Chapter 5 Schedule time

"The servants' quarters are in the east wing," Elder Moira explained. "You'll share a hallway with the other housekeeping staff, but you'll have your own room. Bathroom is communal, down at the end of the hall. Meals are served in the staff dining room at six AM, noon, and six PM, but you're welcome to make yourself tea or coffee in the kitchen anytime."

She stopped at a door marked with a simple "7" and produced a key. "This will be yours."

The room was small but clean and surprisingly pleasant. A single bed with a simple quilt, a dresser, a small desk and chair, a narrow window that looked out over the grounds. It was sparse, functional, nothing like the comfortable apartment Sera had shared with Marcus.

But it would do. It was just a stage set, after all. A place to rest between acts of her revenge play.

"The other maids are friendly," Elder Moira continued. "Rosie especially-she's about your age, works the same shift. She'll help you learn the ropes. Unpack, get settled, and come down to the staff dining room at six for dinner. I'll introduce you to everyone then."

"Thank you," Sera said, setting her purse down on the bed. She'd brought one small suitcase-everything she owned now fit in one suitcase. "I really appreciate this."

Elder Moira paused at the door, her expression softening again. "We take care of our people here at Silvermoon, Miss Blackwood. You've found a good place to land. Let yourself heal here."

Then she was gone, closing the door softly behind her.

Sera stood alone in the small room, breathing carefully through the sudden rush of emotion. Guilt, maybe. Or just exhaustion.

She'd done it. She was inside. The first phase of her plan was complete.

She walked to the window and looked out at the grounds. From here, she could see the training fields where several wolves in human form were running drills. Beyond that, the forest stretched endlessly, dark and deep and ancient.

And somewhere in this massive estate, Alpha Kael Stormridge was going about his day, completely unaware that his destruction had just arrived in a modest navy dress and false smiles.

Sera pressed her hand against the cold glass, watching her breath fog the window.

Inside her chest, her wolf remained silent. No excitement. No fear. No instinctive warning that they were in the home of a powerful Alpha.

Just emptiness.

"I'm here, Marcus," she whispered to the ghost that haunted her. "I'm inside. It begins tomorrow."

She pulled the envelope with the evidence from her purse and studied the photos again. Marcus's broken body. The analysis pointing to Alpha Kael. The cold, clinical details of assassination.

This was why she was here. This was what mattered.

Not Elder Moira's kindness. Not the warmth of the kitchen or the beauty of the estate. Not the sense of home that seemed to permeate this place despite her best efforts to remain detached.

Revenge. Justice. Making Marcus's killer pay.

Sera tucked the envelope back into her purse, then unpacked her meager belongings. Two more changes of clothes. Toiletries. A framed photo of Marcus that she set on the nightstand, his smile frozen forever in happier times.

She sat on the bed and stared at his face, memorizing it again, reminding herself why nothing else could matter.

"Six weeks," she told him. "Maybe less. I'll make him love me. I'll make him break his mating. And then I'll watch him lose everything."

The photo didn't answer. Marcus was gone, beyond reach, beyond saving.

But Sera could still avenge him. Could still make his death mean something.

Even if it meant becoming a monster herself.

---

At six PM, Sera made her way down to the staff dining room, following the sounds of conversation and the smell of food.

The room was smaller than the main dining hall she'd glimpsed during her tour, but it was warm and comfortable, with several long tables and mismatched chairs. About fifteen people were already seated-a mix of ages and roles, from what she could tell. Kitchen staff, housekeepers, groundskeepers.

The conversation quieted as she entered.

"Everyone," Elder Moira called from where she sat at the head of one table. "This is Sera Blackwood. She's joining our housekeeping staff starting tomorrow. Please make her feel welcome."

There was a chorus of greetings, and a young woman with dark curly hair and a bright smile jumped up from her seat. "Hi! I'm Rosie. Elder Moira said you'd be working my shift. Come sit with us!"

Sera allowed herself to be pulled over to a table where several younger staff members sat. They made room for her, pushing plates and glasses aside, and immediately started introducing themselves.

"I'm Rosie, obviously," the curly-haired girl said. "That's Thomas-he works in the gardens. And this is Lily and James, they're housekeeping too. And that's Marcus-"

Sera's heart stopped.

But it was just a coincidence. A different Marcus. A young man with sandy hair who waved cheerfully from across the table.

"Welcome to Silvermoon," this other Marcus said. "You picked a crazy time to start-the mating ceremony preparations are intense."

"I heard," Sera managed, her voice only slightly strained. "Six weeks, right?"

"Less now," Lily said, rolling her eyes. "And Miss Celeste has been an absolute nightmare about every detail. You'd think it was a royal wedding the way she's carrying on."

"Lily," Elder Moira said warningly from the next table.

"Sorry," Lily muttered, but she didn't look particularly repentant. "I'm just saying, some people could stand to be a bit more gracious."

"What's she like?" Sera asked, carefully casual. "Miss Celeste?"

"Beautiful," Rosie said diplomatically. "Very... sophisticated. From a prominent family. The marriage will be a great alliance for the pack."

"But cold," Lily added in a whisper. "I've never seen her smile at Alpha Kael. Not really smile. It's all so... formal."

"That's enough," Elder Moira said firmly. "We don't gossip about pack leadership in this household. Is that understood?"

There was a chorus of "Yes, Elder Moira," but Sera caught the looks exchanged around the table. There was a story there. Tension.

Perfect.

The cook from earlier-who introduced herself as Margaret-brought out platters of food. Roasted chicken, vegetables, fresh bread, apple pie. It was simple, hearty fare, and despite her earlier lack of appetite, Sera found herself eating ravenously.

"You look half-starved," Margaret observed, ladling more gravy onto Sera's plate. "When did you last have a decent meal?"

"It's been a while," Sera admitted. "This is delicious. Thank you."

As dinner continued, Sera listened more than she spoke, gathering information. The staff clearly respected Alpha Kael-they spoke of him with genuine warmth. Beta Lucas was mentioned frequently, always positively. Celeste was referenced with careful neutrality that spoke volumes.

"You'll barely see the Alpha or Miss Celeste," Rosie said as they cleared plates after dinner. "They keep to the main wing mostly. The Beta comes through more often, checking on things. He's nice. Strict, but nice."

"Does the Alpha not... interact with the staff?" Sera asked.

"Oh, he does sometimes," Rosie said. "He knows everyone's names, asks about our families. But he's busy, you know? Running the pack, border patrols, meetings with other Alphas. And lately he's been dealing with the mating arrangements. Though..." She lowered her voice. "Between you and me, he doesn't seem very excited about it."

"Rosie," Elder Moira said warningly.

"I'm just making conversation!" Rosie protested.

After dinner, Rosie showed Sera the cleaning supply closets, the laundry facilities, and the general layout of the servants' wing. She chattered constantly, friendly and open in a way that made Sera's chest ache.

This girl had no idea she was befriending a weapon.

"The work isn't too bad once you get used to it," Rosie said as they climbed the stairs back to their rooms. "Elder Moira is fair, and the Alpha pays well. Some of us have been here for years. It's a good place."

"It seems like it," Sera said softly.

They reached Sera's door, and Rosie hesitated. "Are you okay? You seem... sad."

For a moment, Sera considered telling the truth. *I lost my mate six months ago, and it destroyed me. I'm here to seduce your Alpha and ruin everything you love about this place.*

Instead, she smiled tiredly. "Just exhausted. It's been a long day."

"Get some rest," Rosie said kindly. "Tomorrow comes early. Five AM sharp!"

After Rosie left, Sera closed her door and leaned against it, breathing carefully.

She'd done it. She was inside. She had a room, a role, access to the estate.

Tomorrow, she'd begin mapping the household, learning routines, identifying opportunities. Tomorrow, she'd start positioning herself to eventually cross paths with Alpha Kael.

Tomorrow, the real work began.

Sera changed into pajamas and lay in the narrow bed, staring at the ceiling. The room was quiet except for distant sounds of the house settling, muffled conversations from down the hall, the wind in the trees outside.

She reached for her wolf, hoping for some response, some guidance.

Nothing. Just silence and emptiness.

"I can do this alone," she whispered to the darkness. "I have to."

She closed her eyes, but sleep was elusive. Instead, she lay awake planning, calculating, preparing for the war she was about to wage.

Somewhere in this massive estate, Alpha Kael Stormridge slept, unaware that his doom had arrived.

And Sera lay in the darkness, a weapon waiting to be deployed, thinking about revenge and death and the man whose life she was going to destroy.

Six weeks until the mating ceremony.

Six weeks to seduce an Alpha, break an engagement, and orchestrate a massacre.

The clock was ticking.

And Sera had work to do.