I bent down to pick up the piece of cloth that had fallen to the floor. Holding it against my chest once again, Jordan reached out and snatched the cloth from my grasp, flinging it back onto the sofa bed. He then opened a nearby drawer and retrieved two pristine white towels before making his way back towards me.
"Baby, I want you to look beyond my wealth, profession, and status as the Alpha Prince and see only Jordan Greens - your best friend, playmate and your husband," Jordan said, causing me to relax.
"Do you remember when you first entered adolescence? I did some research to find out the things you needed to know," Jordan said, his warm hands gently resting on my hips as he slowly began to slide my panties down.
I obediently lifted my legs to assist him, and once he finished, he casually tossed the panties onto the sofa bed. A soft smile played on his lips as he gazed at me, his eyes shining with innocence, a trademark that had always remained unchanged about Jordan.
"I do remember," I whimpered, my lips curving into a nostalgic smile as my mind wandered through the memories.
"I discovered some of the things you should know as you went through puberty, browsing the internet, and even though I didn't fully understand them at the time, I tried my best to explain them to you," Jordan explained, a slight grin appearing on my face as I lowered my head and chuckled.
"I taught you about the menstrual cycle, what to expect, and when to expect it. We even bought sanitary pads and hid them in the basement, waiting for your menarche. At twelve and a half years old, it came without warning. It didn't know how prepared we were," Jordan whimpered, and I chuckled slightly, glancing down. He gently cupped my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze.
"Remember how we freaked out when your first breast bud appeared? I had to keep searching the internet until we figured out what it was," Jordan said with a smile on his face as he unhooked my lace bra. I chuckled again.
"And before we knew it, they started growing so big and you wouldn't let me see them anymore," Jordan commented, staring at my breasts as if he had finally them. As his right hand moved closer, I slowly removed it, took the towel he draped over his left wrist and wrapped it around my chest, and let out a soft giggle. I couldn't remember the last time a genuine smile had graced my face.
"Baby…" Jordan playfully held the towel I had used to cover myself. "You are my wife."
"No! Don't touch me," I replied playfully, taking his hand off my towel and stepping towards the door. Jordan's hearty laughter filled the closet.
"Lia, you haven't changed a bit," he said and I halted and turned.
"And neither have you," I snapped back.
A smile remained on my lips as I walked towards the bathroom. A rush of memories flooded my mind, transporting me back to a time filled with both joy and challenges. Stepping into adolescence was a daunting experience for me because I had no formal education. It made me feel lost and uncertain about my future.
I shed countless tears on Jordan's comforting lap and his small chest each time my head got filled with confusion and uncertainty. However, his unwavering support and his popular phrase continued to propel me forward.
Despite being just a teenager at that time, Jordan possessed an incredible intellect. He became my guiding light and my advocate, always standing up for me whenever anyone tried to bully or mistreat me.
Once he finished writing a story, we would find solace in each other's embrace, as I snuggled against his chest while he read his creation aloud for me.
When Jordan taught me how to read, I began to return the favour by reading his stories back to him while he rested against my own tiny chest. This became our cherished ritual and that strengthened the bond between us.
However, amidst the recollection of my childhood memories, a dark cloud suddenly loomed upon my buoyant mood as I recalled that Alpha Benjamin gave me just forty minutes to return to White Fangs Pack.
Stepping into the bathroom, I found Mrs. Haverford, Piper, and Aria already there, waiting for me. Their presence surprised me, causing my brows to involuntarily furrow.
"What's going on?" I shrugged, desperately hoping it wasn't what I was thinking.
"We have come to assist with your bath," they said almost simultaneously. I shook my head, feeling uncomfortable with the idea. Mrs. Haverford gestured to the girls, who promptly left the room. She turned her attention to me.
"Thalia..."
"No, Mrs. Haverford," I interrupted firmly.
"We are your personal attendants. Your husband won't be happy if he finds out you bathed yourself, Thalia," Mrs. Haverford responded, moving closer to me.
"I want to ensure that tonight, you are thoroughly cleansed in a way that he cannot resist," she whispered seductively.
"You know that's not possible! Besides, I just arrived, and I have a lot on my mind right now," I replied, removing my towel and hanging it on a nearby rack.
"Leave behind anything that troubles you and enjoy your time with your husband while it lasts. Orio…"
"Jordan!" I corrected Mrs. Haverford. She moved closer to me and held my ear firmly.
"I had a lengthy discussion with Jose Martins a few hours ago and he expose a lot of mysteries to me and I also found two solutions to your problem.
Tonight, I will teach you how to briefly weaken his wolf, so that his Alpha strength doesn't overwhelm you and cause any harm," Mrs. Haverford murmured in my ear. Despite the whirlwind of thoughts in my mind, I couldn't help but be intrigued.
"Wolfsbane?" I grimaced.
"No," she replied, a smile playing on her lips.
"Essence of Silver Birch?" I pressed, hoping for an answer.
"I will reveal it after dinner," she said and began to bathe me silently.
"Jordan Green single-handedly built this pack, which is a subsidiary of Lunar Palace. Alpha Alex did not contribute at all. At the young age of twenty-four, Jordan manages a network of one hundred and ninety elite hospitals in one hundred and ninety municipalities, and even owns two private jets and a private helicopter..."
"What? How did he amass such wealth?"
Mrs. Haverford leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Well, rumor has it that he produces something in a secret room when he was in college. And apparently, he continued that business when we moved here."
"What is the second solution to my problem?" I asked, drifting back to our conversation. Mrs. Haverford kept quiet. After some minutes, she took a deep breath and spoke.
"Something was discovered about you when you were just a child and Jordan was used to suppress it. Jordan didn't even know they used him. Now the people that used Jordan are all worried because his succces came with a huge price," Mrs Haverford chuckled, her voice dripped with mystery. She leaned forward and her eyes locked onto mine.
"What price?"
"He lost his heart! Have you ever wondered about the origin of the word 'cursed human'?" she asked, her tone low and secretive.
"No," I shook my head and my ear flickered.
"Have you ever wondered why Alpha Benjamin and his wife sent you to the Lunar Palace?" Mrs Haverford continued, her voice barely audible now. Confusion filled my mind as I recalled the explanation given to me as a child.
"They said my mom was owing them and they didn't want her to sneak in and steal me away," I replied cautiously. "So they hid me in the Lunar Palace until she pays them."
"And you believe this cock and bull story?" Mrs Haverford scoffed.
"Yes," I hesitated for a moment, before nodding reluctantly. Mrs Haverford's silence spoke volumes, contradicting the narrative I had been fed all those years ago.
"What happened when I was a child?" I demanded with a sense of urgency in my voice. But Mrs Haverford remained silent and continued soaping my body.
"Mrs. Haverford."
"I will tell you later," she finally whispered. There was a tinge of fear in her voice as though she was about to break a sacred oath. The weight of her words hung in the air, leaving me with a million unanswered questions.
My heart skipped a beat as a private helicopter touched down in the pack. Mrs. Haverford, sensing my curiosity, moved towards the window and then returned to my side and continued wiping my body.
"Who owns it?" I asked.
"Stan Morgan, the Alpha Prince and only son of Russell Morgan. He is Jordan's best friend. You supposed to know him," she responded.
"Why did he come back?" I further asked.
"I don't know."