Sofia's POV
I managed to arrive at the palace with the help of the unwanted bodyguard assigned to me by my forced husband, which I still found hard to believe.
As I looked around, I was struck by the compound's breathtaking beauty, and I couldn't help but wonder if it was the same people who lived there or an angel.
A lot of workers were walking up and down. I saw two maids coming toward me, smiling like dogs that had just seen a bone.
"Welcome, our Luna," they said with their heads bowed. I opened my mouth and looked around to make sure they weren't mistaking me for someone else.
The tall maid, who seemed like the leader, took my hand without giving me a chance to talk.
"Ma'am, let us take care of your body tonight," she said, smiling like a new bride.
"Beautiful princess like me," I muttered under my breath. I was sure if I wasn't beautiful, I wouldn't look like the angel that made the Alpha ask for my hand in marriage. I started feeling self-conscious.
"I'm okay like this," I said with a smile.
But they kept staring at me, making me feel more uncomfortable.
I didn't understand why they were still standing there after I said I was fine.
"You need to take a bath, ma'am, and change your clothes! That's the order given to us," she said respectfully.
I looked down at myself to check if I truly needed a bath—and honestly, I looked like a pug abandoned by its owner.
"Oh, I see. But I can do that myself," I said proudly.
Don't mind me—I needed a confidence boost.
Still, it was a big shock after checking myself. I never knew I was that dirty.
It must have been from the way I'd been running through the forest.
The moment Evelyn and I were running flashed across my mind.
We'd been walking for about an hour in the forest.
We got to a place and stopped to rest.
I was so tired that I fell to the ground.
Evelyn rushed to help me up, but to our surprise, she fell too.
"Are you okay?" she asked with concern.
I said nothing—just stared at her face. Despite being tired, she didn't want to show it, so I wouldn't feel like she was too weak to protect me.
"Are you okay?" I asked, still looking at her face.
"I'm fine if you're fine," she said and nodded.
I stood up, leaving her on the ground, and turned to leave.
"Aaah!" I pretended to be hurt.
She stood up instantly and rushed to me.
"I got you," I said, laughing.
She just stood there, watching me without saying anything.
The look on her face said it all—she was surprised I laughed.
But what else would I have done?
We turned to leave, and then we started hearing a voice.
The closer it came, the louder it got.
"Did you hear that?" Evelyn asked, looking around like she was ready to fight.
The ground started shaking like it was about to erupt.
"Don't be scared, I'll protect you," Evelyn said.
She had started transforming, though we didn't even know what was coming.
Just like magic, a boy appeared in front of us. He was small, with one big eye.
"What are you doing in my kingdom?" he asked angrily.
Evelyn and I looked at each other and laughed out loud.
The fact that he sounded like a million people talking didn't scare us, but his small stature—like a rat—made us laugh.
"Young boy, did you miss your way?" I asked, resting my hand on his shoulder.
"Aaaaaah!" I screamed as my back hit a big tree. I fell to the ground, holding my back in pain, blood flowing out of my mouth.
Suddenly, the boy transformed into a massive giant.
Even if all the warriors in the pack were called together, they wouldn't be able to defeat him.
"How dare you touch my friend," Evelyn said angrily. I was curious if she still wanted to fight him after that transformation.
She ran toward him and finally transformed into her wolf.
"Aaah!" she shouted as the monster hit her and threw her like a piece of paper on the ground.
But she never gave up and continued fighting the monster.
I wished I could help her—maybe it would be easier to take him down together.
"Run, Sofia, run!" Evelyn shouted.
Those were the last words I heard her say.
"Run! He's here to kill you! Just keep running without looking back!" she shouted.
I ran as fast as my legs could carry me.
"Come in, ma'am," the maid said, leading the way.
As expected, I walked behind her like a princess.
After a few minutes, she said,
"Go in, ma. Your dress is inside." She opened the door for me to enter.
"Thank you, you can leave now," I said.
After dressing up, I looked at myself in the mirror and saw a beautiful angel who had been rejected by her mate.
The memory of what happened at the wedding kept running through my head.
How could my own mate betray me?
I didn't know why he rejected me on our wedding day or why they were after my life.
I tried to zip up my dress, but it seemed like my hand couldn't reach.
"Let me help you with that," Adam said as he came in.
He had found his way in because I was stupid enough to forget to lock the door.
"Don't worry," I said.
He came up to me and helped me anyway, ignoring my answer.
I guess he's too rude to know a woman needs peace.
"It will be a great day tomorrow when you become my Luna," he said happily, which disgusted me.
I punched him, and he fell onto the bed.
I wanted to walk out of the room but stepped on my gown and fell right onto his chest.