"I'll kill her," my wolf growled.
"Oh, calm down, no you won't."
"Yes, I will."
"No, you won't, we just met him."
"He's our soulmate."
"Exactly, so we don't have to worry about the jealous individuals here," I said, emphasizing my point. Besides, he'll probably deal with anyone who tries to mess with us. As we reached the front entrance to the king of wolves' residence, it struck me that it looked like an immense castle, surrounded by a vibrant community.
"Wow..." I uttered in awe, gazing up at the magnificent structure.
"Wait until you see the inside," Damon replied with a smirk. The colossal doors swung open, revealing an interior that took my breath away. Painted doves adorned the walls, soaring through cloudy skies. Above us hung brilliantly illuminated chandeliers. The place was colossal, and it was now my new home. I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement, momentarily forgetting about any the jealous she-wolves here.
We strolled down the lengthy hallways before turning right into a spacious room where Damon's mother resided.
"Hey, Mom, I have someone you would love to meet," Damon extended his hand toward me, and I took it, positioning myself beside him.
"Mom, meet my mate and our Queen of Wolves, Millie."
"Does Millie have a last name? What family does she come from?" His mother's inquisitive questions made me blush deeply, and I lowered my head, unsure of how to respond.
"Ma'am, I've been an orphan since birth. I don't know who my parents were or what happened to them, and as a result, I don't know my family's name."
"Oh dear, I am so sorry, that was very insensitive of me to ask, I do apologize. Come here so I can get a closer look at you." I took a few steps forward, standing directly in front of Damon's mother. She appeared frail and unwell, which filled me with instant sympathy. We wouldn't have much time to get to know each other.
"You're so thin, your old pack didn't feed you?" Damon cleared his throat as he moved beside me.
"Her old pack made her into a maid, never recognizing or acknowledging her royal blood. They subjected her to daily beatings, so they probably withheld food as well."
"Oh my God, that is just horrible and unforgivable. Please tell me you put an end to that pack completely."
"No, I didn't, not yet anyway." I turned to look at him, shock evident on my face.
"You plan on killing my old pack?"
"Yes, I do, maybe. I've thought about it, and I'm still considering it. I can't get that night out of my mind, and it angers my wolf and me to think about it." I gently placed my hand on his arm and gave him a small smile when he turned to look at me.
"I'm okay," I tried to reassure him.
"Well, dear, it's so nice to meet you, but I'll have to cut this meeting short since I'm very tired right now."
"It's nice to meet you too, Ma'am."
"Oh, please, that makes me sound so old. You may call me Mama Pearl."
"Okay, Mama Pearl, it was a pleasure to meet you too. Goodnight," I said. Damon bent down to kiss his mom on the forehead before leading me out of the room.
"Sir, would you like me to escort Millie to her room?" A servant came to ask. She was very pretty with pale skin, blazing red curly hair, and green eyes.
"That will not be necessary. I will walk her to her room for tonight."
"Yes, my lord. The both of you have a goodnight," she said as she bowed her head in respect before leaving us.
Damon walked with me following beside him. He was good at keeping pace with me so we could walk side by side. I cleared my throat and looked at Damon from the side of my eye while averting my gaze.
"What's on your mind, Mill?" A nickname, I muttered to myself, a smile forming as Damon had given me a nickname.
"Back at my old pack, I couldn't defend myself because I didn't know how to. Now that my status changed overnight, I would like to learn. I want to start training on how to fight."
"You're a queen, queens don't learn how to fight."
"I want to. You've been a king for decades now, with countless enemies. Who's to say they wouldn't come after me to get to you once they learn you've found your mate? I don't want to feel helpless ever again."
"You're right, I do have enemies, but I'll never allow anyone to hurt you. Still, I hear what you're saying, and I will allow you to train with the others. You'll start tomorrow morning," Damon said as we stopped in front of a door.
"Your room is ready for you. Go inside, wash up, and get some rest. Your servant will be here at first light to get you ready for the day. Don't be late to training, and if you are, then you'll receive the same treatment as everyone else when they arrive late," Damon stated, flashing a sly smile as he turned to leave.
"Goodnight, my queen," he whispered before walking away.
Upon entering my bedroom, I was greeted by dimmed lighting that cast a soft glow over the room. My eyes immediately fell upon a king-sized canopy bed, its pink covers dominating the space in the center, snug against the wall. As I further explored my opulent new surroundings, a window across from the bed caught my attention, featuring a daybed nestled beneath it. On the opposite end of the room, a generously-sized walk-in closet awaited, already stocked with an array of clothes perfectly tailored to my size. I couldn't help but wonder, 'How did he know my clothing size?' However, I decided not to dwell on it for long, opting instead to step into the adjacent bathroom.
One side of the bathroom featured a modern shower, while right in the center, against the wall, there was a large square bathtub.
The bathroom was well-stocked with toiletries. I spotted a toothbrush and toothpaste on the sink, and when I opened the mirror door above it, I found razors, floss, and various skincare accessories. Checking the cabinets below the sink, I noticed cleaning supplies, which I assumed were for the servants who would attend to my room. Embarrassingly, I found pads and tampons as well.
In one corner, there was a small closet filled with an abundance of towels and washcloths. At the bottom, I noticed a mop and mop bucket.
After finishing my exploration of the bathroom, I went to the sink, opened the bottom cabinet, and retrieved a lavender bubble bath liquid container. I walked over to the square bathtub, turned the hot water knob, and poured some of the liquid into the running water, creating a soothing cascade of bubbles.
I quickly shed my clothes and tested the water with a tentative big toe before submerging myself completely in the steamy tub. The soothing warmth immediately relaxed my muscles, and I sighed contentedly, closing my eyes for a few blissful moments.
As much as I could have dozed off in that luxurious bath, the allure of the king-sized canopy bed on the other side of the room called out to me. After finishing my bath, I stepped out and headed to the shower to rinse off.
I adjusted the water to my desired temperature, stepped into the shower, and lathered some soap onto a washcloth to start washing my body. Gradually, I moved further under the soothing spray, allowing the water to rinse through my hair as I carefully washed and conditioned it.
When I finished, I turned off the shower and wrapped a towel securely around my body. Afterward, I made my way to the sink to gently brush out any knots in my hair. Once my hair was smooth and manageable, I braided it into one large braid.
After drying the rest of my body, I ventured over to the dresser drawer next to my bed. In it, I discovered a royal blue satin pajama set, which I promptly put on.
With the comforting fabric against my skin, I crawled into the inviting bed, extinguished the light on the nightstand, snuggled beneath the covers, and surrendered to sleep for the night.