Chapter 7 7

~ Doris ~

A sharp knock on the door jolted me awake.

My eyes flew open. For a second, everything felt fuzzy-the soft purple blanket tangled around my legs, then last night crashed back into me like cold water.

My heart started racing all over again, I sat up fast, pulling the covers to my chin, staring at the window.

The curtains were still half closed. No one was there now but the fear sat heavy in my chest, like a stone I couldn't swallow.

Another knock, softer this time.

I swallowed hard and slipped out of bed. My bare feet touched the fluffy rug. I padded to the door, heart thumping, and cracked it open just a little.

Three maids stood in the hallway, smiling politely. Each one held several big shopping bags, shiny ones with ribbons and logos I didn't recognize.

Behind them were more bags stacked on the floor, and two more maids carrying even larger ones.

"Good morning, Luna," the first maid said brightly. She had kind eyes and brown hair tied back neatly.

"Alpha Ryder sent these for you. He said you should have everything you need."

Luna. The word still felt strange, like it belonged to someone else.

I stepped back and opened the door wider.

They filed in quietly, setting bags on the bed and floor. One maid opened the closet doors and started hanging dresses in soft colors, jeans that looked brand new, sweaters, jackets, even pretty nightgowns.

Another arranged shoes on the bottom shelf: sneakers, flats, sandals, boots, heels I'd never worn in my life.

Jewelry boxes came next. Necklaces with tiny sparkling stones, bracelets, earrings that caught the light.

There were bags too, small purses, bigger shoulder bags, even a backpack with little wolf charms on the zipper.

Makeup, hair brushes, lotions that smelled like flowers and vanilla, everything anyone could ever want.

I stood there, arms wrapped around myself, watching them work. My old clothes from yesterday looked like rags next to all this.

When they finished, the first maid turned to me with a warm smile.

"Alpha wants you to feel comfortable here, Luna. If anything doesn't fit or you need something else, just press that bell," she said, pointing toward it. "We'll bring whatever you need."

They started to leave. My hand shot out before I could think, I grabbed my notebook from the desk, scribbled fast, and held it up to the kind-eyed maid.

Where is the Alpha?

She read it and smiled again. "He's downstairs in the living room, Luna."

They bowed their heads a little and left, closing the door softly behind them.

I stood in the middle of the room, surrounded by all the new things. It should have felt nice. Exciting, maybe. But the knot in my stomach wouldn't go away.

All these beautiful clothes and jewelry made it feel like I was someone important.

I changed quickly into a simple blue dress from one of the bags. It fit perfectly, soft against my skin.

I slipped on matching flats real shoes for the first time in forever. They didn't pinch or rub, I looked in the mirror, I looked... different and beautiful but my eyes still looked scared.

I took a deep breath and headed downstairs.

The staircase felt endless, my hand slid along the smooth railing.

Voices drifted up from the living room low at first, then clearer. I slowed my steps near the bottom, suddenly nervous.

I was about to turn the corner when I heard Julius's voice-sharp, loud, like he didn't care who heard.

"Why her, Ryder? Why Doris? The mute girl? What is so special about her?"

I froze. My feet stopped moving, I pressed myself against the wall, heart hammering so loud I was sure they'd hear it.

Julius kept going. "She doesn't even look like she should be Luna. She looks like... like some piece of trash someone dragged in from the street. Everyone's talking about it. The maids, the guards, half the pack. You could have had anyone. Clara, for example. She's strong, beautiful, respected. Why choose the reject who can't even speak?"

There was a pause, I peeked around the corner just enough to see.

Ryder stood near the fireplace, arms crossed, face hard. Blade was beside him, looking uncomfortable. A few servants stood quietly in the corners, heads down, pretending not to listen. Julius paced in front of Ryder, gesturing wildly.

Ryder's jaw tightened. For a second he looked really angry. But then his face smoothed out, like he put on a mask.

When he finally spoke, his voice was loud, cold, clear enough for every servant in the room to hear and clear enough for me.

"Who told you I chose her because I want her?" Ryder said. "Remember what happened two years ago? My supposed Luna-my first assigned mate was hung at the gates, her body just... dangling there for everyone to see. Do you think I forgot that? Do you think I don't know what I'm doing?"

He stepped closer to Julius. His voice got louder, almost a shout.

"I don't give a d*mn about what happens to a mute girl. That's exactly why I chose her, If someone comes for her, if they try to hurt her, I won't lose sleep over it. I can't let a real, complete human die again not like last time. But a mute reject? If she dies, the pack moves on and I move on. That's the point."

The words hit me like a slap.Then another.

I felt my knees shake, my chest hurt so bad I couldn't breathe right.

He didn't care.

He really didn't care.

All the clothes, the room, he did it because I was disposable. Because if the killer came back, Ryder wouldn't even blink.

Now I understood. I wasn't chosen, I was insurance.

I wanted to tell him about the intruder, but the words died in my throat. There was no point now. No point in anything.

Tears burned my eyes, I turned to run.

My elbow caught the tall flower vase on the side table. It wobbled, then crashed to the marble floor. Shards scattered everywhere.

Flowers spilled across the marble.

Everyone turned.

I didn't wait, I ran.

Up the stairs, legs pumping, tears blurring everything. I didn't go to my room because I couldn't face that big bed and all those new clothes that suddenly felt like a lie.

I kept running down the hallway, past doors, until I turned a corner and pushed into a small empty room at the end.

I slammed the door behind me and slid down against it, hugging my knees.

Footsteps echoed in the hall, fast, heavy.

Someone was coming after me.

I pressed my hand over my mouth so I wouldn't make a sound.

My heart pounded so hard I thought it would break.

The footsteps stopped right outside the door.

A hand touched the knob.

It turned slowly.

Please don't let it be him, I begged inside my head. Please don't let it be Ryder.

The door creaked open an inch.