Chapter 6 Another thing they took

/-Ayla-/

Not long after that odd woman departed, a young girl, seemingly no more than her early teens, stepped quietly into the room.

She dipped her head into a bow before raising her head to reveal a pair of bright, black eyes that shone with innocent curiosity.

They were the eyes of someone who hadn't seen much of the world's cruelty; pure and untainted.

“My lady, I've been assigned to serve you. If there's anything you want, you need only command it.” She uttered in a sing-song tone, her lips curled into a wide smile.

I said nothing at first and merely fixed my gaze upon her.

“Who assigned you to me?” I finally asked, pushing away the duvet covering my body and rising from the bed to walk towards the window. Seeing this, she hastened forward and offered her arm to support me.

“It's the Alpha King, my Lady. He stressed that you are weak and need to be well-taken care of.” She replied softly.

I ignored her outstretched hand without a change in my expression. I didn't need to be reminded of how weak I was and still am.

The girl didn't seem to be bothered, and her smile remained without falter. I had once been like that, hadn't I? Always smiling despite everything, like I had everything.

Well, did I not? Magnus was once my everything, and I had believed he would remain so until reality proves me wrong in the cruelest manner.

The thought alone made my features unpleasant.

However, who would have thought that the girl would misunderstand?

“My lady, have I said something wrong?” She began, her voice trembling ever so slightly. “Is there anything you are not satisfied with? If so, you can tell me, and I shall change it at once. Is there anything you need? Oh no, if the Alpha King hears that I have failed to serve you properly, he would send me to the kitchen to face the nags of those aunties again. What if…”

“Shut up!” I snapped in annoyance, pinching the spot between my eyebrows with a frown at her voice that sounded like the buzzing of a fly.

The girl instantly pressed her lips together, but her eyes remained bright, and I shook my head helplessly.

Then, a question occurred to me, and I asked, “Did he really say all that to you?”

The girl nodded quickly and said theatrically, “Indeed, my lady. He seems to be worried about you, I have never seen him like that before. He's always all grumpy, with a scrunched up face that appears as though everyone on earth is indebted to him.”

Before I could stop myself, a quiet chuckle escaped my lips, and when the girl glanced at me in surprise, I covered the smile with a faint cough.

“My Lady, do you need water?” She quickly asked, and I gave a head shake.

“Are you not scared that he would punish you if he hears about all you've just said?” I asked again, staring down at the busy crowd.

Was this what he was looking at earlier? His people?

The girl replied with a shrug, “He will not.”

I turned to her in surprise, “Oh?”

The girl gave a goofy grin, then leaned in as though trying to whisper a secret, “You might not know, but the Alpha King is not as fearsome as they say.”

“Perhaps you are the only one soul who holds such an opinion.” I replied.

With her open personality, I had no doubt that something like that would come out of her mouth.

Before she could say anything, I quickly interjected, “So, what is your name?”

“My name is Eldra. In our tongue, it means warmth in the cold.”

I nodded faintly, “Nice name.”

Eldra beamed with her chest puffed out, “It's a name personally given to me by the Alpha King's beta, and it is also rare. You need to know that…"

Before the chatterbox could continue, I quickly interrupted, knowing that if I didn't stop her, she might not stop, “You are from Vulkaria?”

Surprisingly, she shook her head, “No, my Lady. During the Great Pack war fifteen winters ago, the Alpha King found me when he was just coming back from the front lines, which was also his first battle. I was just an infant then, and he took me in, handing me to the palace midwives. And since then, I had always followed him around, until now that he assigned me to you.”

“I see.”

No wonder she has literally no fear towards him. He was, in a way, a father to her.

“But,” Eldra suddenly lowered her head, her smile receding for the first time as she added, “The Alpha King is unwell. People from outside the kingdom say he's cursed, and some say he's suffering from the price of his ruthlessness, that Karma has gotten to him. But, I believe that's not the truth. He's just sick.”

I have heard rumors as well, but I knew well that most were definitely not the truth.

However, was I ready to delve deeper into his world?

No, I could not afford it. Fear towards this land was already embedded deep within me.

I had no idea why I had a second-chanced mate so soon, but I wasn't ready to face that truth, not yet. All that was left in my mind was the thirst for revenge.

“My Lady, you need to take your medicine now. It is meant to be taken before breakfast.” Eldra suddenly pointed out, and I glanced at her with my brow raised.

But, she had already walked towards the side table to pour water into another cup. Then, she retrieved a parchment from her sleeves and dispensed the contents into the cup.

Having learned a few things about medicine, I quickly recognized the familiar scent of the herb, and my frown deepened.

“Why should I take that herb? Isn't it for people who have lost their wolves?” I asked, my voice icy and demanding.

After what I had experienced, trust has become something I didn't dare have. I don't even trust myself, not to talk of…

Eldra turned her head to look at me, her eyes wide with bafflement, “Yes, it is. It was recommended by Miss Adelaide to treat your wolf.”

Adelaide, that must be the woman from earlier.

Sure enough, she doesn't have any good motives.

I snorted, “Treat my wolf? There might be something wrong with me, but my wolf is completely fine. Why would I need that?”

Eldra fell silent, staring at me with her brows furrowed, her eyes reflecting something I couldn't understand.

Then, my anger gradually deflated, and a bad premonition took its place.

Without another hesitation, I quickly tried to reach into myself, to a part where only one thing was present - My wolf.

But, nothing.

The silence was absolute.

“What's going on?” I whispered, fear gripping my heart.

That was when I heard Eldra say quietly, “Miss Adelaide said the poison severed your link with your wolf... that the connection has been broken.”

Hearing that, I staggered, feeling all colors leave my face..