I tried to eat as much as I could at dinner, but I didn’t have much of an appetite tonight. So I was glad when it was over and Landon went back over to his people and started talking to them again. I was left alone but I was fine with that. I grabbed another glass of champagne and let that keep me company. When people finally started leaving the reception and everything was wrapping up, it was our duty to say goodbye to them at the door. Even though I didn’t know any of them. And Mara quickly found me after that. “Would you like me to show you to your new room?” she asked. “Sure. Why not?” I replied. We walked out of the hall and headed toward the main part of the packhouse. I followed her upstairs the four flights of stairs and down another hallway until we stopped outside a pair of double doors. I realized I was on the opposite side of the packhouse from Landon’s bedroom. He must really want me as far away from him as possible. When Mara opened the doors, I stepped inside and immediately felt that the room was much colder than the rest of the house. However, it boasted a walk-in wardrobe and an ensuite, both surprisingly large. The best feature was the large bay windows with a built-in chair underneath, offering a perfect ocean view. I walked straight over to the window and opened it, letting in even more cold air, but I didn’t care—I loved it. This room was perfect. I knew I had been placed here as a punishment, but Landon had no idea how much I appreciated this space. “Stay where you belong and we won’t have a problem.” Mara said, turning around and walking out of my room. Closing the door behind her. “Well, she’s a bitch.” Meadow said internally. “Tell me about it.” I answered. I went to the bathroom and I looked at myself in the mirror briefly. I saw my eyes starting to change color as Meadow was coming to the front of my mind again. So I grabbed a bottle of pills that were in my cabinet and I swallowed one down with a glass of water. I saw the massive inviting shower, so I got undressed and hung the dress on a hanger before I climbed into the shower. I hissed a little at first, seeing the fresh wound on my back that were only 24 hours old. They stung under the water so I had a pretty quick shower that night. After wrapping myself in a towel, I walked to the wardrobe and changed into a black T-shirt, track pants, and a dressing gown. I slipped on my shoes and noticed that this room was still freezing. I closed the window, but I knew that wouldn’t help much. The rest of the packhouse was heated, but this area wasn’t. I hadn’t seen anyone else while walking to my room. So, I walked out of my room and retraced my steps down the stairs. I started wandering around the bottom floor of the house instead of staying on the fourth floor where my bedroom was, hoping to find my way around. I eventually found the kitchen and walked out the back through the laundry. As soon as I stepped outside, I could feel the crisp night air. I walked along the side of the house for a bit until I found exactly what I was looking for—the woodpile. I grabbed several large pieces of wood and carried them inside and upstairs, back to my bedroom, where I placed them in the fireplace. I started the fire the way I had learned to do in Vincent’s house because he never cared if I froze. Once the fire was going and stable, I was about to walk back downstairs when I started getting a dull pain in my chest. I didn’t know what was going on but it made me stop for a moment and grab onto the top of the fireplace. I waited for it to pass, which wasn’t too long before I left my room again and walked back downstairs. I stumbled upon a rustic basket just inside the dimly lit laundry room, its weathered surface marked by years of use for firewood. With a few diligent scoops, I filled it to the brim and headed back up the creaky staircase to my bedroom, the earthy scent of the wood lingering in the air. Once I reached my room, I placed the heavy basket next to the fireplace, envisioning the comforting glow of flames that would soon dance within. As I made my way back downstairs I gathered another basket of firewood and walked back inside, but the atmosphere shifted. I caught sight of Landon and his crew staggering into the kitchen, their boisterous laughter echoing off the walls. They were clearly drunk, their movements unsteady, and the heady scent of alcohol mixed with an unmistakable scent of s*x. He saw me, and pretended like he didn’t and put his arm around the waist of the girl next to him and kissed her on the cheek, then he gave me this provocative smile. I opted to sidestep the raucous scene and retreated back to my sanctuary, setting the firewood beside the fireplace with anticipation of the warmth it would bring. As I settled next to the crackling fire, I found myself immersed in its warm embrace, occasionally prodding at the glowing embers with a stick, but mostly savoring the mesmerizing dance of the flames. The flickering light cast playful shadows around the room, painting the walls with a soft, golden glow. After my time with Vincent, I had developed a deep appreciation for life’s simple pleasures—the breathtaking views framed by the window and the comforting warmth radiating from a roaring fireplace, both reminders of the beauty found in everyday moments. So much for wedding night. “Don’t you want to kill him for stumbling in like that on your wedding night?” Meadow roared in my head. “It’s a contract marriage, Meadow. Calm down. What is wrong with you?” I asked. “I care about you,” she replied. “I know. But if he wants to believe that I don’t have a wolf, then that’s his problem. That will be his mistake. He’ll be thankful that I have you when Vincent tries to pull whatever he has planned against this pack,” I reasoned. “Yeah, I guess it’s better to keep me a secret for now,” she said. “Exactly. Settle down,” I responded. “But why do you want to help Landon’s pack?” She asked. “I don’t. If Vincent attacks while we’re here then we will help defend it. But otherwise, if we’re already gone, then it’s all on Landon and his warriors,” I insisted. That seemed to settle Meadow down.