Hailee’s POV
I felt suffocated in my room. Three maids were inside, moving around like I was a doll. Two of them were only a few years older than , the last one younger, but all of them worked in silence, their hands busy as they dressed in the traditional attire. The gown was long and flowing, made of heavy silk that clung to my body before spreading out at my feet. It was deep crimson, threaded with gold patterns that shimred when the light touched them. Around my waist, they tied a beaded sash, each bead clicking softly against the next as though marking my fate.
Cold bangles were slipped onto my wrists, one after the other until both arms were heavy with them. Matching anklets jingled faintly when I shifted, their chains brushing my skin. Beads, small and bright, were woven into my hair while a necklace—thick, layered, and encrusted with tiny gems—was fastened at my throat, the weight of it almost choking . Another maid leaned forward, draping long strings of coral beads over my shoulders so they rested against the front of the gown. My ears were adorned with dangling earrings that caught the light each ti I turned. The final touch was a golden circlet placed gently on my head, resting against my hair like a crown I never asked for.
I stared into the tall mirror before . A princess, yes. A Lycan princess. But to my own eyes, I looked like a prisoner dressed up for display. I longed to rip this weight from my body and run, but I couldn’t. And truthfully, there was no point in running at all. Once my family discovered what I had done, they would cast out themselves. That fate was already sealed, and it was only hours away.
The door creaked open and Mother Violet stepped inside, dressed in a simple long gown. The mont I saw her, a small, relieved smile broke onto my face. She was just what I needed.
"Mother," I breathed out, my voice soft but full of longing.
She returned my smile, warm and gentle, the kind that always made feel safe. Her eyes swept over the maids, who were still adjusting the layers of beads and silk on .
"Enough for now," Violet said softly, but her tone carried authority. She turned to the first maid. "Go and fetch a fresh jug of water from the well. The one here has been standing too long."
The maid bowed and hurried out without hesitation.
Then Violet looked at the second one. "The embroidery master left so silk ribbons downstairs. Bring them here—I might want to braid them into her hair later."
"Yes, ma’am." The second maid slipped out, leaving quickly.
Finally, she faced the youngest. Her voice softened even more. "Run to the kitchen and ask the cook to prepare a tray of tea. Tell her I want it sent up imdiately."
The girl nodded fast, her earrings jingling as she scurried away.
The door clicked shut behind her.
And just like that, the room was quiet again—only and Violet. I could breathe a little easier. I knew what she had done. She hadn’t really needed water, or ribbons, or tea. She just wanted to give space. To give us space.
My throat tightened as I t her eyes, knowing she understood in a way no one else in this house ever did. Violet closed the door behind the last maid, her hands lingering on the knob for a mont before she turned back to . Her soft smile faded, replaced by sothing heavier.
She walked toward slowly, her steps quiet, then stopped just a few feet away. "Hailee..." she began gently, almost like she was afraid her words might break . "Robert and his family will be here soon. They’ve co for the marriage introduction."
My chest tightened instantly, my stomach turning as though I’d swallowed a stone.
Violet’s eyes searched mine, sadness deep in their depths. "It’s ti you told your family the truth. That you’re no longer untouched."
The words slamd into like a blow. My lips parted, but no sound ca out. I turned sharply to the mirror, staring at the decorated girl in crimson and gold, covered in beads and bangles. She looked like royalty—untouchable, perfect. But beneath all of that, I was anything but.
My heart raced. If I told them... if I confessed what I had done... everything would change. My family would see not as a princess to be paraded, but as a disgrace. A broken thing.
My throat burned as I forced the words out, my gaze fixed on my reflection in the mirror. "Then I’ll do it," I whispered, my voice trembling but steady enough. "I’ll tell them. But not in secret. Not to Mother, not to Father alone. I’ll do it before everyone."
I drew in a shaky breath, my fists tightening against the heavy fabric of my gown. "That will be their punishnt. If they wanted to use as a prize, a bargaining chip—then let them choke on the truth in front of their precious guests."
Violet’s eyes widened slightly. She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Hailee... do you understand what you’re saying?"
I lifted my chin, though my heart thundered like a trapped bird. "Yes."
Her expression softened, but her worry was clear. She reached out, gently brushing her hand over my cheek. "And what if they cast you out? What if they strip you of your title? You don’t have your wolf yet... and you know your father. He is powerful enough to subdue even a full-blooded Lycan, let alone one whose wolf has not awakened."
I swallowed hard. She was right. Father carried a rare gift—his mother’s bloodline. With a single look, a single word, he could crush the strongest wolf to their knees. He had the power to cage a man’s wolf for years... and if you were fortunate, a powerful witch might undo it. But Father had been forbidden by the Lycan and Werewolf Council from using that ability except in dire cases.
Now Violet’s warning struck with chilling clarity. If I dared to reveal the truth, if I defied him before Robert and his kin, my father could end with nothing more than a command. Not kill , but sothing far worse—force my wolf into silence forever.
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