Chapter Fourteen

"Good evening, Ariana," the head maid greeted with slight curtsy.

She stood with two other palace maids outside the door of Ariana's room with a sense of formality and purpose. They were dressed in uniforms that spoke of regal precision.

Intrigued by the formality of their visit,  Ariana reciprocated the formality with a curious expression as she opened the door.

"Good evening. What brings you here?" 

Her eyes were immediately drawn to the trays filled with items, and she sensed an unusual anticipation in the air. "Their visit was not just a routine task" she silently said to herself.

The maids exchanged a quick glance, a brief and sudden silence followed as if they were trying to choose their words carefully.

Ethan had dispatched them to Ariana's room with a specific mission—to deliver a curated selection of gifts. These gifts were more than mere offerings; they were a tangible expression of the Alpha's acknowledgment and appreciation for Ariana's outstanding performance the night before.

The head maid, bearing a tray adorned with meticulously arranged gifts, her respectful gaze meeting Ariana's, stepped forward and offered a warm smile, "The Alpha instructed that these gifts be delivered to you"

Ariana's eyes widened with delight, a spark of surprise and excitement dancing in their depths.

"For me? Wow! Please, come in."

With practiced elegance, the maids entered. Their presence added an extra layer of refinement to Ariana's humble abode. The trays, bearing gifts wrapped in luxurious paper and delicate bows, found a temporary home on a finely carved and polished table at the center of the room as the maids set them down with precision.

Ariana,  unable to contain her enthusiasm, circled the display with a mix of gratitude and eagerness "Wow, there are so many!" Her eyes darted from one gift to another,  "I didn't expect this at all." She exclaimed.

Her fingers tingling with anticipation and excitement, began unwrapping the gifts one by one.

"Unbelievable!," Ariana remarked.

She chuckled, eyes dancing with joy. "Are my eyes playing tricks on me?" A hint of sarcastic amusement in her tone.

The room was soon filled with the soft rustling of wrapping paper, as she unveiled the treasures beneath each one.  The rich textures of the wrapping paper yielded to luxurious items beneath, each reveal met with a gasp—a delighted expression.

First, a dazzling jewelry set, nestled in a velvet-lined box, with matching earrings that echoed its celestial brilliance emerged. Adorned with a pendant that glistened like a captured star, the craftsmanship spoke of elegance and its delicate intricacies reflected the moonlight.

"These are exquisite!" She screamed in awe and admiration.

The maids nodded in silent agreement, appreciating Ariana's genuine joy.

Ariana's excitement heightened with each unwrapping. Tokens of acknowledgment and appreciation adorned with elegance were unveiled. A gesture she couldn't help but find overwhelming.

Amidst the lavish gifts, a single long-stemmed rose stood in a slender vase. Its deep red petals held a timeless elegance. A symbol of passion and beauty added to the array of treasures she unwrapped.

"Amazing! Look at these, they're stunning. I don't know how to thank him." She said, her feelings a blend of pride and gratitude.

The maids, stood silently in smiles as they continued to watch the unwrappings, their occasional nods, an unspoken admiration.

Ariana, now surrounded by the tokens of Alpha Ethan's appreciation, felt a sense of recognition, "Thank you all so much. I truly appreciate the Alpha's generosity" she voiced calmly, her features lightening up, and beaming with joyous emotions. 

The maids, content with Ariana's display of amazement and thankfulness, took their leave with a final curtsy. As the door closed behind them, Ariana was left alone with a room adorned with gifts that screamed acknowledgment and appreciation.

*******

Later that night, the moon's gentle glow embraced the pack's territory, and Ariana, with a heart full of excitement, made her way to Ethan's chambers. The maids had just delivered the gifts Ethan had sent as acknowledgment for her stellar performance the previous night. The anticipation of expressing her gratitude fueled her steps.

As the grand entrance to Ethan's main chamber loomed before her, Ariana could hear muffled screams of pleasure coming from the inside. She hesitated before his door, steeling herself for a moment. 

Taking steadying breaths, Ariana gathered her courage and knocked. The muffled sounds from within ceased, and the unlocked door swung open. To her surprise, Ariana stumbled forward, finding herself face to face with a sight she hadn't anticipated.

Alpha Ethan lay in the dimly lit room, his bare chest glistening in the moonlight that filtered through the partially drawn curtains in the room. Another woman, a lustrous-haired werewolf, was draped in his arms, and their bodies moved in an intimate dance of passion.

Shock paralyzed Ariana as she took in the scene before her. She staggered backward, colliding with the doorframe.

Ethan, caught off guard, broke away from the embrace and turned his gaze toward the intruder. Fury flashed in his sharp piercing eyes as he registered Ariana's presence. His intense gaze, filled with anger, locked onto hers.

Before he could utter a word, Ariana turned on her heels and fled, her footsteps echoing through the hallway.  Her heart pounded in her chest, and the image of their intimacy haunted her every step. Conflicting emotions swirled within her—anger from the inexplicable sense of betrayal she felt and sadness at the realization of her place as just a breeder.

Back in her room, She slammed the door shut, leaning against it as she tried to make sense of the conflicting emotions surging through her.

"Why should I be upset?" she reasoned with herself. "After all, I'm just a worthless item of sexual satisfaction to him."

Questioning the validity of her feelings as she paced the room, 

"I'm nothing but a useless breeder—a mere vessel of reproduction, to be used and dumped at will like garbage".

She smirked, a searing pain tore through her chest, frustration and a vivid sense of jealousy, which she had refused to accept etched across her face.

Yet, an undeniable sadness gnawed at her, leaving her restless through the night. The sting of seeing him with another woman cut deeper than she cared to admit. The realization that she had expected something more from him, a misplaced hope, wounded her more than the scene she witnessed.

Ariana, now tried to distract herself from this emotional saga, delving once again, into the entries on the pages of the mysterious journal that had become her comfort and silent companion in solitude. Inquisitive, she had continued exploring the entries, a quest to answer the endless questions that this journal belonging to the mysterious alpha's breeder raised.

"Who was this woman? What's her story?  Could Alpha Ethan be the same alpha she wrote about in her journal?" She wondered, these questions constantly fueling her curiosity as she went through the inked pages of the journal——

*Journal Entry - Silver Haven, 7th Of July, Year Of The Blood Moon

The guards' shadows loom in the corridors, a constant reminder of my captivity. A captive not just in body but in spirit, mourning a mate lost to the savagery of those who should protect.

And then there's this growing swell on my belly.

My body now bears the weight of impending motherhood. The unborn child, a silent observer of our harsh reality, becomes both a beacon and a burden.

I pen these words, a silent plea for a brighter dawn for the life yet to unfold.*

Just then, an unexpected interruption halted Ariana in her tracks as she flipped the leaves of the journal, and opened the next page to continue;—Alpha Ethan had summoned her to his room, and she couldn't escape the unease that gripped her.

She entered, and the room felt heavy with unspoken tension. Alpha Ethan, seated at his desk, regarded her with a cool detachment. "Ariana," he began, his voice devoid of the warmth she had once sensed, "last night was a misunderstanding. I don't owe anyone loyalty."

Ethan's eyes narrowed, a flicker of irritation crossing his features. "You're just a breeder, Ariana. It's not your place to question my actions."

The pang of hurt resurfaced, and a surge of anger replaced her initial sense of vulnerability. "If you can be disloyal, then I have the right to do the same."

A defiant fire burned in her eyes. "I won't be owned, Alpha. If you can do as you please, so can I."

Ethan rose from his chair, a dangerous glint in his eyes. Before Ariana could react, he grabbed her, his grip, firm, and his lips crashed against hers. He kissed her with a possessiveness that left her breathless.

Ariana found herself torn between resentment and an unsettling desire, she pushed against him, the tension between them palpable.

Ethan, his words, a low growl, murmured in her ear, "You are mine, Ariana."