Chapter 1
896 Words
Ares Valeron raked his head in displeasure, clearly wanting to shut the voice interrupting his work.
‘I’m reminding you we are losing time everytime her birthday comes. This is the 4th time since her coming of age. She just turned 20. Are you setting us up for failure?’
He let out a low chuckle, “I do not need a preordained partner to be a reliable Alpha.”
His wolf growled in debate, ‘you’re not even worried her wolf hasn’t tried to call us yet. I imagine she should be desperate to find us by now.’
Having enough of the futile speculations he didn’t need right now, he shut him off before turning back to his documents, only to be interrupted in a short while by a faint knock.
~~~
Leila approached the tall door quietly, anxious to meet her new employer. This was it. An opportunity she quickly grabbed hold of. And she had no plans of messing up. Remembering Angie, she couldn’t let her down, after all she’d been referred by her.
She took a deep breath before confidently knocking. A few moments later and she heard a muffled yet deep and commanding voice.
“Come in.”
As soon as she’d entered, she met the lean figure sat before her, and refrained a small gasp of awe. He was gorgeous. She almost immediately took her words back as he slowly lifted his gaze from the papers and bore his dark orbs straight through her very soul. She felt exposed, as if being scrutinised under the microscope. Gorgeous and intimidating.
“New maid, I presume.”
“Yes sir.” She responded, almost a whisper.
“Your name?” He leaned back, never taking his gaze from mine. The ray of light escaping from the blinds reflected against his sleeked back black hair.
“Leila sir.”
“Your father?”
“...I... I’m human sir.”
“And the head maid personally recommended you?”
He seemed sceptical. His gaze clearly asking me how we were acquainted when I was human.
“I am already familiar around the work sir, that is why.” She cautiously says, avoiding his gaze. She wasn’t used to being stared at for long periods, and had instinctively turned her attention to the edge of the table.
He on the other hand slightly squinted his eyes.
“Hm,” rising up, Leila couldn’t help taking a small retreat as his tall, broad stature shadowed her own. She wasn’t petite but now she was.
Cowering, she burned holes at the floor as he nonchalantly stepped closer to her. Then, he bent a little, his hot breath not missing to tickle the crest of her ear.
“Now, why would a human come all the way here, simply to work in a wolves’ den as a maid— the same human who abhor and constantly ‘worry’ of our troubles?”
The sudden drop from his earlier diplomatic tone sent shivers down her spine, beckoning her to up and run. Her breathing faintly uneven and she’d hope he wouldn’t notice.
“I owe Angie a favour, sir.” She’d memorized this. Over and over, she was not messing this up. She was determined to prove her lack of ill intentions, yet as soon as she found courage to lift her gaze to him, she felt her knees giving off. She motioned to look back away but her eyes remained on his, jumping between his pair of charcoal irises.
She listens at his slow, ragged intake of air, followed by a much slower pace of exhalation as if to calm him down. Then, as if he’d grabbed hold of his next question, his jaw briefly tightened before he’d opened them again.
“Must I have to ask for you to elaborate? I do not expect my guests to have to ask unnecessary questions because my people are lacking in service.”
This man was not in favour of her. She’d confirmed in her head. Bu she had nowhere to go, and certainly would never go back to the orphanage.
“It’s very...personal sir. As the head maid had already told you, I am only here to cover for her when she needs to care for her husband. And as you mentioned that you have no further need of maids, Angie had agreed to instead give me her allocated pay on the days I cover for her only.”
He continued being silent, only observing her.
‘Please’, she pleaded quietly. She watched him straighten up as he seemed to be considering thoroughly. She can almost make sense of his facial expression mumbling, ‘this is troublesome.’
She’s been so desperate, out of habit she bit hard on her bottom lip, blood eager to rush out.
Almost immediately howevere, he gave a slight nod before walking back and taking out a document from his drawer.
“Then, Leila...” her name had a compelling effect coming from his lips, “your signature.” He tapped at the bottom of the paper. Leila stepped closer, and while she was eager to secure this, she had the need to quickly scan over the conditions and benefits laid out. She bent forward a little, focusing on the words, and when she was done, she quickly scribbled her name below.
There was a sudden knock on the door, the butler coming in to say an important message had arrived played distantly in her mind as she mentally let out weeks’ worth of relief. On cue, she bowed and announced a little thank you and pardon as the door had opened. She gave the old butler a nod before heading out.
For the first time, she felt freedom. This may have been the best birthday present she’d tasted.
- Writer
