Page 4 of Alpha's Exiled Mate

“Thank you, Martha,” I whispered, my throat tight with gratitude.

“Lilia,” she said, her tone turning grave, “a strange old woman came today, taken straight to Lord Thornfield’s study. The servants say she’s a sorceress.”

A chill ran through me. “A sorceress? Why is she here?”

“I don’t know,” Martha said, shaking her head. “But I have a bad feeling. Be extra careful tonight, understand? If they call you to the study, stay sharp.”

She handed me a small bundle of food. “Your dinner. I knew they’d let you go hungry, so I saved this. No matter what they say or do, hold on to who you are. You’re stronger than they think.”

I took the bundle, and she pulled me into a warm embrace.

“My little wolf,” she whispered in my ear. “Be brave.”

I slipped out to the back door, eating my meal under the moonlight—a piece of bread, a bit of cheese, and a few slices of fruit. For a slave like me, it was a feast.

As I prepared to sneak back to the attic, Ella appeared.

“Lilia, the masters want to see you. Go to the study. Now.”

I stared at her, my heart racing, Martha’s warning echoing in my mind. “Did I do something wrong?”

She shook her head, and for the first time, her eyes held a trace of pity. “I don’t know. But don’t keep them waiting.”

Fear gripped me. A summons from the masters usually meant punishment. Maybe they knew I’d overheard their argument, or maybe it was about the unfinished tasks. Whatever it was, as a slave, I had no choice but to face it.

In the study, Lord and Lady Thornfield stood with a stranger—an old woman I’d never seen before. Viossi leaned against the window, her eyes red and puffy. My wolf growled softly inside me, uneasy.

“Close the door,” Lord Thornfield ordered, his voice cold and final. I obeyed, my hands trembling. He fixed his gaze on me. “Girl, do you know why you’re here?”

I shook my head, struggling to stay steady.

“We’ve found a new… purpose for you,” he said, each word deliberates. “One that will change your life.”

Lady Thornfield stepped forward, her smile falsely kind, her eyes as cold as ever. “Lilia, you understand how important loyalty is to our family, don’t you?”

“Yes, my lady,” I whispered, fear coursing through me like ice.

“Good,” she said with a nod. “Because starting today, you’ll prove your loyalty in a very special way.”

Lord Thornfield cleared his throat, cutting to the point. “The royal family demands our daughter marry Prince Perock. But Viossi’s health prevents her from fulfilling this duty.”

I glanced at Viossi, confused—she looked perfectly healthy. She avoided my gaze, staring at the floor.

“So,” Lord Thornfield continued, “you will take her place. You will marry the prince as Viossi.”

Time stopped. My ears rang, and panic flooded me, blurring my vision and shallowing my breath.

“No,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “No, that’s impossible…”

“Silence, you wretch!” Viossi screamed, her eyes a mix of fear and relief. “You should be honored! You’ll be the prince’s bride!”

But my mind reeled with the horrifying rumors—the monster who devoured his brides’ hearts, the four vanished wives, the screams echoing in his castle…

“It can’t work,” I stammered, panic rising. “The prince will know I’m not Viossi. We look nothing alike, and—”

“That’s why we’ve brought Madam Greta,” Lady Thornfield interrupted, gesturing to the old woman. “She’s the kingdom’sfinest transformation sorceress. She’ll ensure no one can tell the difference.”

Greta stepped forward, her eyes gleaming unnaturally. “The spell will alter your appearance to match Viossi’s perfectly. Even those closest to her won’t suspect a thing.”