The next morning, my fever broke down. I felt better than yesterday although my wounds still hurt. I noticed a wet rag was placed on my head when I woke up, Lina must have placed it there. My stomach rumbled, I was famished but I knew I wouldn't get any food not until I had finished my chores.
I dragged myself up from my thin bed and picked the bucket and brush, my wrists burned from the branding last night, it hurt like hell. I made my way to the dungeons, based on the roster, I was to scrub the dungeons today. I imagined how bloody it'll be and how hard I needed to scrub with my injured body.
I walked to the dungeon and started scrubbing, I didn't know how long I scrubbed the floor but it seemed like hours had passed when I finally finished. I almost collapsed on the floor weak from exhaustion and starvation. When I looked at the time, it was already evening. I walked back to the servants hall, the smell of roasted meat hung heavy in the air, my stomach started singing. I could hear laughter from the upper floor.
My attempt to avoid everyone will not hold again, it seemed. I didn't want to see the look of contempt in their eyes and that's why I avoided them.
"You're still alive?" Andrea's mocking voice cut through the silence. She leaned against the doorway, her arms crossed, her eyes gleaming. There were two other girls with her. I didn't respond. I was too weak to care.
"You didn't scrub the table for dinner?" I wanted to argue with her but I held my tongue.
"You should be thankful Iris" another voice joined in, a girl named Sam.
Thankful for what? I said in my mind.
"Not everyone gets noticed by the wolf. I wish I was in your shoes"
I was confused, What are they blabbering about?
"W-what do you mean?" The way I said it made my stomach twist. Andrea took a slow step forward, her tone sweet.
"There's been a summons. One of the high ranking wolves request for you tonight. Specifically for you" I froze.
"Me?" Sam nodded eagerly
"He said you're to report when the moon is out. You're lucky"
Lucky. That felt like a curse. A summon from any high ranking wolf was not for anything good. The last time that happened, my mother died.
"You'll find him at the sacred room" she smiled, I read the terror in her eyes.
The sacred room? I suddenly remembered Lina's word from before, the sacred mating ritual was today and I had to stay away from the sacred room because humans are not to linger around there. So why would a high ranking wolf request for me? I thought to disobey the order but disobeying a summon was unthinkable. Humans don't get to question orders.
With that, Andrea and Sam turned away, laughing softly. My heart beat two times faster than normal.
By the time, the moon was out, it was a worse than earlier, my nerves were raw. I slipped through the servants door my heart pounding like a drum. The night air was cold and sharp, I walked faster through the corridor to the east wing. Every step deepened my dread.
I finally arrived at the door, I opened it quietly and paused, dozens of wolves were seated and there was a bright light in the middle, it looked like there was an opening in the ceiling and the moon shone directly in the room. I could still turn back before I was noticed. I wasn't supposed to be here. The air was so thick and my heart beat could be heard. I turned to leave.
"Who are you?" I froze mid step, I could feel a number of gazes on me. I shook with fear and I thought I was going to pass out.
Before I could speak, someone grabbed my arms and yanked me forward making me turn to see all eyes on me.
"A slave" he snarled and there were gasps around me. I could hear the fury as they spoke. I now realized I had been tricked by Andrea and Sam.
"A human? How did a human get in here?" One whispered.
"Humans are not permitted in here?" Another said.
"It's a sacrilege"
"I-I was asked...." I trembled and I couldn't form a complete sentence. I tried to pull free from the warriors grasp. My knees buckled as the warriors shove me forward and I fell.
I met the ground hard. The pain shot through my arms, a sharp silence fell. I wondered if they could hear my heart thumping. The moon glowed, the light almost blinding me.
"No...." A voice whispered amongst the wolves.
"It's happening" another said.
"Impossible. She's human"
There was as a jumble of words and it was hard for me to understand what they meant.
"Kill her" the command carried power and I assumed it was the Alpha King. I didn't want to die yet.
A warrior came forward and I stumbled backwards, I didn't know where my feet led me but I went back as the guard followed me.
"Spare me, Please..." then I hit something hard, stumbling to the ground, dirt scraping my palms.
The air around me changed. It was electric and cold. I could feel power oozing from where I was. I looked up to see I was at the feet of someone, the person was in the shadow and I could only see his eyes which were midnight dark, his eyes on me like a prey.
'This is the day I finally meet my mother' I thought to myself.
The shadow stood up and the guard moved back, every wolf dropped on their knees, his presence like a storm. For a long breathless second, no one dared to speak. The silence was deafening and I trembled fearing for my life. Then his voice came deep, rough and quiet enough to chill the air.
"She's mine"