CHAPTER 11

HANNI POV

I wasn’t hungry, but I knew I needed to give them some space.

Before leaving, I noticed the look on the Alpha’s face. It was a look I was unfamiliar with, it was serious. A look that commands respect.

As I skimmed down the stair case, with Betty sniffing for scent traces of food, because I felt I might be lost, I overheard two maids arguing faintly and I stopped immediately so as not to be noticed.

“The Alpha’s mate? Unbelievable!”

“Yes. I’m certain…Sara confirmed it….she served her last night….”

“How does she look like? Is she beautiful like Mira?”

“Beautiful?” the serving girl’s shrill laughter filled the hall “more like basic.”

“Idle, aren’t we?” A familiar voice sounded from the doorway across the hall, making the maids quiver with fear with their heads bowed as Simone walks in, looking all radiant and beautiful with the air of authority all around her.

“We are s…sorry, your highness, please forgive us” the shorter maid stammered, with her head bowed so low that she can almost kiss the ground and Simone clearly oblivious of the maids quivering, circles them like a hawk with beady eyes, ready to pounce on its prey.

“Where is Sara?” She asked.

“She…she is working in the kitchens, your highness.”

“You inform her that she is relieved from her palace duties immediately, she should not be seen near the chambers, have I made my self clear?” Simone said calmly in an icy tone that sent shivers down my spine.

“Y….yes your highness” they stammered.

“You are dismissed.”

I watched as they bowed and ran down the stairs as fast as their legs could carry them, bumping into each other on their way out.

Simone then took a deep breath and looked at me, hiding in the shadows and she smiled bringing back the Simone I saw last night.

“Hanni!” She exclaimed cheerfully and sprayed her arms wide, “ come to mama.”

I smiled and ran into her arms, allowing myself to be engulfed in a tight hug. Soon we broke apart and she looked intently at my face as if searching for something.

“I hope you had a good rest?” She asked and not waiting for my reply, she continued “so tell me, how was last night with the Alpha?”

“Simone…we just slept” I replied weakly, “I slept on the bed, while he took the sofa.”

She placed her hand on her mouth in a state of shock and whispered “you bed, him sofa? Nothing exciting happened?”

“Exciting? Simone really?” I could barely hold my laughter for she was funny.

“Nothing at all…?” She asked disappointed, “but it’s unlike Alfred to act this way, I heard he is a lion in bed.”

She winked at me with an evil smile and I couldn’t hold it anymore.

“Simone!” I said with my voice raised slightly. I could feel the heat on my cheeks

“Stop being a party pooper” she said pouting her slender lips and I couldn’t help to notice that her Mate, Marcus, hit a jackpot, for she is so beautiful like the lady I saw last night in town with the Alpha.

Or do they take potions of beauty in this pack?

*****************

My stomach growled in protest and I clutched it in embarrassment for I had totally forgotten the reason I came down but Simone just smiled knowingly at me, held my hands and led me to the dining hall, which was just ahead.

I wasn’t lost after all.

I met it bustling with serving maids preparing the long table, which was ladened with trays of food and drinks. They stopped immediately and bowed as we entered, only resuming back after Simone waved at them absent minded.

Betty yipped softly and yearned for some food so I didn’t waste anymore time digging into the caviar while Simone watched with amusement.

“Someone is hungry….” She sang winking at me, while I shyly covered my face with steak to prevent her from seeing my red cheeks, “ I was informed Sara served you last night…or was it because of Alfred?”

“Hmm? N…no!” I stammered but she sighed and smiled, placing a fork of strawberry in her mouth, leaving my heart to wander.

I am attracted to Alfred, I can’t deny and I won’t want to make things complicated for the both of us, but I just need time….time to accept me belonging to someone, to an Alpha.

I paused eating suddenly, remembering my request to Alfred last night, about me wanting to leave, but here I am, filling my stomach with caviar. Can I possibly stay here? After my discussion with Simone last night, I couldn’t help but feel at home here, with Alfred and with Simone, I stole a glance at her and smiled inwardly for she reminded me of Josh, like a female version of him, cascading me with her enthusiasm.

“After eating, will you like to follow me for a run?” She asked suddenly.

“A run?” I asked, confused at first for I wasn’t sure my legs could carry me for long right now, not after all the running I did in the woods trying to escape from Lucas and my sister.

“Yes, I wish to introduce Shavi to your wolf” she said with a glint in her eyes.

“Who is Shavi?” I asked, still unable to catch up.

“My wolf Ofcourse, silly” she laughed.

“Oh” I said as my eyes widened with realization, finally grasping the knowledge of where she was driving at.

I have a wolf now. I am no longer a wolf less human girl, as Wanni do call me. I smiled inwardly wondering what Wanni will think of me now, but to be honest, I don’t want to find out.

I can’t imagine what it will feel like shifting into my wolf form for I’m totally new to this….like every other thing, but my heart thumped with excitement at the thought of me finally embracing my wolf side. I finally belong somewhere now for I was always treated as an outcast since I turned eighteen and I was unable to shift, I was called a human and it’s not as if I could relocate to the human world, for I didn’t belong there either.

Now I have a wolf and I couldn’t wait to meet her!

“Let’s go now” I suggested eagerly.

“Calm your pants down princess, there’s is no rush, let’s wait a while for the food to digest, then we can go to the gardens.”

She looked up and saw my face drop and asked with concern, “what’s the matter?”

“Nothing” I replied, wondering how to start but she stood up and came to me, pulling a chair beside me and sat down, directly facing me.

“Talk to me princess. I thought we have an understanding.”

“Ok” I said and sat up, throwing caution to the winds, I continued, “Up until yesterday afternoon, I had no wolf and I have been called a wolf less human all my life until I saw Alfred at the tournament arena where Betty—-my wolf suddenly woke up and recognized him as my mate.”

I searched her face for any sign of shock or dismay and I saw nothing, so I continued, “As it’s my first time, I don’t know how to shift or how it feels like to be wolf, so I’m excited” I smiled.

“Then we shouldn’t waste anymore time imagining…my food has already digested or do you still feel full?” She asked leading me out of the hall, “And Hanni” she suddenly stopped and turned, “it will be an honor experiencing your first shift with you.”