Brewing Storm In The Silence
1063 Words
Meanwhile…
Samantha’s first few days in the laundry quarters felt like a punishment she didn’t deserve.
The laundry house was nothing like the bustling warmth of the kitchen, where maids exchanged gossip while chopping vegetables or stirring large pots. Here, it was damp, hot from the constant steam, and smelled faintly of wet fabric and soap. The work was back-breaking—scrubbing heavy sheets from the Alpha’s chambers, hauling buckets of water, and ironing uniforms until her arms ached.
She could still feel Merida’s eyes on her every time she crossed paths with the head maid.
It was as though Merida had taken an unspoken oath to make her stay as unpleasant as possible. Samantha was polite, careful, and even offered to take extra duties, yet Merida’s sharp remarks and cold stares never softened.
At night, lying in the narrow bed in the servants’ quarters, Samantha turned over the problem in her mind. If Paula could be swayed, so could Merida. But this time, she knew she had to be more patient and subtle—Merida was not the type to be won over by simple gifts. She needed to show her value in a way that would be undeniable.
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A Friend for Convenience
The Alpha's estate kitchen maids quarters were always noisy in the mornings — the clatter of wooden bowls, the shuffle of bare feet on the cold floor, and the faint hiss of steam from the kitchen beyond the narrow hallway. Most of the maids moved in groups, whispering and laughing in small circles, but Samantha kept to herself in the laundry quarters. She had learned long ago that keeping her distance gave her a certain air — mysterious, untouchable.
It was on such a morning that one of the maids assigned to the kitchen named Maria first approached her.
“Here,” Maria said, pushing a wooden bowl into Samantha’s hands. “Yours looked a bit… empty today.”
Samantha glanced at the thick stew sloshing inside, noticing the generous chunks of meat. That alone made her lift her eyes in faint surprise. “Why?” she asked, arching a brow.
Maria shrugged, her round face breaking into a friendly smile. “You’re too thin. The way Merida works you, you’ll vanish one day.”
Samantha almost laughed — not because of Maria’s kindness, but because she saw it instantly: the kind-hearted type. The type that gave without thinking.
From that day on, Maria made it a habit to slip Samantha extra bread or ladle more meat into her portion. Samantha accepted each offering with a grateful smile and soft-spoken “thank you,” masking the calculating thoughts that ticked quietly behind her eyes.
It didn’t take long for Maria to start talking. Over laundry, over sweeping floors, she shared little bits of her life — her sick younger brother in the quarters, her constant quarrels with the head maid Merida, her dreams of one day leaving the maid's quarters entirely.
Samantha listened, nodding at the right moments, offering just enough sympathy to keep Maria talking. Inside, she was mapping it all — Maria’s habits, her weaknesses, the things that made her angry, the things she valued.
One evening, as they folded linens, Maria leaned closer and whispered, “Merida’s got it out for me. She acts like I’m nothing. One of these days, I swear, I’ll give her a reason to choke on her arrogance.”
Samantha’s lips curved in the faintest smile, hidden as she bent over the sheets. There it was — a spark she could fan into a fire.
“People like her,” Samantha murmured softly, her voice smooth as silk, “always slipping up eventually. Sometimes… they just need a little push.”
Maria laughed, thinking Samantha was only teasing. But in Samantha’s mind, the game had already begun.
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Meanwhile…. Back at Damian’s pack, life was calm and sweet in the pack. Ella and the newborn pup were healthy and thriving, their days filled with quiet joy and the more occasional visits from trusted pack members. Damian, relieved at their recovery, decided it was time to honor the earlier promise he had made to the Dam-Nighade Pack.
He rescheduled his visit, choosing Beta Matt to accompany him as his official escort, while intending to leave Lucain behind. A formal letter was penned and sent ahead to Theo, informing him of the new date. The message was clear, it carried Damian’s authority — this was no casual visit.
That night was quiet, the only sound was the gentle crackle of the hearth. Rina sat curled against Theo on the furs, the warmth of his body chasing away the lingering chill of evening. His arm rested around her shoulders, fingers tracing idle patterns along her skin.
“You work too hard,” she murmured, leaning into him.
Theo smiled faintly, tilting her chin so her eyes met his. “I work first for Alpha Damian… for you, for us, and for the pack members.” His voice was low, the kind that sank into her bones.
She could feel the steady beat of his heart beneath her palm, and for a moment the world beyond the walls ceased to matter. He brushed a kiss across her forehead, then another against her lips, slower this time, lingering as though memorizing the taste of her.
When they finally parted, she rested her head against his chest, a smile tugging at her lips. After the slow and tender warmth with Rina, Theo shared the news with her. They were still curled together in the dim glow of lantern light, the scent of burning cedarwood filling the air. Theo’s voice was calm but tinged with anticipation.
“Damian and the chosen Beta Matt will be here soon,” he said, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. “I want Alpha Damian to leave knowing this pack stands strong… and united. And that, I have not betrayed his truth in chosen me”
Rina smiled softly. “Then we will welcome them properly. I’ll make sure the best nutritional herbs are prepared as a gift — something worthy of a powerful alpha like our alpha Damian and his family.”
Theo nodded in approval. “Good. It will speak well of us. Choose carefully, Rina. These herbs will carry our name and intentions with them.”
- Writer
