UNEXPECTED REUNION

ASTRID

I stared, disbelief coursing through my veins. My heart pounded in my chest, the rapid thud echoing in my ears. "Anel? Is that really you?" My voice trembled with excitement and confusion.

Anel, my childhood friend and confidante, stood before me with a broad smile plastered across her face. "Yes, it's me, Astrid!" She rushed forward and enveloped me in a tight hug, her familiar scent instantly calming my racing heart.

"How did you get here? What are you doing in my house?" The questions spilled from my lips in a frantic rush, my mind struggling to process her sudden appearance. "And how was your journey? Have you eaten? Oh my God, Anel, I have so many questions!"

Anel laughed, her eyes sparkling with warmth. "Slow down, Astrid! One question at a time." She gently squeezed my shoulders, her touch grounding me. "Magnus invited me over to be your personal maid. He thought you could use some familiar company."

I blinked in surprise, her words slowly sinking in. "Magnus invited you?" I echoed, my mind struggling to reconcile the cold, distant Alpha with this unexpected act of kindness. "That's... surprising."

"I know, right?" Anel's eyes twinkled with amusement. "But I'm here now, and we're going to make the best of it."

We sat down on the sofa in my room, and I couldn't help but bombard her with questions. "How did you find the environment here? Is it as hostile as it feels sometimes? Have you had anything to eat yet?"

Anel chuckled, shaking her head. "The environment is... different. But I think I'll get used to it. And yes, I've had something to eat. Magnus made sure of that."

I nodded, absorbing her words. It felt surreal having Anel here with me, a piece of my old life in this new, confusing world. "I've been so bored here, Anel. Sometimes it feels like I'm losing my mind."

She looked at me with empathy, her face held pity "I'm so sorry to hear that, Astrid. But don't lose hope. Things will get better, especially now that I'm here."

I sighed, feeling a mix of relief and frustration. "I tried to escape once, on the third day I was here," I confessed, my voice dropping to a whisper. "Magnus caught me, and he was furious. But sometimes, he shows glimpses of emotion. He touches me gently, and we've even kissed once."

Anel's eyes widened in surprise. "You kissed? Oh my gosh, Astrid, how did it feel?"

I blushed, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over me. "It was... confusing. It was my first kiss, and I don't know what to make of it. One moment he's cold and distant, and the next, he's tender and caring."

Anel's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Tell me everything. How did the kiss feel?"

I took a deep breath, trying to put the experience into words. "It was... intense. His lips were soft, but there was a fierceness in the way he kissed me. It made my heart race, and I felt like I was on fire. But then, he'd push me away, leaving me more confused than ever."

Anel listened intently, her expression full of wonder and excitement. "I've never been kissed either," she admitted, her voice tinged with a hint of longing. "But it sounds magical."

"It was," I replied softly, my thoughts drifting back to that moment. "But it's also left me feeling more lost than ever."

Anel reached out and squeezed my hand. "You're not alone anymore, Astrid. We'll figure this out together. You won't be bored anymore now that I'm around."

I smiled, feeling Happy. "Thank you, Anel. I don't know what I would do without you."

We sat in silence for a moment. Finally, Anel broke the silence, her voice tinged with sadness. "Things at home haven't been great," she confessed, her eyes downcast. "Your parents are always fighting. The house is a mess, and it's the talk of the town."

I frowned, feeling a pang of sympathy for my family but happy I've left. "I'm so sad to hear that, Anel. What happened?"

She sighed, her shoulders slumping. "It's been like this for a while. They fight over everything – money, responsibilities, even the smallest things. It's like they can't stand to be in the same room anymore."

She reached out and placed a hand on my arm to comfort me seeing how sad I was "It sounds awful. How were you and the other maids holding up?"

Anel shrugged, her face held resignation. "It's hard, but I've learned to cope. Coming here is a welcome escape, honestly."

I nodded, understanding her need to get away. "Well, I'm glad you're here with me. We can support each other."

Anel smiled, looking very pleased. "Exactly, Astrid."

We spent the rest of the afternoon catching up, sharing stories and reminiscing about the past. It felt good to have someone to talk to, someone who understood me.

 Anel and I sat side by side, our conversation turning to lighter topics. We laughed and joked, the sound of our laughter filling the room.

"Remember that time we snuck out of the pack house to go swimming in the river?" Anel asked, a mischievous look in her eyes.

I chuckled, nodding. "How could I forget? We were so scared we'd get caught, but it was worth it."

Anel grinned, her face lit up with nostalgia. "Those were the days. Life seemed so much simpler back then."

I sighed, a wistful smile playing on my lips. "Yeah, it was. But we're here now, and we'll make the best of it."

Anel nodded. "Absolutely. We've got each other, and that's all that matters."

Over dinner, Anel shared more about her life back home. "Your parents' fights have gotten worse," she confided, her voice tinged with sadness. "They argue over everything, and it's like they're always looking for a reason to hurt each other."

I listened, my heart aching for my father. "That sounds so tough, Anel."

She shrugged.

As the night grew darker, our conversation turned to more serious topics. "Do you ever think about the future, Anel?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Anel nodded, her expression thoughtful. "All the time. I dream of finding a place where I belong, where I can be happy and free from all the drama."

I sighed. "Me too. I want to find my place in the world, where I can be myself and not feel like I'm constantly being judged."

Anel reached out and took my hand, "We'll find it, Astrid. We'll find our place in the world."

By the time we finally retired to our beds, I felt so happy. Anel's presence had brought some calmness into my life, and I was grateful for her friendship.

As I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, my mind drifted to Magnus and how he is sometimes thoughtful and I was happy that he brought Anel to me, which meant he pays attention to me even though it's not so much.

I thought about Anel again. Our conversation that night was a turning point from how bored I had been in the house. And as I drifted off to sleep, I knew that I was no longer alone in this house.