8: Foreign Sentiment

Ophelia walked into her old chambers and saw the servants set to work. It was literally empty with dust and cobwebs gracing every bit of it. The one place of comfort and solitude looked like where a madman spent many nights. The air emitting in the ambiance was awful like that of several decaying rats.

Before, there was a giant bed in the middle with royal pillows and a duvet. Her most prized possessions, a fireplace, and a small library with a stack of books because she hated going to the library room to read since she preferred the comfort of her room.

Her balcony was empty, with no chairs and table, nor the telescope her younger sister gifted her.

Cestus Dupree ruined the place after kicking her out.

So this is it? She inwardly muttered to herself after heaving deeply. Her legs did a little bit of fright-dance because she was to resume her duties to her husband from now on.

The thought of him visiting her at night was enough to transport chills down her spine. Because she had always feared it, mostly upon his arrival just now. Oh, she hoped he would give her some time alone and not barge into her room like he always did without seeking entrance. She still needed to let her brain properly align everything, that he didn't die and they were to carry on reigning as Alpha and Luna over the Crimson Paw pack.

Will Finlay touch her? This question was tugging deep inside of her and at the same time generating bubbles in her chest. She felt sick already.

Cestus Dupree's last words before he was taken to the walls of East landing, was still hovering in her mind. She had no idea why. She was worried, worried that possibly a drastic incident would take place even though there was proof that this man was Finlay.

"My Luna!" Ophelia was shoved out of her thoughts when her former maid, Irene rushed to her side.

"It's so good to have you back," she curtsied and Ophelia gave her a firm head nod, with her throat tightening from several emotions.

"Can I resume my duty as thy Luna's maid? I am devoted to serving you." The girl stole a quick glance at her, her eyes masked in desperation as she played with the ropes of her blouse.

"Yes, Irene. Of course, you can." Ophelia answered with a small smile.

She walked away, taking a look around at the castle.

Of course, servants were elated as they brought back the remains of old belongings Cestus told them to put away. He had sold and burnt most, destroyed literally everything that belonged to her. Not as if she minded. She craved freedom, not as if she wanted Finlay dead.

During her stay in Petersburg, she was in a disguise but she was free.

There was no wine-drunken Alpha who barged into her room and had sex with her like she was a slave. No husband joining his friends to mock her for being too weak, and sterile. And of course, his masculine, intimidating mistress who was to produce him a child since she was barren.

Elodie.

News must've reached the woman's hearing that he was back. And he'd go in search of her so they would continue their affair. They had this strong bond that Ophelia herself couldn't fathom. Finlay loved his mistress to the bone but he didn't love her. He gave Elodie the Luna's treatment and the woman never visited him on her own will. She always waited for Finlay to invite her before she could come, that was when they weren't together fighting battles.

Although this Finlay seemed somewhat different, caring if she may add. But it was only for the moment. Ophelia readied her heart for the worse.

She stared outside the window and saw plenty of carriages in the castle with several guards at the entrance door without weapons because they could shift into their wolves and kill if needed. People were coming for Finlay with numerous gifts, there'd be parties upon parties to welcome him

Thankfully the man was too busy entertaining guests to barely even seek her presence.

The castle was considered the largest in the whole of Easton, England. The six-story mighty build was enough to house the whole Crimson Paw members.

The endless flattened grass field was specially for training and pack run. There'd be a pack run in a few days because Finlay needed a beta since the previous one got killed.

_

That evening when things had been fixed, Finlay barged into her room without knocking when Irene was styling her hair into a fish braid.

Ophelia thought he would ignore her for the rest of the evening, but he didn't.

From the mirror, she took a peek at his outfit, he was clad in a double-breasted dress coat of fine wool and light-colored waistcoat over white linen shirt. Buckskin breeches and top boots. Sand-blonde hair was groomed backward and packed in a ponytail, bringing more of his well-sculptured features.

He was so handsome that it sort of hurt to look at him. Of course, he had always been like this, but Ophelia never paid attention to his looks. She wondered why she did now.

He admired her for some time with a slightly parted hard unforgiving mouth, as if he was having several thoughts of her in his head.

Finlay remembered how lightweight she was in his arms, the softness of her breast beneath her blouse when he took in his large palm and smoldered it. And her lush lips. Lord save him because he wanted to kiss them so badly until she would be breathless and gasp for air. They were the sexiest thing he had ever seen. Perfectly proportioned cupid-shaped lips that were slightly pink, although he knew she never put on a lip gloss.

He wanted to kiss them because he was certain they would taste as sweet as she looked.

"Ophelia," he called her by her name, with his voice too rough for his own good. His eyes were so eerily blue that they literally pierced through her soul.

"My lord," she stood up and whirled her head around to face him.

Ophelia watched as his Adam's apple bobbed up and she felt a slight tremble in her body because she knew his eyes were fixated on her lips and it made heat crawl on her skin. She couldn't deny the attraction she was beginning to develop for her husband.

"Irene, excuse us." He said to her maid.

And the maid nodded before dashing out.

It was Ophelia's time to swallow after the door closed because it was just the two of them alone.

Finlay put his hands behind him and lowered his head to the floor as he casually walked towards Ophelia and stood right in front of her.

And her breath got caught up in her throat because she wasn't comfortable with him like this. Not as if she had ever been comfortable with his presence, but this was a different kind of inward restlessness. Indescribable.