Chapter 7 : Uncle Cookie

*Charlotte*

I never thought in my life I would ever get to stand inside of a castle, but here I was, following Alexander through the majestic hallways that made me feel so small. Full of marble columns with hanging chandeliers and checkerboard floors, everything was like out of a movie. Suits of armor decorated one hall and marble statues of wolves decorated another.

The walls were carved with murals into the stonework and I didn’t have the time to stop and appreciate the stories carved into the wall as I rushed to follow Alexander. he hadn’t said a word since entering the castle and I was stiff, running to catch up after him as he sped down the halls far faster than I could run.

I didn’t know if it was because he was a supernatural being with the properties of a wolf or if it was his incredibly long legs that let him take such massive strides, but I was falling behind constantly.

Which was probably because I had no idea where I was going and I was already lost on where we were. Each doorway at the end of the hall led to another long hall and it was mind-blowing just how massive this place was. One hall would fit inside the entirety of the bar I worked at.

I was struggling to keep Alexander in sight, my feet aching from being on them all day with no break, and still trying to keep my ruined uniform pinned to hide my skin as best as I could. Which made it all the more embarrassing whenever we passed by what looked like maids or servants.

I was envious and embarrassed by my own attire when faced with their classy, expensive uniforms. The men wore long black coats and trousers, suits which were clearly made with functionality in mind, but also a certain elegance.

The maids were more just like in movies or TV shows, except fancier.

Long black dresses that fell to the ankles and a white apron with frills. Each had their hair pinned up in a unique hairstyle, but compared to the slutty uniform I had to wear at the bar, their outfits looked like ball gowns. Many held silver trays or cleaning supplies, a silent but steady force within the castle.

I couldn’t help but think that even if I was brought here to be a maid, I wouldn’t mind too much. It looked a thousand times better than the life I had been living so far.

Each one bowed as they passed Alexander, further cementing that he wasn’t lying when he said he was like a prince of this werewolf world, and I blushed, swallowing uncomfortably as they pinned their disapproving stares on me.

I didn’t know whether it was because I was a human girl or because of how dirty and shamefully dressed I was, but I never stayed to find out. I did notice the metal pins on all their outfits, golds, silvers, and bronzes.

Maybe a ranking system, I thought as I once again had to run past a line of bowing servants to catch up with Alexander. I panted heavily, my legs trembling by now from nervousness and exhaustion

Finally though, just as I caught up to him, the tension in my body having reached peak heights, he had stopped in front of a gorgeous walnut wood gate. I stopped myself from running straight into his back, gazing at the doorway in awe.

It looked just like the antique furniture I’d seen in the historical museum Dad used to take me to. Even down to the intricate carvings of howling wolves. Except this door had a golden insignia of a crown on it.

“Um…” I said nervously, grabbing his sleeve, but Alexander simply shrugged me off without even a look at me before he pushed open the doors and stepped inside. I froze, panicking, and part of me wanted to run and hide, but it was too late for the residents of the room had already seen us.

One was a man with an even more intimidating presence than Alexander, who stood confidently in a dark red suit with an open white shirt underneath. Around his neck were three long scars that looked to travel even further down his chest than I could see, and I swallowed as his dark eyes landed on me, pinning me in place.

Alexander had no such fear as he stepped right up and bowed at the wait before him as he respectfully called out, “Father.”

The King, or the Alpha, smiled at his son, nodding and Alexander rose and then took the hand of the woman beside the Alpha, laying a kiss upon her hand. “Mother,” He called even more reverently, making it clear even to me who his favorite parent was.

She was a gorgeous woman, even in her age with long silky black hair and deep-set gorgeous blue eyes, with a fitting silvery white dress that reached her knees and an intricate collar of a deep silver that reached from around her waist up around her neck and chest with see-through sleeves.

On her neck hung a gold pendant that I couldn’t quite make out.

“Alexander,” The beautiful woman beside Alpha Finnley, who I could only assume was the queen or Luna Diana beamed, rushing forward to pull him into a strong hug. Alexander softened for the first time since I had met him and I looked away awkwardly, not really sure what to do now that I was standing in front of werewolf royalty in nothing but rags.

I wonder if this is why Cinderella chose not to reveal herself at the ball.

“Oh? And who is this?” Luna Diana’s eyes landed on me as she parted from her son, a kind smile on her face even as I probably looked like a dirty rat his son had brought home from the sewers.

“Um, I’m Charlotte,” I really didn’t know how to greet royalty, but I did know I needed to show my respect so I clumsily grabbed the ends of my skirt, trying to imitate the curtsey I’d seen on TV but I nearly fell flat on my face.

Luna Diana covered her lips with her hand, eyes crinkling with a smile as I recovered my balance, but Alexander glowered at me and I bowed my head. All I had succeeded in doing was looking like a clumsy duck.

“Now, now, none of that,” Alpha Finnley approached me with a friendly grin, and I swallowed weirdly as he gently held out his hand for me. I glanced at Alexander, who was now staring at the wall grumpily, and then took his hand, allowing him to lead me to the circle of furniture in the middle of the room. “I’m so glad to see you again, Charlotte. I don’t know if Alexander told you but your father was a great man and I owe him a great deal. I was sad to find out about his passing.”

“Oh, um, thanks,” I said, stiffly sitting on the leather couch where Alpha Finnley directed me. He and his wife took the opposite couch, smiling brightly at me like they were reuniting with a child they cared for. I blushed at their gorgeous appearance, brushing my too-short skirt over my knees in shame. “I don’t really… remember my dad talking about any friends… especially rich ones. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been in the… situation we were in.”

I said that last part quietly to myself, forgetting that I was talking to werewolves with super hearing.

“Right, your unfortunate situation,” Alpha Finnley nodded with a frown, “Your father had not yet been in dire straits when we were acquainted, and had he approached me for help, I gladly would have done so. I wrote him letters but lost contact the last few years. He only talked about you, and to remember to keep my promise to him.”

“Um, promise?” I asked, curious now. What on earth could my father have made someone as great as a kind promise to him.

Alpha Finnley chuckled. “You were young, so you might not remember but, I visited your house ten years ago for a while. We met then, you were such a bright and cheerful little girl.”

I frowned, trying to remember, but ten years was such a long time ago. One of the maids came in with a silver tray, laying it down on the table between us, and I was startled to notice a plate of cookies, the smell of the melting chocolate in them delectable smelling.

“My favorite snack,” Alpha Finnley smiled, grabbing one of the cookies which were no doubt still warm from the oven, and taking a bite of it. And it was that scene, a gentleman in a fancy shirt biting cookie after cookie, which jogged my memory.

The house had smelt like chocolate that day as my dad made chocolate chip cookies of abundance, a guest of his on our couch. I couldn’t have been more than ten years old but I remember he was a grumpy and stingy man, making sure to take all the cookies right before I could reach out for them.

Then he’d purposefully show off how good they were, not letting me have even one bite. I called him.

“Uncle Cookie!” I shouted, pointing at him rudely.

Alexander whirled on me with wide eyes, looking like he was about to scold me and I blushed as I realized I’d just shouted that to a king’s face. That could probably be a serious offense, no doubt.

But despite how nervous Alexander looked, Alpha Finnley burst into a boisterous laughter, joy beaming from his eyes as he nodded. “That’s right, that’s right. That’s what you called me. Sorry about the cookie fiasco, you were just too adorable, pouting whenever I’d stolen the cookies. Here, come come.”

And before I knew what was happening, Alpha Finnley had pulled me to sit right beside me, pushing a warm chocolate chip cookie into my hand with a kind smile.

“Tell me, how have you been all these years? I know your father’s passing must’ve taken a toll but I can still see his spirit within you, as strong as he had been.”

Luna Diana smiled as well, just as friendly as she poured us some sweet-smelling tea, and I found myself for the first time in forever, surrounded by kindness. A lump gathered in my throat and I had to hold back tears as I thought back to all of the hard years I’d faced without my father.

“Well, I’ve managed to keep afloat,” I said, trying to avoid the bad parts as I joked, “I’m mainly looking for a new job. Though, obviously I could’ve chosen a better place. Say, are you guys hiring? A waitress is pretty close to a maid, I think.”

Alpha Finnley roared with laughter, clapping me on the back and I gave him a small smile, happy he found humor in my little joke. Self-deprecating humor was kind of my thing.

But as always, Alexander was an expert in bringing the mood down.

“Now that I’ve brought her here, can I leave?” Alexander asked, a scowl on his face as he glanced at me. His look reminded me of a spoiled only child who was jealous of their new sibling getting all the attention.

“Alexander,” Luna Diana said disapprovingly, “I hope you weren’t that rude the entire time you were together. You should be kind to Charlotte, she’s important to your father and me.”

Unfortunately, he was, I thought as Alexander gave me a cold indifferent look. Her comment about me being important sent a warm fuzzy feeling fluttering in my stomach. Only my father had ever cared about me, but it was nice to hear someone else did too.

“That’s right, you should stay,” Alpha Finnley said beaming as he cast looks between us then said something that turned all my warm feelings into as bitter cold as Alexander’s personality, “She’ll be your fiancee and chosen mate so you should know her better.”

I could hear the record scratch in my ears as my head snapped to Alexander, who gave me a cold but unsurprised look, and then to Alpha Finnley who looked like his last wish was finally coming true. I couldn’t stop myself as my mouth ran faster than my brain.

“Excuse me?” I said, panicking slowly, “Who would become this asshole’s fiancee and chosen mate?”