My Fated Mate Can Have Her-Chapter 238: Settling In

Violet

Servants arrived shortly after Rowan left, seven of them, carrying furniture, linens, and a tray of food.

They transformed the bare room into something warm and lived-in while I stood there, dazed and uncertain. I had to eat while they were properly setting the room up, and when I was done, they had even gone ahead to prepare my bath.

And for a disturbing moment, they actually wanted to bathe me but I quickly insisted on taking care of myself.

As they were filling the wardrobe with clothes, they left one for me in the bathing room. The pants were loose and almost looked like a skirt and despite how light the fabric looked. I put it on, along with an airy fitted top that had very loose sleeves. I had to pause in front of the mirror and marvel at how light the clothes felt on my body.

By the time I got back into the room, the servants were cleaning up the mess from arranging the room. They moved efficiently, were nice, attentive, and between their tasks would ask me if I needed anything else.

I shook my head, but I didn’t fail to notice how some of their stares lingered at times when they felt I wasn’t looking.

I doubted they knew I was a Lycan, but it was possible they were curious due to not being able to discern what type of wolf I was.

When they were finally done, I thanked them and they filed out one by one.

Only for me to hear the murmurs when they were walking away from the closed door.

"Do you think Lord Rowan has finally brought a wife?"

I stood frozen in the middle of the room, the word echoing in my ears.

Wife.

Why would they...?

My spiralling thoughts were disrupted when another knock came.

"Yes?" I called out.

The door opened, and an older man stepped inside.

He was tall but slightly built. White and grey strands streaked through his dark hair as fine lines etched around his eyes and mouth. His posture was careful, almost apologetic, and his dark eyes were warm.

He dipped his head respectfully, a gentle smile on his weathered face.

"Miss..." he said, his voice soft and measured. "I hope I’m not disturbing you."

I immediately recognized him.

He was the beta I had seen trying to pry Rowan off me at the summit in Fresna.

I had been too focused on running away from Rowan at the time that I had barely paid any attention to him.

"No, I..." I straightened, trying to compose myself. "It’s fine."

He stepped further into the room.

"First, I must apologize," he said, cradling his hands. There was genuine regret in his tone. "For Lord Rowan’s behaviour when you first met. At the market in Fresna. He can be... impulsive at times. I should have done more to temper his approach."

I blinked, caught off guard by the apology.

"It’s... that was a long time ago," I managed.

"Nevertheless." Ezra inclined his head. "I hope you did not think poorly of us because of it."

There was something almost fatherly in the way he spoke.

"I don’t," I said quietly. "Think poorly of you, I mean."

His smile widened slightly, crinkling the corners of his eyes.

"I am glad to hear it." He paused, studying my face with that same gentle concern. "Are you well? Truly? The journey here must have been difficult."

"I’m fine. Thank you, really."

He smiled softly. "I am glad you both returned safely. We may not have been properly introduced." A hint of wry amusement entered his voice. "I am Ezra Soros, one of Rowan’s betas. Pleased to make your acquaintance, miss Violet."

I returned his smile. "Thank you for having me..."

Ezra clasped his hands in front of him, his demeanor shifting slightly to something more businesslike, though his gentleness and warmth still remained.

"I came to inform you that your companions should be arriving shortly from the capital." He paused. "Rowan thought you might wish to see them. I would like to escort you to them, if you are ready."

My heart leaped.

Bei. Ana. Corin.

They were here and they were safe. I started to feel excited at the opportunity of seeing them again after so long.

"I would like to see them now. Yes, please."

Ezra smiled, then turned towards the door, and I followed him out of the room.

But even as the eagerness to see them again swelled in my chest, I felt a bit worried.

What would they think if they knew what had happened between Rowan and I?

Ezra led me through a series of corridors and down three flights of stairs before we reached a set of double doors on a lower floor.

"They should be waiting inside," he said, stepping aside with a gentle smile. "Take as long as you need."

I nodded, my throat suddenly tight.

He dipped his head and walked away, his footsteps fading down the corridor.

I opened the door and walked in.

The room was a lounge of some kind. Comfortable chairs and low couches were placed at random points all over the carpeted room and tall windows let in the late afternoon light.

And standing near one of the windows, were three familiar figures.

The tired looks on their faces immediately transformed into relief, but even at that, none of us had moved yet.

"Violet," Bei breathed, clasping her hands tightly in front of her as she walked towards me first.

The others quickly followed.

"I am very happy to see you," I spoke up, my face falling. "And I am sorry for what happened, especially how you ended up here."

Ana stepped closer, her brow furrowed with concern. "We’re glad to see you too. But Violet, what happened? Are you alright?"

Corin stood still. His posture was stiff and there was a troubled look on his face. Out of the three of them, he looked the most unsettled.

"We failed," he said quietly. "We were supposed to protect you, and instead we just... ended up here. Without any memory of deciding to come, and we didn’t even understand what happened."

The guilt in his voice made my chest ache.