09: Ada's POV

By the time Gwyn had finished bathing me and gossiping my ear off, I knew a little something about almost everyone in the castle— with the obvious exception being any member of the royal family. I knew what maids were sleeping with what kitchen staff, butlers, stable boys (which I was surprised to find Oberon Castle had). I also knew that Mariah and Beta Cade were struggling with conceiving a child, and that many in the castle believed it was because of Mariah’s lower status as a wolf. Gwyn didn’t hold back any details either, providing me with all of the action in recent fights and more personal information on some of the men around the castle.

It had been nice having her stories to distract me and her company to fight against the loneliness. However, we had spent quite awhile in the bathroom. She had been much more intentional than Mariah had been, helping to remove any potentially unwanted body hair and scrub any area where nastiness had built up so much that the first bath hadn’t done anything. She then had taken her time carefully manicuring both my toenails and fingernails, tweezing my eyebrows, and styling my hair. By the time she had finished, it was fully light outside.

When we stepped back out into the bedroom, there was a fresh dress and shoes laid out. This dress was less extravagant than the last, and seemed to only need a slip and not a full corset. It was a beautiful shade of sage green satin with a dark green lace overlay. Gwyn helped dress me in the fabric quickly, which had clearly been altered somehow to my current measurements.

As she smoothed the fabric out once more, she spoke, “Soon we will have a day where we sit and pick out fabrics and designs and build your dresses with the modiste,” she puffed out the lace sleeves, “Until then, you’ll have to make so with some of the King’s choices,” Gwyn scrunched up her nose, “I have to take you to meet the Alpha Prince’s now.”

My stomach seemed to sink as my heart thudded in my ears. Before I could stand in frozen terror for too long, Gwyn grabbed my hand and started to pull me out the door. I stumbled forward and out into the hallway. Once we were a safe distance away from my quarters, she released my hand and began to lead me.

I kept my eyes hyper-focused on Gwyn’s back, barely able to suck in enough air to keep my vision regular and not blackened at the edges. My head was swirly, full of a sort of buzzing white noise. My ears were ringing. Gwyn glanced behind her and frowned.

Her voice carried back to me, muffled by the ringing, “So, why did you come to Oberon Castle for the Selection?”

I blinked, the movement of my body feeling stiff and rigid. She asked as if it was a choice. Like someone offered something I could have politely declined. Hell, maybe there *had* been invitations sent that I had been unaware of. Perhaps my father and that evil bitch Francine had laughed as they checked the ‘Accept’ box and sent it back to the King with the Royal Courier. They’d probably even joked about just being able to send the spare they were keeping at the farm.

Despite my inner turmoil, I kept my voice even, “My pack needs the reward money.”

That was as honest an answer as I could give. Gwyn glanced back at me once more, eyebrows furrowed, “Oh.”

My hand grasped her elbow tightly, stopping her, “What is it?”

“It’s just that the Midnight Pack always throws such amazing balls, and the staff there speak of it like it’s a dream come true,” she shook her head, “But if you’re here because of the money, that just proves that not everything is at it seems.”

Well, wasn’t that the truth. And now that I’d been Selected, the great Alpha Bryant and his tyrant wife Francine were going to get what the wanted. $4 million to supply their lavish lifestyles. All at the small price of their least favorite daughter and her dignity and respect. Oh, well.

We rounded a corner and there was an open door. Through the door, I could see a fire raging in a stone hearth. As we approached the room, I could make out more details. It was darker in color, the furniture more masculine with leather and darker colors. There were oil paintings on hanging on the walls. It was cozy and elegant. In the corner there was a brass cart with crystal decanters filled with various colors of liquids that ranged from a warm amber to a blood red. On the lower shelf was a set of crystal glasses ranging from short round ones to long-stemmed wine glasses. There was a set of three champagne flutes nearly resting on the lowest shelf — with an empty space beside one in the front.

I looked around, taking in the dark hues of greens and browns and blacks. There were still feminine touches present in the space, but they were laced with masculinity. Draped over the windows were black sheer curtains, billowing in the light breeze of the day. My rooms decor was rather whimsical compared to this space. I stepped into the room, running a hand over the cool leather of one of the dark brown couches. Even the smell — evergreen, cinnamon, and bourbon— was manly. It wasn’t cold though, and that had been what I expected of the Prince’s space based on the little bit of the castle I’d seen outside of the Luna’s quarters. This area was warm and welcoming.

On the balcony to the left of the fire, there was a figure. A breeze blew through the open glass door, sending the curtains whipping into the room. As the fabric opened more fully, I realized the figure was holding a thick book in its hands. I blinked, focusing my vision a bit. That was when I froze, my heart fluttering. I knew the man on the balcony. The last time I’d seen him had been in the hall outside of the examination room. Then, he’d be in an all black formal suit. Now he was dressed down slightly in an emerald linen suit coupled with a black button-up shirt and gold accents. Those same cufflinks could be found at the end of each sleeve.

However handsome Nikolai had looked before was nothing compared to how devastatingly striking he was with the sunlight cascading over his oil-slick hair. A smirk donned his face as he fingered the page of the book, preparing to turn it. My mouth went dry. And if he was here… that meant he was one of the Alphas. One of the Princes.

There was movement to my left. Darius was wearing a pair of gray slacks and a short-sleeve white and black striped button-down. I looked into the field of grape hyacinths his eyes still seemed to hold and sucked in a breath. To his right was Phoenix— done up in gray riding pants and a black long-sleeve leather jerkin. Both wore warm and amused expressions as they approached me.

Shock kept me rooted to the same place in the room. I’d spent so much time worrying about this, focusing on the fact that I hadn’t even met the three Alphas I was to be a surrogate for… that I’d been dumb enough to not connect the fact that I’d randomly met three handsome strangers the same day I’d arrived. Strangers that had seemed to command respect with every breath they took. That exuded power. That made my knees weak while standing in the middle of *their quarters.*

Phoenix reached forward and touched my cheek, causing me to look up into his eyes. His hair was pulled back fully this time, giving me an even clearer view of his red-ringed ivy-colored irises. His touch seemed to sizzle against my skin and I felt a blush rush forward as I found myself wondering if he’d felt that too.

Darius grinned, elbowing Phoenix, “Now, now, Phoenix. Didn’t the three of us agree no touching her?” his voice was light and full of laughter, but the blue of his eyes darkened greatly when they rested on Phoenix’s fingertips against my cheek, “You’re going to make me very jealous.”

“Ada?” Nikolai — Nik— closed his book and stepped into the room from the balcony, “Welcome,” but the way his eyes raked over my body possessively made me feel anything *but* that, “Would you care for a drink?”

He’d set whatever book he was reading down on the edge of the balcony, and I saw the missing champagne flute beside it. Slowly, I shook my head. My heart hadn’t calmed down since I’d left my room, and since they were Alphas and wolves, I knew they could tell. They could tell how nervous I was, and even how excited I was to find that it was *them* I was to be a surrogate for. Well, they’d be able to tell the emotion. Not the reason behind it I suppose.

Nik bowed his head, his voice taking a slightly different tone, “We weren’t aware you’d be joining us.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but another woman’s voice came from behind me, “I wouldn’t miss this, Nikky.”

She stepped around me and walked right up to Nik, extending her hand. He took it, kissing the back of it as his eyes stayed locked on me. The woman went around and did the same to Darius and Phoenix, who’s reactions were similar to Nik’s. Gwyn was standing behind me and to the right, hands clasped together in front of her and eyes cast down. When I moved toward the couch, she moved with me. I walked past the couch, which is where the other woman ended up sitting down, and sat in a lone chair. Gwyn placed herself directly behind me.

I watched as the men all took seats around the room. Darius was the one to offer the woman a drink, which she gladly took. She spoke openly, pulling their focus to her, “You know, I remember when we were younger and the three of you would follow after me…”

She continued with story after story, her hands gently resting on one of their arms every now and then. Light pangs of bitter jealousy raged through my stomach, which I tried to fight because I truly had no claim to these men. Her laughter was light, her posture perfect. I swallowed as I watched her flutter her eyelashes at Phoenix, who shifted in his seat and glanced over at me. It only took two anecdotes before I realized she was specifically here to prevent Nik, Darius and Phoenix from interacting with me. With her tight bodice and elegant mannerisms, she was being successful.

I looked over my shoulder, signaling for Gwyn. She leaned down and I whispered, “Who is that?”

“Lady Elizabeth Jane of the Eclipse Pack,” Gwyn whispered back, watching as my shoulders slumped forward, “She is their *cousin.* You have nothing to worry about, Ada,” my maid smiled as she gently rested her hand on my shoulder, “They’re all yours anyway.”

Despite her effort, her words did nothing to bring me any form of comfort.