MARKED BY DECEPTION

7-TOO LATE FOR A MAID

I had managed to sneak out of the kitchen by noon to meet up with Simon, Cornelius,Jeremiah and John behind a brewery station.

It was the perfect hideout.The noise that came from the machineries made it hard to hear us conversing and the pungent smell of beer further helped conceal our scent.

They looked at me eager, wondering why I had called for this impromptu meeting.

“We need a new strategy”, I propose calmly. I am now met with widened eyes as expected.

“What?!”, Simon exclaims. I see a vein popping at his neck. He turns to look at Cornelius.

“What did I tell you?”.

What did he tell him?

I look at them both, trying to read their body language. Have they been having meetings without me?

Cornelius was calm. “Why?" He asked me.

“What do you mean why?she wants to be the leader”, Simon blurts out.

What a fool.

Jeremiah hisses, I had noticed he was already previously agitated. Perhaps the menial labour had started to get to him.

“Shut up and let her speak”, Jeremiah says,tone sharp like a sword.

From the distended vein showing on Simon's face now, it was obvious he had not been expecting that outburst from him, nor had John.

He rubs his arm gently,“Calm down brother”.

There was now silence, my cue to continue.

“The alpha is more intuitive than Brandon thinks. I think he underestimates his intelligence” I pause, looking at how they were taking this information.

“I am not saying we change everything entirely- ” I continue.

Simon cuts in sharply, “Then what are you saying?”

I roll my eyes.

It took everything in me not to throw a punch across his face.

“He already suspects me!” There’s a relief I feel after I confess.

“What?!”, this time, they all exclaim.

“We just got in,” John murmurs, loud enough for everyone to hear.

Cornelius folds his arm, his jaw clenched “what do you mean Lyra?!” , for the first time his tone is sharp towards me.

Jeremiah lets out a nervous laughter, “I hope you’re not mistaking interest for suspicion?”

Simon does not say anything yet. He just keeps pacing up and down which makes me even more irritated than Jeremiah’s doubt.

“He tried to mindlink me. Why would he do that if he’s not suspecting me?”

Silence.

I feel the tension amongst us build.

Cornelius decides to be the voice of reason.

“Let's not jump to conclusions just yet. He’s an alpha , it’s natural to find every new member suspicious.”

But he wasn’t looking at the other girls like he did me.

I was sure he was not trying to barge into their minds too.

Simon walks toward me, fist tightening “This is what happens when you work with women”.

Subconsciously, I had been waiting for Simon to make it a gender thing.

I look at this man who is now in front of me breathing heavily.

My eyebrows raise in quizzical fashion “Do you want to fight me?”.

He’s silent, still moving closer.

From the smell of his breath I could tell he’d had entertained himself with a few drinks.

“I see you knew of this location before I did”

In a split second, his hand is lifted up to my face.

“Don’t be silly!”Cornelius catches his wrist tight in mid-air.

Simon groans in pain as he twists his arm.

“We could have conversations like mature adults”, he pushes him to the ground.

“Continue talking Lyra, what do you suggest we do?” Jeremiah moves closer to me, alongside John.

I take a look at Simon lying pathetic on the floor before lifting my chin.

“I don’t think we should start immediately.He’s alert now, his guards are up. We need a week to blend in properly, the three days won’t work especially on my ends.” I continued.

John shuffles his feet on the ground nervously; “so…. when do we tell the alpha?”

My gaze shifts back to Simon, “don’t worry, he’ll handle that part”.

It’s now pitch dark outside; “I have to go before they notice I’m absent at the palace”

They all give me a goodbye handshake;“Be careful”, Cornelius warns. “Life in a palace is dangerous”.

I nodded, turning away.

After fifteen minutes, I slipped back into the palace through the servants corridor.

The halls were quiet.

Too quiet for comfort,I swear I could hear a pin drop.

I was about to take a turn to the corridor leading to our quarters when I saw a shadow of a familiar man in front of me.

“I didn’t know the cooks worked this late”

I froze.

That voice.

I look up slowly.

Alpha Darius stood there,my eyes locked with his, just like the first day I stepped foot into this palace.

I had been caught.