As soon as we entered the castle, my limbs began to shake, but I desperately tried to compose myself. Clutching tightly onto my old bag, I couldn't help but feel like a lowly maid sent to serve in this grand castle.
The stark contrast between the grandeur of the castle and the simplicity of my former life became glaringly evident, further intensifying my feelings of inadequacy.
As I timidly glanced around, the magnificence of the castle overwhelmed me, causing me to instinctively hide behind Jose's broad back as we made our way through. The freedom I had yearned for seemed more challenging than I had anticipated.
As Jose led me into an expansive lounge, my eyes were immediately drawn to three impeccably dressed and heavily made-up girls sitting on plush sofas engaged in animated conversation.
Glancing in my direction, their expressions turned to one of disgust as they appraised me from head to toe as though I was not worthy of stepping my filthy feet into the lounge. I couldn't help but think Kayla set me up to embarrass me.
"Please, have a seat," Jose gestured towards a regal sofa adorned with golden embellishments. Although I moved towards it, I couldn't bring myself to actually sit on it. Fear gripped me, causing my entire body to tremble uncontrollably.
In that moment, I confronted the most daunting challenge of my entire life. Having spent my entire life confined within the walls of White Fangs pack, my only connection to the outside world being through social media, I found myself woefully unprepared to navigate normal social interactions.
Fear overcame me, leaving me utterly blind to the proper way to engage with people outside of the safety of White Fang's pack. In the presence of these sophisticated ladies, I was rendered incapable of uttering a single word. A decade of living in isolation had ingrained a deep-seated fear and sense of inferiority whenever I encountered individuals exuding such elegance and beauty.
"Sit," Jose repeated but I shook my head. He shrugged and left. The girls looked at me and burst into hysterical laughter.
Caught between my fear and awe, I stood paralyzed in the presence of the unknown, desperately longing to find my place in this elaborate world.
A few minutes later, a middle-aged woman entered the lounge, her presence commanding my attention. She beckoned me to follow her, and I timidly complied, aware of the curious gazes from the girls as I made my way out of the room.
The woman motioned for me to ascend a flight of stairs, and I obediently followed, with her trailing silently behind.
"My name is Mrs. Haverford," she introduced herself, a warm smile gracing her features as her eyes swept over my golden locks that were tousled by the breeze.
My anxiety became apparent in my voice as I responded, "I am Thalia Damien." Mrs. Haverford let out a soft chuckle, putting me slightly at ease.
"Are you Kayla Damien's sister?" she inquired. Kayla had became quite popular since the news of her engagement to one of the richest men in Stockholm broke out on social media. Her followers rose from thousands to millions as she kept engaging them with pictures of their extravagant lifestyle.
Caught off guard, I hesitated before answering the question, not quite ready to divulge the complicated circumstances that led me to bear Alpha Benjamin's surname.
"Yes," I replied, keeping my response brief.
"Interesting," Mrs. Haverford murmured behind me.
"Thalia, as a mother myself, I can understand what you must be going through right now," Mrs. Haverford spoke reassuringly, her words carrying a sense of empathy.
"But please, try to relax your mind. This castle is your home now, and we are here to serve you." Her words seemed almost comical to me, tinged with a hint of disbelief.
As her statement hung in the air, I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions swirling within me.
Mrs. Haverford led me to an expensive bedroom that was lavish, with elegant furnishings, plush bedding, and intricate decorations that exuded luxury and refinement.
"You came at the perfect time. Today is your husband's birthday, and you will be by his side as we celebrate with him," Mrs. Haverford exclaimed. She continued,
"His friends are already here in the sky lounge. I need you to take a quick shower, and then we will dress you up and take you to him. You two will join the celebration together."
Mrs. Haverford's words hit me like a ton of bricks, causing my heart to race. I felt a lump forming in my throat, making it difficult to swallow, and my stomach twisted anxiously. I hesitated for a moment before Mrs. Haverford snapped me out of my thoughts.
"Did you hear what I just said, Thalia?" she asked, throwing two towels at me. I nodded as I caught the towels, trying to process the situation.
Going to the party could only result in me making a fool of myself. It seemed that whoever had recommended me to Dr. Orion, or whatever his name was, had not fully explained that I was nothing more than a human slave.
As I held onto the towel tightly, my gaze remained fixed on Mrs. Haverford. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed through the corridor, resembling the marching of battalions ready for war. My ears perked up, sensing their approach.
"That must be our boss and his bodyguards. You must bathe immediately," Mrs. Haverford urged, prompting me to rush towards the bathroom.
As soon as I entered the bathroom, I heard the sound of the bedroom door and I paid attention to the conversation that was going on in the bedroom.
"Your Savage Grace."
"Where is she?"
"She is in the bathroom, sir," Mrs. Haverford's voice penetrated my ears, causing my heart to skip a beat.
After a few minutes, I emerged from the bathtub, donning only a towel around my body and head. Gradually, I stepped out of the bathroom.
Within the walk-in closet, Mrs. Haverford, accompanied by two girls I presumed to be omegas due to their submissive demeanor, skillfully dressed me and styled my gorgeous hair. They swirled the chair I sat upon, allowing me to catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I found it hard to believe that the reflection staring back at me was indeed my own. Spellbound, I continued to gaze at myself, and the women behind me mirrored my astonishment with smiles adorning their faces.
At that moment, I momentarily forgot about the daunting challenge awaiting me at the sky lounge.
"It's time to meet him," Mrs. Haverford whispered into my ear, causing my brows to furrow in confusion.
"I... I..."
"If you do not accompany him to the party, those girls you saw in the lounge will eagerly take your place by his side."
"Why didn't he marry one of them?" I inquired, rising from the chair and heading to the bedroom.
"He fell in love with your picture when you desperately sought a husband through the advertisement on social media," Mrs. Haverford revealed.
"Oh, my God!" I murmured softly. Kayla had mentioned that she advertised my picture on social media, but I thought she was joking. Little did I know she actually did it.
"I did not..." my voice trailed off, abruptly ceasing when I caught sight of a man lounging on one of the sofas in the bedroom.
He exuded an air of confidence, his legs crossed, and his eyes concealed behind fashionable sunglasses.
Adorned in a dark t-shirt, his attire accentuated his sexy physique, leaving me breathless. The contours of his body were on full display, captivating my attention. A captivating aura surrounded him, rendering me powerless in his presence. As I leaned on the wall, my gaze lowered.
The women bowed their heads and walked out of the bedroom.