Chapter 19
Maureen
The first rumor reached me before breakfast.
I was in the courtyard, helping an older servant separate herbs, when the whispers started. They weren't subtle. They never were.
"She walks freely now."
"She speaks to him like an equal."
"They say the Alpha has lost his edge."
I kept my head down, hands steady, pretending I didn't hear. But every word lodged itself inside my chest like a splinter.
By midday, the looks had changed.
Some were curious. Some resentful. A few openly hostile.
Freedom, I was learning, made enemies faster than chains ever did.
A woman blocked my path near the well. Tall, sharp-eyed, dressed in the dark colors of rank.
"You're Maureen," she said flatly.
"Yes."
"I'm Elira," she replied. "Stefan's advisor."
That explained the way people parted around her.
"You've caused unrest," she continued. "Without lifting a finger."
"I didn't ask for attention," I said calmly.
