First night in the castle (1)

Night fell upon the kingdom and since her arrival to the castle, Ophelia was not visited by Sylas. She remained in the dark room, only getting a bit of warmth from the torches and the fireplace she started.

Ophelia longed to get out of the room since staring at the walls was driving her closer to losing her mind. She was barely holding onto her sanity.

Ophelia's prayers were answered when Edith returned to escort her to dinner where the alpha waited. 

"Is this appropriate?" Ophelia asked, smoothing out the dress she wore.

It was one of the dresses packed for her by the Porters. It was her first time wearing such a beautiful dress which was decorated with jewels.

Instead of being foolish to dress her like an outsider by choosing dull colours and old dresses, the Porters packed dresses fit for their real daughter.

Edith gave Ophelia's appearance a quick look over. Who was she trying to impress? No one in the castle cared about the Porters to have any interest in what Ophelia wore now.

"It will do," Edith replied. She didn't know if it would be enough to seduce the alpha like Ophelia was planning to. "Follow me."

Edith led Ophelia to the dining hall. She glanced at the woman behind her. 'She isn't asking for her maids,' she thought.

Had Ophelia found herself so comfortable already that she didn't need the maids from home at her side?

Edith worried about the alpha having such an oblivious woman as their Luna. Ophelia was bound to be disappointed at dinner but at the very least, it would help her to realise her future.

Ophelia fidgeted with her fingers when she entered the dining hall. Already, Sylas sat at the head of the table with maids walking by quickly to set down their food.

What was she to say?

Would a simple greeting suffice?

Ophelia's thoughts of how to greet her husband ended when he looked up at her. His gaze scrutinised her. Had she worn too much dinner? "Alpha Sylas-"

"Sit. We have all waited long enough for you," Sylas said, looking away from Ophelia.

Ophelia was confused. No one told her what time she had to come to dinner. She was lucky to have gotten dressed in case she was welcomed to dinner or she would have been late.

Rather than point this out, Ophelia apologised. "I am sorry."

Ophelia took her seat at the far end of the table. Now a room without windows did not seem so bad. 

Ophelia kept her head down so she wouldn't meet his eyes. 

"Did you settle into your room well?" Sylas asked. It was unfortunate that he had to be away from the castle. He could not have put off going to deal with the growing trouble.

"What?" Ophelia looked up. Was he mocking her because he placed her in a room which was like a cage? "It is wonderful," she said, avoiding his gaze once more.

Sylas picked up on her lie. "If it is not to your liking, your things could be moved elsewhere."

'What room did they assign her?' Sylas wondered. Perhaps he should have listened to visit her room before coming to dinner but he wanted to avoid seeing her panic.

Sylas could not forget how afraid Ophelia was when he entered the room prepared for their wedding.

Ophelia feared she would be placed somewhere worse if she spoke about not liking the room. She could survive there without any fresh air or natural light. "It is fine," she replied. "Thank you for being so generous."

Ophelia watched silently as food was placed before her. She was starving since she wasn't given any food to eat since she was taken. 

Despite how hungry she was, Ophelia waited for Sylas to eat first.

"Is it not to your liking? You can make a request with the cook and not stare at me. I cannot read minds to know what you want," said Sylas.

Sylas could tell she still feared him and it was for this very reason that he wanted to hold off mating with her. From the start, there had never been that connection others spoke of. He didn't yearn for her and the sight of her did not awaken his wolf. 

This was exactly why Sylas doubted the prophecy was true. 

"It is good," Ophelia replied, reaching for bread as Sylas started to eat.

When the maids were not looking, Ophelia slipped bread on her lap. She needed the right moment to wrap up more bread and some fruit to save for days he might not be so kind as to let her have food. 

At this moment, Ophelia thought of her parents. She dreamt of being able to have such a dinner with them. To have a table with various foods placed for them to try but here she was alone and they were far away most likely doing what they could to find her.

"Eat," came Sylas's order from the other end of the table. "I don't need your father knocking at my gates saying I have not fed his daughter. If there is something you do not like, you may request it. Or go without eating if you plan to be stubborn."

Sylas hadn't heard much about Ophelia since she appeared out of thin air after he approached Joel about a mate. Was she like her sister who liked to cause trouble? 

Ophelia started to eat before she upset him even more. 

From the first bite, Ophelia's concerns for her life went away for a moment. The food she ate now built back up the strength she had lost. Where she sat now slipped her mind as she ate.

On the other end of the table, Sylas studied how Ophelia ate as though it was the first time she had eaten in months. It surprised him how much she suddenly wanted to eat now. He thought she would be picky and throw a tantrum about food. 

Only when she started to feel full did Ophelia remember who she sat with. She was horrified to find Sylas's piercing gaze focused on her. 

"I-I'm sorry," Ophelia stuttered, biting her lip after. She hated how pathetic she had become but she was afraid. 

The very man who spilled blood on many lands sat not far away from her and she had been so careless to focus on food instead of watching his every move.

'I should be thinking about how to escape,' Ophelia thought.

Even if she died trying, Ophelia could not just sit still and wait for the alpha or the Porters to kill her. She needed to find her way home.

"What are you apologising for? For eating?" Sylas asked.

"I should have paid more attention to you. Was what you did today important-"

"Stop right there," Sylas ordered, his voice like a cold blade cutting through the air. "Do not pretend we are normal mates. Do not have any interest in what I do and I will do the same for you."

Their marriage would work well if they ignored each other.