Cilla’s POV
A few days after Jane Willow had arrived, I was summoned to the main house by the head of housekeeping Mrs. Conway. Maryanne was more than eager to be the one to deliver the news. Having not seen her in a while, I was shocked to hear her saying she was the one at my door. When she opened the door, she looked around with an air of superiority, acting as if she had never lived in such a room. I knew she was not there to see me as a friend.
“Mrs. Conway asked for you,” she said. “You need to get to the house in less than five minutes.”
“Good morning to you, too, Maryanne. Remember when we used to be friends?”
Maryanne rolled her eyes. “I remember no such thing. We came here together but I don’t remember us getting close.”
“Anyway, what does Mrs. Conway want me to do?”
“I think you’re going to be Miss Jane Willow’s personal maid.”
“What?”
“You heard right. Jane willow needs someone at her beck and call, and it seems she asked specifically for you.”
I frowned. “Why would she do that? She doesn’t even know me. Perhaps it’s someone else.”
“Someone like who? The alpha? If that’s so, then he must really hate you. Or he thinks Jane Willow is as saintly as she appeared to have been before. Trust me, everyone says she’s changed. When the alpha is around, she pretends to be all saintly, but when he leaves, she’s a nightmare. Anyway, I’ve delivered my message and I’ve got to leave before I catch something in this stuffy room.”
After she had left, I went to take a shower and made myself ready, before heading to the dining hall for breakfast. I had breakfast with Katy while her mother watched us from a distance. She had found me with Katy the previous day and we’d spoken at length. She appreciated me hanging out with Katy since she did not have much time for the little girl. I was finding it hard to tell Katy that I was no longer going to have time for her. She had been so excited because we had planned to make some handcraft items together that day.
“Katy, I’ve been called to the main house,” I began. “I’m going to find out what they want from me but I think I may have to spend the entire day there.”
“So we won’t be able to make bracelets?” she said, on the verge of tears.
“I’m sorry, baby. I can’t disobey orders.”
“It’s just like how they did with mummy. I’m going to be alone again.”
“No, baby. You can hang out with Mirta. She’s a real nice lady.”
“I don’t want her,” she said and started crying. I looked around and was relieved to see that her mother had left the building. Eventually, I managed to comfort her and she stopped crying. After breakfast, I took her to the kitchen. Mirta was having breakfast while Grace was cleaning the sink while singing an old song.
“Good morning,” I said.
“Ah!” Grace said, turning happily. “Just the person I wanted to see. Did you hear that my niece is back? Alleluia! She is going to be the luna and I’ll be out of here in no time. I have suffered way too much. My time to enjoy this life is finally here.”
I sighed. “Good for you, Grace.” I said.
“I know you thought you were going to take him but she is back and you have no chance of being a luna.”
Her words hurt me but I maintained my composure. I decided to borrow a leaf from Janine Bakers. Being calm in times of anger is an underrated skill.
“Mirta, this is Katy. Katy, meets Mrs. Mirta.”
“It’s nice to meet you, ma’am,” Katy said in a soft voice.
“It’s nice to meet you, dear.” Mirta said.
“Mirta, I cannot be with Katy today because I’ve been asked to go to the main house. Please can you spend your free time with her?”
“Of course, I can. I usually get very lonely around here.”
“I’m here,” grace said.
“All you talk about is Miss Willow. Jane this, Jane that. I’m tired. It will be great to have someone else around. Will you be able to help me, Katy?”
“Yes,” Katy smiled and Mirta gave her a short hug.
“Okay, Katy you’re in good hands. I gotta go before Mrs. Conway freaks out.”
Mrs. Conway was in her office sorting through some papers. She looked up when I opened the door and walked in.
“Good morning, Mrs. Conway. I was told you were looking for me.”
“Yes, a position has come up and I’ll be assigning you to it.” she said. “Miss Jane Willow has returns and needs a personal maid. You will start today.”
“Okay.”
“You don’t seem surprised.”
“Maryanne might have said something.”
“Okay, get to work. She is staying in one of the rooms on the alpha’s floor.”
“Does the alpha know about this?”
“He placed her there.”
“No, I mean does he know that I will be working for Miss Willow.”
“No, but he’s on a diplomatic visit at the redwood pack. He’ll find out when he returns, I guess. Why does it matter?”
“No reason,” I said while standing up. Remembering what Maryanne had said about Miss Willow, I began to feel afraid. Grace had probably told Jane that I was the alpha’s mate. Why else would she have chosen me when there were so many other maids in the palace? A light bulb clicked over my head. I turned. “Am I going to be paid for this?”
“Oh, I forgot. You’re no longer a slave, and neither are you a member of this pack. That means you can leave whenever you choose. Look here, young lady, your payment will be free food, rent and other utilities. If that’s not enough for you, feel free to leave the pack.”
She knew very well that I could just up and leave. I did not have any money, food or anywhere to live for that matter. I managed a fake smile. “Okay.”
Closing the door, I started walking towards the stairs. Since I was no longer working for alpha Ridian, I did not have the right to use the elevator. Until Jane and Ridian were married, she was not considered luna. She enjoyed some rights of that position but her employees did not.
When I reached the alpha’s floor, I went to one end of the floor which had a tobacco brown door which was different from the other light brown ones. I had never seen it open when Jane was gone but it was slightly ajar on that day. It was the guest suite. I went and knocked on it.
“Come in,” a voice said from inside.
Taking a deep breath, I strode in. Jane Willow was lying on the couch reading a magazine. She was still wearing her night dress. She smiled and sat up when she saw me. She tossed the magazine aside.
“Cilla Markle.”
“That’s me, miss.”
“We’ve never spoken before, have we?”
I shook my head. “Nope,” I said, popping the ‘p’.
“Please take a sit.”
Confused, I followed her instructions and sat on a loveseat.
“I hear you’ve been running around with my man,” she said.
I smiled. So this was it.
“Okay.”
“Aren’t you going to deny it?”
“Please believe everything you’ve heard. It’s all true.”
Jane chuckled. “Trying to act smart with me, huh? I assure you that won’t last. Before the end of this day, you won’t be making snarky remarks like that in front of me. I’m going to be the luna of this pack and you will start respecting me now.”
“How sure are you that you will be the Luna?”
She laughed mirthlessly. “Who else will be the Luna if not me? You? Oh please.”
“You seem threatened by me, or you wouldn’t be acting like this.”
“I’m not threatened by you or anyone, you stupid girl. I’m just warning you. I want you to be ready for what’s about to happen.”
“I’m the alpha’s mate,” I said. “But, I believe you know that.”
“Of course I do, but that won’t stop me. Besides, he has neither accepted nor rejected you. He has not even marked you, and that means he isn’t sure that he wants you. If a man is not sure, it means he doesn’t want you.”
“He accepted the mate bond.”
“What?” Jane willow was up in seconds. I saw her face twisting in anger before she lunged at me and started squeezing my neck with two hands. “I’m going to kill you, little bitch.”
I struggled to get her to free me but she was too strong. I bent my head and started biting her hands so hard until she had no choice but to let me go.”
She grabbed a vase from the table and threw it to the ground. “Clean that, you bitch.” She yelled as she grabbed another one and shattered it as well. I ran to the door and quickly opened it before one could get thrown at me.
“Come back here, you bitch.”
I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. I needed to be away from that crazy woman.