I opened my eyes, only to close them immediately. The sudden bright light blinded me, leaving me dazed and unsure of where I was.
Did I die?
Wasn't I locked in the dungeon?
Last I remembered, I was surrounded by permanent darkness. Only a single torch on the wall had offered a weak, flickering light.
I opened my eyes again, slower this time. The bright light flooded my vision once more, drowning everything in a sea of white. It took only a few moments for my eyes to adjust, but the real shock came after.
The room I was in was gorgeous. It was larger than my apartment back home, and everything about it screamed royalty.
"Where am I?"
I found myself lying on top of a massive four poster bed. Each post was made from a large branch, keeping its organic design. However, after taking a closer look, I noticed intricate and beautiful designs meticulously carved into the wood.
It was done in a way that didn't draw attention from the overall shape, but instead felt like an added surprise.
Connecting each of the four posters was a very thin and airy cloth. It acted like a canopy above me, and flowed down the four sides all the way to the floor.
"Did I die?"
I couldn't help but murmur the question under my breath as my eyes swept the room. Everywhere I looked there was something amazing: beautiful wooden furniture, ethereal paintings, and stunning hand-painted pottery.
The only way to describe the space was perfect. There wasn't a single thing about the room that I didn't find captivating, yet that only made me more concerned. A place like this couldn't possibly belong to me.
The door creaked open, and a woman about my age stepped inside.
"Oh! You're awake!" She froze when she saw me sitting up. "How are you feeling?"
She had a soft voice and petite features that reminded me of Gamma Rell. Her most striking feature was her long, ginger hair that was woven into one long braid.
I stared at her, still unsure what was happening.
"Where am I?" I asked, ignoring her question.
She paused before taking a step forward. "You're in the Lodge. You fainted in the dungeon, so the Alpha had you moved up here."
Before I had a chance to probe further, she smiled. "I'm Nessa. I've been assigned to be your caretaker. I've actually come to bring you some food and a change of clothes."
No wonder she looked familiar.
"Gamma Rell's daughter?" I asked, my gaze drifting to the tray she carried.
I couldn't tell what was inside, but whatever it was made my stomach growl.
This time her whole face brightened into a smile. "Yes! I'm glad you remembered. Mom said you enjoyed the bath soaps last time."
She placed the tray of food on the table beside the bed and placed a bundle of cloth on the bed beside me.
"I picked out these clothes myself. They're all brand new and I'm sure they'll fit you," she said as she took a step back. Her eyes met mine, waiting for a response.
"Aren't you worried that I'll attack you?" I asked after a long pause.
None of this made sense to me. Why was I suddenly brought here from the dungeon and was now being treated like a queen?
Her smile faltered, but she shook her head. "No, I'm not."
I lifted a brow, curious as to why. Surely she knew that I had tried to kill her Alpha.
"Mom said you were very kind. Besides, you won't be in a state to fight me anytime soon. The injuries on your wrists will take some time to heal, and before then, it's very unlikely you'd be able to do anything to me."
I eyed her up and down. She looked softer than a boiled egg. I was fairly confident that even with my injured wrists, I would be able to take her down. Though without my dagger, it would be difficult.
I looked down at my hands, inspecting my injuries. The bandages were still covered in dirt from the dungeon floor. Moving them sent sharp pain through my arms, but I could tell that whatever the herbal ointment was, it was working.
"Oh no!" I leapt from the bed, horrified. The soft white sheets were smeared with dirt from my clothes and hair. The stains only made me feel even more out of place.
Nessa noticed what I was looking at and smiled. "Please don't worry about that. The sheets can easily be washed, but why don't I run you a bath since you're awake?"
A bath sounded perfect. I've been covered in this dirt for days, and though I never called myself a clean freak, I hated the feeling of filth clinging to my skin.
I nodded. "Yes, I'd love a bath."
Since the opportunity had presented itself, I wasn't about to refuse. Who knew when they'd toss me back into the dungeon?
Nessa nodded and walked over to a large double door on the far side of the room. "Please give me a few minutes, I'll get the bath started."
"Oh, I can do it myself," I said, feeling a little awkward that someone was doing it for me.
"No, it's fine. You shouldn't move your hands just yet. Besides, I made a new bath salt and I want you to try it!"
I watched her disappear into the adjoining bathroom. None of this made sense. How had I gone from a starving prisoner denied food and water for three days to... this?
Before I could untangle my thoughts, Nessa reappeared.
"The bath is ready. I prepared a towel and all the necessities. I'll let you have a good soak and come back to help you wash your hair."
She gently ushered me into the bathroom. "Sorry, I have to keep the door open to ensure you're not going to try and run away. I'll do my best to give you as much privacy as possible."
With those words, she walked away. I didn't really care if she closed the doors or not because my entire focus was on the grand bathtub in front of me.