Lorelei POV

Witches.

That was Skye’s explanation for what I had seen.

According to her, every few months, a coven of highly powerful witches visited the pack estate, staying for several days. No one knew exactly what business they had with the Alpha King, but a witch being a witch, and a group of powerful witches being a group of powerful witches, was the only logical explanation for a beast that could appear and vanish like smoke.

Though I wasn’t completely convinced that was the answer, hearing about witches, creatures I had only ever read about in books, known for casting illusions, brewing poisons, and bending reality to their will, visiting this pack and having business with the Alpha King sent a shiver down my spine.

For the next few days after that incident, things seemed fine.

Or so I thought.

The other maids had never really given me a hard time before, aside from their disgusted looks, but now they seemed to be putting extra effort into minding their own business. Even Skye benefited from this sudden change, as they no longer looked down on her simply for being by my side.

Chelsea, on the other hand, kept her distance from me as much as possible. Sometimes, I even forgot she existed.

That was until one morning.

The sun was already high in the sky when Skye and I, along with a few other maids, were assigned to deep-clean the estate’s main courtyard. We scrubbed the stone floors, washed the statues, and polished the railings. It was the kind of tedious work that required all hands on deck.

We were in the middle of it when Mr. Hawke suddenly strode into the courtyard with two guards at his side.

His presence immediately startled us because, aside from the day he had brought me here, our paths had never crossed. His expression was hard, and his fists were clenched tightly at his sides as his gaze locked onto me.

"You," he called sternly, making my brows knit together in confusion.

But the second I spotted Chelsea standing behind him with a smug look on her face and her arms crossed over her chest, I immediately knew what this was.

This was her revenge.

"Oh no," Skye muttered beside me, sounding just as terrified as the rest of the maids.

"Are you deaf?" Hawke barked. "I said you."

I stepped forward, trying my best to remain calm even as my heart pounded against my ribs. "Good morning, sir. I..."

But I never got the chance to finish as his hand swung across my face so fast that I didn’t even see it coming.

The slap sent my head snapping to the side as pain exploded across my cheek. I stumbled backward, my feet slipping on the wet, soapy stone floor before I crashed hard onto my hands and knees.

A collective gasp rippled through the courtyard, and pain shot through my palms as they scraped against the rough concrete, but I clenched my jaw and forced myself not to react.

"You disrespectful little thief," Hawke roared, towering over me like a storm cloud. "Did you honestly think you could smuggle valuables out of the Alpha King’s private wing and get away with it?"

Ah.

So that was the lie Chelsea had decided to go with.

Behind him, Chelsea’s smug smile stretched wider, satisfaction practically radiating off her. She shifted slightly to the side, making sure I could see the absolute delight dancing in her eyes.

"I didn’t steal anything," I said, defending myself even though I already knew how this would end.

After all, I had seen this play out many times before.

"Then explain what you were doing in the Alpha’s chambers," Hawke snapped. "Don’t you know that area is restricted?"

I remained silent, my fingers curling into fists at my sides.

"Look at her," Chelsea finally spoke, her voice dripping with fake concern. "She’s not even denying it properly. That only proves she’s guilty. She attacked me when I confronted her. If this goes unpunished, the other maids will start thinking they can get away with anything."

Hawke’s eyes narrowed.

"Guards," he barked. "Strip her and tie her up. Twenty lashes."

Oh, Goddess. Not this again.

My chest tightened as two guards immediately started advancing toward me.

The other maids shrank back even farther while rough hands grabbed my arms and yanked me to my feet. Before I could even steady myself, they began tugging at my dress.

"What’s going on here?"

The sudden voice was deep and cold, cutting through the tension like a blade. Even before I looked up, I already knew who it was.

The entire courtyard seemed to freeze.

The maids stopped breathing, and the guards’ hands on me trembled slightly.

When I finally looked up, sure enough, it was Alpha Kaelen strolling into the courtyard.

He was dressed even more casually than the last time I had seen him. A loose, slightly oversized white shirt hung from his frame, the top few buttons left undone, paired with relaxed black sweatpants. His red hair fell around his face in messy, slightly damp curls, as though he had just come from a bath.

But despite the casual clothes, his expression was as cold as ice.

His amber eyes landed on me, making my breath hitch in my throat, before they shifted toward Mr. Hawke, who suddenly looked completely lost for words. He clearly hadn’t expected Alpha Kaelen to be here.

"You see... Alpha..." Hawke finally managed, though his voice shook noticeably. "I just found out this maid snuck into your chambers, and I was about to punish her."

Well, if he put it that way, it wasn’t exactly a lie.

Though I hadn’t actually snuck in. I had still been there.

And I had run away from him afterward, and now this was only making it so much easier for him to recognize who I was.

The moment his gaze shifted back to me, I immediately lowered my head.

Several seconds passed in silence, and I was already bracing myself for him to order my execution.

Or better yet, do it himself.

"Under whose orders?"

The question startled everyone around me, including me.

"Sir?" Hawke’s voice cracked.

"You said she snuck into my chambers," Kaelen repeated slowly as he took a few steps forward, making my heart race even faster. "Did I ask you to punish her?"

That question completely threw me off, my brows knitting together in confusion.

"Well... no, but I..." Hawke stammered, struggling to come up with an excuse.

"Release her."

His voice was calm but still very cold.

So cold that for a second I thought I had misheard him.

"But, Alpha..."

"Don’t make me repeat myself."

The moment those words left his mouth, the guards immediately let go of me, stepping to the side to put as much distance between themselves and me as possible.

"And you..."

His words were directed at me this time, and a moment of silence passed before I slowly lifted my head.

The second our eyes met, I saw his jaw tighten.

I watched his Adam’s apple bob before he finally added, "Come with me."

Damn it.

I had really started to think I had somehow escaped his wrath.

So this was it.

I was really dead this time.