Chapter 5

• Anna’s POV
• Thankfully, he let me go, and I was able to gather the remains of my clothes and slip them on. I ran like a madwoman until I bumped into Bella, the maid I had befriended when I arrived.
• “Where were you—ahhh! What happened to your dress?” she gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. I quickly covered my hair to hide the mark.
• “I was wandering around when my dress got caught in a tree branch and tore apart,” I lied, not ready to share the night’s events.
• “But why are you so wet?” she frowned, touching my hair.
• “Oh, this! When my dress tore, I slipped into the lake,” I said. She stared at me for a moment before nodding her head, accepting my explanation.
• “Let’s go back and try not to sneak out by yourself again,” Bella said kindly. Since I arrived, we have bonded well. It was surprising to have found a friend in my life.
• "I told you not to wander around. What if this is the secret lair of the Lycan Prince or someone like that? If they find you here, you could get bitten to death," Bella said anxiously.
• Her words made me pause for a moment. The man I encountered by the lake claimed this was his secret lair. Could he be a prince or something? Fear overwhelmed me, and I couldn’t bear to think any further. I just hoped he was only an ordinary guard, even though his presence did seem quite regal.
• “We must rest well because tomorrow will be a big and hectic day for us,” she added as we began to walk hand in hand.
• “The Lycan King’s second son has a mating ceremony tomorrow. There will be food, entertainment, and so much to enjoy, but of course, we will be the servers,” she pouted sadly. We shared the same sentiment. All the maids carried fading hopes in their eyes, realizing this was the way of our lives.
• We walked together to the quarters when my eyes landed on Kathy, with her black hair and stern face, standing in the hallway, blocking our path.
• “You go clean the bathroom,” Kathy yelled at Bella, who quickly scurried past her. Kathy then turned her attention to me.
• “Where the hell were you?” she demanded, her face contorted with anger. Her tone was harsh.
• Just because she was the head maid, she thought she was better than the rest of us.
• “Didn’t I ask you to clean my room?” Kathy placed her hands on her waist, glaring at me. She had been on my back ever since I arrived, and I didn’t understand why.
• “You didn’t,” I replied, not lying. She hadn’t asked me to clean her room.
• “I did. You must have not been paying attention,” she insisted, coming closer and making me step back and gulp.
• “Wait! What is this scent?” Kathy suddenly pushed me against the wall and started sniffing me.
• “Ahh! That is so odd,” she grimaced, pulling back from me. “Did you seduce someone? How could you have a man’s scent on you?”
• Her questions came like a fire, causing my mouth to dry up.
• “Listen! You bitch—” Kathy hissed and cussed at me, grabbing my ear and pulling it.
• “You got to seduce someone else, but if you dare seduce Prince Lucas, I will become your fucking nightmare.”
• With that threat, she shoved me back, and my back hit the wall.
• I didn’t understand what she was talking about. Who was she smelling on me? I hadn’t even met Prince Lucas yet.
• Then I remembered that one of the men I encountered today had licked my mark. Kathy must have smelled his scent on me while the other scent was washed off in the lake.
• “You will stay in the basement tonight and receive no food,” she said, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the basement.
• I was surprised by her reaction. Was she in love with Prince Lucas and afraid that, because I had another man’s scent on me, I might eventually seduce him too?
• But how could a maid have a crush on a royal?
• The delusional Kathy shoved me into the basement room and locked the door behind me.
• Since the other night, I had been starving, and falling asleep was extremely difficult. Even when I dozed off, I kept dreaming about my encounters and the mark on my neck. Who was he? Why did he mark me?
• I woke up sore with Bella opening the door for me.
• “Oh my, I am so sorry she trapped you here. It’s late, and everyone is ready. Just please freshen up and wear this off-white dress for the ceremony,” she said hurriedly, likely having been searching for me everywhere.
• The mark on my neck still throbs faintly, reminding me that what happened last night was not a dream.
• I would be in grave trouble if anyone found out a maid had been marked. We maids had no lives of our own and weren’t allowed to have mates or any romantic interests. I must hide the mark!
• Thinking this, I quickly ran to the drawer and grabbed some foundation. I tried desperately to cover the mark, but unfortunately, it was so deep that the foundation barely had any effect. On closer inspection, the large mark was still clearly visible.
• "Anna, hurry up!" Bella was still anxiously urging from the door.
• Damn, there’s no time left!
• I dragged myself to the bathroom and showered quickly. If I delayed any longer and the queen found out a maid missed the ceremony, I would be in serious trouble.
• After dressing in the off-white dress like every other maid, Bella and I rushed to the royal hall where the ceremony was about to take place.
• I sighed and approached Kathy, who did not seem pleased to see me. She would have preferred if I missed the ceremony and got punished. Silently but reluctantly, she handed me a tray of starters.
• I took the tray and walked away with Bella, who was also carrying a tray full of wine glasses.
• “That is Prince Ford! Isn’t he handsome?” Bella’s comment drew my attention to the prince standing with his bride in a gray suit.
• I turned to look at him, and my heart skipped a beat.
• He had a chiseled face, dark and dangerous green eyes, and an aura of nobility mixed with danger.
• He was the male lead of today's mating ceremony, and the mysterious man I had encountered by the lake last night.
• “I will come to collect what you owe me later.”
• His words echoed in my mind as I recalled his touch. It turns out he is Prince Ford, and it’s clear I’ve stumbled into his secret hideout. But why would he say that when he’s getting married today?
• As I continued to stare at him, I unintentionally caught his attention. He looked directly at me, and the green in his eyes sparkled.
• His fiery gaze looked at me aggressively, just like how his magnetic voice from last night whispered "little bunny" in my ear.
• My heart pounded in my chest, causing me to gulp and feel shy. The prince had touched me, licked my mark, and— As I was lost in thought, I noticed his bride following his gaze.
• Her eyes landed on me, and I quickly looked away. I couldn’t afford to get myself in trouble. She was an alpha’s daughter, a warrior, and the future wife of the Lycan King. It would be foolish to get entangled with her.
• In a panic, I stumbled backward, only to be pushed by someone I couldn't see. I fell hard to the ground, and a chorus of murmurs and laughter erupted around me. This is a disaster. I looked up to see Kathy storming toward me, her imposing presence signaling a grim fate for me.
• I watched as she raised her hand in front of me, but the anticipated slap never came. Suddenly, the banquet hall fell into silence.
• Kathy, abandoning her usual arrogant demeanor, now bowed low and softly said, “Your Highness,” addressing someone behind me.
• I stared in confusion and looked back in the direction Kathy was facing.
• First, I saw a pair of expensive black leather shoes. Then, as my gaze traveled upward, I held my breath in shock.
• A tall, handsome man standing behind me in an all-black suit.
• My heart sank further when I recognized his sapphire-blue eyes.
• I will never forget those eyes. When they were on me, they were filled with desire, but now they are clear and calm.
• Then I heard someone call him, "Prince Lucas."
• This stunning, god-like man was the same one who had marked me.
• A lump formed in my chest, and my head buzzed with a lingering shock from my discovery.
• What’s happening now?
• I drew Prince Lucas’s card first and was supposed to become his sex slave. However, because of his words, I was moved to Queen Karida’s palace.
• He pushed me away and then made me his.
• Moon Goddess, am I destined to be with him?
• Now, his gem-like eyes were fixed on me. Would he discover me?