Chapter 70
I woke up very early, feeling unusually tired. My mind was heavy with things I couldn’t quite understand. Something was bothering me, but I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was.
"What’s wrong with me? Why do I feel this way?" I mumbled to myself, frowning as I tried to shake the unsettling feeling. I got up and headed to the washroom, splashing cold water on my face. The chill helped a little, but my mind remained clouded with thoughts.
’Maybe I’m overthinking everything,’ I sat back on the ground, feeling the cool surface beneath me. The recent strange events in the pack, the mysterious deaths of the maids, and the looming presence of the Alpha weighed heavily on me.
"Kimberly, you need to calm down and focus on one thing at a time," I whispered softly, trying to reassure myself. A small smile crept onto my face, but it faded quickly when the thought of meeting Alpha Derrick hit me.
A mix of emotions stirred in me. I dreaded seeing him, especially after he rejected me, leaving me to feel ashamed and unwanted. Yet, part of me was eager. I was going to sit at the table with the elders, making decisions for the pack. Derrick would see how important I had become, a realization I hoped would haunt him for choosing Mona over me.
’I’ll show him. And Mona? She’ll get what’s coming to her,’ I thought with a determined look, standing up to prepare for the day’s chores.
When I stepped outside, I noticed a gathering at the open field. Ma’am Elena and the chief maidservant were already addressing the maids. I hurried to join them, curious about the new developments.
Ma’am Elena smiled when she saw me, but her face turned serious as she addressed us. "Good morning, everyone," she greeted, and we all returned the greeting in unison.
"I’ll get straight to the point. We’ve made some adjustments to your schedules," she began, her voice firm. "Morning chores will now last only an hour. You’ll have thirty minutes to wash up before gathering at the canteen for breakfast. Lunch will be served at noon, with one hour to eat and return to your rooms. Dinner will be between 5 and 6 pm, and after that, no one is allowed outside until the following morning."
The maids exchanged worried glances. The recent deaths had made everyone uneasy. Ma’am Elena continued, "We don’t want to frighten anyone, but you need to know that we’re facing something unknown and dangerous. The rules are for your safety, so follow them closely."
After her instructions, we were dismissed to start our tasks. As I moved to my duties, I noticed that Mohandia was missing. She was always punctual, so her absence was strange. I called Liza and Kaitlyn over, asking if they’d seen her.