The Alphas Mate

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Alicia’s POV

My eyes fluttered open and I squinted in the dim light of my room, wondering why I woke suddenly. My vision cleared and I saw Jason hovering over me like an unwelcome spectator, his lips daringly close to mine. My eyes widened, and without even thinking, my hand shot out, hitting him in the eye.

"Ouch!" He hissed in pain, as he took a few steps back from my bedside. It wasn't a pleasant way to wake up, and I couldn't exactly say I was sorry, given our current situation of being in a marriage that neither of us wanted.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded angrily as I sat up in bed. "Are you so deprived of female contact that you came to my room in the dead of the night to do— I don't even know what you came here for!" I yelled.

Jason didn't answer me. He simply muttered a string of curses under his breath as his fingers felt around the eye I had hit and shot me an icy glare as he left my room, his footsteps fading as he retreated down the hall. I held my pillow to my chest. What had he been doing in here, invading my space? I groaned as I clambered down the bed, my heart still racing.

I had a million questions swirling in my mind as I rushed to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face to wake up fully. Why did he have to be a jerk? I thought to myself. He couldn't stand me being by his side whenever we sat for our meals and when we had to attend formalities together, and he knew I couldn't stand him either, so what had he been trying to do while I was sleeping?

The water dripped from my face as I looked at my reflection in the mirror, my tired eyes staring back at me.

I still had no idea what brought him to my room, and quite frankly, I didn't want to know. I just wanted to put this strange encounter behind me.

I dried my face and turned off the bathroom light, making my way back to my bed. Maybe it was better not to dwell on it.

Jason was an enigma I had no interest in solving. I slipped under the covers and tried to put the incident out of my mind.

I sighed heavily. This wouldn't be happening if my father hadn't died. I buried my face in my pillow and cried silently. I was trapped in a dumb marriage that I wanted no part of, with a husband—if I could even call him that—that didn't so much as talk to me, but decided that it was okay for him to just come to my room in the dead of the night to kiss me like a creepy stalker.

I lay on my bed and stared at the ceiling, as I tried to think of what I could possibly do here that would make me feel less useless and miserable.

***

"Your highness," a soft voice called. I opened my eyes to see one of the maids assigned to me tapping my shoulder.

"Your presence is required at the dining hall for breakfast, and I've been instructed to help you get ready." I nodded at her as I sat up, and she left the room briefly to call the other maids. They walked into the room, carrying different dresses and accessories and make up products.

The maid that woke me up drew a bath for me and washed my body quickly, then gave me a towel to dry myself.

"What color would you like to wear today, your highness?" I was asked, and my eyes skimmed the equally pretty dresses before settling on the most simple dress—a royal blue one with long sleeves and a modest neckline. "That one," I pointed and they helped me into the dress and matching shoes, before arranging my hair.

When I was ready, I walked to the dining hall. Jason and his parents were already seated. I curtsied to greet the King and Queen. "Your majesties."

The king nodded at me in acknowledgement of my greeting, while the queen smiled. I took my seat next to Jason.

I hesitated before I picked up my cutlery and started to eat. I didn't realize I was very hungry until I put the first bite of meat in my mouth, and then I remembered that I hadn't eaten much the night before, so that must be why I was so hungry.

My mind was racing as I kept on thinking about why the king had summoned me. Could it be because I had hit Jason? I noticed that he was sporting a yellowish bruise on the eye that I had hit him on, but I didn't think that was enough reason for the king to have called me.

Did I wrong him in any way? I pondered as I ate, even though the unease that settled in the pit of my stomach would probably not allow the food to digest.

"You must be wondering why I called for you this morning, Alicia," the king interrupted my thoughts after a few minutes of silence that was interrupted only by the sounds of our cutlery.

I looked up at him and faked a smile. "Yes, your majesty."

"Well, the reason I sent for you was because there seems to be a problem in your pack. A letter arrived from your mother this morning, and it seems to be very urgent."