Fated reborn - Chapter 237: Chapter 237

Trini Pov.
A strange sensation jolted me awake. My stomach ached—not the dull kind that came with hunger or the sharp kind from a normal stomachache. No, this was different, something deeper, something unnatural.
I shifted slightly, gripping the sheets as I tried to steady my breathing. The sensation wasn’t just affecting me—it was affecting my wolf, too. That’s how I knew this wasn’t normal.
A low whimper rumbled in my chest, my wolf restless and uneasy. My fingers curled against the fabric of the bed, my body tense as I tried to wait it out.
Then, just as quickly as it came, it faded. Like a passing storm, it lifted, leaving behind nothing but a lingering warmth spreading through my body.
A small smile tugged at my lips as relief washed over me.
"Ahh, finally," I exhaled, stretching my arms above my head before swinging my legs off the bed.
I stood up, shaking off the remnants of discomfort, and made my way to the bathroom. The cold tiles sent a brief shiver up my legs, but I ignored it as I turned on the faucet. Warm water streamed down as I washed my face, letting the heat chase away the last of my grogginess.
After a quick bath, I wrapped myself in a towel, stepping out of the bathroom while running my fingers through my damp hair. My uniform was neatly folded on the chair beside my bed—the knee-length one, my favorite. I slipped into it quickly, smoothing my hands over the fabric before tying the waist apron securely in place.
A giggle bubbled up in my throat as I spun in place, lifting one leg playfully before slowly lowering it. My heart felt light, free, and then—
Trent.
The name passed through my lips in a whisper, barely audible even to myself.
My fingers hesitated on my apron strings as an uneasy feeling crept into my chest.
I liked Trent.
I really did.
But the bond... it changed everything.
It wrapped around me, weaving through my thoughts, my emotions, my very essence—making it impossible to ignore. The feelings I had for Trent, the ones I thought were so strong, were now fading into the background like a forgotten melody.
A bitter pang of regret settled in my chest.
Had I made the right choice?
For a split second, doubt clawed at me, making my fingers twitch. But then, another thought surfaced, grounding me back to reality.
I can’t reject my mate for someone who isn’t even mine.
The realization came like a sharp blade cutting through my hesitation.
With a deep breath, I straightened my shoulders and turned toward the door.
I had made my choice.
Now, I had to stand by it.
I walked down the quiet halls, my feet carrying me toward the cleaning supply room. Today’s duty was the dining hall, and I wanted to finish quickly so I could see Lunawyn. It had been too long since we last talked, and I needed her advice.
Pulling the supply closet open, I grabbed a bucket, soap, and a few rags before making my way to the dining area. My grip tightened around the handle of the bucket as I moved, my mind still a storm of conflicting thoughts.
I did my best to avoid Trent along the way.
Seeing him now… it would only make things worse.
I reached the dining room and sighed as I took in the sight. Leftover food, plates still scattered. I gathered them up quickly, taking them to the kitchen where I found Casey and Mika chatting.
The moment they saw me, their faces lit up.
"Trini! Where have you been?" Mika grinned, leaning on the counter.
I forced a small smile. "Busy, you know how it is."
Casey smirked. "Busy falling for your mate?"
I nearly dropped the plates.
"What?" I squeaked, my face heating up.
They both burst into laughter.
"You’ve been avoiding Trent, which means you’re trying to forget him," Mika pointed out. "Which also means Dorian’s getting under your skin."
I rolled my eyes, setting the plates down with a little more force than necessary. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."
Casey snorted. "Sure you don’t."
Shaking my head, I turned on my heel and left before they could say anything else.
Back in the dining room, I knelt down, scrubbing the floor evenly. My hands worked mechanically, my mind drifting once again.
Dorian.
He hadn’t cared that I was a maid.
It didn’t matter to him.
But still, I was his maid. And that meant there would always be a line between us. Right?
Just as that thought settled in my mind, a shadow loomed over me.
I glanced up.
Victor.
"Good morning, sir," I said quickly, straightening up.
"Good morning, Trini." His voice was light, but his eyes held amusement. "You’ve been thinking about Dorian, haven’t you?"
I tensed. "Do—do Dorian?" I stuttered.
Victor chuckled. "Oh, come on. You’re his mate. You’ll be thinking about him constantly now."
I ducked my head, scrubbing harder to distract myself.
Victor didn’t leave. Instead, he crossed his arms and leaned against the doorway, watching me.
"Clear those things up. No cleaning for you today," he said suddenly.
I blinked. "I’m almost done. Let me just finish—"
"Finish what?" He raised an eyebrow. "Imagine Dorian walks in and sees you cleaning. What do you think he’d say?"
I hesitated.
"He’d say we don’t respect him," Victor continued. "That we still allow his mate to clean."
That made me stop.
I swallowed.
"Okay," I murmured, setting the rag down. "I’ll just go drop this off then."
"No need," Victor said, already turning away. "I’ll send someone to finish it. Just go rest." He hesitated for a moment, then smirked. "Or better yet… you can visit him. His room is up the—"
"I’ll go to Lunawyn’s room," I cut in quickly, my cheeks heating up.
Victor just chuckled. "Alright, if you say so."
Dusting myself off, I pulled off my apron and folded it neatly. Without another word, I turned and made my way down the hall.
Lunawyn’s room was at the far end of the hallway. The familiar wooden door stood in front of me, slightly ajar.
I hesitated for only a moment before raising my hand and knocking gently.
A soft, melodious voice floated through the door.
"Come in."
I pushed the door open, stepping inside.
Lunawyn sat by the window, her long hair cascading over her shoulders as she turned to face me. Her sharp eyes immediately softened when she saw me.
"Trini," she said warmly. "It’s been too long."
A lump formed in my throat.
Yeah. It really had.
And now, more than ever, I needed her guidance.