Chapter 28 The First Morning 1

Chapter 28: Chapter 28 The First Morning 1

Talia’s POV

Sleep did not come until the sky was gray and it looked like the day was breaking.

I must have drifted off at some point, because the next thing I knew, light was filtering through the window, and my body was stiff from lying in the same position for too long.

The light was pale and gray, not golden like the morning in Cresswood. Everything here was different, from the walls to the smell to the silence. Even the way the sun touched my face—I did not know if I would ever get used to it. Or maybe I was not supposed to.

I sat up slowly. The fire had died, and the room was cold.

Kaelen was gone, and his blanket was folded on the floor, just like every morning.

I did not know when he had left. I did not know if he had looked at me before he went. And I did not know if he had heard my whispered promise in the dark.

I touched my necklace, and the glamour charm was still there, and still hiding me.

Then a knock came at the door.

"Miss?" a voice called. "I have brought your breakfast."

I climbed out of bed and walked to the door. I opened it just enough to see who was there.

A servant stood in the hallway, holding a tray. She was young, with brown hair and eyes that did not judge. It was not the kind one from before. This was a different one.

"Good morning," she said. "May I come in?"

I stepped back and opened the door wider. "Yes, of course. You may."

She carried the tray to the desk and set it down. Bread, eggs, a cup of water, and a small bowl of berries. I had never seen berries at breakfast before.

Back in Cresswood, breakfast was whatever was left from the night before, which was mostly stale bread, cold water, and sometimes nothing.

Through it all, I learned not to hope for more, because hope was dangerous there. But here, there were bright and sweet berries, and hope felt a little less dangerous this morning.

"The Alpha left instructions," the servant said. "You are to eat well, because the Luna Trials require strength."

I stared at the tray. "He said that?"

"Yes, miss." She hesitated. "He also said to tell you that he will be back tonight."

Then she left, closing the door behind her.

I sat down at the desk and looked at the food.

My stomach growled loudly, and I looked at the door quickly, to make sure no one heard.

It was an old habit. In Cresswood, showing hunger was dangerous. It meant you wanted something, and wanting things got you punished. But no one was here. Just me and the food tray.

I picked up one small red berry and threw it in my mouth, and it melted sweetly on my tongue. Then I looked at the tray again.

The eggs were still warm, the bread was fresh, and the berries were dark red and purple, and they glistened in the morning light.

Kaelen had left instructions.

Like I was someone worth giving instructions to. No one in Cresswood left me instructions—instead, they left me bruises, they left me with hunger, and they left me alone.

Kaelen left me eggs and berries and a message: ’Eat well, because the Luna Trials require strength.’

I did not know what to call that. Kindness? Duty? I was not sure.

He was not here, and he did not have to say anything. But he had thought about me before he left.

I did not know what to do with that.

I focused on the tray, and I ate slowly, forcing myself to chew each bite. The berries were sweet. So much sweeter than anything I had tasted in Cresswood. So I ate them all.

When the tray was empty, I sat back and stared at the wall.

The first trial would begin soon. I did not know what it would ask of me in detail, and I did not know if I was ready.

But I had eaten the berries, I had drunk the water, and I had done what Kaelen asked.

That was a start.

I went into the bathroom after that to have a quick shower, then I came out and wore a yellow floral dress, with a black flat slipper that I spotted in the bag of shoes.

Then I walked to the bed and sat down, thinking about everything that was happening, and whether I could cope.

I stood up and walked to the window.

The valley stretched out below me, green and vast and endless. The mountains rose on every side, with their peaks lost in the clouds. The sky was blue, with only a few white clouds drifting across it.

I thought about the promise I had made last night.

’I am staying in this pack for two reasons, aside from being the Alpha’s mate and the pack’s chosen Luna. To find out what happened to my mother, by using the resources I found here, and to make the Cress family pay for every year they abused me.’

The words felt heavier this morning, and more real.

I had said them out loud, I had meant them, and now I had to live up to them.

I touched my necklace, and felt safe, as the glamour charm was still there, and still hiding me. But I knew it was not forever. Someday, I would take it off when I wished to, since I had passed the age from my mother’s instruction. So someday, they would all see my real face.

Someday soon. But not today.

For today, I had to survive.