Chapter 5: Strange Space

Aria's POV:

A cold wind blew by, lifting my skirt. I grabbed it and held it down. Anthony's intense eyes were focused on me. It was like he was searching for something. Goosebumps erupted over my skin; this dress barely even covered anything.

"You're cold," Anthony stated.

"No sh*t," I said, straightening my back. If the skirt wanted to go up in my face, that's fine.

Anthony raised a brow at my curse word.

If he has a problem with it, that's on him, not me. I was trembling in my boots from the cold. From his presence. And the last thing I wanted to do was watch my tongue.

"We should get going." He turned and walked to the carriage. He moved like he was gliding, his feet barely touching the ground and his hair flowing behind him. He had this grace and fluidity that he moved with.

I guess that's why he was called Blessed of the Moon Goddess.

"Alpha Aria, are you coming?"

I exhaled, my breath forming wisps of steam in front of me. I made my way over to the carriage, another cold wind raising my skirt. My face bloomed bright red.

I would add Dane to my revenge list. This humiliation will not go unpunished.

I got into the carriage. Anthony came in after me. The carriage had enough space to fit six people comfortably. But it felt crowded even though it was just the two of us.

The carriage started to move. I sat stifly, my knees pressed together.

"How far is your pack from here?"

Anthony took off his jacket. He handed it over to me. I stared at it, then him. "Don't you know what to do with it?" He asked, tilting his head.

I took it from him. "Thank you." I pulled it over my body. I was practically swimming in it. It felt like a warm blanket on a snowy morning. The feeling of warmth suddenly took me back to when Logan would cuddle me early in the mornings when it was cold outside. And he would whisper how much he loved me.

Damn it. I'm thinking of that liar again.

I wore Anthony's jacket, reminding myself not to think of Logan. Not anymore. I felt warmer now. And it smelled good too. Really good.

I felt that tug in my heart again. I grabbed my chest, massaging it softly. Was I having a heart attack?

"We're almost there." Anthony announced. "Only a few more hours."

I didn't think much of it, so I just nodded.

*****

Only a few more hours indeed.

By the time we arrived at the Lycan pack, the sun was high up in the sky.

The reception was one of a kind. The carriage pulled up in front of what I presumed was the pack house. It was this victorian style mansion with two annex's at the sides of it. In front of the mansion were servants, dressed neatly, waiting in a semi circle formation.

The moment Anthony stepped down form the carriage, they all bowed. Their heads fell and rose at the same time, not a single servant out of place , like they had spent days perfecting it.

"Welcome home, Alpha Anthony," they greeted in a collective voice.

Anthony scanned the servants. I noticed how he took in each of them, his eyes scrutinizing them. He paused at one servant girl. "Claire," he called.

She stepped forward and bowed. "Yes, my Lord?"

"See to our guest, Alpha Aria." He gestured to me, the girl's eyes following his hand. "Show her to her room and prepare her for lunch."

The girl, Claire, smiled. "As you wish, my Lord." She replied.

I wish Anthony would stop calling me alpha. I wasn't an alpha anymore.

He turned to me. "She'll take care of you. If you need anything, don't hesistate to tell her."

I nodded. "Thank you."

He walked inside the pack house, the servants following behind him in an orderly fashion.

"My lady, please," Claire's voice made me turn to her. "Come with me."

I followed her into the pack house. It was much more impressive on the inside. Did I expect anything less from the lycan king himself?

I wanted to admire the beauty of the place, the marble floors and the ornate crystal chandeliers. Claire moved quickly through the space, forcing me to keep up with her. If I'm going to be here a long time, there will be much more time to admire the place.

We got to a room and Claire paused.

"My lady, this is your room," she said as she opened the door.

My eyes went wide. "Wow." I whispered. The room was spacious, much more than the one I had back home. It was furnished like a queen's room which led me to wonder, what are Anthony's motives?

Claire walked ahead, I realized she was explaining something.

"Sorry, what did you say?"

"I'll draw a bath for you," She replied with a curt bow. "it's been a long journey, your muscles need to be relaxed."

"That sounds lovely, thank you."

She smiled in reply.

****

The bath left me feeling exhausted and sleepy.

I didn't know I had fallen asleep in a bathrobe till I opened my eyes and it was dark outside. Claire was sitting by the bed, reading a book.

"What time is it?" I yawned, rubbing sleep out of my eyes.

"It's almost midnight, my lady."

I shot out of bed. "What?!"

"You missed lunch and dinner, it's nothing serious." I heard Anthony's voice. I whipped around to the direction of his voice. He stood in the doorway, a nonthreatening smile on his face. "Hello, alpha aria."

I exhaled deeply. "I'm not an alpha. Just Aria."

He turned to Claire. "Claire, you may retire for the night."

"Goodnight my Lord, my lady," She said, bowing to us respectively. Then she walked out, Anthony moving out of the way for her to move.

I was left alone, in my bathrobe, with Anthony.