Helen's POV
The morning sun felt like an intruder as it peaked through the small, high window of my basement room. My body felt different. The bruises on my ribs and arms didn't throb with the usual sharp pain. Instead, there was a dull, warm hum beneath my skin. It was the mark of Cassian's care.
Every place he had touched with that healing ointment felt alive, as if his strength had seeped into my very bones.
I stayed in bed for a few extra minutes, touching my own wrist where he had pressed his lips. It felt like a dream, but the scent of forest pine and winter air still lingered on my pillow.
I remembered his warning. A life in the shadows. He told me that his father would kill me if he knew the truth. It was a terrifying thought, but as I looked at my reflection in the small, cracked mirror, I didn't see the pathetic girl from yesterday. I saw someone who was wanted by the most powerful men in the pack.
I reached into my small wooden chest and pulled out a thin, dark silk ribbon. Caleb had pressed it into my hand yesterday. It was a small thing, but it felt like a royal treasure. I tied it tightly around my thigh, hidden safely beneath the heavy, grey fabric of my servant rags.
I walked to the laundry room, my heart heavy but my head held a little higher. The moment I stepped inside, the heat and the smell of bleach hit me. The usual group of low-ranking omegas were already working, their faces tired and dusty.
I took my place in the large wooden tub, but I didn't get a moment of peace.
The door swung open, and the air suddenly felt expensive. Serafina walked in, followed by her usual group of followers. She wasn't wearing her training gear today. She was wearing a beautiful dress made of soft wool, and her hair was braided with silver thread. In her arms, she held a bundle of delicate, shimmering fabric.
"Wake up, human," She snapped, throwing the bundle onto my wet workstation.
The fabric was beautiful. It was pure white silk, so thin it looked like clouds. It was decorated with intricate lace and tiny pearls. I knew what it was immediately. These were mating silks. In our pack, when a high-ranking female was claimed, she wore these for the celebration feast to show her status.
"These are for tonight," Serafina said, her voice full of pride. "Since you were so busy crying in the woods yesterday, you didn't hear the news. Kevin has asked me to stand by his side. He wants me to wear these when we announce our official union to the Alpha."
My heart felt a sharp pang of hurt. Kevin, the man I had loved for years, was moving on so quickly. He was choosing the girl who spent her life making me miserable. I looked down at the white silk, my fingers trembling.
"Wash them by hand," Serafina ordered, leaning in close so the others couldn't hear. "If there is a single spot on them, I will make sure Kevin uses his whip on you. He's already in a bad mood because of the mess you made at the ceremony. He hates that people are talking about his 'failed' mate."
The other girls giggled behind her. I didn't say a word. I just nodded and reached for the silk. I had to endure the mockery. I had to play the part of the broken girl. As I scrubbed the delicate fabric, Serafina leaned against the wall, watching me with a cruel smile.
"I heard the Twin Alphas are back," she mused, examining her fingernails. "They are so handsome, aren't they? Real men. Not like the omegas you're used to. I saw Caleb looking at the laundry list this morning. He looked disgusted. I bet he hates that someone as big and useless as you is even breathing the same air as him."
I kept my eyes on the soapy water. If only she knew. If only she knew that Caleb's brother had spent the night in my room, kissing my wounds. If only she knew about the silk ribbon tied around my leg. The secret felt like a warm fire in my chest, protecting me from her cold words. I let her talk, let her laugh, and let her call me every name she could think of. Every insult was a price I was willing to pay to keep the twins safe.
Hours passed. My back ached from leaning over the tub, and my hands were red from the hot water. I finally finished the silks and hung them in the drying room.
The drying room was a small, stone chamber filled with steam and heat. It was the only place in the laundry where I could be alone for a few seconds. I leaned against the warm stone wall, closing my eyes and trying to imagine Cassian's voice.
Suddenly, the heavy wooden door to the steam room creaked open. I thought it was Serafina coming back to check on my work, so I quickly straightened my dress and wiped my face. But it wasn't Serafina.
Kevin stepped into the room. He looked different than he had at the ceremony. His face was tense, and his eyes were searching the small space with a strange intensity. He closed the door behind him, locking out the noise of the laundry room. The steam curled around him, making him look even more imposing.
"Kevin," I whispered, my voice full of a habit of fear. "The silks are almost dry. I did exactly what Serafina asked."
He didn't look at the silks. He walked toward me, his movements slow and predatory. He stopped just a foot away from me, pinning me against the wall. He didn't look angry, but he looked confused.
"I came here to tell you to stay out of the hall tonight," Kevin said, his voice low and gruff. "I don't want you embarrassing me again while I'm with Serafina."
"I understand," I said, trying to slide past him.
But Kevin didn't move. He leaned in closer, his head tilting to the side. His nose was near my neck, and his chest was almost touching mine. I held my breath, my heart racing. He wasn't looking at me with the love I used to dream about. He was looking at me like I was a puzzle he couldn't solve.
He took a deep breath, his nostrils flaring as he caught my scent. His eyes suddenly widened, and a look of pure confusion and suspicion crossed his face. He leaned in even closer, his nose brushing against the skin of my throat, right where Cassian had held me only hours ago.
"What is that?" Kevin hissed, his hand reaching out to grip my chin, forcing me to look up at him. "That smell. It's not the smell of soap or bleach. It's a high-ranking scent. It smells like the mountain peaks. It smells like an Alpha."
He narrowed his eyes, his grip on my chin tightening until it hurt.
"Why do you smell like Caleb and Cassian?"