CHAPTER 4

AMELlA

She was entirely exhausted, and she had only managed to finish all of her chores by the time it was 11 p.m. that night. She couldn't wait to retire to her cell. It wasn't a room, but for her, it was still better than nothing.

She was just about to fall asleep when she heard a loud banging against her cell. She ignored it at first, as she had thought that it was nothing more than her imagination. But soon enough, that changed when the banging became more aggressive.

She got up slowly as she stood up to her feet. She made her way to the door grudgingly before opening it. She let out a sigh from her lips before she noticed that it was Salem. She looked at him with a dismaying expression.

"The Alpha wish to see you." He said to her, and with that, he turned around and left. She was left completely confused, as she didn't entirely understand what was going on.

She knew that it wasn't going to end well, as he never called her unless he wanted something from her. Nevertheless, she headed to his office and hoped for the best. She knocked on the door once and froze on her spot before she heard him clear his throat as though he was encouraging her to make her way in.

"Uhmm... you called for me, Alpha." She said to him unsurely, and he only hummed at her in response but didn't say anything else to her at that moment.

"Well, the Alpha of the North is coming in a few days". He said to her. She was quiet, and she looked towards him as though she was simply waiting for the moment for him to give her further explanation.

"And despite my reserve about the matter. He had insisted on the fact that he was going to want to meet each and every one of the maidens. And also to my own ill consent, they have now come to include you." He continued.

"So I will need you to appear presentable before them. I don't want them to see any sign of the fact that you are disgruntled or in any kind of pain. I will have you move into the upper bedrooms until the time passed. After that, you will then return to your quarters and continue on with your tasks." He said to her.

She kept her head down as she remained quiet but said little to him in response. "You may go," he finally said to her, and she rushed to her feet. The last thing that she wanted was to upset him any further.

And so the day went by in a whirlwind as she was moved into a place that was foreign to her. She was taken to a new room that was reserved for only the Alpha’s daughter, and although she knew that it was only a fairytale that was bound to end soon, she would enjoy it while it lasts.

She was woken up early the next morning by a loud knock on the door. She let out a groan as she made her way slowly up to her feet. She looked around the room as a feeling of unease crept over her. She let out a sigh from her lips, as she pulled the door open and found one of the higher maiden there.

She was shifting between her feet as the maiden appeared to be uncomfortable at the moment. "I would like to help you get dressed. All the other maidens are ready," she told her. Amelia was uncomfortable with the thought of someone helping her out, but she knew that she didn't want to make it any more awkward. There was no point in her causing any further uncertainty that was unnecessary.

"I have picked a pale blue dress for you, and it is so that it can complement your eye." The maiden said to her, and Amelia took a look at the soft blue lace dress. She put it between her fingers, taking in the soft texture of it.

She couldn't help but smile at the thought of being in it, “Thank you, it is beautiful?" She managed to say something, and she watched as the girl hummed a tune in response.

That was the most that they said to each other, and before they could say anything else, they rushed to get her dressed. There was a silence that fell over her as the slight humming that filled the room seemed to keep her company. She felt like a true woman experiencing proper pampering.

After a moment, the maiden pulled away, and Amelia was able to look at herself in the mirror. "You look beautiful, she heard the maiden say. They were pulled out of their thoughts when they heard the sound of a sharp knock at the door. They let out a sigh as Amelia stood to her feet. "Come in.”

“You must go before you are late." Another maiden said and she nodded her head at her. "Thank you." The maiden brushed her off as they made their way out of the room together. The ceremony was held on the training ground, where a large tent had been set up for the entire pack. She had heard the Alpha of the North was coming with his own entourage, but aside from that, she knew nothing about him.

She made her way towards the tent, where she could hear music playing, and she noticed the other girls standing in a row in the middle. They were displayed like pieces of art, and she fell short in comparison. She walked in and she stood beside the last girl, keeping her head forward as she tried to ignore the look of disgust from the other pack members.

She was tensed as she heard a trumpet being blown before the curtains in the back were pulled open, and she smelled the most intoxicating scent of fresh oak wood and soil. Her body tensed as realization hit her.

To further seal her fate, she heard a loud growl.

"Mate."