*****CHAPTER 56

MAE’S POV

THREE WEEKS LATER

I was preparing to go back to the castle when Mother came to thank me for looking after her and thanking me for taking care of Pearl. I was happy Mother was well again, I was more thankful to Alcot for his assistance throughout our predicament.

“I am leaving with Pearl now. Take care of yourself, Mother,” I told her as I hugged her, sniffing the familiar cinnamon scent of her hair. I hated to leave her behind again but at the same time, I had to complete my sentence in the castle. It wasn't something I could control. I was still paying for my crimes.

“Bye, Snow,” I waved to my older sister who only gave me a small cunning smile in return. She had been on neck about Alcot's issue ever since he introduced himself as my potential boyfriend and wouldn't stop shipping us together.

I wasn't going to lie, I always blushed whenever she did that.

“Take care, little girl,” she finally decided to get her lazy ass up and give me a hug.

I left the house with Pearl and we headed back to the castle in a carriage that we boarded.

I thought about how we left the castle three weeks ago, devastated. And how threatening Mother's sickness had been to her life. With the treatment money being paid and all her medicine being bought, Mother's recovery would be faster and smoother this time.

I told her I got an anonymous tip to pay, I wish I could tell them who really paid because I was very grateful to him.

Snow was happy that I was able to get the money as I promised her that I was going to. She has been working to raise money for food for her and mother since they were the only ones at home.

These three weeks have been the most challenging three weeks of my entire life but I was happy I had my mother and sisters with me. Having them by my side made everything a lot better.

We got to the castle and I left Pearl behind in our room with Piper while I retired to my work.

I thought of Alcot as I carried on my task in the kitchen. I hadn't seen him since the day we shared that room and made love on that rainy night. A night I could never forget. I always reminisced about the night and wished I could have that moment again. But I knew it was a rare opportunity and I might never have the chance to be naked in his arms ever again. That night was the most special night I had in my life. Not only did I make love with Alcot that night but he also said that he loved me.

The Alpha loved me. Me, a low class wolf. Me, a poor common girl. Me, a servant girl. He had showed me his scar and had talked about his nightmares. It was a memorable and the absolute best first time any girl could ask for and I was fulfilled. Even though I loved him too, there was nothing I could do about it and he was already mated to Scarlet.

“You are being called by Luna Scarlet,” a messenger came up to me and informed me. "She seeks for your presence immediately."

Just when I was thinking of the crazy bitch, did she send for me. What an ugly coincidence.

What could she want from me now? And how did she even know I was back in the castle already? What if she had spies around the castle, watching and reporting my every move to her in fear that I might go against our deal and expose her affair to Alcot.

I would not be surprised if my suspicions about Scarlet was true. Rumors had it that she had eyes everywhere in the castle reporting everybody’s business to her. She was a nosy person and everyone knew that.

But again, she was the Luna and was free to do whatever she wanted, however and whenever she wanted without answering to anyone. Except the Alpha.

“You sent for me.” I said as I walked into her chamber.

She was getting dressed. I wondered how she was okay being ideal. She had enough time on her hands which created room for her to poke her nose into people's business. She was sitting down and brushing her long lush hair in front of the mirror, admiring her beauty and smiling ear to ear.

Her ocean-blue eyes matched the ornaments on her dress. I looked on as she signalled to me to come closer.

“Help me get dressed,” she commanded me.

I nodded without hesitation and moved closer to help her with her dress. I thought of how it was absurd that prosperous people took advantage of their wealth. Getting dressed wasn't a hard task for someone to need any help doing it. How difficult was it to wear a gown? Was this the reason why she called me over?

I moved closer to help her fix her dress. She packed her hair up to remove it from the back as I tried to zip up her dress.

As I fixed her dress, I noticed a red mark that looked like a hicky on a small side of her neck and I fixed my gaze on it, wondering if my eyes were right or if I was mistaken.

She had a sex mark on her neck. That was most definitely a hicky. I knew she and Alcot didn't entertain each other's presence, and so did everyone else in the castle. They were mated but had no connection nor bond whatsoever and it was pretty obvious.

Was she still going ahead to have an illicit affair with Alcot's beta? Wasn't she ashamed or feeling guilty that I had caught them making out the other day in her room? Why was she still unrepentant?

We tied looks when I saw her staring back at me from the mirror. She noticed I was staring at her mark.

“It is what you think,” She had a sinister smile playing on her lips that was adorned with blazing red lipstick. “It is a sex mark.” she said, facing me.