Chapter 7: The maid's quarters

Hope's POV

My body ached badly by the time I woke up: my ribs hurt, probably from when I had fallen, and my back hurt as well. What was worse was the headache that threatened to split my head in unequal halves. I struggled to stand from the bed…

A bed? I was on a bed? I darted around quickly as I took in my surrounding. The walls were painted, but the edges of the paint peeled off revealing the plastered walls underneath. There were ugly wet stains on the “what-was-once” white ceiling above.

“Where am I?” I asked myself as I readjusted myself on the bed, trying not to move too quickly in fear that my head would fall off. My stomach rumbled, my core tightening as hunger ravaged my entire frame, I felt like I hadn't eaten in days.

I gently stood up, placing my feet on the floor and the sharp edge dug into my soles. I winced in pain as my eyes adjusted to the proper condition of the room, if I could call it a room. It looked like it hadn't been lived in for years and had been carelessly wiped before I was thrown in.

How had I gotten here in the first place? My ribs ached and I was once again reminded of something I was trying to suppress, Orion. I felt a sharp prick in my chest again, dulling the feeling in my head. I was so tired and I wanted to do nothing more than to eat and sleep for a while till I could forget about this immense pain.

A sharp jab to the door caught my attention and I turned quickly toward it. My heart pace increased slowly as I stared at the wooden door, rattling in its hinges and not knowing where I was and who was at the other end, fueled my fear.

I opened my mouth to answer but the words were stuck in my throat as I watched the door stop rattling and the knob start to jiggle. My eyes widened as the door shifted open and a foot stuck into the room connecting with a maid whose eyes were equally wide as well on seeing me.

“I'm sorry, I didn't know you were awake,” she bowed her head. I breathed out and relaxed, it wasn't her fault, I had failed to answer in time.

“It's alright, you don't need to apologise,” I said softly understanding the situation that she was in at the moment.

“The Alpha requested that I call you for dinner,” she said again.

“Dinner? Where am I?” I asked genuinely, confused at where I was.

“You're still in the pack house ma'am. Albeit, the maids’ quarters which confuses me,” she whispers the last part and I unintentionally gasped. What the hell was I doing in the maids' quarters? How had I even ended up here in the first place? I swallowed my reaction as my cheeks tinted in embarrassment.

“Oh, it's alright, I'll join them shortly,” I smiled at her and she bowed before leaving, shutting the door behind her.

What the hell was I doing here? Who had brought me here? I looked down at the clothes I was wearing, I was still in the hoodie and sweatpants, that had stains across my thighs and my knees.

I sighed and walked toward the door, pulling it open. My eyes connected with a long hallway causing my brows to knit in confusion, I should have asked the maid to take me there instead. I sighed deeply again and walked slowly, afraid to move too fast before I collapse again.

The aroma of good food wafted through the air and if I could levitate, I would be following the stream of food. My stomach grumbled louder this time as my feet followed the scent of the food till I reached an open door where voices were emanating from.

“But what will she be doing in the maids' quarters? Isn't she supposed to be the next Luna?”

I recognised the voice of the girl who had entered my room.

“I don't know, Ivy, but to be honest, I don't even want her to be the Luna.”

I wasn't surprised, I didn't even want to be the Luna in the first place, all I wanted to do was survive.

“Why? She appears to be very nice and respectful too, unlike that witch,” her voice turned cold and I assumed she was referring to Kaia, I hated her too.

“But she's a traitor,” the other spat out venomously.

“Her father was, not her,” Ivy defended me. My stomach churned in a bad way as I felt irritation rising through my throat. My father wasn't a traitor, he hadn't done anything and it was sad that this memory of him would linger for a while.

“I have to clear his name even if it's the last thing I do here. I need to prove to them that he isn't a traitor.” I whispered fiercely, quailing the urge to enter the kitchen and confront the other girl.

I hobbled across the door ensuring that I locked eyes with the girls inside, they gasped loudly before they were stunned into silence. I nodded at Ivy and didn't spare the other girl a glance.

“Ivy? Can you show me where the sitting room is? I'm a bit lost,” I asked politely and she nodded again, quickly detaching herself from the stool before weaving through the door and down the hallway.

I made mental marks as she manoeuvred and finally burst out of the door that led to the living room. The dining had been fully set, yet only Orion and Kaia sat, side by side. I felt that familiar prick in my heart before I thanked Ivy and slowly walked toward the dining.

The Alpha wasn't seated yet, and I was a bit grateful for that, I didn't want the attention from him, yet. I walked toward the chair, furthest away from the duo who were loving up. I heard a disdainful hiss that I knew was from Kaia but I kept quiet, pulled my chair and sat down, my eyes glued to my fingers.

“Babe, I'm hungry,” I heard her annoying baby voice again and I exerted enough self control to prevent scoffing.

“Oh, Ivy? Come and serve—”

“No, I want her to do it.”

I wasn't staring at her but I could feel I was the person she was referring too. My jaw tightened as I tried to control my breathing.

“Okay. Hope? Come and serve her, now,” his voice was firm but it still didn't make me move a muscle.

Was it defiance? Or pride? I was unsure, but I knew I didn't wasn't going to stoop so low.