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‘Christmas Day, 1516’

‘London’

Angeline

All the maids were huddled together in the cooks’ quarters, waiting for Farrah to give us our assignments.

It wasn’t just any ordinary day. Today was Christmas, which meant it was the day of the Yule Ball.

And this year’s Yule Ball was to be held right here, in Lord Maynard’s manor.

Everyone in town would be within the walls we called home, so we had to scrub and clean all day to make sure it was in tiptop shape.

“Jolene and Marionette, ballroom. Katherine and Georgette, front foyer. Scarletta and Olive, back mezzanine,” Farrah listed, and the girls who’d had their names called nodded, waiting for the list to be done so they could take off in the direction of their tasks.

“Margaret and Elizabeth, you’ll be on washing pits. And Claudice and—”

Just then the door to the cooks’ quarters was pushed open, and everyone gasped when they saw who was standing there.

The Alpha of the Millennium.

The man who’d been taking any opportunity to spend time with me for the past month.

He was still living in the manor, still keeping an eye on Lord Maynard. He’d told me that the lord had quite the reputation in the London Pack.

I was just a human, like most of the maids, so I didn’t know much about werewolf gossip.

But these past months, Lord Maynard had been on his best behavior. And even better than that… Raphael had been courting me.

Like I was some sort of lady, rather than just a plain old maid.

“Alpha?” Farrah asked, just as surprised as all of us to see him in the servants’ space.

“Sorry to intrude,” he began, “but I was hoping to have a word. Privately,” he added with a smile.

“Of course,” she replied then turned to us. “You’re not released yet. Stay here.”

“Yes, Farrah,” we chimed.

They left the kitchen, and then Farrah returned a few moments later, she looked at me for a second before she started talking.

“There’s been an amendment. Margaret, you’ll be on washing pots by yourself. When the other girls finish their tasks, they’ll help you. Elizabeth and Claudice, you’ll be on tables. Cleaning them, setting them. Understood?”

“Why am I all alone?” Margaret asked, a pout on her face.

“And where am I?” I asked.

Farrah turned to Margaret first. “Because those are the orders. Now, do as you’re told,” she instructed. But then she looked at me. “You won’t be working today.”

I felt the weight of the eyes of all the other girls on me. Blood rushed to my cheeks.

Immediately, I knew Raphael had said something to Farrah about me, to give me special treatment.

“That’s not fair!” I heard one girl exclaim.

“Why does ~she~ get off?” another complained.

“It’s because the Alpha likes her. She lets him into her bed.”

“Into other places, too.”

“I...I do not!” I stammered, feeling the full effects of my blush now.

“Enough, girls,” Farrah commanded. “To your tasks,” she said, pointing out the door. And the girls listened, sighing and leaving the cooks’ quarters.

“Hey,” I whispered, reaching to tug on Claudice’s apron as she walked by, but she kept moving, shaking her head.

Something inside me sank.

I didn’t like being unfair or mean to the other girls, and I especially didn’t like all that attention on me.

It was bad enough being the subject of men’s attention all the time, but to be the one singled out in a room full of females was just as bad.

But at the same time, I couldn’t help the butterflies that had started to flutter deep in my belly.

Raphael was the Alpha of the Millennium, the most powerful Alpha in the world, and he was interested in ~me~?

“Farrah,” I said, walking over to where she was stacking bowls. “Do you think he… he likes me?”

“Of course, Angeline. He wouldn’t go through the efforts if not, hm?” she said, giving me a knowing look.

Then she watched as the smile I was trying to hold back appeared, stretching my mouth wide. “No,” she ordered, “none of that, girl!”

“What do you mean?”

“He is a powerful man, Angeline. He is used to getting what he wants. Be careful.”

“But he’s not like that! He’s kind and thoughtful,” I said, closing my eyes and imagining his face.

“He’s a man,” she repeated. “Promise me you’ll remember that.” I looked at her, nodding, but my butterflies were going crazy anyway. As soon as I exited the cooks’ quarters, I felt a hand pull my arm to the side.

And there he was. Our bodies just a few inches apart.

“Angeline,” he murmured.

“Hi, Raphael.” I smiled.

“I’d like you to join me this evening. For dinner. If you’d like,” he said.

“What about the Yule Ball? You’re not going?” I asked in disbelief.

Everyone went to the Yule Ball, especially the important people.

“I’d miss it happily if I got to be alone with you,” he said softly.

My heart was racing, and the voice inside my mind was screaming, ~Yes! Yes! Yes!~

“Okay,” I said, smiling at the ground. “That sounds nice.” When I looked back up at him, I could see the kindness in his eyes.

I could trust him. I was sure of it.

***

I knocked softly on Raphael’s door, nervous about what lay on the other side. I looked down, straightening my skirt and fidgeting with my bodice.

What if he took one look at me and sent me away?

What if he decided he didn’t want to spend dinner, ~Christmas dinner~, with a maid?

But then the door was opening and Raphael’s eyes were shining down at me.

He was dressed handsomely, in an elegant jacket and crisp white shirt. I blushed the second I saw him.

“Wow,” he exhaled, taking my long dress in.

Farrah had helped me make it this afternoon, sewing fabric together from old curtains we had in the cellar. The bodice was fitted, like a corset, and laced up with string.

The skirt was satin, long and flowing, and trailed behind me as I walked.

“You are beautiful,” he said, pulling me into his suite.

“Thank you,” I said modestly, liking the compliment. I didn’t usually like such flattery, but something about it coming from him felt pure.

“I hope you’re hungry,” he said, guiding me to the private table for two already set up with fine silver and glass.

“I am,” I responded, but when our eyes met, I realized it might be a different type of hunger.

We sat down and immediately a servant brought wine and the first course. As we ate, conversation flowed naturally, and my nerves floated away.

I felt comfortable around Raphael. He made me laugh, and just looking at him made me feel excited. In a way I’d never felt excited before.

We ate the second course, and then the third, and by the time dessert was brought out, I thought I’d explode with fullness.

But everything was so delicious. I had never tasted food so fancy in my life, so I couldn’t say no.

“I could watch you eat forever.” He sighed, leaning back in his chair.

My eyes moved to his lips, and I wondered what it might be like to kiss him.

~Angeline!~ I snapped at myself in my mind. ~Control yourself.~

“Would you like to dance?” he asked.

“Here?”

“Yes,” he said, rising from his chair. He walked around the table and extended his hand out to me. I took it, and he guided me to the middle of the room.

Music from downstairs, where the Yule Ball was in full swing, was rising through the wood floors. He put his hands on my hips, and I reached up to wrap mine around his neck.

We were close now, closer than I’d ever been to him—or to any man, for that matter.

“Oh, Angeline. Your name is so fitting,” he murmured into my hair.

“Hm?” I said, gazing up at him.

“You’re like an angel,” he responded.

Then he leaned down, slowly, and tasted my lips with his. We were kissing!

It was soft and gentle, and I thought I surely could do this forever. But then something happened.

It became more intense, more passionate. I suddenly needed more.

More lips, more of ~him~. I couldn’t explain it, but I felt the fire inside me burning with urgency.

He must’ve felt it too. His hands were rubbing my shoulders, down my arms, and they left shivers everywhere they touched.

He pulled away, just slightly, and gazed down at me. He was so handsome, so strong, and I wanted him as close as possible.

“I want more,” I whispered, certain it was true the moment I said it.

“Are you ready?” he asked, searching my eyes.

I nodded.

He took my hand and guided me through the room until we reached the bed.

Standing beside it, he kissed my forehead and then my lips. Softly again. And then he sat down on the edge of the bed and spun me around.

He trailed his fingers across my back, and I felt the desire inside me grow. And then he started unlacing the strings of my corset.

When he was finished, the gown fell from my frame, and he turned me around.

I could’ve watched the expression on his face for decades. He looked at me like I was a work of art, like he couldn’t believe I was real.

He reached out, touching me with just a finger. He trailed a line from my lips, down my neck, down my chest, to my belly.

I was going crazy with need.

I needed him. I needed all of him.

I lowered myself so our faces were on the same level, and this time, I kissed him first.

He pulled me onto the bed, onto him. His hands roamed over me, touching my breasts, gently flicking my nipples.

I moaned. But still, it wasn’t enough.

He moved his hands down, and I felt his finger go inside me. Slowly, patiently, but in a way that caused the fire in my sex to grow.

I thought it might consume me.

I touched him through the fabric of his trousers, and I could feel how hard he was.

He growled at the touch, and I wanted to make him growl more. I started moving my hand up and down, up and down, and then I pulled his trousers off.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he murmured into my ear.

“I want to feel you,” I responded.

He nodded and kissed me again, slowly climbing on top of me.

I felt him at my entrance, rubbing against my most sensitive spot.

And then he entered me.

“Oh… my…” I whispered. It felt so good, so ~right~, that I couldn’t even think beyond those two words.

“Oh ~my~.”

He started moving faster, and I heard moans... and then I realized they were coming from me.

I felt so connected to him, so connected to myself. I needed him faster.

More.

More.

We were sweating, wrapped in each other, and then, with one final push, I flew off the edge.

I was soaring, flying, and then I came down and realized he was panting just as much as me.

“Are you okay?” he asked, kindness plastered all over his face.

“That was… amazing,” I whispered, unable to say any more.

I fell into the softest slumber after that, curled up in his strong arms.

***

Hours later, I heard birds chirping outside.

~The sun must be rising~, I thought, opening my eyes slowly. I felt the smile on my face before I even got my eyelids all the way up, and last night’s ecstasy came back to me.

The feelings, the heat.

The man.

My eyes were fully open now, and I could see a little bit of sunlight streaming in.

I turned over in bed, expecting to see Raphael’s body beside me, still fast asleep.

But there was no one there.

I sat up in bed, confused. Maybe he’d gone for water or for breakfast? But then I looked around the room... saw the open closet door, the one that had been filled with clothes last night.

It was empty.

The Alpha of the Millennium… he was gone.