Chapter Fifteen - Need to Know More - Maya's POV

The animal is massive, its dark fur matted and streaked with what looks like dried blood. Its head is low, its amber eyes glowing faintly in the shadows. It whimpers again; the sound tugs at something deep inside me. For a moment, neither of us moves. Then the wolf shifts, its ears flattening as it lets out a low, rumbling growl. I stumble back, my hand gripping the door frame for support. My mind screams at me to run, but my feet won't move. 'Hey!" A voice barks from behind me. I whip around to see Damian striding toward me, his expression thunderous. 'What are you doing here?" He demands, grabbing my arm and pulling me away from the doorway. 'You shouldn't go exploring all the rooms until I've given you a tour." 'I thought I heard something," I stammer, my voice barely above a whisper. 'Was that what I thought it was?" Damian's gaze flicks at the wolf in the room, his jaw tightening. 'This isn't a place for you," he says, his tone cold. 'Go to the dining hall. Now." I want to argue, but the look in his eyes stops me. Without another word, I turn and hurry back down the hallway, my heart racing and my mind reeling. What did I just see? And why does it feel like that wolf isn't just an animal? It has to be more than a pet, right? I turn and don't stop walking until I reach the dining hall. My legs feel like jelly, and my pulse thunders in my ears still. The room is mostly empty when I enter, with sunlight streaming in through the tall windows to the left. The polished wooden table stretches nearly the length of the room, with more seats than I care to count. I sink into the nearest chair, gripping the edge of the table as I try to calm my racing thoughts. The wolf. The image of it is burned into my mind with its dark fur, amber eyes, and the sound of its whine filling the room. Then there's so much blood. Is it hurt? Why was it locked in a room? Maybe it's someone's pet? And why did Damian look so furious when he found me there? He wouldn't have been mad if I had found someone's pet, but nothing else makes sense. My breathing slows, but the knot in my stomach tightens. There's something strange about that wolf, something that doesn't sit right. It doesn't feel like an ordinary animal. Not that I have much experience with wolves to begin with. But the way it looked at me, the intelligence in its eyes isn't normal for a wild animal. I swallow hard, my mind racing. What if it isn't just a wolf? The thought sends a chill through me. I've seen enough of this place to know there's more to Damian's world than I understand, and that encounter only solidifies my suspicion. My hands clench into fists on the table. Damian knows. He dragged me away like I stumbled into something forbidden, like the wolf's presence is a secret I'm not supposed to uncover. I replay the scene in my mind, trying to make sense of it. The way Damian's expression darkened when he saw the wolf. The sharp edge to his voice when he told me to leave. He's hiding something. And I need to know what it is. 'Miss Maya?" Evelyn's voice breaks through my thoughts, startling me. I look up to see her standing in the doorway near what I assume is the kitchen, holding a tray of food. Her sharp eyes flick over me, taking in my pale face and tense posture. She frowns slightly as she approaches. 'You look like you've seen a ghost," she says, setting the tray in front of me. 'Did something happen on your way here?" I force a weak smile. 'Something like that." Evelyn doesn't look convinced, but she doesn't press. Instead, she gestures to the tray as she sits it down near me on the table. 'Eat. You'll feel better with something in your stomach." I glance at the food. It's a simple spread of eggs, toast, and fruit. My appetite is nowhere to be found. Still, I pick up a fork and dive into the eggs in a show of effort. I hope it will calm the storm of questions swirling in my mind. Evelyn lingers, her sharp gaze watching me carefully. 'Is something bothering you, dear?" She asks after a moment. I hesitate, debating whether to tell her about the wolf. She seems kind, but I don't know if I can trust her. 'No," I say finally, forcing a smile. 'Just didn't sleep well. That chair was a bad choice." Evelyn raises an eyebrow, but she doesn't call me out on the lie. 'Well, you'll need your rest, Miss Maya. The days ahead won't be easy. You probably should aim to sleep in the bed next time." Her words send a fresh wave of unease through me, but I nod, keeping my expression neutral. As she leaves the room, I sit back in my chair, my gaze drifting to the window. The wolf. Damian. This entire place. There's so much I don't understand, and it's becoming clear that no one's going to explain it to me. If I want answers, I'll have to find them myself. Once I'm sure she's gone, I drop the fork and push away the food on the tray. The few bites I've taken make me feel fuller than I should have. My thoughts are a mess and racing. They keep coming back to Damian and that poor wolf in that room. I can't sit here and pretend everything's normal. Not when it's clear this place and the people in it are anything but. I glance toward the hallway where Damian saw me earlier. The memory of his sharp tone and the intensity in his eyes makes me hesitate. He doesn't want me to know what's going on, and whatever that wolf is, it's important enough to keep hidden. Which only makes me want to know more.