A Place Called "Home"

"Are you ready, Miss Silverfang?" Dimitri waits patiently at the entryway. There are no servants waiting for her there anymore.

She laughs, bitterly. 'To think that I'm reduced not only to the king's concubine but they didn't see me as a Silverfang anymore. How pathetic.' She thinks before she goes down the spiral staircase with her duffel bag which she often uses on her travels.

"May I take your luggage off of you?" Dimitri offers, his hand ready to accept her only belonging.

"Thank you," she replies, curtly, handing it over.

As he checks the weight of her only possession, he glances behind her. "Is this all you need?"

"Of course," she says, flipping her hair on the sideway as she smirks. "The palace will pay not only provisions, is that right?"

With this, Dimitri smiles. "Yes, in fact, the palace will provide your every need."

"Then, I suppose I will have a lot of requests by the time I'm there."

He stops midway before exiting as he notices at the corner of his eye, two snickering offspring of Griffith's. And he glances back to his assigned concubine who seems unfazed at the obvious mockery.

"Have fun being the king's dildo, Maridawn," one of them calls out as soon as the door closes behind them.

Yet, Maridawn doesn't refute nor flinch at the derogatory remark.

'It seems like an everyday norm for her,' he thinks.

But it feels pitiful that those were the last words from her own family during her departure.

He wasn't supposed to pry but he couldn't help but ask, "Were those your siblings? If I recall, you're the youngest daughter of Mr. Griffith."

"Yes, even if they're older than me, they can still be a playful bunch," she says, a casual tone without a hint of remorse. "It's called tough love. Something an outsider wouldn't understand, don't you think?"

For Dimitri, that's one way of saying mind your own business.

Maridawn continues to walk with confident strides as Dimitri follows from behind. They could have brought the car to the entrance door but the mansion won't allow unknown vehicles to get past the main gate— which is at the bottom of the slope.

If only Griffith offers even a buggy golf car just so his own daughter won't have to walk like this.

Yet, she doesn't have an ounce of a complaint.

"You don't want to change your wolf form, Miss Silverfang? Your heels will get sore from the long walk."

She looks at him with a genuine dumbfounded look. "Do you think I want to undress right now, Dimitri? If you're that worried, then as soon as we get to the palace, bring me the best foot masseuse you have in the city."

They only met today and Dimitri wonders if she does have the qualities of a "genuine omega". No doubt that her alpha upbringing is a part of what molds her to be this way.

They continue to walk in silence and it is good that she only brings a duffel bag with her, making the short trip lighter.

The Silverfang mansion is a huge building far from the vicinity. It is located from the outskirts, a seclusive location where if envious wolves get their hands on their possessions, the family can defend their own territory without a cinch.

It's a conventional wolf pack family, after all.

It is said that family is the most priority of the Silverfang, yet, as Dimitri stares at his omega's petite back, he couldn't help thinking that Maridawn is more like an outsider.

And it's not just because she's an omega.

There is some kind of deep-rooted cause of this, he thought.

As they reach the gates, the car limousine which he left at the entrance is still there. The driver has been playing with his phone and Dimitri couldn't blame him since he has been waiting for them for almost two hours.

He coughs a bit to grab his attention.

The driver almost drops his phone on the floor before his reflexes catch right before it lands. He turns to face his boss and the new additional concubine before he grins.

"A-afternoon, sir, ma'am."

He sighs, hopefully, this doesn't leave Maridawn with a terrible impression of the royal palace. "Playing Cookie Dash, aren't you?"

He laughs, sheepishly. "This won't happen again." Then realizing what he must do, he quickly skids to the back car door and opens it, politely welcoming Maridawn to enter inside.

"Right this way, ma'am."

Maridawn is unfazed at the comical behavior and proceeds to step inside without a word.

As Dimitri follows suit, the driver whispers to his ear, "Hot damn, sir Dimitri. She's like a goddess."

Dimitri frowns. "Clam it, Kevin, She belongs to the king now."

"You're an alpha. Aren't you attracted to her pheromones or something?"

He jabs Kevin's side. "Remember our talk about your tactlessness, Kevin? If the king hears that, we will not only lose our jobs but also our heads."

He just chuckles."Well, we're outside the palace, aren't we?"

Kevin may be his trusted chauffeur but he is too carefree.

He sighs again, as he finally enters the car.

"You and that man seem close."

"Ah, you've heard that," he laughs a bit. Well, duh. Their talk is close to her hearing range.

Two seats are facing each other and Dimitri decides to sit across hers.

"Well, when he and I first met during the interview phase, he started yelling loudly at every answer, to everyone's annoyance." He chuckles at that, finding that memory entertaining. "We have been friends ever since. He may be impulsive but he means no harm. Plus, he normally doesn't gossip much other than with me."

"I see."

Kevin starts the car engine and they are ready to depart.

Maridawn continues to stare at the Silverfang mansion, her icy blue eyes remain transfixed yet not an emotion shown in front of him.

"We're leaving soon, Miss Silverfang."

"I know," she says as they are slowly moving away from the Mansion.

A place she thought to be her home.