MARKED BY DECEPTION

3-MYSTERIOUS WOMAN

“They are a lot," Ethan commented. We stood at the balcony, on the third floor watching as the new workers tramped into the pack house.

Today, I opened the gates for new workers to join us. It was something I rarely did but the season we were approaching called for it.

“True-”, I nodded in agreement, “but we need more hands on deck for this year's event”.

Over twenty young women had walked inside this palace in the last thirty-minutes as kitchen ladies and there were even more workers outside being assigned to different parts of the pack.

If I had learnt anything from last year’s event, it was that more hands did not entirely spoil the broth, but made it cook faster. If I was going to have a successful Full Moon Cycle, then I might as well get new workers.

Last year was great,the pack was well entertained and fed but if I was being entirely honest,it could have been better.

This year, I didn't want to leave any room for complaints. I intended on showing my members that I had their best interest at heart.Though the council elders thought and said otherwise.

They had been questioning my leadership skills since I sat on this throne two years ago. I refuse to give them more things to talk about.

“The more the merrier”

Ethan shrugged,trying to force a smile“I guess”

I patted him on the shoulder,“Don’t worry,they'll be dismissed once the Full moon cycle ends”.

I had no intention of keeping over two hundred workers. There was no need, we were a small well to do pack.

Ethan hummed, I could tell what he was thinking from that worry that etched on his face. He confirmed it; “do you think the pack might be at risk with these many strangers?”

“You should have that in control”, I replied calmly. His shoulder dropped immediately , I could see the lack of confidence in his eyes and that was something we needed to work on.

"Of course, I and Clifford will help”, I chipped in,there was a sigh of relief from him.

“If I didn’t think you were capable of being a gamma you would not be in this position”, I tried to sound as stern and reassuring as possible. I hated when I believed in people who couldn’t believe in themselves. It sometimes felt like wasted optimism.

He looked down, probably ashamed at his lack of confidence “I am sorry”

“No need. Just do great, that’s the best apology”

He nodded, “ I certainly will,It’s in forty days right?”he asked, making my ears stand.

Was I the only one keeping tabs? Clifford had asked a similar question two days ago.

“Yes-you should know that Ethan.”

“Yes— I..I do”, he replied with a shaky voice, I don’t stress on it further.I noticed he had become forgetful of late, maybe being a new dad did that to a person.

We continued conversing when a raw, strong , rich scent hit my nose.

How could that be ?

I gripped the rails of the balcony, looking down to the courtyards, trying to trace where the unfamiliar scent came from. Ten young women had walked in, they were the last batch of kitchen ladies to enter the palace under the guidance of lady Rose.

My eyes scanned all of them quickly, trying to finger point who could possibly be playing naivety amongst them.

That scent?

It didn’t smell like that of an omega or pauper. There was no hint of submission or weakness.

Just raw power and strength.

As the ladies approached closer, Lady Rose, the chief supervisor of the kitchen, signaled them to greet.

“Good day Alpha”, they chorused, bowing down. I noticed one doesn’t bow down fully. Instead her eyes locked in on mine, leaving me confused and almost breathless?

“Darius?”

I do not respond, my eyes still pinned on them, specifically her.

“Is anything the problem?” Ethan asked, snapping me out of whatever that was. Perhaps he had noticed me staring at them for too long.

“Who is she?”, my thoughts escaped my lips before I could even stop them. I didn’t want him concerned, not yet.

“Who?”Ethan asked, his right eyebrows raised in curiosity. My gaze left them and focused on him,

“The one with the long light brown hair”, I said dryly.

Maybe If I sounded nonchalant enough, he wouldn’t mind that I had zoned out of our previous conversation or got bothered by a female.

A female omega for that matter.

Ethan stretched his neck trying to catch a glimpse of the ladies who had already walked by,“I don’t see anyone”.

“It’s okay, it was nothing.”

Her face was imprinted at the back of my mind. Those brown big eyes that looked at mine without a fear in the world, those full pink lips, she was beautiful, no doubt ,but that was not the issue right now.

It was the air of confidence she carried that made me worry. It’s almost as if she wanted me to notice her but why?

Why would she do that?

“Are you sure?”

“Yes”, I tried to shrug it off. “It’s nothing”

He still looked at me with worry and curiosity. I knew why. I had never shown interest or curiosity in a lady prior to now. It was strange for him to see me this way.

“I’d like to see all the women that got into the palace , I need to know who and who are being picked”.

Maybe I had trusted the guards and people he’d put in charge a little too much.

“Okay. Should I tell Lady Rose now?”, he asks.

“No, but I’d like to see them tomorrow morning”.

There was no need to rush or make anyone anxious so soon.

“I’d like everyone to feel settled and comfortable, it’s probably been a long day for each of them.”

“Okay my Lord”, I noticed he still looked unsteady, nervous you could say. The way he was playing with his fingers gave him away.

He was still learning what to do at times like this and that was part of the reasons I had called him up here to talk.

My gamma should be more confident in his decisions whether I questioned them or not.

“Come, let’s go see how the soldiers are training, shall we?”I placed my hand on his shoulder.

“Ofcourse”, he nodded leading the way. I followed him quietly from behind.

Maybe this was going take my mind off her for a while. Who knows?

‘There was something mysterious about that woman and I needed to know why before it was too late’