Amia's POV
I woke up shivering and coughing from the cold while looking around sleepily.
For a few seconds, my mind was blank, lost between sleep and waking. The air in the room felt icy against my skin, making my body tremble uncontrollably.
Then it clicked where I was.
A quiet sigh escaped my lips.
It was morning yet again.
My body felt incredibly sore, as if every muscle had been stretched and bruised. When I shifted slightly, a dull ache spread across my hips and lower back.
A light sheet, which I didn't remember covering myself with, rested loosely over my body.
"It seems I passed out again," I whispered to myself.
Carefully, I pushed the sheet aside and got to my feet. My legs wobbled beneath me, forcing me to steady myself against the bedpost for a moment.
I ignored the wet, warm mess rolling slowly down my thighs.
I had already begun to understand that this was simply how things would be.
Slowly, I made my way to the bathroom and stepped inside.
The cold stone floor bit into the soles of my feet.
When I opened the tap, icy water poured down over my body. The cold made me gasp sharply, but I forced myself to stay beneath it as I cleaned thoroughly.
I scrubbed my skin again and again until the lingering scent of the night before faded.
Only then did I finally step away.
After drying myself, I chose one of the dresses hanging in the wardrobe. It wasn't new, but it was still better than the worn clothes I had arrived with.
Once dressed, I returned to the room and sat down on the still-messy bed with a low sigh.
What exactly was I supposed to do to kill time?
I couldn't leave the room. I had no idea where anything was in this enormous nest, and wandering around blindly could easily land me in trouble.
Even if I asked Serai to bring books, it would probably be pointless.
I wasn't much of a reader.
Most of what I knew, I had taught myself secretly over the years.
Still…
Maybe reading wouldn't hurt.
Just as that thought crossed my mind, a light tap sounded against the door.
I stood up quickly.
"Come in," I said.
The door slowly opened.
Serai stepped inside.
The moment I saw her, relief washed over me.
She smiled softly before leaning forward and raising her fingers to her forehead, patting it three times.
"How are you doing today, my lady?" she asked politely before closing the door behind her with her tail.
"I'm doing fine, Serai. I'm glad you are here," I said honestly.
My eyes then drifted to the small wooden basket she was holding.
"What are you carrying?" I asked with a faint smile.
"I apologize for not properly announcing my visit outside your room. It's just that I came here secretly despite being given tasks and chores to do," she said in a low tone.
My brows knitted together slightly.
"If word were to get out that I had brought a few cleaning supplies here without the approval of any higher-ups or Lady Rachel, I could be in trouble," she continued nervously.
A small smile tugged at my lips.
"Lady Rachel," I whispered thoughtfully.
"Thank you, Serai, for doing this for me. But may I ask who Lady Rachel is?" I asked softly.
Serai hesitated.
"Well… I don't know if I'm allowed to say who she is to you."
My chest ached slightly.
What did she mean by that?
"Even if you don't tell me who she is, I'll later find out because the nest is now my home, don't you think?" I asked seriously.
She remained silent.
Her face clearly showed conflict.
"Serai, I am the lord's mate, and as you said, the mother of the future heir of the nest. Knowing who Rachel is should not be a secret," I said firmly.
She bowed low to her waist and raised her fingers to her forehead again.
"Lady Rachel is our lord's cherished mistress."
For a moment, the world tilted.
My knees weakened, and I stumbled back a step.
"Wh… what?" I asked in a cracked voice.
My heart throbbed painfully in my chest while my wolf whimpered softly inside me.
Serai straightened slowly, her expression apologetic.
"She has been our lord's favored mistress since she came back with him when he went on a trip."
My hand moved to my forehead.
My head began to ache as I tried to process her words.
"Did… did you just say mistress?" I asked quietly.
"Yes, my lady."
My chest tightened painfully.
"She's his lover… so do they share a bed?" I asked.
Tears filled my eyes despite my efforts to stop them.
"They do, my lady. Ever since she stepped foot in the nest, she has been the only one allowed not only to share the room with the lord but also to oversee all the females of the nest."
Her words struck like knives.
I took a few weak steps backward until the back of my legs hit the bed.
Slowly, I sat down.
Shock and anger battled inside my chest.
"My lady, please don't think too much about it because you are still the chosen and rightful mother of the heir.
I looked at her coldly.
Was that supposed to comfort me?
My mate.
The one destined for me by the moon goddess.
He already had another woman beside him.
While I had chosen to remain chaste all these years… even when I could have spent nights with males in the pack…
He had been sharing his bed with his mistress.
I didn't know whether to scream or cry.
Both felt equally tempting.
I slowly stood up.
"Where is the lord right now?" I asked in a tight voice.
"I have no idea, my lady. He is usually—"
"I'll find him myself."
Without waiting for her to finish, I walked toward the door.
"My lady!" she called after me urgently.
I ignored her.
My thoughts replayed her earlier words.
The study.
She had mentioned he sometimes stayed there.
I doubted he would actually be there now.
But it was the first place I could think of.
My heart pounded rapidly as I reached the large wooden doors.
I knocked once.
Then I stepped inside.
The study was quiet and spotless as always.
Shelves filled with ancient books covered the walls.
The faint scent of parchment and ink lingered in the air.
I was about to turn around and leave when I heard movement.
It came from one of the large shelves opposite me.
Curiosity pulled me forward.
Step by step, I approached.
The first thing I saw was the tail.
Its scales glimmered faintly in the light.
My heart skipped violently.
It was the same color as my mate's.
As I took a few more steps, he finally came into view.
He stood beside the towering shelves.
His royal robes flowed elegantly around him, deep crimson silk layered with golden embroidery shaped like ancient serpent symbols. The robe draped over his shoulders, While a black veil covered the lower half of his face, leaving only his sharp eyes visible, he held a large golden book in his hand.
The pages looked strange—thick and wax-like, almost indestructible.
I froze. All the anger I had built up on my way here suddenly vanished. A moment ago, I had planned to shout at him and demand answers.
But now… I couldn't even speak.
When his eyes lifted and met mine, an invisible pressure filled the room. My breath caught. His presence alone was overwhelming. Cold sweat gathered on my forehead. Even without him saying a word, my body instinctively wanted to submit.
"I... I greet you, my lord," I said quietly, my gaze dropping to the floor.
"Say something, demand our place. He's only ours!" my wolf growled inside my mind.
But I remained silent.
"Forgive me for coming in here. I was lost," I lied quickly.
Then I turned to leave.
At that exact moment, my stomach growled loudly.
The sound echoed embarrassingly in the silent room.
I froze.
Embarrassment burned through me.
But then…
A familiar scent drifted through the air.
Warm and sweet.
My head lifted quickly.
I turned around.
The lord was now holding a small plate where the book had been.
On the plate were cookies.
They looked… incredibly familiar.
My heart skipped.
When he extended the plate toward me, I hesitated.
There were so many questions swirling inside my head.
But the annoyed look in his eyes silenced them all.
Quietly, I stepped forward.
I took the plate and then bowed deeply.
"Thank you, my lord."
Without another word, I turned and walked out.
As I walked back toward my room, I glanced behind me several times.
He didn't follow.
Once inside my room, I noticed Serai was gone.
But the basket she had brought earlier was still near the bed.
I slowly sat at the small table.
The plate of cookies rested in front of me.
For several minutes, I simply stared at them.
Then I picked one up and took a bite.
The moment the flavor touched my tongue, my eyes widened.
It tasted exactly the same.
The same cookies.
The ones from yesterday.
What were the chances that my own mate had been the one who gave them to me?
No.
That couldn't be right.
I was clearly overthinking things.
There was no way it was him.
But then again…
He was the one who had just given them to me now.
Perhaps it really was him.
But then…
Why would he do that?
It was obvious he wanted nothing to do with me.
The only explanation that made sense formed in my mind.
Was it because he wanted me to stay fed so I would have enough strength at night and not pass out again?
Yes.
That had to be it.
Because there was no way…
There was absolutely no way…
That he felt anything for me.