The carriage dropped me off where it had previously picked me up. It was dark around in the forest and I had to walk carefully until I reached the opening from where my house was visible. The village of Winterwells was still awake, and the lights were bright and lit there. I went through the back door of my house and saw Dandeline still waiting there, sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper.

Her heap snapped, alerted to see who had entered the house and upon seeing me she beamed, "Princess, you are back! How was the feast? How did the meeting with your in-laws go?"

Dandeline's enthusiasm always brought a smile to my face. But I was too tired to reciprocate her energy and simply replied, "It was good"

There were worry lines on Dandeline's forehead, but watching me remove the jewels she understood, I was exhausted and helped me undress. It did not take long till the corset was loosened and I filled my lungs with air. My body felt so free right now. "Let's make something for dinner. I barely got anything to eat there," I said, and this brought a sad expression on Dandeline's face. She knew very well how cruel my parents had been towards me and it did not come to her as a surprise that I wasn't offered food there.

We headed to the kitchen, and Dandeline was quick to get the ingredients. She did most of the work and took everything away from me that I was helping with.

"There was a girl who had come here when you were away," Dandeline said as we were waiting for the dinner to get cooked. It wasn't hard to guess which girl was here to see me.

"Did she see you?" I asked, looking at the food that Dandeline was stirring before she placed a lid on the pot.

"No," she replied, wiping her hands on the apron on her waist, "I was hiding and did not get the chance to see the girl, but she went back after waiting for an hour in front of the house for you."

It definitely had to be Suzan. There were other people in the pack who cared about me, but not as much as Suzan. It did not take long for my and Suzan's vibes to match and have a caring corner in our hearts for each other. Yesterday Channing had forced her out of the house when I was struggling with my injuries and that must have left her worried. If she came by in the evening, then she must have headed here after her pack duties were over for the day.

"Let's go back to the Condo," I said, and this instantly had Dandeline's eyes shimmer. "I have nothing tomorrow, and I can't even roam around freely. It's better that people don't see me this healed in just a day." Although when they see me healed in just two days, it would still leave them baffled and questioning.

Dandeline's face beamed up with happiness. "Will you be staying the whole day there?'' She was like a little baby whenever she got an opportunity to serve me.

Her excitement made me chuckle. "Yes. I also want you to cut my hair. They have grown too long" It was something that I had been thinking about for a long time now and we had enough time tomorrow. At least I had it.

"But they suit you," Dandeline said with her puppy eyes, and it always made me want to change my mind. She was this small and cute rabbit that could bite and not many people knew about it.

"Just cut them Dandeline" I rolled my eyes and looked away from her.

She still had a dramatically sad face, but I ignored it and went out of the kitchen. One more of my days would go to waste in Winterwells and I had to do something about it. If I couldn't go and see what had been happening in the pack and with Stage three of Beta selection, then I had to send someone else. Dandeline brought the plates and the pots to my room and served the food we had prepared.

"Eat with me," I offered, and she took a seat in front of me on the sofa. There was no dining table in this rundown house, just a sofa with a tea table.

My thoughts drifted back to how I will ask Dandeline to go and check on the pack. She was not part of the pack yet and I doubted even when Stage three started for me the day after tomorrow, she would be part of the pack and keep an eye behind me. I am sure there would be cheap tricks that other members would try against me and it won't be wrong to say even Diana might try it; me being her direct rival in the final stage of Beta selection.

"Try to go around the pack tomorrow and tell them you are new and wish to join." I said with an apprehensive thought, "See if you can know what tasks are there for stage three of Beta selections and how many people are in favour of Diana"

Dandeline nodded, "Okay, do you want me to disrupt your rival's task?"

There was a momentary stare I gave to Dandeline. Using underhanded methods was not something that I liked, but knowing Dandeline, she would go to lengths to make things easier for me. My eyes narrowed at her suggestion and she nervously fiddled her fingers. "Y-You know Princess, I would do anything to help you."

I sighed, what would I do with this girl? She sometimes said such stuff that did not sit well with her personality and was scary to hear.

Once she had offered to kill the queen for my release from the dungeons and it had left me shocked till Dandeline cleared how her loyalty lies with me and she would do anything to see me happy. It made me wonder how Dandeline was before she came to stand by my side.

My lips set in a thin line as I spoke, "Dandeline, just observe and report. Make sure your personality is right as whatever you portray yourself as tomorrow would be the person you come as when officially joining the pack."

"Okay, Princess," Dandeline agreed.

It had me tsk in irritation, "Dandeline, get used to calling me by my name. If it is your slip up that reveals my identity, then I will make sure you face your consequences"

My words immediately had her panicked, "No, no, Pri- madam, I-I will take care. I am sorry for my mistakes"

This made me roll my eyes, "Just eat your food now, Dandeline, and you have to get used to calling me Selene"

"Ye-Yes," she replied and ate the food on her plate mechanically fast.

There was no use in scolding her too much, as when she would take her fake personality to be a part of the pack, I knew she would do her job flawlessly. But even when alone, she had to learn to control the urge to call me Princess, in case anyone was eavesdropping on us.