Craving The Blue Wolf Luna

Risking It All

CHAPTER 5

LEILA’S POV

I thought the journey would never end. The maids kept taking every turn, every nook and cranny of the pack, making me wonder if the Alpha’s bedroom was really that hidden from the public. Was this like some secret bedroom of sorts?

Just when I was about to ask them how much longer it would take to finally arrive there, we rounded one last corner and stepped into the beginning of a long hallway, my gaze immediately drawn to the grand door at its far end.

There were no guards stationed outside the huge door, which made me wonder if it was truly the Alpha’s bedroom—but the grand door, with intricate wooden designs carved into it, confirmed my suspicions.

One of the maids—black-haired, with sire-gray eyes and a soft voice that could have sent pups to sleep if not for her snarky, cunningly evil nature—knocked on the door and announced our arrival.

A few seconds later, she pushed open the door, leading me along with two other maids into the bedroom.

The minute I walked in, my jaw dropped. The entire decor of the bedroom was lavish and exotic, every inch screaming wealth and power.

We rounded another corner and stepped into his inner chambers. The Alpha’s bed was huge—if all the beds in my family home were combined, it still wouldn't be enough. In fact, they could probably cut a hundred pieces of my current bed from it and still have leftovers.

“Will you keep staring or drop the jar?” His deep baritone voice jerked me out of my daydream, and I realized the Alpha was already seated with his food laid out before him.

I glanced quickly at the other maids and saw them standing to the side like obedient lab rats, hands clapped over their mouths as they tried to stifle their giggles.

“I'm sorry, Alpha,” I said quickly, dropping my tray and placing the jar right next to him before scurrying—a little too fast—to my position beside the other maids.

All the while I stood there, I couldn’t help wondering if he actually liked having eyes on him. Wasn’t he even the least bit in need of some privacy? Must we really all stand here and watch him eat?

Well, it’s none of my business. This only serves to push my plan further along, as if the goddess herself had decided to ease the burdens on my shoulders.

But then I had a mental image of the future and knew that if I didn’t fully make use of this sweet opportunity, I’d probably spend the next two weeks doing the same thing every evening, stuck on a loop.

I'll have to think of something…

He finished quickly, and I moved when the rest did, the clink of plates filling the air as I helped them clear the used dishes.

I’d just turned to leave along with the others when Alpha Alaric suddenly called out my name.

“Leila, stay. The rest of you may go.”

I tensed, wondering what he needed, my pulse quickening before I turned to face him. Then he signaled for one of the maids to take the tray from my hands.

Long after they were gone, and the sound of the door clicking shut faded into the air, Alpha Alaric rose to his feet, his tunic robe draping over his broad, powerfully masculine body, exposing his toned, wonderfully defined abs—Stop it!

“What are you doing?”

“Huh?” My head jerked up, wondering if I’d been caught ogling my mate. It’s not like I can help it—the bond wasn’t giving me any breathing space.

“Why are you with my maids, serving me dinner?”

I blinked, relieved that he was asking about something else. “Uhm, well, I volunteered to work in the kitchen today.”

The lines between his eyebrows deepened. “You're my slave, not a maid.”

“A slave with freedom.”

“Limited to the packhouse, and unless I summon her.” He took one step closer.

I huffed, trying not to show how badly he was intimidating and affecting me. “You don’t expect me to rot in that cage for the rest of my life.”

“Two weeks.”

“What?” I asked softly, confused as to why he was suddenly bringing that up again.

“You’re only staying there for two weeks, and after that I’ll decide on what to do with you. I know this is your silly attempt to make me change my mind about your family.”

I sighed before lying smoothly through my teeth. “No, it’s not. I only wanted to work so I wouldn’t lose my mind. And I had no hand in delivering your meal—I just found myself here, and it’s not like I can refuse.” I already have enough problems as it is.

“You're not a very good liar.” He turned towards his bed. “You may leave.”

I didn't need to be told twice. I bolted out of there as fast as I could, only stopping when I was safely away from his bedroom.

My heart was thumping so loud as I tried to catch my breath. Goddess, is this how the mate bond really works? I was so close to throwing myself at him!

“Well, you can’t blame me,” I said to myself. “It’s not like there’s another option when a godly looking man with the most intoxicating scent ever is standing so close to your face!” I whisper-yelled before looking around to make sure no one heard me, then strode back to the kitchen.

When I got there, it was back to normal, not as chaotic as it was before, and the head chef was serving another set of dishes.

“Do you need me to take these to the dining room?” I asked.

“No, someone else will do that,” she answered coldly.

“Oh,” I said softly and turned to leave but found no one at the dining table, with clear evidence they’d already eaten there.

I walked back to the kitchen. “There's no one left at the table,” I said, not wanting her to waste the food.

“I know. These aren't for the pack members; they're for your people in the dungeon.”

My eyes widened. My family was going to be fed?!

I hurried to her side. “My family? Really? Then… why didn’t you want me to take it down there?”

“Because no one comes in contact with their families in the dungeon. It can be seen as an act of rebellion against the pack and the Alpha. You would be punished greatly if you’re caught.”

“But I just need to see my family, please let me—”

“No! That’s enough,” she snapped, shoving a plate into my hand. “Go up to your room, eat, and prepare for tomorrow’s work.”

Quietly, I made my way upstairs but stopped at the first landing and hid myself in the shadows, waiting for the maidservants who would deliver food to my pack members to pass by. When they did, I quietly followed them, walking barefoot and making sure I maintained enough space between us.

When they got to the dungeon, they were stopped by the guards, who began inspecting the food for anything suspicious, while I carefully got down on my knees and crawled close to the wall.

The guards led the maids in, and I followed them until I reached a small corner where I hid myself, waiting as the food got served to my family and the other pack members.

I dared not even breathe too loudly, not until I was sure they'd left. The dungeon was dark and silent again, except for the faint sound of plates moving about on the floor.

I crouched slightly, walking out of my hiding place with one hand on the wall, and traced my way back to the previous cell where my parents were.

“Mom, Dad,” I called out in a soft whisper, but the people in there were some members of my pack.

“Leila,” they called softly, moving closer to the bars—though not too close, because they were made of silver. “What are you doing down here?”

“I just came to see my parents. Do you know where they are?”

“The last holding cell. But you need to hurry. The guards will soon be back to collect our plates,” one man said, and I thanked him before running towards the end of the dungeon, only stopping when I finally found them.

“Leila?” my mom called out, and I smiled through tears. “Mom, it's me.”

“My dear,” my dad said, moving closer. “What are you doing here? Don't you know how dangerous it is for you to be caught here?”

I nodded. “Yes, yes, I know. But I couldn't rest easy, not knowing how you were faring. I had to come see you,” I added, sobbing slightly.

My dad stared at me for a few seconds, his eyes slowly watering, before he still stretched his hand through the bars, wincing and gritting his teeth as the silver burned his flesh.

“Father!” I screamed in horror, but he didn’t stop until his warm, rough palm and fingers were grazing my cheeks.

“My sweet, sweet girl. You’re so brave. But I can’t let you risk it. Don’t worry, we are fine. As you can see, we’re also being fed.” He smiled, then his lips turned down with worry. “What about you? Are you fine? He isn’t doing something awful to you, is he?”

I shook my head. “No, Dad. I’m safe. In fact, the Alpha has actually given me a chance to prove your innocence and get you out of here.”

Alarm flashed across his face, so I quickly added, “No, no, it’s okay. Everything will be fine. You just need to tell me how you lost your badge in de—”

“LEILA, RUN!” my mother yelled, staring past me in panic.

I looked back, only to be smacked across the face so hard that my body fell forward and my head slammed against the ground.

Pain spread across my body, and I raised my hand to my head, feeling something wet that was slowly dripping down my face.

I looked ahead, as my vision began to blur out, a figure stood afar. My eyes squeezed tightly at the pain throbbing at the back of my head.

Slowly I felt my body drift and collapse to the floor, my eyes unable to stay open.

The screams and shout of my family sounded like it was coming from faraway, and just before my eyes sealed shut, a face appeared in my vision.

Alpha Alaric? Is that you?

I wondered as I finally lost consciousness.