<h4>Chapter 20: 20 - thank you</h4>


    20


    ~Lisa’s POV


    By the time I stepped back into the pce, my body felt like it had been dragged through fire and my stomach twisted with emptiness. I hadn’t eaten since yesterday, barely drank anything either. The hunger burned at the edges of my patience, making my head light and my steps slower. I dragged myself toward the kitchen, praying there would be something left, anything. Just a piece of bread. Even crumbs would do.


    As I pushed the kitchen door open, the sound of sshing water and clinking dishes greeted me. The kitchen was alive with activity, maids scrubbing tes, wiping down counters, and stacking trays. But the smell of food had already faded. Whatever they cooked was long gone.


    One of the maids, Tessa, I think, nced up from where she was scrubbing arge pot and scowled. "Well, look who finally showed up," she said loudly, making sure her voice carried through the kitchen.


    A few heads turned immediately. Then the rest followed, one after another, eyes locking on me like I was something dragged in from the mud. Their faces lit up. not with wee, but with smug amusement and thinly disguised cruelty.


    "Where were you?" another maid asked, elbow-deep in soapy water. I think her name was Mara. "Having a pic outside the pce gates?"


    A few snorts, thenughter.


    Laughter that wasn’t warm. Laughter that was sharp, cutting, meant to dig under my skin and settle there like a splinter.


    I stood still by the door, holding my hands behind my back, trying to hide how badly they were still shaking. My stomach was growling loudly, my head buzzing from hunger and exhaustion, and I hadn’t even spoken a word yet, but somehow, they’d already decided I didn’t deserve kindness.


    I bit the inside of my cheek hard enough to taste blood.


    "Took your sweet time getting back," another one muttered, stacking dry tes with more force than necessary. "If I disappeared for hours, I’d be flogged."


    Someone else chimed in, "Well, she’s special, remember? The Alphas’ mate." Her voice was dripping with sarcasm, and when the othersughed again, it was louder this time. Meaner.


    I looked down at the floor, my worn-out shoes wet from where someone had spilled water.


    "I..." I hesitated. "I went to see my father. He came to the pce gate."


    They ignored my wordspletely.


    "So you think you’re special now because the Alphas’ im you as mate?" Tessa sneered, her tone dripping with mockery. "You think you can leave work ande in when you like?"


    "No," I said quickly, stepping forward, "I...I just... I was wondering when the maids get to eat breakfast."


    ????????????????????????.??????


    Another round ofughter.


    "You hear that?" the same maid said to the others. "She wants to eat breakfast like the rest of us."


    My stomach gave a soft, angry growl.


    "Sorry to break it to you, your highness," Tessa continued, crossing her arms, "we already ate. Breakfast was hours ago. You weren’t here, so guess what? You wait for lunch. That is, if there’s any left by the time we finish feeding the real wolves."


    My lips parted, but nothing came out.


    She tilted her head mockingly. "Unless you want to lick the floor for crumbs."


    ????????????????????????.??????


    I swallowed hard. My throat was dry, and my chest felt heavy.


    Without saying another word, I nodded slowly, turned away, and walked to a corner of the kitchen. I sat down on a small wooden stool and stared nkly ahead, pretending not to hear the whispers, the snickers, the harsh words being thrown like stones.


    I was tired. I was starving.


    I sat there, my back pressed against the cold wall, hands cradling my empty stomach. The ache had grown worse, sharp and heavy, curling inside me like a fist. My head felt light, and my lips were so dry I could barely swallow. Every sound around me faded into a blur, except the loud grumble of my stomach. I was starving.


    Just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, I heard footsteps.


    I didn’t look up at first, too drained to hope. But then a familiar voice cut through the noise.


    "Lisa."


    My head jerked up. It was Milo.


    He stood in front of me, holding a small te wrapped in a clean cloth. Steam rose from it, carrying the smell of warm bread and spiced beans. My eyes widened.


    Without a word, he knelt beside me and ced the te on myp.


    "Milo..." My voice broke as I spoke his name. "Is this... for me?"


    He nodded and smiled, gently. "Yeah. I figured you hadn’t eaten."


    I didn’t wait. I picked up the bread and tore into it, chewing fast, barely able to breathe between bites. My hands shook as I ate, crumbs falling into myp. I didn’t care. It tasted like the best thing I’d ever had.


    When I’d slowed down just enough to breathe, I looked up at him, my lips trembling. "How did you know?"


    He leaned back slightly, resting his arms on his knees. He rubbed the back of his neck, that same shy smile ying at the corners of his mouth. "I saw the other maids eating earlier," he said gently. "You weren’t there. And knowing how they treat you..." He gave a small shrug, like it wasn’t a big deal. "I figured you wouldn’t have anything, so I took an extra portion when I had mine."


    My chest tightened. I couldn’t stop staring at him, the way his eyes held nothing but calm and quiet care. No one had ever done that for me. Not here. Not in this cruel pack.


    "Thank you," I whispered, blinking quickly to stop the tears. "I don’t even know what to say..."


    "You don’t have to say anything," he replied softly. "You deserve to eat too, Lisa."


    I smiled at him and he smiled back.


    "You should eat the rest," he added gently. "You need your strength."


    I nodded and took another bite. This time, I ate slower. Not because I wasn’t hungry, because I was, but because I wanted to savor it. Every crumb of bread. Every taste.


    Milo stood up after a while. "I should get going before someonees looking for me," he said. "But I’ll check on youter, okay?"


    "Okay," I whispered. "Thank you... again."


    He nodded, then gave me onest nce before disappearing down the hall.