Me and Dandeline had reached the condo at night and as it was late, I went straight to sleep. When I woke up, the afternoon heat was blazing in the air even though summer was almost over now. I tsked, pulling on the curtains to stop the rays from entering the condo and heating the atmosphere inside.

I took a long bath as there was a bathtub here, unlike my rundown house where there was a shower which I had to set up on my own and my inexperienced hands did not do the job well.

Dandeline wasn't home and there was nothing to do but eat and read. She had prepared all the food and left early in the morning.

In the living room, I flopped down on the sofa and a thought crossed my mind, remembering how I still had to confront Channing about those feelings he held for me. After what had happened yesterday with Fang, I was more than determined to leave this place, where every person in some kind of bond with me was trying to shackle me one way or the other. That marriage was a better escape, better freedom, even if that came bearing my death.

I had to tell Channing that whatever happened between us or whatever feelings were going between us cannot be. With Fang being unreasonably possessive, I did not want to ruin the friendship that Channing and Fang shared.

But talking to Channing was still days away as he had gone away from the village. I sighed and closed my eyes. There was really nothing for me to do, as I still couldn't step outside.

In the evening, when I was having snacks by the table, I heard the rustling of the keys and Dandeline entered. Her attention was on removing the jacket and scarf she had worn. I wonder why she would wear such clothes during summer, I won't wear such thick fabric even during winters. But then I remembered she had to fake herself as some rich brat, so maybe it was the disguise.

"You are back, come eat with me," I said it had Dandeline jump, placing her hand on her chest.

On seeing me she let out a breath of relief, "sorry I was used to living alone here, so I forgot you were here." For some reason, it made me smile to see that reaction of hers, or Dandeline was always composed except for some of the times she spent around me. She walked towards the table and a satisfied smile spread across her face, seeing I was eating something she had prepared for me before leaving.

For me, it was good to have someone around while eating, even though I was used to eating alone now. "How was your day?" I asked, taking another bite of the food on my plate.

"It was good- Princess, don't do that for me!" she exclaimed, watching me fill a glass of water for her. But I offered it anyway. "It is shameful to have you serve me, Princess," there was an uneasiness in her voice. Even though Dandeline had been by my side when I was in the dungeons, she had served the other royals and guests who never knew how to respect people below them.

"Just have it Dandeline," I signalled with my head and she took the glass from my hand, bowing deep. Before she could start with her gratitude speech, I stated, "we are to be acting as friends henceforth. Even when we are alone, so get used to my presence like this."

Dandeline nodded and took a seat in front of me. I was glad to see her sit down without me having to nudge on it. I continued with my food, giving her time to drink the water and then tell what had happened when she had gone to check out the pack today. After she was done, she said while serving herself food before I could do it, "I went and had a chat with the pack members today, looked around a little"

"How did it go?" I asked, mumbling at the food in my mouth.

"It went well. They are very welcoming," she said with a faint smile on her face. I was sure she must have got acquainted with a few people that I know already, as they were curious, chatter birds or caretakers of the pack.

I couldn't help but smile, remembering my first impression of Sam and Suzan, "True, they welcome you with open arms"

"Everyone was idling around," Dandeline continued to receive a questioning look from me. The pack members had duties to perform even in absence of the Alpha. "This lady named Diana, she is acting beta for two days and had given no tasks to them. Plus, the Alpha isn't here and Diana had gone somewhere yesterday night and was yet to return"

My brows crinkled at her words. "Where did she go?" It was right in the middle of the competition and she seemed pretty determined until the last time I had seen her. That was to be unlike her unless there was an emergency.

Dandeline hummed as if remembering something and answered, "No one is sure where she went. Some guy named Sam hypothesised she must have gone to Waterwoods for her task, but then how was he supposed to know of the competition tasks''

This had me thinking about whether Sam knew about the tasks. The image from the night a day before yesterday flashed through my memory, where a person in disguise had handed two sets of papers to Sam late at night.

I doubted it then to be Channing. It was possible that Channing had left that night when the mishap happened between us and had given the tasks for Stage three to Sam. Did those events at my house affect Channing so much he had to leave the competition in the middle while handing the responsibility to someone else?

Maybe I will call him after dinner to ask how he has been.

Looking back to Dandeline, I asked the important thing that she was supposed to find out, "Did you find out who is in blind support of Diana?"

Dandeline nodded, "Yes, I did. Not all the pack members were present when I visited them, only a few I can name. But Princess, be vary of every member that is from the previous generation, like in their thirties or so. They had been part of the pack since John was Beta and it turned out John favoured Diana a lot. There are high chances that all the members who had then blindly followed John will now stand by Diana''

I took a deep breath, knowing something like this was going to happen. My meet with John was very brief, but it brought me problems from the very beginning. Even after his death, his people don't stop being a thorn in my way.

Previously, I had thought winning everyone in the pack was necessary, but now that I see it, I would rather focus on the elders and the rest of the majority. Others will come around one day. "Dandeline, give me the name and appearance of the members in favour of Diana"

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