Hours have passed since I was taken to my room. I know nothing of my pride and how they fared out of Winter nor do I know if Noble’s blade shed the last bit of Arlo’s blood from his body.

All I’ve heard are the jeers from the pack members who have stopped by my room to throw their hatred in my direction. I’ve been stripped of my wedding dress, my body pushed and shoved, kicked and punched. And when the two guards left, they left me with nothing but the sheets on my bed to cover me. While food was sent to my room, and dropped haphazardly by my bedside, it remains uneaten. I don’t know if it’s the stale scent of the meal or simply my stomach that protests, but I can’t fathom the idea of eating.

A quiet knock jolts me and I sit upright on the bed, holding the covers to my chest. Fear digs into me so deep, it tinges my soul a wretched black. I square my shoulders and calm my breathing.

“Come in,” I say loudly, proud I can still portray a self-confidence I no longer feel.

The door edges forward and I squeeze my fingers tighter around the sheets. When a small woman enters, her head peeking in before she comes in fully, I feel my body relax. Slowly, limb by limb.

She curtsies, and her lips kick up into a small smile. “I’m Winnie,” she says. “May I come in?”

“Yes, of course, I remember you.” With easy movements, I smooth out the corner of my bed, but keep a strong hold on my sheets so I don’t expose myself. “Here, Winnie, have a seat.”

Her bottom hits the edge of my bed and she scrunches up her nose. “What’s that awful smell?”

“Oh,” I breathe out. “That’s my supper.”

Embarrassment mars her face and she holds a finger to her mouth. “I didn’t mean to say… did you bring that from Summer? It smells…” she trails off in search of a word that probably doesn’t exist.

I giggle, but press my lips together forming a thin line when I realize how wrong it is to laugh under the dire circumstances I’m in the midst of. “One of the wolves brought it to me.”

“Liana, my lady,” she stutters as her face flushes.

“Liana,” I say. “Please, call me Liana.”

She smiles again. “Don’t eat that, Liana. I’ll bring you something else. Something that won’t give you food poisoning.”

“Thank you.”

“And I’ll speak to Noble. I know it’s been an awful day for him, but he must be made aware that his wife is not being fed properly. You are his wife and mustn’t be mistreated like this by his pack.” Her face reddens, and she rises. “Your pack,” she corrects.

“No.” I drop my blankets in my attempt to reach her. “Don’t say anything to Noble. He has enough to deal with.”

Her eyes widen as she takes the sheet covering my body and pulls it off me. She assesses my naked body and the various bruises lining it.

“Did Noble…?” She stops to draw in a deep breath. “He wouldn’t,” she determines, and I nod in agreement. Noble didn’t do this to me. “Who did this to you?”

“It doesn’t matter,” I reply. “I just need food, water, and some clothes.”

“It does matter,” she squeaks out before another gasp from her fills my desolate room. “Why aren’t you wearing your wedding ring?”

“It was taken from me.”

“Who would…”

“It doesn’t matter, Winnie.” Except it does. I know it and so does she.

“Noble must know about this.”

“Please.” I don’t bother hiding the plea or shame in my voice. “Please don’t say anything to him. I’m sure the ring is already back with his mother, the rightful owner.”

“Liana…”

“I could really use a friend right now,” I interrupt. “I’m surrounded by people who hate me, who mistrust me, who want to see me gone. I’d really like to have someone in my corner, someone I can confide in.”

She searches my face and when my bottom lip quivers, she takes my hand in hers and squeezes. “I can be your friend.” She gifts me with another one of her easy smiles. “First thing you should know about me is I’m not a wolf.”

“But you’re friends with the wolves?”

“Noble and I are friends. He’s a good man, Liana. He wouldn’t stand for how you’re being treated in his own kingdom under his own roof.”

Not wanting to be on full display, I cover my battered body with my sheets. “I’m afraid you’re wrong, Winnie. I don’t think Noble cares, at all.”

“He does, my lady,” she insists.

“I do care though. So much it makes my heart hurt.”

“I know. I saw it. The way you two looked at each other during the ceremony. Anyone can see how much you love each other.”

Love? I almost snort at the absurdity of Noble loving me.

“It’s why I need to make this right, Winnie. Will you help me? Please,” I add, dabbing under my eye to rid myself of the tears that fought their way out.

“Of course. Whatever I can do.”

“Can you bring me pen and paper? I need to write to my pride and find out if anyone else was behind the king’s death today.”

“Oh, Liana.” She stands from the foot of my bed and paces in front of me. “I don’t know.” Worrying her bottom lip, she looks out my bedroom window.

“I have to know. For Noble, so he doesn’t suffer from the hands of my pride again.”