a's

e the mansion, I felt smal

eliers above and threw it back in pale gold. The ceiling was so high that I had to tilt my head to see it properly. Long dark curta

ouse where I had grown up. That house had been large too but it had never felt lik

acob's coat tigh

not

cold?"

le," I

e for a second. "That will

e began to walk again and I fo

ough some of the fear. Wide hallways stretched in several directions. There were more staircases than I could coun

Of course they were surprised. Their Alpha had returned with a

e spoke without looking at me. "Do not worry abo

not comfo

is the main kitchen. There are smaller kitchens on

ng quickly inside. The smell of bread and meat drifted into the hall and my stomach twist

ked toward me. "You wil

know why that simple senten

and lower-ranking servants live on the lower floors. The upper floors

ireblood seemed far stricter about order and rank than S

e me. This place f

Everything her

, with dark railings and silver details worked into the metal. I stopped for a moment just to

seen a staircase before?" he asked and there w

my face. "N

on changed just slightly. "Well, you will see ma

if that was a pro

he time we reached the upper floor, I was already tired. Alpha J

that softened our footsteps. Then another hallway came after that....and then anothe

ck of where we were going, but after only a few

lanced at me.

I said quietly. "It would

ved faintly.

. "You will lea

not so

the end of a long hallway. There were only two doors there.

nted to the last door on th

in. Then he turned slightly an

stay her

and look

tone. "I know that you are not comfortable living with me directly. I will give you so

That was not wh

held mine now, "after our mar

h tighten

ria

t, it felt as if I was hearing abo

d not

he door and stepped

nside, I forgot how t

looked unreal. There was a fireplace with carved stone around it, a thick carpet under my feet and tall windows covered with elegant curtains. A cushioned chair sat near one corner beside

had never seen such a room in my life

lace like this. I felt like a dirty thing someone had

me carefully. "You do

kly. "No. I mean...

h?" he f

a sma

he mansion, he gave me a smile that looke

bted

front of the car when we arrived. He stepped inside with a straight posture and sharp e

st. "Anya, this is Do

s head slightly

at once. "I

in smoothly.

d not change. "Un

ge made me feel e

l the servants understand that Anya is to be

odded. "O

m," Alpha Jacob continued. "I have a mee

s head again. "I

to sit in some great dining room surrounded by strang

d at me. "That i

kly. "I... I would

nt, then nodded as if he

I do not know how the others would

lightly. "No one wil

to make Dominic go even s

ng, tell the maids. I will be back by even

odd

once. The room. The mansion. His strange kindness. Hi

od what he intended, th

fr

was brief and soft. It was completely unexpected. But it made h

eel my face burning. He looked

he said

ominic. The door closed behind them.

inside me at once.

where he had kissed me. "I do

re bl

am

u

wa

made me

o distract myself. I took off the heavy coat and set it acr

n that felt strange. Everything in the r

and fear. Now I was in a room fit for a princess. The