Chapter 6: The Arrangement
1515 Words
“I beg your pardon.” Calypso finally found her words to ask.
At that moment, Beta Nylon and Jax reacted immediately and stood between her and the young woman.
“That’s enough for today,” Jax said anxiously
“Diana, why don’t you help Calypso get settled in?” Beta Nylon suggested. His stiff body language and expression told his female companion that she had said something she wasn’t supposed to, but it was too late.
“So that’s why you didn’t give me a straight answer,” Calypso said.
Beta Nylon sighed, “Now you see why it’s preferable to speak with Alpha Valric; all will be explained then.”
“So, you just expect me to wait until God knows when for your Alpha to tell me what’s going on?”
“Yes, since we paid for you, the least you can do is cooperate; don’t you think?”
Beta Nylon’s response reminded Calypso of her position. Though she might have spoken out of turn at home, she couldn’t do that there because she was in unfamiliar territory and didn’t know how they dealt with disrespect. It did not matter how nice they seemed at first; they could still switch on her at any moment. It had happened before.
Swallowing her pride and anger for the millionth time, Calypso bowed her head in respect to Beta Nylon.
“My apologies for forgetting my place. I will patiently wait for your Alpha.”
Calypso’s apology created an awkward moment; the entire room fell silent with no one knowing what to say. It took the person who unintentionally started the drama to finish it.
“You had a very long journey...” said Diana, “Come, let me help you freshen up.”
A soft and warm hand was placed on Calypso’s back, and she was gently urged towards the stairs. Having nothing else to say, Calypso let Diana lead her away.
~*~
Upstairs, Calypso was taken to a room near the end of the hallway. On that side of the cabin, there were only two rooms that were opposite each other. Calypso wondered who the other room belonged to, but she had a feeling she already had the answer.
Stopping in front of the door belonging to the room on the right, Diana pushed it open and walked into the dark room to give it light. Calypso stayed where she was and looked at the door across her. A powerful scent drew her attention, and refused to let it go.
Like a siren’s song, the scent pulled her towards it, and without even noticing, she was walking towards the door.
“You can come in”, Diana said, and stopped Calypso in her steps.
Confused as to how she got to where she was, Calypso quickly turned around and faced Diana, who was just as shocked as she was.
“Sorry- I was just...” she tried to explain herself, but no words came out after that.
Noticing her embarrassment, Diana offered Calypso a warm smile.
“I understand your curiosity,” she sympathized, “That room belongs to Alpha Valric, but something tells me you already guessed that.”
Still feeling a little embarrassed, Calypso looked at the floor as she responded.
“He has a potent scent; it’s what drew me in.”
“As it does everyone, there’s nothing to be ashamed of.” Diana took a step forward and slowly reached for her hand, “Come on, let’s get you settled in.”
Diana’s gentle character was hard to resist; Calypso found herself accepting her help without putting up a fight. It had been quite some time since she had received any kindness; this depleted her trust in her own kind, but Diana felt different, and she didn’t know why.
The two walked into the bedroom, and Calypso got to see where she would be sleeping. Warmth had embraced her as she walked further into the room; it was because of the blazing fireplace that was positioned just across the massive bed. Thick gray curtains covered the large windows on the walls, and a fur carpet that matched the beddings covered the floor.
The design of the bedroom left Calypso in awe, but what shocked her the most was that it was the room she would be sleeping in. Considering where she was coming from, it felt like she was in a palace.
“Is the room to your liking?” Diana asked Calypso, who was still in a daze
“Is it to my liking? I don’t even know what to say,” Calypso beamed with childlike excitement.
“I was worried that you might not like the design, so I put a lot of effort into it.”
“You didn’t have to do much; even this bed would have been enough.”
A surge of happiness coursed through Calypso. Though it was still too early for her to get excited, she couldn’t help it; her new surroundings were too magnificent to ignore.
“Can I sit on it?” Calypso asked, pointing to the bed.
Diana raised her eyebrows in surprise, “Of course, you don’t need to ask.”
Immediately after she got the go-ahead, Calypso sat on the bed. The warmth from the fur and the softness of the mattress gave a feeling of comfort that she dearly missed. She could not help but indulge herself.
Diana quietly watched Calypso as she enjoyed the comfort of the bed. Several questions ran through her mind, and she wondered if she could ask at least two.
“Pardon me, but I am a little curious about where you came from.” She stepped forward and stood next to the bed.
“What exactly are you curious about?” Calypso turned to face her, and the two stared at each other.
“Do you not have beds where you came from?”
Calypso blinked, “Huh?”
“It’s just, your reaction tells me you haven’t slept on one, am I wrong?”
“No, not really...” Calypso stroked the fur underneath her, “I just haven’t slept on one in years.”
“Why? If you don’t mind my asking”
Sadness slowly crept into Calypso’s heart and ruined the precious moment she had just experienced.
“Because... I’m a witch, and witches don’t deserve to sleep in beds or bedrooms.”
Diana took a seat beside Calypso, “That’s... interesting. I always thought they just lived wherever they wanted.”
“What kinds of witches do you know?”
“None, but my mother told me stories about them all the time, and from what she told me, they are extraordinary.”
Diana’s radiant and sincere eyes met Calypso’s gaze. It was hard to believe she was real.
“Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m no extraordinary witch, I’m not even a witch at all. At least I don’t think I am”
“I don’t believe that, if you weren’t, then Alpha Valric wouldn’t have paid such a high price for you.”
Diana’s response reminded Calypso that there was a bigger picture that she had to focus on.
“Speaking of-“
“I’m sorry, but I’ve said too much already. I don’t want Nylon to get angry with me.”
How she addressed Beta Nylon so casually made Calypso suspect the two were in a relationship.
“Am I correct in assuming he’s your mate?”
Diana nodded.
“I see...” she took a breath, “I understand the feeling of not wanting to anger your mate, but please understand my feelings as well. Wouldn’t you want some clarity if you were in my shoes?”
Calypso pleaded with her eyes, hoping to move Diana. At first, she seemed reluctant, but after looking into her eyes, Diana sighed in defeat.
“I really can’t say much, but I’ll tell enough to ease your anxieties until Alpha Valric returns.”
A faint smile appeared on Calypso’s lips; she didn’t think her pleas would work.
“Thank you so much.”
“It’s alright. What exactly do you want to know?”
“I want you to explain this arrangement to me, you said I’m your Alpha’s new mate. Was that really the reason he paid a high price for me? Just so I can be his mate?”
Diana bit her bottom lip, then stopped, “There are layers to the arrangement, and that is precisely why Nylon and Jax told you to wait for Alpha Valric. But, if I can summarize it for you, yes, you are to be his mate, but it’s not because he needs one.”
“Then why?”
Diana looked around the room to make sure they weren’t being listened in on. Only when she was sure that they were completely alone did she respond.
“Alpha Valric has always been one to secure his... goods. He wants you as a mate because you possess something he can’t let anyone else have”.
- Writer
