Chapter 24

Valerie

Eventually, the large double-doors opened and Mrs. Manson presented herself. Although she was an unusually grouchy woman, I smiled at her entrance. This morning was certainly different, as it wasn’t only Mrs. Manson entering the room. Two young girls followed nervously behind her. They were new faces—girls I had not seen around the castle. I wondered if they were the new servants that Mrs. Manson was having a hard time training.

I supposed that would explain the crooked frown on Mrs. Manson’s face, and the nervous air around the girls.

They were like kittens, dumped into a new surrounding for the first time. They looked around curiously, like they’d never seen the innards of the Alpha’s room. Like they feared they might step wrong and knock something to shambles. Mrs. Manson shot them a glare and they ducked their heads down.

Then, without a word, Mrs. Manson gestured for the girls to come forward with clothing and supplies. I could tell in the brief time I’d known her that M