Minor things…
I hesitated, unsure of how to explain my sudden panic. “I… I just realized that I woke up dressed, even though I fell asleep without my clothes on. I was wondering who-”
Simon’s eyes softened as he interrupted me, but they soon hardened again almost immediately. “It was me, Ashley. You were so worn out last night that I didn’t think it was necessary to wake you up. So I dressed you before I left the room.”
His honesty took me by surprise, and I wasn’t sure how to feel. Part of me was grateful for his thoughtfulness, while another part of me felt a bit embarrassed by the situation. The manner in which he said it so casually made the situation even more awkward for me. “Thank you,” I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper. “That was really considerate of you.”
He scoffed, walking past me to grab his phone from the side table. He had a teasing smile on his face, and even though I felt a bit embarrassed, it was a genuine smile that made my heart flutter regardless. “You don’t have to thank me. I just didn’t want anyone to come in and see you that way.”
“Oh, and Lucas?”
“What about him?”
“Did he?…”
“Why do you seem concerned about that? Lucas knows too. We just didn’t want you waking up all naked; it’s very inappropriate.” I nodded, feeling a strange mix of relief and awkwardness. The events of the previous night were still fresh in my mind, and being around Simon now, after everything that had happened, made my emotions swirl even more.
“Where’s Lucas?” I asked, trying to shift the conversation to something less personal. He faced me with a questioning gaze, but I just shrugged.
“He’s in the kitchen right now,” Simon replied nonchalantly. I furrowed my brows, wondering what exactly could have pushed Lucas to go into the kitchen for anything; after all, he could just order any of the maids to get him whatever he wanted whenever he wanted it.
“Kitchen? How in the world is Lucas in the kitchen? Aren’t the maids available today?” I asked, completely confused by the whole thing. Simon looked at me as if fed up with all my questions, but I persisted since my curiosity couldn’t be avoided at this point.
“They’ve been getting his coffee wrong, so he decided to have them watch exactly how he wants it done.”
I laughed softly, the tension easing a bit. “Wow, that would definitely crack most of them up, seeing the king making coffee himself!” I said, laughing in between, but this joke didn’t quite resonate with Simon as he stared straight back at me with a very intentional gaze.
“I’m just going to pretend like I didn’t hear that silly joke of yours,” Simon said, taking a step back to give me some space.
“You know what, why don’t you freshen up? You smell like fish,” he said, walking past me towards the door. I cringed at his comment, instantly conscious of myself, and resorted to clapping my thighs together.
“Get ready, and then go have your breakfast in the dining room. Lucas and I have somewhere to be this morning, so just don’t cause any trouble while we’re gone, all right?”
“Okay,” I said, feeling a little more at ease. I couldn’t tell why I felt relieved that they would be going out, but I guess it was mainly because of the deed that took place over the night.
He nodded and walked past me, heading down the hallway. I watched him go, my mind still racing with everything that had transpired in the last 24 hours. It was all so overwhelming, and I wasn’t sure how to process it all. But one thing was clear: my life had changed dramatically, and there was no turning back now.
After taking a few deep breaths to steady myself, I headed to my bedroom to freshen up. I splashed cold water on my face, hoping it would help clear my mind. As I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I couldn’t help but notice how different I felt. The girl staring back at me seemed stronger somehow, more aware of the world around her. But there was also a vulnerability in her eyes, a sense of uncertainty about what the future held. Very diligently, I took a bath, soaking myself well to properly wash up. This was very much needed, especially after the whole exchange that had gone down during the night. I pretty much needed a longer bath, but my stomach had started crying out for food.
I quickly got out of the tub, dried myself off, and then changed into something more comfortable. As soon as I was done, I headed downstairs to have my breakfast. I was already so starved at this point. As I walked down the stairs, the smell of freshly cooked food filled the air, and I saw Lucas and Simon still seated at the table. The whole table was well decorated with generous stacks of pancakes, all glazed with syrup, cream cheese frosting, and topped with some berries.
“Good morning,” I greeted, trying to sound as casual as possible.
Lucas turned and flashed me a grin. “Morning, Ashley. Hope you’re hungry.”
I smiled back, feeling a warmth spread through me at the sight of his pleasant expression, unlike that of Simon’s. “Starving, actually.”
“Perfect timing then,” he said, calling for a standby maid to come serve me my breakfast. Mira looked at me, trying to hide the disdain in her eyes as she served me a stack of pancakes onto a plate.
“Thank you,” I said gratefully as soon as she was done, but she didn’t respond. She walked away to go stand in her assigned position, but as soon as Lucas noticed I was trying to serve myself some coffee, he instantly stopped me to get help from the standby maids, specifically Mira.
“No, no, there’s no need. I can totally serve myself, Lucas,” I said, rushing over to pour the coffee into a mug so that he wouldn’t have any reason to hesitate in letting me do things myself.
Simon was already seated at the table, sipping his coffee. However, there was not a single word coming out of his mouth since I had gotten to the table, and this was quite glaring. As soon as I started eating, the whole room was suddenly filled with silence. The only sounds echoing through the walls were those of the cutlery clicking against the plates and trays. I didn’t want to be the one to break the silence, so I chose to remain quiet for as long as I had to.
“So,” Lucas started, clearing his throat as he looked up to face me.
“I just feel like you need to know that Simon and I will be going to a business meeting this morning. In fact, we could leave anytime soon, to be frank with you,” he said, glancing at his wristwatch as he spoke. I nodded in response, taking a big bite of the pancake as the sweet and fluffy taste burst into my mouth. The more he spoke, the more serious his expression became. “Yes, but more than that. We need to discuss what’s going to happen next, Ashley. There are things you need to be prepared for,” he said, the atmosphere now far from the casual and familiar tone it had been.
“Once Simon and I return today, we will start with some of the basics-things you probably already know by now. They’re just minor things that every wolf, especially those residing in this mansion, should already know and be practicing.”
I felt a knot form in my stomach as I realized that whatever came next wasn’t going to be easy. But I was ready to face it, with Simon and Lucas by my side.
“Okay,” I said, trying to steady my voice. “I’m ready.”
Simon and Lucas exchanged a glance before Simon finally spoke. “Well, I think you’ll need as much encouragement as you can get, Ashley. Because the wild things you’re going to be learning and practicing with your powers are definitely going to scare you in every way possible. Just try not to be weak again; nobody wants that.”
“Well, I guess we have to go right now, it’s true,” Lucas said, looking intently at his wristwatch.
“Come on, man, let’s go,” he said to Simon, taking one final bite of his all-time favorite pancakes before stepping up to leave. Simon followed suit, and they were out of the mansion in no time.
“Ashley, now listen, we’ll be gone for some time, and it would honestly do everyone good if you do not go outside or do anything that would jeopardize your life and that of everyone else in the mansion, okay?”
Lucas reached out and took my hand, his grip firm but comforting. I nodded to his instructions obediently. “No matter what happens, just feel free to ask questions, and everything will definitely be sorted out in due time, okay?”
I nodded once more, drawing on the strength I needed at a time like this, especially for times when I would be on my own with little to no help in getting things done for my own safety. I nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination.
“Come on, let’s do this,” I said to myself, my voice filled with resolve as soon as both brothers made their way out, leaving me alone at the dining table. The maids on standby walked away, and I was practically the only person left there.
It didn’t even take a minute before Veronica made her way downstairs toward the same dining table I was seated at. Amira walked over almost immediately and helped serve her breakfast, and I cringed, just sitting there with her alone.
Veronica settled into the chair opposite me, her eyes briefly scanning the table before settling on my face. The tension between us was palpable, a silent acknowledgment of the unspoken words that lingered in the air. I watched as Amira placed a plate of pancakes in front of her, the same pancakes Lucas had enjoyed earlier, with syrup and berries artistically arranged on top.
Veronica picked up her fork but didn’t start eating immediately. Instead, she looked at me with an inscrutable expression, as if she were weighing her words carefully. I couldn’t help but feel a wave of discomfort; being alone with her had never felt easy, and today was no exception.
“So,” she began, her voice smooth and controlled, “it seems like you’ve had quite the eventful morning.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond. My thoughts were still tangled up in the conversation I’d had with Lucas and Simon, and now, faced with Veronica’s cool demeanor, I felt the need to be cautious. “Yes, it has been,” I replied, trying to keep my tone neutral.
Veronica’s eyes narrowed slightly as if she were assessing me. “Lucas and Simon are… quite protective of you, aren’t they?” she said, a hint of something-perhaps curiosity or something darker-lurking in her voice.
“Yes, they are,” I answered simply, unsure of where she was going with this.
She took a delicate bite of her pancake, chewing slowly before continuing. “You must be aware that not everyone here is as fond of you as they are. Some might even see you as a… complication.”
I stiffened at her words, unsure of how to interpret them. Was this a warning? A veiled threat? Or simply an observation? Either way, it was unsettling. “I’m aware that not everyone here trusts me,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “But I’m doing my best to fit in.”
Veronica smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Fitting in isn’t always enough, Ashley. In a place like this, you need to prove your worth. Show that you’re more than just an outsider being protected by Lucas and Simon.”
I frowned slightly, feeling the weight of her words. I knew I wasn’t fully integrated into the world that Lucas, Simon, and the others inhabited. And while they had been supportive, I hadn’t yet found my place-my role-in this strange new life. “I understand,” I replied, my voice steady. “I’ll do what I can.”
Veronica tilted her head, her gaze softening just a fraction. “Good. Just remember that loyalty is earned, not given. And in this house, loyalty means everything.”
She turned her attention back to her plate, effectively ending the conversation. I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of determination and unease. Veronica’s words had struck a chord within me, reminding me of the precariousness of my situation.