Chapter 8 – Walls Have Ears

Lila I scrubbed the marble floor, my hands wrinkly from the soapy water. Two punishments in as many days and I was starting to feel right at home. Anger and frustration tangled together in a knot so tight I could barely breathe. I had been framed. I didn't know by who or why, but the fact remained I had done nothing wrong, yet I had somehow angered the Lycan King himself. Damon. He had called me an opportunist, accused me of scheming, and dismissed me like I was nothing. I gritted my teeth and wrung out the cloth in my hands, trying to push the memory of his piercing gaze from my mind. But it clung to me, as stubborn as the dirt I was scrubbing away. The meeting hall was a massive expanse of polished floors and towering chandeliers. Everywhere I looked, there were reminders of power, of wealth, of just how small and insignificant I was here; of how hard it was to fit the role I was supposed to play. The sheer extravagance of it all made my presence here feel ridiculous. One misstep and I could ruin something in here worth more than my entire existence. I hadn’t eaten all day, and my stomach churned in protest. Hunger gnawed at me, but I forced myself to keep working. It wasn’t any different than back home anyway and complaining wouldn’t change my situation. “Elena…” The soft voice startled me. I looked up to see Emma, the girl I had helped when we all arrived, standing nearby. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a wrapped sandwich, and a crisp apple. “Here,” she said, holding them out to me. I stared at her, momentarily at a loss for words. My pride urged me to refuse, but my empty stomach made the decision for me. I had barely made it through the day as it was, and my body was already on the verge of giving out. Again. “Thank you,” I murmured, accepting the food. I unwrapped the sandwich and took a careful bite, savoring the taste of real food after an exhausting day. Emma sat beside me, her expression thoughtful. “I heard what happened.” Of course she had. Gossip spread faster than wildfire in this place. I sighed, setting the half-eaten sandwich on my lap. “I don’t know why he was so angry. I didn’t do anything. But that man…” My jaw tightened. “I hate him.” Emma’s eyes widened, and she quickly reached out, covering my mouth with her hand. “Don’t say that” she whispered, darting a nervous glance around us. “Not here. The walls have ears.” I swallowed hard and nodded. She let go, but the fear in her expression lingered. “You should be careful,” she continued. “You’ve already made an enemy of Isabella, and that alone is dangerous.” At the mention of Isabella, my stomach soured. “I don’t care about her,” I muttered. Emma exhaled, shaking her head. “Well, you should care about where you’re sleeping. You missed the room selection. The only one left is next to the bathroom.” A wave of exhaustion rolled over me. Of course it was. Emma gave me a small smile, her kindness cutting through the tension of the day. “At least you have me,” she said, giving me a light hug. I stiffened for a moment before relaxing. A friend. I hadn’t expected to find one here, but I supposed even in a palace full of vipers, there were still a few decent people. By the time I finished my cleaning duties, night had fallen. The palace halls were eerily quiet, the flickering sconces casting long shadows against the walls. Too exhausted to care about comfort, I curled up right there on the floor, drifting off into a restless sleep. Morning came too soon. I stretched, wincing as my sore muscles protested. I needed to get ready for the first selection briefing, but as I made my way downstairs, I nearly collided with an elderly woman in the corridor. She gasped, eyes wide, her wrinkled hands trembling as she reached for me. “Luna…” My breath caught in my throat. She clasped my hand, her voice cracking with emotion. “Is it really you?” My stomach dropped. “I’m not –” I started, but before I could finish, her expression shifted. Confusion clouded her face, and she blinked rapidly, as if clearing a fog from her mind. She yanked her hand away, her face hardening. “I made a mistake.” Then, without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving me standing there, heart pounding in my chest. I shivered, though the air wasn’t cold. Luna. The word echoed in my mind, but I pushed it aside. It had to be another case of mistaken identity. Shaking off the strange encounter, I followed a maid toward the grand villa on the palace grounds where we were assigned rooms. It was nothing short of breathtaking, with intricate stonework, towering archways, and designer interiors. I was still taking it all, unpacking my things, when the sound of hushed voices in the hall caught my attention. “I heard the Lycan King doesn’t even care about this selection,” one girl whispered. Another giggled. “That just means he’ll fall for me as the one who stands out the most.” They spoke with such confidence, as if they had any real chance of catching Damon’s attention. I wanted to scoff. They didn’t know him. The only thing he cared about was power, and nothing – not even this ridiculous bride selection – would change that. A sharp voice cut through the murmurs. “Ladies! Your presence is required downstairs.” I turned to see the same elderly woman from earlier – the Palace Steward, Helen, I was told – standing at the entrance. A group of beautiful, elegant women gathered around her, their postures regal, their expressions poised. I suddenly felt out of place among them, painfully aware of my simple appearance. Helen’s sharp gaze landed on me, and her lips curled in disapproval. “You definitely won’t be chosen.” The words stung more than I expected. Beside her, a girl with an arrogant smirk chimed in. “She’s already angered Isabella,” she said. I turned toward her, recognizing the voice before I even saw her face. Memories surfaced of Vanessa as a child, tormenting me, always the leader of whatever cruelty was thrown my way. But she hadn’t recognized me. Not yet. I lifted my chin, forcing a tight smile. “Still as full of yourself as ever, Vanessa.” Her smug expression faltered, just for a second. “What did you say?” Before I could respond, Helen’s posture suddenly changed. Her head bowed slightly as her expression softened with an odd mix of deference and caution. A silence fell over the room. I turned, my pulse quickening and immediately was drawn to the entrance where Damon stood. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes locked onto me with a weight that made my chest tighten. Had he seen me arguing with the other girls? I braced myself, expecting another cruel remark, another accusation. But he said nothing. He just watched me. And that, somehow, was even worse.