Chapter 2 Aria's POV

Aria's POV

"Is she awake?"

I heard a soft voice as I slowly opened my eyes. My entire body ached, as if I had been beaten throughout the night. But then, the memory of the claw-like hands flashed in my mind, and I immediately sat up.

To my surprise, an unfamiliar face stood before me, watching me intently as if waiting for me to awaken.

"You're finally awake," he exhaled, a hint of relief in his voice.

I recoiled in fear, terrified of what had happened and how I ended up in an unfamiliar place. The room was large, and I was lying on a king-sized bed-far more luxurious than anything I was accustomed to.

My legs throbbed with pain, and my head felt heavy, as if it could drop at any moment. Before I could speak, the stranger addressed me.

"We rescued you from a man who was about to harm you," he said, offering a small smile. "I hope you're okay."

I blinked, trying to process his words. My mind was foggy, and I struggled to piece together the events.

"Rescued?" I mumbled, my voice hoarse. "I... I don't understand."

The man took a step closer, his expression filled with concern. "You were attacked on the road. My friend and I were passing by and intervened. We brought you here to recover."

Slowly, fragments of memory began to resurface-the rejection, running away, and then... I shuddered, not wanting to relive the terror.

"Thank you," I whispered, pulling the blanket tighter around myself. "Where am I?"

"You're safe," he assured me. "This is my guest house. I'm Ronan Vale."

I nodded, still feeling overwhelmed. "I'm Aria," I replied softly.

Ronan smiled gently. "Nice to meet you, Aria. Are you hungry? Thirsty? Is there anyone you'd like us to contact for you?"

At the mention of contacting someone, I tensed up. I was leaving. For good.

"No," I said quickly. "There's no one. I... I was leaving."

Ronan's eyebrows rose slightly, but he didn't press further. "I see. Well, you're welcome to stay here until you're feeling better. No pressure."

I felt tears welling up in my eyes, touched by this stranger's kindness. "Thank you," I managed to say.

"Rest now," Ronan said, heading towards the door. "We can talk more later if you'd like. I'll bring you some food and water."

He sent someone, who I presumed to be a maid, to bring food for me. After eating, I was shown to a small room where I could stay.

As I settled into the room Ronan had provided, I thought about where to go from here. I had no plan, no money, and nowhere to go. The kindness of this stranger was all that stood between me and complete desperation.

After a restless night, I made up my mind. I had to ask Ronan for help, even if it meant swallowing my pride.

The next morning, I woke up very early and saw some maids working. I decided to join them and help clean as a form of appreciation. While I was cleaning, a thought crossed my mind. Since I had nowhere to go, I might as well stay here and become a maid. All I needed was a roof over my head.

As I finished cleaning with the other maids, I asked around for Ryder and was directed to his room. I knocked gently on the door, and Ryder's voice called me in.

"Good morning, sir," I began hesitantly. "Please, I... I need to ask you something."

He looked up, his expression open and attentive. "What is it, Aria?"

I swallowed hard, fighting back tears. "I don't have anywhere to go. My family... I can't go back there. Is there any way I could stay here for a while? I'll do anything to earn my keep."

Ryder's face softened with understanding. He was quiet for a moment, considering my request. Then he spoke, his voice gentle but firm.

"Aria, I understand you're in a difficult situation. I'd be happy to help you out. In fact, I might have a solution that could work for both of us."

My heart leapt with hope. "Really? What is it?"

"We're actually short-staffed at the moment," he explained. "If you're willing to work, you could stay here as a maid. It would give you a place to live, steady income, and time to figure out your next steps. What do you think?"

I couldn't believe my ears. It wasn't the future I had imagined for myself, but it was far better than anything I could have hoped for just a day ago.

"Yes," I said, nodding eagerly. "I'll work hard. Thank you, sir."

He smiled warmly. "Rest now, and we'll get you started tomorrow."

⸻

Today marks a month and two weeks since I started working as a maid here, and Ryder has been so kind to me that most people here started to gossip about how he treats me. We have been preparing for a huge event that is coming up tomorrow. I heard werewolves from other packs will be coming here to grace this big event.

As I bustled around the hotel, helping with preparations for the upcoming event, I overheard two other maids whispering nearby.

"Did you hear? The Lycan King himself is coming!"

My heart nearly stopped. The Lycan King? Here? I tried to steady my shaking hands as I continued my work, desperately hoping I had misheard.

But as the day wore on, more rumors circulated. Not only was the Lycan King coming, but he had booked the entire top floor for his entourage.

I felt fear envelope me. If the Lycan King is coming here, what if he recognizes me? What if his half-brother Kael tagged along? Different thoughts filled my mind. I was distracted from my thoughts when one of the maids tapped me on the shoulder.

"Get ready," she said. "Sir Ryder just informed the head nurse that the Royals from Moonstone Pack have arrived. He assigned you and the head nurse to serve them during their stay here."

Immediately, I felt dread in my stomach. If the Moonstone Royals have arrived, it means that the Lycan King and his half-brother Kael were here already.

Before I could respond to the other maid, I heard the head nurse call my name, rushing over to the entrance.

"They are here," she said. "The other maid will go and walk them to their rooms. Once they have rested for about thirty minutes, go and serve them their food."

I nodded in response to her.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves as I prepared the trays of food. Thirty minutes had passed far too quickly, and now I found myself standing outside the royal suite, my hands trembling slightly as I balanced the heavy tray. Gathering my courage, I knocked gently on the door.

"Enter," a deep voice called from inside.

I flung the door open, my eyes widened in shock as I entered inside and met the same person that made me run away from the pack...KAEL

My mate. The same wolf that rejected me.