CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

(MELIORA'S POV)

A gentle hand shook my shoulder. "Wake up, stranger," a soft voice said in my ear. I thought it was just part of a dream at first.

But the shaking became stronger and so did the voice. "You're sleeping on only a thin mattress, how can you enjoy sleeping so much?"

I blinked my eyes open to see a young woman standing over me. She had a kind face framed by long brown hair. "Come on, Luna said you'll help in the kitchen today," she told me, turning on her heel to exit the small cell.

I rubbed my hands on my eyes and yawned deeply, my body still longing for more rest after the stressful events of the previous day.

But I knew I shouldn't test the patience of this pack by being lazy. Slowly, I pushed myself up into a sitting position on the hard palate.

When I finally made my way outside into the village, I found the young woman waiting alongside several other girls, all fetching water from a large stone well in the center of the camp. They looked to be unmated and around my age.

"Over here!" the first girl called with a wave. I joined their line, grabbing an empty pail. As we took turns drawing up the cool, fresh water, I studied my new companions. Their expressions were friendly enough, without a hint of the distrust I'd sensed from the sentries.

Once our pails were full, we hefted the heavy loads and carried the water together to another rough timber building. This one had smoke drifting up from a stone chimney. As we entered, I realized it must be the pack's main kitchen and cookery.

The girls immediately set about various tasks - stoking fires, preparing ingredients, tending to large pots of stew and porridge bubbling over the hearths. I quickly put down my pail and looked around, uncertain what to do.

"So what do we call you, new girl?" one of them asked, looking up from the vegetables she was chopping.

"Oh I'm Liora," I replied with a friendly smile.

The girl smirked. "Are you a princess, Liora? 'Cause here, once you're an outcast, you'll work and clean like the rest of us." The others laughed at her mocking tone.

I felt my cheeks flush, but before I could respond, the first girl I had met intervened. "Don't mind them, Liora," she said, putting a hand on my arm.

"It's just their way of joking with newcomers. I'm Suzanne. This is Anna, Martha and Beth. You'll work with us and hopefully enjoy your stay here once you get settled in."

"It's nice to meet all of you," I replied, giving her a grateful look. "Thank you, Suzanne."

I spent the next few hours assisting with whatever tasks they put me to - peeling vegetables, tending the fires, stirring huge pots of stew and porridge.

Despite the hard work, I was just glad to have a humble purpose and place among this pack, even if it was in the kitchens for now. Before long, the tantalizing aromas had my stomach growling.

Finally, breakfast was ready to be served. We lined up the full stewpots and plates of fresh bread, herb biscuits and oatcakes on a long wooden table in what seemed to be the main eating hall for the pack. Just as we turned to leave and grab our own plates, a stern voice stopped me.

"You there, new girl. Wait here a moment," the alpha called out from the front of the hall. I turned to see him eyeing me closely, looking even more imposing in the daylight. The silver-furred woman I assumed was the Luna stood at his side.

I swallowed nervously as the rest of the pack began filing into the hall - warriors with thick, muscular builds, skinny omegas, wrinkled elders leaning on canes, tiny pups clinging to their mothers' legs.

They all took seats around the long table, instinctively leaving the spots at the head vacant for their leaders.

Once everyone had found their place, the alpha rose to his feet, towering over all with his powerful presence. He fixed his piercing stare on me.

"Today we woke with a new wolf amongst us," he announced, his deep voice carrying through the hushed room.

"As you know, we do not kill outcasts who turn our way. Instead, we test their loyalty to this pack. If they prove themselves submissive and hardworking, we offer them food, shelter and protection as one of our own."

He extended a hand toward me. "Step forward and introduce yourself, wolf."

Heart pounding, I stepped out from my spot against the wall. I clasped my hands behind my back and dipped my head respectfully.

"I am Liora. There is no need indicating my previous pack, as I intend to join all of you here and become one with you in both name and loyalty. I...thank you, kind Alpha, for your generous offer to take me in." My voice shook slightly with nervousness.

A low murmur went through the gathered wolves. I couldn't read their reactions - some looked skeptical, others vaguely interested, a few even approving.

"I like her already," I heard a gruff male voice remark. My gaze flickered to the direction it had come from - a thick-shouldered brute of a wolf with one ear torn.

"But if you think of being a spy or conspiring against this pack in any way, you'll pay with your life," the Luna said in a clear, ringing tone, silencing the murmurs. Her icy stare pierced me as she added, "You may go now, Liora."

I dipped my head quickly. "Thank you," I murmured, backing away. I could feel the weight of dozens of eyes boring into me as I hurried from the dining hall.

When I returned to the kitchen area, the other girls had already gathered around a small table and were digging into generous portions of the breakfast we had prepared.

"Over here, Liora," Suzanne called, gesturing to an empty spot next to her. "Come eat with us while you can."

I sat down gratefully, my legs still quivering from the unsettling encounter. Suzanne loaded a plate with stew, bread and oatcakes which she passed to me.

"We have to eat now before we're expected back to start preparing the midday meal," she explained in a low voice, her kind expression sympathetic to my obvious nerves.

"Yes, thank you," I murmured, suddenly ravenous. I dug into the hearty fare, relishing every bite. For now, I had shelter, food, and at least one friendly face around me.

If I played my role properly, perhaps this pack would accept me fully in time. I could only hope that my stay here, tenuous as it felt at present, would ultimately be more peaceful than the hardships I had endured so far.