Valentina

“Apologies for eavesdropping. I was looking for Akiko to finalize the invitation list for the wedding,” the man said. He extended his hand to me. “I’m Dae, Hidden Spear’s administrator. I serve the Alpha by keeping everything running smoothly.”

For the first time since my arrival, my nerves eased. Dae was the first person to meet me with any sort of warmth. I shook his hand as a smile tugged on my lips. It sounds like he has a similar role to what I did at Silver Ash.

Dae turned back to Akiko, addressing her directly. “Valentina must be overwhelmed with all the new information that has been thrown at her so soon after her arrival.”

“It's possible,” Akiko replied, crossing her arms over her chest. “Perhaps she is used to a much slower pace.” Her words dripped with the condescending nature she’d shown in the thirty minutes I’d known her.

“There are a few things I need to ask Valentina to prepare for the wedding.” Dae went on without indulging Akiko’s nastiness, even throwing me a smile and a wink. My chest settled with relief. A saving grace… This woman was torturing me!

Defeated, Akiko agreed to give me a break from her lesson, and departed with heavy footsteps and a sulking frown. I sighed deeply, feeling as though I had been holding my breath for far too long. As I prepared to express my gratitude to Dae, he spoke up, his tone gentler and more empathetic.

“I know the circumstances are awkward, but I’m very glad you’re here. I’ve heard so much about the work you’ve done with your father. It's admirable, and I think we need to modernize Hidden Spear in the same way,” he said. “I read this book on leadership recently that helped inspire my ideas.” He narrowed his eyes as he fought to remember the title before spitting it out. I felt my expression lighten.

“I read that, too! My father gave it to me.”

He’s the first normal person I’ve met since my arrival. Someone who might even become my friend.

“It's nice to speak freely without being criticized. I feel like I haven’t even breathed a full breath since I got here.”

Dae laughed. “We can help each other, and here’s my first point of advice.” He leaned in closer, boring into me with his kind eyes. “The key to your success in Hidden Spear is to get along with your mother-in-law.”

After a short while, when I'd been able to catch my breath and settle my nerves, Akiko returned. Dae left with an encouraging smile and nod, as if to remind me of his words. With a gust of courage and my ego in check, I turned to Akiko. As if I was speaking to the Alpha himself, I bowed slightly and spoke with my gaze downcast to the floor.

“I’m sorry for my rudeness earlier. I was just exhausted after my long journey and allowed my temper to get the better of me. But the wedding is really important to me, too, and I want to be a good wife who will honor my new husband and family.” I took a breath after spitting the apology out way too fast. “I will do whatever it takes to learn Hidden Spear’s traditions.”

A beat of silence covered the room. My heart thundered in my chest as I waited for Akiko to speak. My words seemed to hang in the air, and I prayed that she’d at least be cordial enough to accept my apology. I didn’t really want to start off on the wrong foot with my mother-in-law. Even if she was a bit of a judgmental bitch.

“I’m glad to hear it,” she said. “After all, once the wedding happens, Hidden Spear will be your pack.”

I released a breath and stood upright. That’ll never be the case… But be polite, Valentina. Smile, be agreeable.

“I will be proud to be part of such a distinguished pack,” I replied, feigning a smile, doing my best to seem convincing.

And as if all was forgiven and forgotten, Akiko returned to the details of the meal ceremony. This time, she was nice enough to hand me a pen and notebook so that I could jot down notes on her directions. Reminiscent of my minimalistic living quarters, the book was black with a Hidden Spear emblem on the front of it.

“Would this help?” Akiko asked.

I nodded and placed the pad in front of me on the table. “It will. I want to learn the pack’s history, too. So it’ll come in handy.”

Akiko resumed her explanations, delving into the details of the complexity of Hidden Spear’s dining rituals. I took actual notes in addition to mindlessly scribbling just to demonstrate my interest. When her directions became too detailed to capture with words, I drew a rough sketch of a dining table and practiced the placement of each utensil as she continued her lecture. To test my understanding, Akiko posed a series of questions, and I answered them with relative ease. I made a minor mistake, but it only heightened my determination to get it right to prove to her that I could. Afterward, she went over the ritual a few more times, and soon, I could remember everything perfectly. When Akiko tested me again, I passed with flying colors.

“I can’t help but be impressed,” Akiko said. My accomplishment even earned me a smile from the judgmental woman, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. I’ll take what I can get. “And now you have to learn your vows and the steps of the bride’s traditional first dance. There is so much to do and so little time!”

Great. Is she even going to let me eat?! Give me a freaking bathroom break?

Akiko and I practiced for another hour and a half. First, we started with the vows, and when I could recite them back to her flawlessly, we moved onto the bride’s traditional first dance. I considered myself a rather good dancer, but Hidden Spear’s style was more about finesse and technique and less about feeling the music. I did my best, and Akiko had thankfully decided that my best was enough.

After our cram session was finally over, she took me outside to show me the gardens. A grand pair of glass doors stood on the other side of the ballroom. The flawless glass seemed almost invisible, and were it not for the gold trimming and doorknobs, it would have been easy to assume that there was simply an open-air cut-out in the wall.

Akiko opened the door with a single push and stepped through it. I braced myself for the cold and instead was met with warmth. Although different from what I was used to, the garden was beautiful, and I wondered how a place like that could exist when everything else for miles was frozen and covered in snow. Manicured flowering plants surrounded by stones and fountains filled the space. It overflowed with life and color, a stark contrast to what I had witnessed everywhere else across Hidden Spear’s territory since my arrival.

As Akiko escorted me around, I realized we were in some sort of protective bubble. Above us, snow dusted the roof and I could see the sun’s attempt to break the horizon.

A greenhouse. It’s gorgeous.

Akiko’s stern voice interrupted my awe. “We host a lot of events in this space, and it’ll be your job to assist me in these duties.”

“I enjoy doing that sort of work,” I replied with a genuine smile tugging on my lips. Did she think that would be some kind of punishment? Well…working with her might be. “I performed similar functions at Silver Ash,” I said, despite my conscience urging me to resist opening up to her.

With the mere mention of my pack, I felt the air shift again. Akiko tensed at my side, and her head rose. She cut her glance down at me when she replied. “I suppose, in your own way, you did. But what I taught you today is just the beginning. There are many skills you need to develop to be a good wife here.” She was back on her high horse, explaining that in Hidden Spear, a wife’s role was to be a soft pillow in contrast to the Alpha’s sharp edges.

She has some edges of her own that need to be sanded down.

I took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to defend myself from Akiko's comments, when she abruptly grabbed me and covered my eyes. I swallowed a scream and attempted to free myself. Akiko pressed harder against my face when her other hand rested on the back of my head. Oh my God, she’s attacking me!

This was all a trick!

I wouldn’t let myself be surprised or frozen in fear—not like how I’d been so rooted in place when Gio murdered Kaori. My insides shook with a burning rage that sent my blood coursing through my veins. I growled through the moment of pain—when my teeth sharpened into points and my muscles shredded into a beast beyond my mortal form.

Akiko wouldn’t let me go, and I knew only shapeshifting would free me.