Chapter 5: Act Like A Princess

Olivia’s POV

​"Breakfast is served at seven, Princess."

​I nodded weakly. The young maid lingered by the doorway for a moment before lowering her head. "Goodnight, Princess."

​"Goodnight," I whispered as the heavy doors closed quietly behind her.

​I stood there for a few seconds, staring at the closed door, before my legs finally gave out. I sank onto the edge of the large bed, still trapped in the heavy wedding gown.

​The room they had given me was beautiful, probably the grandest bedroom I had ever seen. A fire burned quietly in the fireplace, warming the large room. An enormous bed stood in the center, surrounded by cream curtains. But I barely noticed any of it. All I could hear were Lucian’s hateful words repeating in my head.

​Whore. Disgusting. No wife of mine.

​My eyes burned, and tears fell onto the white fabric covering my lap. The humiliation was unbearable. He had forced me to undress. He had made me believe he was going to touch me, only to tell me afterward that he had never intended to touch me at all.

​And then there was the look on his face when I confessed I wasn’t a virgin. Like I was filthy. Like I disgusted him.

​I wrapped my arms around myself. Four years. It had been four years, yet that single night still found ways to ruin my life.

​I didn’t even know his name, the stranger in those woods. All I remembered was waking up the next morning to realize my wolf had gone completely silent, leaving me empty ever since.

​I fell backward onto the bed without even removing the dress. "What have I gotten myself into?" I whispered to the empty ceiling.

​I missed home. I missed the kitchen noise, the servants’ quarters, and even Annabel shouting my name from across her room. Annabel hadn’t deserved to die, and I hadn’t deserved to become her. But Olivia didn’t exist here anymore. There was only Princess Annabel, a dead woman’s identity resting on my shoulders.

​Eventually, exhaustion pulled me into a heavy, dreamless sleep.

​My eyes snapped open before dawn.

​I groaned and covered my face with both hands. I was still wearing the heavy wedding gown, and my neck and back ached. I turned toward the clock on the bedside table. A little after five.

​Years of working as a maid had trained my body too well. While princesses slept until someone drew their curtains, servants were on their feet before the sun came up. Apparently, my muscle memory hadn’t received the news that I was royalty now.

​I dragged myself into the marble bathroom and took a quick, warm bath, trying to wash away the memory of the night before.

​When I stepped out, I walked over to the boxes of clothes brought from Blood Moon territory. My chest tightened as I opened one.

​Annabel’s dresses.

​I recognized almost every one. I had washed them, ironed them, and helped Annabel into them for years.

​Olivia, you’re pulling it too tight. Olivia, where are my earrings?

​"I miss you," I whispered into the quiet room.

​I quickly wiped my eyes. Crying wasn’t going to keep me alive. I pulled out a simple blue dress. Annabel had worn it only once before declaring that the color made her look boring, but I had secretly thought it was beautiful.

​I put it on, letting my dark chocolate hair fall naturally over my shoulders. Standing before the mirror, I lifted my chin and straightened my back. I had watched Annabel every day for six years. I knew how she sat, how she walked, and how she looked at servants when they annoyed her.

​All I had to do was stop being Olivia.

​At seven o’clock sharp, a knock sounded. The same young maid entered. "Breakfast is ready, Princess. Follow me."

​I followed her into the hallway, but after a few steps, I stopped. I was walking like a servant with small steps, head lowered, trying to make myself invisible.

​Annabel would never walk like this, I reminded myself. People moved out of her way.

​I pulled my shoulders back, lifted my chin, and resumed walking with slow, confident steps, letting the blue dress sway around my ankles.

​When we reached the massive dining room, the long wooden table was empty. Relief loosened the knot in my chest. I sat down in one of the chairs, resting my hands in my lap.

​The young maid approached me politely. "What would you like to eat, Princess?"

​Before I could answer, another maid carrying a silver tray scoffed loudly. "Why are you treating her like she’s the Queen?" she sneered, her blonde hair pulled into a bun as she glared at me. "She isn’t a royal bride. She’s nothing more than a sex slave to the Alpha."

​Anger rushed through me. Olivia the maid would have lowered her head and stayed quiet. But I wasn’t Olivia right now. I was Princess Annabel, and Princess Annabel would never allow a servant to speak to her that way.

​I slowly turned my head and looked straight at her, keeping my voice firm and cold. "If you ever speak to me in that manner again, I will cut off your tongue."

​"Really? In whose mansion?" a deep voice suddenly asked from behind me.

​My blood turned completely to ice.

​It was him.

​His boots clicked softly against the stone floor as he walked around my chair. I swallowed hard, tightening my hands into fists under the table. He moved to the head of the dining table and sat down right across from me.

​Our eyes met, and my breath caught in my throat.

​God... fucking God.

​Now, in the bright morning light pouring through the windows, I got a full, clear look at him. Last night, the room had been dark and shadowed by firelight. But now? This man was unbelievably, unfairly handsome. He wore a simple white shirt with the top buttons undone, dark trousers, and his dark hair was still damp from the shower.

​Then there were his eyes. They weren’t gray like I had thought last night. In the daylight, they were a striking, deep green.

​Damn it, I thought, my heart racing ridiculously. How can a beast be this handsome? It’s so fucking unfair.

​Lucian leaned back in his chair, resting his chin on his hand. "So," he said softly, his green eyes locked on mine. "You were saying you would cut off the tongue of one of my servants?"