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And, what time is it now?

She began pulling herself up from the bed to check the wall clock, only for her to—

"Ouch!!!" The unexpected cry tore from her lips as every single part of her body protested that movement. Everywhere aches. Even muscles she never knew existed came calling, sore and aching all over.

Needing a shower badly, she tried getting her legs to move, but the pain that shot through her body had her gasping in distress.

With that, she gave up on getting up, lying down again on the bed.

"He'd crippled me. God, my body is one giant bruise." She muttered out loud, miserably. "Damn that insatiable beast of a man."

Instantly, the door opened. But it wasn't Wolfaraine walking through the door but a plump woman that looks in her late sixties, her black hair tied in a bum behind her neck.

"I see you're awake, my lady." The woman said with a kind smile and a gentle voice, walking towards her. "My name is Marian, I keep this tower up and shinning."

Oh, the housekeeper Alphose mentioned to her once.

"Good morning, Mirian. I'm Ismena Cranes, it is so nice meeting you." She blushed, embarrassed. What a circumstance to become acquainted with one of his people.

"Oh, no need for formalities, my lady." She paused, "And the morning has long exhausted itself. It is early evening now, my lady."

"Really?" She asked, her eyes widening. No wonder she was feeling famished.

"Yes, it is."

"Where is he...? Wolfa— I mean, the Alpha King?"

"He is in a meeting with the council. Oh my, but you smell so much like him. So so much. It's rare for a mate to carry that much scent of her male without a mating ritual." The woman shook her head wondrously, "Your compatibility with him is really very high. You are indeed his mate."

Of course, the woman knows. These changelings and their nose, Ismena thought with an inner snort. "What are you?"

"Oh, I'm the Alpha King's packmate, I'm a werewolf. My family has worked for the royal family for centuries."

"Really? So, you've known him since he was a child?" She asked curiously.

"Since he was a young lad, yes." She agreed, "He is a great leader to us all. He really did surpass every other leader our land has ever had. Who would have thought that he'll be so magnificent? After everything he'd been through we were all so scared that he'll lose his sanity like his sis—" she cut off suddenly and bit her lips sadly when she realized she'd said too much.

Ismena knew what the older woman was going to say. It reminded her of everything he'd poured out to her the night before as she dressed his wounds. The thought of Nalaila saddened her greatly.

For a few seconds, sadness welled in the air between them. Then, Mirian brightened again, "I know you crave to use the bathroom, come on before your water gets cold."

Ismena's cheeks reddened. Holy sanitary pad, how was she going to inform this woman that she can't move her body even if her life depends on doing just that...!?

"You s-see, I..." She began. Swallowed, "I can't... That is, I..." Damn, why is it so hard?

Mirian was waiting for her expectantly.

She tried again, "I can't m-move... I mean, my body... h-hurts."

"Oooh! Oh, o-of course, of course!" The older woman nodded vigorously when she realized what the younger woman has been trying to say. Her cheeks warmed, mirroring Ismena's. "I'll help you."

Before Ismena could figure out what she meant by that, The woman covered the distance between them and lifted her from the bed like she doesn't weight much.

"What!?" Ismena shrieked, horrified. "Put me down before you hurt your back..!"

"Oh, don't worry about me, my lady. I am a wolf. I will be just fine." Already, she was at the door of the master bedchambers. She opened it and walked right through, "I will be just fine."

A glance at the bed reminded her of everything that happened. It only made her flush the more until she felt like her cheeks were on fire.