Chapter 86
Betrayed by Blood
The sun was already high in the sky, it’s warm rays filtering through the windows of the servant quarters. Avery folded the last of her freshly washed clothes, a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips—a smile she hadn’t worn in what felt like weeks. Today was her first break since arriving in Cain’s pack, and it felt like a long-awaited gift.
The head maid had announced earlier that morning that with the arrival of several new servants, the workload was lighter, allowing the older servants a day to rest. Avery had almost dropped the tray she was carrying in disbelief at the news. A whole day without scrubbing floors, hauling linens, or enduring Martha’s sharp tongue? It sounded almost too good to be true.
As she tucked her clothes into the modest dresser beside her bed, she allowed herself to think about how she’d spend the day. Maybe she’d find a quiet spot near the woods to read—if she could borrow a book from the library. She doubted it, though. But maybe she could simply wander the grounds without the weight of a hundred tasks pressing down on her shoulders. Then again, she could very easily run into Martha or Lady Williams. No, that sounded draining already. She could also just spend the day sleeping.
Life in Vehiron was actually very daunting. Avery was only allowed four hours of sleep each day and had now grown accustomed to it. But today, she couldn’t try to sleep for longer than four hours. It sounded like a dream.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. It creaked open, revealing one of the maids, her face flushed as though she’d been working. "Avery," she said breathlessly. "The head maid asked you to deliver this to the pack hospital. It’s urgent, so don’t waste time."
Avery frowned slightly, her fingers brushing against the small, wrapped parcel the girl extended to her. "The pack hospital? Is something wrong?"
The maid shrugged. "It’s just some supplies they requested. With the influx of new warriors, they’ve been running out of things left and right. Apparently, sparring’s gotten a bit... intense, and they keep receiving patients every hour," she replied.
Avery nodded, "Alright. I’ll drop it off."
As the maid hurried off, Avery sighed, slipping the parcel into the pocket of her apron. So much for a perfectly lazy day. Still, the hospital wasn’t far. She could do it and still come back to rest. It wasn’t all spoiled.
Minutes later, Avery found herself outside the servant quarters, walking towards the pack hospital. She was thankful she’d reduced the way she was getting injured back then. She had actually gotten embarrassed when the doctor called her out, talking about being a frequent visitor. Avery shook her head as her thoughts swayed over to Xander, who had once brought her here. She tried her best not to think of everything that’s been happening with him and just pretend like everything was right. That’s the only thing she was used to.