CHAPTER 22

OLIVIA'S POV
We arrived at the packhouse and the set of unfamiliar faces I saw made me feel uneasy. They looked at me like I had horns growing out of my head.
"Just ignore them for now." Niamh said, "I'm sure you would like to have some rest instead of chatting around with people you don't know."
Niamh was right.
Even if I chatted with those people who looked at me with unfamiliarity, I wouldn't know what to say or how to introduce myself. My mate and I had to speak first to conclude how he would like me to be introduced to his people. He already took a big risk, taking me out of Leo's grasp and I couldn't be more grateful. My heart pounded in my chest as we entered the huge mansion that looked unfamiliar and different. Unlike the one I lived in, this one looked elder and the designs were almost Renaissance-looking. The structure made it looked one of the castles I could only read about in books.
I didn't mean to get so excited but i couldn't help it. I suddenly felt like a princess.
Was this my fairytale come true?
I didn't think I'd meet my mate after I was sold to Leo but now. It was different.
I let mind run wild again.
What was my mate like? He was already so good-looking! One of the traits I wanted my prince charming to have. Was his character admirable as well? Was he kind to his people?
"I'm guessing you like the house.." Niamh chuckled and I snapped out of my baseless fantasy but I could feel my cheeks were still curved up into a smile.
"Well. It's alright." I cleared my throat and Niamh chuckled, "You looked like an adorable puppy when you first saw the house just now."
I scratched the back of my neck embarrassedly, "Uh. The designs are so my type." I admitted.
Niamh grinned, "Me too. I used to think it was too old and we should restructure it so it looks like the other pack's design but I've grown to like it."
I smiled and Niamh pushed through the entrance doors, I was taken aback by the beauty of the wonderful chandelier and the wonderful furniture and colors. They all fit perfectly and it made me want to dive into the fantasy of me wearing a shiny dress while dancing with my lover in our castle.
I sighed and stepped into the humble abode, taking in the light colors that made up the theme of the castle.
The walls were painted a warm creme color and the curtains were a light brown with red stripes on them. The chandelier's light was warm and the soft smell of rose lingered inside.
I sniffled and followed where the scent was coming from. It was from the vases that settled on several corners of the room.
"I hope you don't have an allergy to roses," Niamh said, "The maids collect fresh roses every day per my order."
I nodded, "I have no allergies to roses."
Niamh smiled at me and I smiled back.
"Now, let's go to your room." Niamh linked our arms together and together, we climbed up the stairs which felt like I was stepping on marbles.
The way Niamh softly held me too made me feel some sort of warmth and it was quite flattering.
We arrived at the top of the stairs and Niamh dragged me down the hallway while saying, "Julian usually likes to stay alone so he owns the entire space on the first floor. However, since you're his mate.." Niamh looked at me and broke into a fit of giggles while I was left to stare at her.
"What?" I said, not getting what made her so excited all of a sudden, it was quite weird.
"Since you are Julian's mate, you can sleep next to his room."
I shook my head immediately, "No. I don't want to interfere in someone's privacy.."
To be honest, I also wanted to have my own space since I never had a place of my own to call mine.
I exhaled. I wished I could tell her that but I had no right, this wasn't my home.
My imagination came crashing down at me again and I cringed at my previous thoughts.
What castle? What prince charming?
I'd been failed over and over again yet I was still holding on to a useless fairytale.
"Here," Niamh dragged me to a huge door down the hallway. "This will be your room from now on, and that is Julian's room."
My heart raced from looking at the room that was standing alone in the corner and it made me fucking nervous.
Niamh opened my new room door and screamed, "Tada!" I jumped a bit, taken aback by surprise.
"You're such a scaredy-cat." She cooed and dragged me into the room along with her.
The entire room's theme was white and pink.
Boys always teased girls who said their favorite colors were pink but no one ever asked what my favorite color was so I didn't get a bit of the insult even though my favorite color was pink.
"Julian's sister wanted to live close to him so she decorated the room pink."
My ears shot up and I felt like I was doing something bad. Even Julian's sister wasn't privileged to sleep near his room. Who was I to hone such a privilege?
"N-no, Niamh let's choose another room."
"Why?" Niamh looked at me and smiled at the conflicted look in my eyes, "Is it because Julian's sister arranged this room, or is it because you don't like the room's colors?"
"N-no." I lied and Niamh seemed to pick up on it.
"Don't worry, Jane has a boyfriend she is very much in love with so she wants to sneak out easily to engage in rendezvous with her boyfriend. Trust that she doesn't want to be near Julian at all."
"Oh.." I didn't feel as guilty as I did before. "Thanks, Niamh," I said.
Niamh grinned, "Sure. I'll tell the maids to deliver you everything you'll need pending the time Julian arrives."
I nodded gratefully and Niamh patted the small of my back before leaving. I exhaled lightly and looked around the room. It was huge and spacious, it even had a bathroom by the corner of the room.
My heart rammed in my chest as I remembered the look Julian had given me in front of Leo.
What did that mean?
Of course, Niamh was nice to me but. I didn't know if it was a front until her and Julian decided to show me their true colors.
I sighed and hoped my thoughts were not true but it was hard to tell.
Thanks to the home I grew up in, I had trust issues. Even my wolf didn't trust me enough to communicate.
I was betting her life on this man, Julian. If things didn't work out, I might as well just un-alive myself. I laughed at myself and stopped when I heard a knock on the door which almost startled me.
"Come in," I called and the door opened revealing a group of three women who were holding a basket containing numerous pieces of clothing.
They bowed their heads upon seeing me and I became a little worried. Did Niamh tell them I was Julian's mate?
"Our honorable guest," They said.
Two of them were brunettes and the one with blonde hair and blue eyes caught my attention the most. She was skinny and of average size. She kind of reminded me of myself in my pack.
"Your honorable, Would you like a warm bath?" The brunette with brown eyes smiled at me.
"I'm fine," I said with hesitation, I wasn't used to being taken good care of. People taking care of me made me feel uncomfortable because I was usually the one doing the caring.
"You guys can get going, I'll help our guest settle in." The blonde said and the brunettes looked at her harshly. One of them even went as far as whispering in her ear, "Make sure not to make any mistakes whore!"
I heard them it made me uncomfortable. It was just like seeing my past self treated poorly.
Once the girls stepped out, I asked her, "What's your name?"
"Vanessa." She quietly replied and i nodded, watching as she hung the dresses in the closet.
A smile curved up the sides of my mouth as I stared at the blonde. Vanessa.
She was beautiful and I wondered if she knew that about herself.
As soon as Vanessa was done hanging up the clothes, she turned to look at me and I immediately averted my gaze so she didn't know that I was staring at her.
"Would you lie to see the library, Madam?"
I was hooked now, "There's a library here?!"
Vanessa laughed softly and I restrained myself. Even Niamh had said I looked like a puppy when I was excited.
I exhaled and said in a lighter tone, "Could you take me to the library?"
"Sure." Vanessa grinned.
She led me to the library and I realized that it was on the fourth floor. Not too far from the first floor where my room was located.
When i got to the library, I talked some more with Vanessa and it made me realize that we had a lot of things in common.
She even made me realize things I didn't know I liked.
While we were talking, a voice excitedly spoke behind me. "Olivia! Where were you? I've been looking for you!"
I turned around and looked at Niamh who looked excited.
"What?" I asked.
I could feel a tingling sensation in my chest and Niamh didn't have to tell me. I already knew.
My mate was here.
My heart leaped for joy and I immediately ran towards Niamh who grinned at me. "He's downstairs."
I rushed down the stairs and my heart nearly gave away when I saw Julian looking dashing like I first met him.
He looked excited but I was even more excited.
I ran into him and pulled him into a tight embrace. He seemed taken aback but he hugged me back and for the first time in a long time I felt like I was home.
I was usually a shy person who didn't know how to express affection for other people - No, I wasn't usually shy to express my affection, most people I was with weren't just safe enough for me.
But with Julian, the man I only met once, it felt easy and exciting. He made my heart churn in the best way possible even though I barely knew him. I sighed as I felt him kiss the side of my neck affectionately.
"Alright, alright love birds. It's been a long day, we should eat dinner." Julian's friend who I was guessing was also the beta said.
I released my hold on Julian but he was still holding me and it made me blush furiously. Never had I have a man who made me feel so seen... So acknowledged.
The feeling was new to me and I kinda liked it. Maybe my fantasy would become a reality if I kept my hope alive.
***
We headed to the dining table where dinner was already set. Chicken and a combination of so many dishes.
Back at home, I was the one who did the dishes but now...
Julian sat me down at the table and made sure I was comfortable.
He didn't ask me any deep questions, he just made sure I ate a lot and gave me a lot to eat.
Niamh and her mate, Holden, who was also Julian's beta simply watched us as though we were some sort of entertaining movie to watch.
I didn't mind them, I was completely thrilled by Julian's presence that I didn't think of anything else.
I just wanted the moment to last forever.
I could see his potential of him being a good mate and my wolf saw it too, she was surfacing and sending those feelings to me so I had no doubts.
Even though she didn't speak a word to me, I felt connected to her even more than before.
Maybe finding my mate was a sign that great things would begin to pick up from this moment and the possibility of a great future together with Julian made me excited.