Nova’s pov
The air felt so suffocating and I felt a burning feeling in my chest. My neck hurt so badly and I was feeling miserable as I walked down the hallway that lead to the outside of the Lycan King’s chamber.
It was when I was completely out of his quarter that I began to see people scurrying into the compound. The outside of the Lycan King’s quarter and the inside seemed like two different worlds to me.
All the people that I passed by stared at me weirdly and I didn’t realise all that was happening until I got to the room that was given to me.
The first thing I noticed was the door, the Lycan King broke it down last night and it was like that till I left in the morning. Now, the door has been fixed and I sighed in relief.
I headed straight to the full-length mirror only to see another version of myself. The upper part of my dress was damped with my blood, my hair was tangled which made me look like a slave.
Dry blood has made my black hair turn wine. I sniffed and wiped away my tears. I was still in the dress that I wore from home, the previous day.
I did the zipper, letting the heavy dress to slid down my legs. I gazed around the room and I found a door at the far end of the room. I assumed it to be the bathroom and I headed straight for the door.
I twisted the doorknob and entered the room. The bathroom looked so much like the one at my parents, only the stuff on the counter was different. I walked under the shower and turned it on.
I let the water pour on my head, soaking myself under the running shower. The more the water fell on me, the more I felt alive.
After washing off the blood on my hair, I picked a bottle of coconut and vanilla shampoo from the counter and washed my hair with it.
The scent of the shampoo mixed with my floral scent made the bathroom smell like heaven.
I picked a bar of soap and wash my body thoroughly before turning off the shower. I was careful with my neck so that It wouldn’t start bleeding again.
I picked a neatly folded purple towel from the rail and wrapped it around my chest. Took the smallest towel and wiped my damped hair.
I strolled out of the bathroom and walked into the room, my gaze drifted to the mirror and I smiled at my reflection. I was seeing myself in the mirror unlike the unpleasant version of me that I was seeing earlier.
I wanted to turn around when my eyes landed on the floor beside the mirror. My dress was no longer there. It was then that I sensed a presence in the room.
I swiftly turned around, and just then I heard an opening and closing of a door.
“Princess Nova, you’re here!” Shayna grinned and my face lit up in a smile.
“Shayna?!” I ran up to her and caged her in my arms. “How have you been holding up in this horrible place?” I whined, tears welling up my eyes as I hugged her tightly.
“Well,” she moaned and I hastily released her from the hug. “I have been good. What about you?” she roamed her eyes on my body and her eyes suddenly widened in shock.
“Your neck!” she moved back in shock and pressed her palm to her mouth. “What happened to you?” she whispered, her eyes swam with tears.
“It’s nothing bad, I fell and a broken glass pierced the flesh of my neck.” I chuckled, she slapped my arms and dragged me up to the bed.
“Stop laughing when you’re hurt, it breaks my heart to see you trying to be strong in front of me.” she nagged at me and I bit my lower lip.
She left in search of a medical kit but couldn’t find one.
“Why are you here?” I threw the question at her as soon as she strode back to my side. She sat down beside me on the soft silky bedding and sighed.
“I heard the rumours from the maids that Alpha and Luna were here, in the morning. I checked here earlier but you weren’t here, so I decided to come again, and here you are looking pretty as always.” she flashed me a toothy smile and I chuckled lightly.
“So, tell me what happened? Was he the one who did this to you?” she pointed at the cuts on my neck.
Having no reason to lie, I nodded twice and she pulled me into her arms.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” She mumbled, running her hands on my bare back.
My stomach made a funny noise and I chuckled. I had almost forgotten that I had never eaten anything since we arrived at the pack.
“You hungry?” Shayna asked, she released me from the hug and I grinned at her in response.
“Let me fetch you something to eat, please hang on for me.” she dashed out of the room before I could stop her.
I stood up from the bed and went to the closet to bring out something to wear. I was glad that Shayna tagged along, who would I call for food? No one!
I took out a pair of black sweatpants and a blue turtle neck top to hide my bruises.
I sat down on the dresser and fixed my hair in a tight ponytail. I pulled out a box that I never knew was among my stuff, I opened it to reveal my favourite books, and in there was a mini first-aid kit.
I beamed with joy and took the box to the dresser. Sat down and dress my wound before putting on the dress that I had laid out.
I packed the box and took it back to the closet, packed the towels and hung it on the rail in the bathroom.
Walking back to the room, I walked back to the bed and sat down on it, the door opened a minute later to reveal an unfamiliar face.
“May I come in, Princess?” came a flat voice, of the young lady.
“Yes, please come in.” I stood up from the bed and watched her walk inside the room, with a tray of food in her hands.
“I’m Cinder, I am one of the Royal’s maids and I work in the Royal kitchen.” She introduced herself with a charming smile on her face.
“Oh, I’m Nova. I…”
“The Lycan King’s bride!” she beamed and I chuckled lightly.
“I guess so.” I rubbed my sweaty palms on my jeans. I hate the fact that I had to admit that I was going to be the beast’s bride.
“Ahh,” she smiled and stretched out her hands, showing me the tray of food. “I brought your food.”
“Oh, please put it here.” I pointed at the bed. She moved forward and placed the tray on the bed.
“What about my maid? Why are you here instead of her?” I was curious as to why the Royal maid was the one who brought my food.
“Madam Anika called for her, so she asked me to bring you food.” she smiled and I mouthed an, ‘Oh’.
I didn’t know who the so-called madam Anika was but I wasn’t interested in anything or anyone at the Royal buildings.
“I will come back for the plates.” Cinder bowed slightly before walking out of the room.
I rushed to the bed the moment I heard her close the door behind her. I uncovered the lids to reveal a dish of spaghetti and meatballs, with five pieces of lemon bars.
I grabbed the cutlery and dig into the food without wasting any seconds. It felt as though I had been starving for years, I emptied the plates within a few minutes.
Cinder kept to her promise, she came back for the food some minutes later and I thanked her.
After she left, I was beginning to get bored. So, I slid my feet into a pair of black flip-flops and exited the room.
The moment I stepped outside, I felt a steady breeze on my back and I shut my eyes, taking in the cool whiff of the fresh wind.
I made to turn around, I bumped into a broad shoulders and staggered backwards. A pair of hands wrapped around my wrist, helping me to regain my balance.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear your footsteps.” I tried to apologise for bumping into the person.
“Oh, it’s you. Fancy seeing you again.” he beamed and I moved my gaze to him, of course, I could still recognise his voice.
“The guard from earlier?!” he nodded his head, smiling brightly at me, I returned the smile and I tried to walk away when he suddenly tugged at my arm.
“Seems you don’t know anywhere here, do you mind if I escort you to where you’re going?” he arched his eyebrows and I shrugged.
“Where are you headed?” he asked and I shook my head.
“Nowhere in particular,” I replied, looking around the surrounding area.
“Oh,” he cleared his throat and released my arm that I couldn’t remember he was still holding. “Mind if I give you a tour of the Royal buildings?” he asked, it seemed he didn’t have anything to do and I was bored to death.
“Sure,” I smiled, rubbing the back of my neck. “By the way, I’m Nova, I’m from the Moonstone pack.” I introduced and he did a little courtesy.
“A Princess!” he smiled, leading the way. “I’m Rezso, I guard the Royal office in the morning. I just got out of duty.” He threw his head back, letting the breeze work on his golden brown hair.
“How long have you been working here?” I asked, walking down the garden.
“Long enough that I couldn’t remember.” he chuckled, bent down on one knee and plucked out a sunflower.
I could feel the sun on my face, Rezso’s eyes sparkled under the ray of sunlight. The breeze blew gently, rustling through the leaves on the trees.
I saw a huge building from afar and I paused to have a look at the weird building.
“What is that building?” I asked, Rezso stopped to check out the building. He scoffed and moved his hair to the back.
“The dungeon, I didn’t realise we’ve walked this far, let’s head back,” he uttered, I moved my gaze away from the building and made to veer around.
I twisted my ankle and fell to the ground, my butt landed on the concrete floor and I let out an audible cry.
“Princess!” Rezso gasped and hastily helped me up. “Did you fall?” he smirked and I glared at him.
“Nah. My butt just kissed the ground.” I made faces and we both erupted in a peal of laughter.
“Sorry.” he cleared his throat.
“It’s not that bad,” I replied, dusting my butt with my palm.
We were heading back to the main buildings when Rezso suddenly stopped on his track.
“Have you heard?” his eyebrows rose as he looked keenly into my eyes.
“Hear what?” I raised my shoulders, staring back into his burning silver eyes.
“The Lycan King is going to crown his Queen, tomorrow. Is the person you? Are you going to be the nation Queen?” his eyes sparkled, and the corner of his lip curved in a charming smile as he waited for my reply.
I shook my head and looked away from him.
“I don’t know who the Queen is going to be. I didn’t hear anything about the news either.” I grumbled and he puffed out air.
“Sorry,” he mumbled and I blinked back my tears.
“I will be heading back inside. Thanks for your time.” I turned and walked away from him.
The tears finally streamed down my cheeks and I didn’t bother to wipe it off. I was marrying that beast and once I did that, I will lose all my hope.
Will my life ever go back to how it used to be?