A Gilded Cage and an Alpha's Proposition

Hudson's face softened as he placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

"Alice will take good care of you," he said, gesturing to the petite woman beside him. "She's been with the Valois family for years."

Alice's warm smile creased the corners of her eyes. She couldn't have been more than fifty, with honey-blonde hair streaked with silver and kind blue eyes that immediately put me at ease.

"It's such a pleasure to meet you, Miss Beaumont," she said, her voice melodic. "I can't tell you how happy I am to have someone to look after again. This house has been too quiet."

Hudson checked his watch. "I need to get back to Alpha Valois. He's expecting me for a meeting." He turned to me. "If you need anything—"

"I know," I interrupted with a small smile. "Call you. Thank you, Hudson."

After he left, Alice clasped her hands together. "Well, shall we get you properly settled? I imagine you've only seen parts of the house so far."