I’d sleep and wake up the next morning.

Unfortunately, things couldn’t be that easy because when I woke up, the night sky was pitch black and my stomach was rumbling loudly.

Hunger pangs bit at me, and the more I tried to ignore it, the worse it got until I was forced to get out of bed.

I drank the water by my bedside but it did nothing. I knew I’d need more than that if I planned to return to sleep.

Against my better judgment, I pulled on a thin cover-up and headed out of my room.

Holding the map firmly in my hands, I took all the twists and turns that led me towards the dining room.

The last time I had dinner here, I remembered seeing a water dispenser to the left. Thankfully, it was still there.

I refilled my bottle and gulped it down. It soothed me a little, but my stomach rumbled again in protest, telling me it wasn’t water it wanted.

“If you weren’t so stubborn, you could’ve had dinner with us like a normal person.”

I jumped, the bottle dropping from my hands at the sound of the voice. Water spilled on the front of my night gown and over my feet, but I didn’t care. I turned all my attention to the man leaning against the doorway, half hidden by shadows.

“What are you-”

“It’s my palace,” he drawled. “You’re hungry.”

My cheeks grew red at his observation. “I am not. I came down for a drink of water.”

His eyes roamed my body, lingering on my chest. I couldn’t see him clearly enough to make out his expression, but I could feel the searing heat of his gaze.

I glanced down, as if I wasn’t mortified enough, the water had soaked through my night dress, leaving my nipples shooting out like peaks.

I crossed my arms over my chest, forcing Rowan’s gaze back up to my face.

“Come with me,” he said simply, turning on his heels.

“Why would I go anywhere with you?” I cut him off.

“Come or don’t, I don’t give a fuck,” he shrugged. “But if you want to eat something, and I really think you do, then you’ll follow me.”

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