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I blinked, my brows knitted in disbelief. “Tom was here?”

“Yes. I found him in your room, going through the files. I tried to call for help, but he grabbed my phone and threw me on the floor. Mr. Griffin arrived just in time to scare him off.”

A closer look at her revealed the bruises on her wrist and the reddened skin on her cheek. Here I was thinking Lilith was the only force I was faced without knowing Tom was waiting for the time to strike.

“I’m sorry about that. I promise it won’t happen again.”

“I don’t think he’ll be coming back,” she added with a shy smile. “Mr. Griffin beat him up real good, and he ran out of the house screaming and begging for his life. Mr. Griffin also promised to drop by every day to make sure we’re okay and left his number behind.”

I couldn’t find any words to express my surprise or the guilt I felt at how I drove him away. He was only making sure my son was okay.

“Our son,”my wolf added, and my guilt intensified.

Noah chose that moment to run in with more toys. “Where is Uncle Griffin? Did you kick him out, Mama?”

His face fell, and the excitement in his eyes was replaced with the accusatory look he was throwing at me. He let out a heavy sigh before running back to his room, tears welling at the corner of his eyes. I sank back onto the sofa, completely overwhelmed by the turn of events. He wasn’t just living rent-free in my head anymore. He had succeeded in burrowing himself deep into my baby’s tiny heart.

So much for staying away from him.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Mira

“Your bath is ready, Princess,” Ella said, leading me to a bubbling pool of milk. “It’s pure goat milk, believed to nourish the skin and provide a youthful glow. You’re expected to soak yourself in it for fifteen minutes for maximum effect.”

“Is it hot?” I queried, peering at the bubbles suspiciously.

Ella chuckled. “It isn’t. The bubbles are merely a result of the rejuvenating herbs incorporated into the bath. In ancient times, it was believed that if a visitor had ill intentions towards the throne, the milk bath before the welcoming ceremony would turn to blood when they lay in it.”

My heart picked up a pace following her little history lesson. Did revenge qualify as an ill intention? I didn’t come here to seek out and harm an innocent soul. My friend was murdered, and I only sought todo justice to her soul. Surely, the moon goddess understands the cry for justice.

I was hesitant to get into the bath, but with Ella and the other servant girls watching me closely, refusal would mean I was guilty of a crime.

True to her words, the bath proved to be the most relaxing soak I’ve ever had, better than all the luxurious spas in the Upper East Side. The best part was that the milk didn’t turn to blood.

Ella helped me rinse off milk residues in my hair and skin while the others prepared my makeup. They said everything had to come from nature.

“Is this your first time preparing someone for the welcome ceremony?”

She paused, her hands hovering above my hair. “Did I do anything wrong?”

“Not at all. I was just wondering if this is a regular thing,” I replied, trying to ease her. Despite our growing friendship, I could tell she was still being careful not to cross lines, and she insisted on calling me princess.

“Oh, it doesn’t happen often. The royal family is very careful about who they let in.” Her face brightened, and she went further to tell me a story about how the royal family was almost wiped out by a traitor.

I could recall one of my conversations with Mary where I asked how she was coping in the palace, and she said she found someone special. I was eager to meet this person, but Mary asked me to be patient and promised to come visit with them. I never got to see them together, but as I watched her narrate her tales with so much animation, I could see why the goddess brought them together.

I sought her out shortly after I got to the palace and explained my relationship with Mary. Mourning her together had broughtus closer, and when I let her in on my plans to return to the palace and avenge Mary’s death, she was eager to help. But I declined her offer, feeling solely responsible for Mary’s death and not wanting more blood spilled in my name. My reason didn’t deter her. She maintained she wouldn’t sit and watch when she could help avenge her mate, so I made her my personal maid to keep her close while concealing the nature of our friendship.

“You look absolutely stunning. I’m certain the prince would not be able to keep his eyes off you.” She beamed when the makeup was done, and I couldn’t help but wonder which prince.

The ceremony opened with the traditional dance to the moon goddess. It was performed by mates who transitioned between their human and wolf to show off our nature and their gratitude to the goddess for looking out for us.

Soon, we were ushered into the inner chambers, where I was required to sit with the noblewomen. It was customary for all nobles to be present so that they could get acquainted with the new member and make their judgments.

Lilith was seated across from me, and though I could feel her eyes on me, I refused to look in her direction. I didn’t miss how Griffin ignored her the entire night, but I had every intention of enjoying the night and ending it on a peaceful note. I didn’t want their issues to distract me.

Conversations at the table were in hushed tones, and I noticed that even amongst the nobles, the hierarchy persisted. Some of them considered themselves pure nobles as their bloodlines were never tainted with marriage to a person of a lower caste, while those of them who married into nobility were regarded with a level of disdain and only spoke after the so-called purebloods were done speaking.