Chapter 7: The Princess's Scheme

Morning sunlight poured through the towering stained-glass windows of the palace, painting colorful patterns across the marble floors. While the palace bustled with preparations for another day of the Royal Summit, an invisible storm had already begun brewing behind its elegant walls.

Princess Anastasia sat before an ornate vanity while her personal maids prepared her for breakfast. Normally, she enjoyed the admiration that followed her wherever she went. She was beautiful, intelligent, and born into one of the most powerful Alpha bloodlines. For years everyone assumed she would become Queen beside the Alpha King.

Until a human servant appeared.

The image of the King smiling at Micaela in the gardens replayed in her mind over and over again.

He had never smiled at Anastasia that way.

Never.

"Leave us," Anastasia ordered quietly.

Her attendants bowed before leaving the room.

Only her personal guard, Cedric, remained.

"Did you discover anything?" she asked.

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Speak."

"Her name is Micaela Whitlock. Twenty-two years old. Human. She has worked inside the palace for nearly ten years."

"Family?"

"Both parents are dead. She has no siblings and no living relatives inside the capital."

"Friends?"

"Only a servant named Clara."

Anastasia nodded thoughtfully.

"Any disciplinary reports?"

"None. Her record is spotless."

"Interesting."

She slowly smiled.

"Perfect servants are often hiding something."

"Should we continue watching her?"

"No..."

She stood gracefully.

"It's time I meet her properly."

Meanwhile...

Micaela spent the morning helping organize the palace archives. Dust-covered scrolls, ancient records, and royal correspondence filled endless shelves inside one of the oldest wings of the castle. She enjoyed quiet assignments like these. Books couldn't yell at her.

"You're unusually cheerful today," Clara whispered while stacking documents.

"Am I?"

"You smiled twice already."

Micaela blinked.

"I didn't notice."

"Exactly."

Clara narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"Does this have anything to do with the King?"

"What? No!"

"Micaela..."

"It doesn't."

Clara wasn't convinced.

"Just be careful."

"I always am."

"Not careful enough if the Princess has started watching you."

The words made Micaela freeze.

"Watching me?"

"People talk."

"About what?"

"They say His Majesty has spoken with you several times this week."

Micaela sighed heavily.

"It wasn't my choice."

"Rumors never care whose choice it was."

Before Micaela could respond, Lady Eleanor entered.

"Micaela."

"Yes, my lady?"

"Princess Anastasia requests your assistance in the royal gardens."

Clara looked alarmed.

Micaela forced herself to remain calm.

"I'll go immediately."

The royal gardens looked even more beautiful beneath the midday sun.

Fountains sparkled beneath blooming cherry trees while rare flowers from every kingdom filled carefully maintained pathways.

Princess Anastasia stood beside the central fountain feeding white swans.

"Your Highness," Micaela greeted respectfully.

"Walk with me."

"Yes, Your Highness."

For several minutes neither woman spoke.

The silence felt heavier than any conversation.

Finally, Anastasia broke it.

"Do you enjoy serving inside the palace?"

"I'm grateful for the opportunity."

"That's not what I asked."

Micaela hesitated.

"It's... peaceful compared to life outside."

"Peaceful?"

Anastasia laughed softly.

"You humans have remarkably low expectations."

Micaela remained silent.

"Tell me," Anastasia continued casually, "how often do you speak with His Majesty?"

Her heart skipped.

"Only when given orders."

"Really?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Because from where I stood yesterday... it appeared rather personal."

Micaela immediately lowered her head.

"I would never behave improperly toward the King."

"I'm sure you wouldn't."

The Princess smiled warmly.

"But sometimes kings behave unexpectedly."

The words carried an unmistakable warning.

"I don't understand."

"You don't need to."

They reached a small gazebo overlooking the palace lake.

"Listen carefully, Micaela."

Anastasia's pleasant smile disappeared.

"The palace is full of dangerous misunderstandings. Servants who forget their place often disappear without explanation."

Cold fear settled inside Micaela.

"I have never forgotten my place."

"Good."

The smile returned instantly.

"Let's keep it that way."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"You may leave."

Micaela bowed before quickly walking away.

Only after she disappeared did Cedric emerge from behind a nearby hedge.

"Do you think she understands?" he asked.

"She will."

Anastasia watched the distant palace thoughtfully.

"If not... I'll make certain she does."

Elsewhere...

Inside the royal training grounds, the Alpha King sparred against three elite warriors simultaneously.

Steel clashed violently.

Within seconds, all three opponents lay defeated on the ground.

"Again," the King ordered.

"Your Majesty," one warrior panted, "we've already trained for three hours."

"Then train harder."

He wasn't angry with them.

He was angry with himself.

No matter how hard he trained, his thoughts always returned to one person.

Micaela.

"You're distracted," his Beta, Marcus, observed after the others left.

"Am I?"

"I've known you for twenty years."

"Then you know not to ask questions."

Marcus smiled.

"Usually."

"This time?"

"This time I think whatever is troubling you is more dangerous than any enemy we've ever fought."

The King remained silent.

Marcus studied him carefully.

"Does this have something to do with the human servant everyone's whispering about?"

The King's eyes narrowed.

"People are whispering?"

"Half the palace."

"Interesting."

"Should I stop the rumors?"

"No."

Marcus looked surprised.

"Let them talk."

But inside...

The King's wolf growled possessively.

"They already know she matters."

"She shouldn't."

"Too late."

That evening, Micaela sat quietly beside Clara inside the servants' quarters.

"You look pale," Clara said.

"The Princess spoke with me today."

"What happened?"

"She warned me."

"About the King?"

"Without actually saying it."

Clara sighed heavily.

"I was afraid of this."

"I've done nothing wrong."

"Sometimes that's exactly what makes people dangerous."

Outside, thunder rumbled across the darkening sky.

Rain began falling against the palace windows.

Far above the servants' wing, the Alpha King stood alone on his balcony watching the storm roll across the kingdom.

His wolf remained restless.

"She's frightened."

"I know."

"Protect her."

"From whom?"

The wolf answered immediately.

"Everyone."

For the first time since becoming King...

He realized the greatest threat to Micaela wasn't an enemy outside the palace.

It was the people living inside it.