7. KITCHEN

Amairah Garcia's POV: 

My head felt like stones stuffed inside as it was heavy while throbbing in pain. I fluttered my eyelashes as my eyes got settled with the light coming directly from the curtain parted before me. 

I glanced at the room to find me on the black leather couch with golden cushions all around me. My back was aching as I was lying on the same spot for hours I think. 

I groaned while getting up as I was still in that grey eyed man's room. Thinking of him all the scenarios ran through my mind as I glanced at my wrist. There was blood froze around the wound he gave me. All his brutality racked through my mind as my vision went blurry because of all the tears gathering in my eyes. 

I stood up with my head still pounding as my gaze fell on the door. I contemplated for a second to go out or not as I did, taking a long deep breath. I wanted water as my throat was dehydrated because of losing the blood that was not so much but still I thought my body was getting heated. I am about to have fever probably.

I was walking while grabbing my white gown as I felt I was lost unless I reached the stairs. I stood at the edge of them as my breath hitched when I saw few men standing in perfectly align manner with some sort of weapons in their hands. They all were in the same uniform as they were looking straight standing like statues. 

I started descending the stairs as my barefoot touched the fluffy red carpet of the stairs. The moment I stepped onto the last step a man looking in his fifties came from nowhere. 

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in the kitchen? God help me! These new girls really need training."  The man was wearing a white gown as he was fat with white brown beard as a significant part of his face. 

"I-I...me?" I pointed my finger towards me as that man smack his hand against his forehead making me look at those men who weren't looking concerned. 

"Yes you. Now stop acting like a princess and get back to work. Also eat something first It looks like you are about to die." He motioned me to follow him while constantly blabbering about my outfit and face that was getting pale. 

I am a Queen. Why would I behave like a princess?

I kept glancing everywhere in order to not see that grey eyed man again. I felt lucky that I managed to escape from his room as my heart was still beating fast in fear of doing something wrong. I shouldn't have left his room should I?

I was playing with my fingers when we entered a vast room surrounded by a delicious aroma. There were different people working wearing the same white gowns like that fat man but they were less fancy than him.

"Hey Zoya. She is one of the new girls from that brothel. It doesn't seem like she even know how to boil water so teach her." That man left ordering the women taller than me with black hairs tied in bun and with little freckles on her face. She was looking older than me as she came towards me staring from head to toe. 

"Only three girls I thought came from the brothel. Never mind I am Zoya and we would work in the dessert section. Your dress is average but this cloth looks very expensive. Where did you buy it?" She said as she touched my sleeve to feel it but I took one step back. She just gave me a stare before motioning me towards the attach room. There were only few people there as compared to the previous part of the kitchen. 

"Hey meet Nel. He is my brother and that is Myelin our bread maker." She introduced me to a young boy with curly hairs as he shook his head with a charming smile and a woman who was looking in her mid-thirties. I faked a smile at them as I was still feeling dizzy. 

 "What's your name?" Nel asked as I looked at him with dumfounded expressions. 

"Can you talk?" When Zoya asked me I realized that I was just staring at them without answering. 

"Rapunzal." I said as they all shook their head. 

"That's a great name. Since it's your first day so we will just show you how to work. You can start from tomorrow and as your first day's souvenir you can have these cupcakes. I just tried a new recipe." Myelin came forward as she placed a tray in front of me. I grabbed the cupcakes as I realized how much hungry I was. 

"Water." Taking one bite I asked as it was hot freshly baked from oven. 

"Take yourself." Zoya said signalling towards the small tank with a tap at the bottom. I shook my head as I realized I was ordering them.

I drank water as Myelin gave me a dress similar to them. After eating I changed with my hairs tied in a bun. I tore a piece of cloth from my sleeping white gown to wrap it around my wrist to hide my wound.

They taught me the work as everything was new to me. I was also enjoying that but I was also anxious while glancing at the door. I had to find Amber. I couldn't stand alone without her so long. These people would soon find out that their new King was looking for me.

"Today we didn’t have so much work. These werewolves don't eat sugar I guess." Zoya said laughing as Myelin elbowed her.

"Don't talk absurd about them. Most new workers appointed yesterday here are werewolves." Myelin said in a whisper as I was putting the pot beside her. We were finished working as they were getting ready to go home. They all lived in the quarters situated at the corner of the big garden of my palace. Yes my palace and I was hiding in my own palace.

"What about the king?" I asked just to be more cautious around him. 

"I haven't seen him but I heard that he is eighty years old but still looks so young. It must be a common age for them." Myelin said while grabbing her bag. 

"Yeah I heard he is hot. I am just waiting for him to call for women he was going to sleep with. I would also..." Zoya was saying excitedly as Nel pulled the twirl of her hairs from behind. He apparently didn't like what she said. 

"Stop daydreaming. They mostly hire women who are here from the brothels." Nel stuck out a tongue at her in a childish manner.

"Whatever. I still have a chance. What if I turn out to be his mate?" Zoya wiggled her eyebrows at him as Nel laughed.

"Even if you turn out to be his mate, he would probably reject you." Nel was laughing as Zoya threw a spatula at him but he dodged that. 

"What mate?" I asked as Myelin looked at me. 

"Mate is probably a spouse that is decided by the Luna. After puberty a werewolf feels heat when his mate is close to him and they probably marry each other but it is not applicable in every case. Sometimes people reject their own mate too." Myelin described as she remembered his words. He said she was his mate.

"Can you kill your own mate?" I asked with curiosity as many questions were revolving around my head. 

"Yes but I heard that's painful." Nel answered as I shook my head at him. Was he ready to endure that pain just to kill me? 

"Okay. I am going I have to pick my daughter from Orester too or otherwise he would ruin her mind by telling her so-called myths." Myelin said as she vanished through the doors. 

Soon Zoya and Nel also went away as I was alone sitting on the stool. My back was aching as there was only one candle illuminating the room but the moonlight coming from the window was enough. 

I glanced at the crescent shaped moon as my mind revolved around the word Luna. 

Did this moon made me confined to him?

I still feel the heat in my chest as it intensifies whenever he came closer to me. I felt the heat spreading in my body with every passing hour. It also must be related to this moon. 

My back was aching while sitting on the stool as I remembered my soft bed. I grabbed few pieces of cloth that were there to cover the small tanks. I spread them on the floor and lied over them. I had all the luxuries in there but not freedom. Now I was out with everyone else without any luxuries and with fear in my heart. 

He was the king and above that he was the werewolf. He had powers and he would find me soon. Soon my mind drifted to sleep as I was tired with a dizzy mind and constantly roaming thoughts in it. 

I fluttered my eyelashes as I groaned a little when someone shook my shoulder. Direct rays of sunlight were falling on my face as I looked beside to see Myelin. 

"Why did you sleep here?" She asked as I abruptly got up. She was looking at me with concerned expressions as I licked my dry lips. 

Before I could answer I heard someone else was coming too so I immediately got up running towards the small restroom beside the kitchen. After freshen up I came back to hear Zoya squealing. 

Myelin gave me a stare that I totally ignored. I would tell her something afterwards but my heart stopped beating hearing Zoya's words. 

"...they will show the face of the Queen today. Everyone is invited as they would probably kill her or make her leave this Kingdom."