Esmeralda
I snuggled closer to Selene, keeping a firm grip on her hand as nervousness got the best of me. My heart raced in anticipation as we followed Madam Dora deeper and deeper into the hallway. The echoes of our footsteps resonated through the empty hallway announcing our arrival.
“Least I forget, I will introduce you and your friend to the other housekeepers,” Her words filled my head once again, sending shivers down my spine.
So they were other housekeepers aside from Madam Dora?
Of course, there would be other housekeepers.
Madam Dora’s strength wouldn’t be enough to clean the house.
And the house couldn’t clean itself.
Why didn’t I think of that?
I bit my lips to steady my breath, shooting Selene a knowing look which she recognized immediately and patted my shoulder. Those dull eyes fuelled me with strength, erasing traces of nervousness in me.
But hurt still lingered in my heart. Its rapid spread like that of wildfire ate me up from the inside, shattering the broken pieces of my heart.
Thanks to Alpha Kade!
Wallowing in anxiety, I rubbed my sweaty palms together, unconsciously blowing air into them before repeating the process. Faint voices of people could be heard in the distance.
Madam Dora placed her arm around my shoulders, caressing it tenderly, “I know you can’t help it, but quit being nervous, dear. The workers here are nice. They don’t bite,”
I forced a smile, concealing every trace of anxiety in me, “I am not nervous, Madam Dora. Not one bit,” I said, allowing the words to flow calmly.
I wasn’t going to let her know how terrified I was.
She might seem friendly and nice, but she was still a stranger.
I was no fool to know that it was all pretence. It was only a matter of time before she revealed her true colour, maltreating me at the slightest opportunity as my former Pack did.
Who was she not to ill-treat me when the Alpha and his Beta already did.
Nineteen years of my life had been filled with bitter memories, earning me a broken heart after trusting people.
I had exhausted all my trust, except for the one I had for Selene. She was the only one I had and I trusted her with my life.
A scoff escaped madam Dora’s lips as her brow raised in surprise, “Really?” Her penetrating gaze pinned mine, “But your body says otherwise,”
“My body?” I repeated in disbelief, studying her curiously.
“Yes, dear. Your hands won’t stop trembling,”
I swallowed the hard lump in my throat, balling my hands into a fist to stop them from shaking.
“And your heart. It won’t stop racing,” Her soft hand found its way to my chest with her gaze still locked on mine, “It is pounding so loud like that of the beating of war drums,”
A soft gasp rolled off my lips.
When I thought I was composed, my body gave me away, shamelessly.
How could she hear my heartbeat clearly?
Of course, she was a wolf with an adequate ability of hearing.
“It’s okay, dear. It’s okay to be nervous. I was like this on my first day of work. I was anxious, but it turned out my seniors were nice,” She sighed wearily, “Just breathe and you’ll be fine. You don’t have to be scared,” She said, before greeting me with an assuring smile.
I shut my eyes, breathing slowly to calm the deepest part of my troubled mind, but it didn’t stop my fear.
I couldn’t help being nervous.
Meeting people has never been a good experience for me. Taunting, bullying and abuse were always the outcome of it.
Beads of sweat formed on my forehead as the voices grew louder and clearer. I could easily make out feminine and masculine voices.
What were they doing together?
Do they share the same work?
A loud gasp escaped from my lips when Madam Dora’s steady hands made their way to the doorknob.
I froze on a spot, reluctant to move an inch. My breath turned ragged and my face turned pale.
Was I ready for this?
How will the other housekeepers feel when I get introduced?
Will they be comfortable around me?
Will I be comfortable around them?
Will they treat me like trash?
Will they be friendly?
Will they like me and Selene?
Will we like them?
How would they react when they find out I was their Luna?
A servant Luna.
Whose identity would never be revealed.
Several questions burned inside me. Unanswered questions turned my legs to jelly, as they couldn’t support my movement.
With my hands squeezing a fistful of my cloth and my mouth ajar, I leaned against the wall shutting my eyes tight.
No.
I don’t think I was ready for this. I don’t think I wanted to meet anyone.
I just wanted to shut myself from everyone and cry my eyes out in the lovely pink room.
“You can do this, Esmeralda,” Madam Dora’s voice resonated in my ears, her bright smile fuelling me with a newly found courage.
“Yes. I can do this,” I muttered, repeating it to myself.
Wasn’t she ever tired of smiling?
And why does everything about her remind me of my mum?
Those dull hazel eyes, enclosed by soft wrinkled skin never stopped to strike me with their beauty. And the cheerful face that never ceases to wear a smile all day long.
She was beautiful.
She was smart.
She was full of life. Even her grey hair wasn’t an excuse to take away her youthfulness, and neither did it threaten to weaken her muscles.
Her wavery voice didn’t fail to comfort me in distress and fuel me with courage.
I felt safe around her, I felt respected and I felt the high walls that I had built around Selene and I enlarged to accommodate her. But I was reluctant to let her in.
I was reluctant to trust her, afraid of getting betrayed.
I wasn’t going to let my guard down and become a fool twice.
The door slowly opened to reveal three pups, clad in uniform chatting loudly and yelling at each other.
Help me, Moon goddess!