Chapter 9
2696 Words
I stared at my teacher, Grace, and then at the masked man whom I had predicted to be the Beta. They also stared at me waiting for me to say a word. There was silence for a while with them just staring at me. I tried not to look at them but soon decided to speak up and break the silence.
"Sorry" I muttered when I realized I had nothing to say to them. He stared at me. "I-i...". I moved a bit forward and almost fell. My legs were suddenly weak seeing him stare at me. "I..."
I heard him groan.
"Do you have something to say?" my teacher asked and I chuckled nervously.
"N-no. N-not really" I replied and he groaned again.
My teacher stared at me and sighed.
"I am so sorry" she muttered to him.
He spoke a few inaudible words to my teacher before finally leaving. I rushed toward her.
"I-is that the Beta? What did he say to you?" I asked and she stared at me.
"Why are you late for class today?"
I shrugged. "I was..."
"You are bored and do not want to attend the class"
"N-no. I slept late yesterday and..."
"That's enough. Let's begin with the class"
"You won't tell me if he is the Beta?"
She frowned. "You can't ask about any other person except the Alpha"
"Will you answer me if I ask you about the Alpha?"
She groaned. "I won't say anything about the Alpha to you"
I sighed. "I knew it" I muttered and she stared at me.
"What did you say?"
"Can we go on with the class please?" I answered, changing the topic and she sighed.
"I guess we can" she replied
I picked up a book and we began the class. Bella joined us some minutes later with a basket full of snacks and Grace allowed me to take a break and eat some.
"We will start after a few minute's break. I am going on an errand. I will be back soon" she told me.
I returned to my room to rest before returning to the living room. Grace was not back when I got there. I sat down to wait for her but a guard walked in to tell me Grace won't be returning until tomorrow. Bella also left a few minutes later. I could tell something had happened but I don't know what it was. I returned to my room to do the assignment Grace had given to me.
**
"Ma'am?" Bella called
I opened my eyes and sat up. It was already late in the night when Bella returned and I had already thought she wasn't going to come back just like Grace did not.
"Bella? When did you get back?" I asked
"Just now. You must be bored to have slept off"
I nodded, yawning slightly. "I was. I thought you would not be returning"
She sighed. "I thought that too but I am here now"
I stood up from the bed. "Can you get me a glass of water, please? I feel thirsty"
She nodded and stood up. I went into the bathroom to pee and then returned to the bedroom. Bella entered the room with a glass of water and handed it over to me. Her countenance had changed compared to how it was when she came in the first time and I wondered what had caused that.
"Are you ok?" I asked furrowing my brows
She sighed. "The Alpha is back and he seeks your presence"
I batted my lashes. He is back? Why does she sound so sad and not afraid as she did when she first told me he was coming? I moved closer to her.
"Are you sure you are ok?"
I was more bothered about her countenance than I am with my meeting with the Alpha. She stared at me and smiled.
"I am fine, ma'am. Trust me"
I could see the sadness in her eyes though she tried to conceal it. I stared at her.
"You do not look fine to me. Is there something going on with you? Tell me what is wrong with you"
"I..."
There was a knock on the door and she stood up to go and open the door. She returned after a while.
"Ma'am, you need to take your bath. The Alpha is an impatient person. I will go make your bath"
As she turned to leave, I stopped her. "Bella?" I called. "Is there something I need to know about the alpha?"
She stared at me and I could see fear in her eyes. She looked around and moved closer to me. "H-he just killed someone for stealing a tuber of yam" she whispered stuttering slightly and I froze.
Did he do that? To someone who stole a tuber of yam?
"He is being heartless. What sort of an Al..." She covered my mouth to stop me from talking.
"Y-you can't speak ill of him. He might kill you" she said in such a low voice.
"He is so heartless. I am going to face him and talk some sense to him. I don't care what he does to me" I wanted to scream this out but the look on Bella's face made me change my mind.
I was ready to get into trouble if that will help me say the truth but that will also put Bella and others in trouble. I sighed.
"Just go make my bath," I said and she left to prepare my bath.
I sat down on the bed and brushed my hair backward, a thing I have been doing for a while to show my frustration. I had learned to live without being able to say what I want to. My dad had taught me to ignore a lot of things and now I feel it wasn't right to always do that.
Bella return when she was done. "Ma'am" she called and I stood up.
I went into the bathroom to take my bath and returned some minutes later. Bella had kept some clothes on the bed and there was a new face I do not know in the room. Bella stood up when she saw me.
"Who is she?" I asked in a whisper
"A makeup artist that will make you up" she replied in a whisper and I furrowed my brows.
A makeup artist to make me up? Just to see the Alpha? I wanted to ask her more questions but decided against it. I sat down to rub myself and then settle down for the makeup artist to make me up. When she was done, I got dressed and was ready to go.
"I will go tell the guards you are ready to leave," she told me after the makeup artist left and I nodded.
When she returned to the room to tell me I can come out to meet the guards, I was already by the door. We went outside the house together and Bella stopped by the door.
"Are you not coming with us, Bella?" I asked.
She shook her head in disapproval. "No, I am not. I can't"
I furrowed my brows. "You..."
"We have to go now," one of the guards said and I sighed.
I stared at Bella for the last time and she gave me an assuring smile. And despite noticing behind her smile might be a bit of fear, I smiled back at her before leaving. When we were just a distance away I noticed I wasn't with my handkerchief and thought about going back to get it but remembering that Bella had told me that the Alpha is an impatient one and also having entered the bad book of the Beta I decided against it.
"A day without it won't hurt me right?" I thought.
I suddenly heard the sound of running feet and had to turn to see who it was or who they were. I saw Bella running towards us. She had the handkerchief Bella made for me in her hand. The same I was worried I wasn't with.
"Can I go and meet her? Please?" I asked anxiously and one of the guards whom I presume to be the head guard nodded.
I rushed toward Bella to meet her halfway. "Is everything alright?"
She nodded, panting. "Y-you left this and I thought you might need it," she said, stretching it to me.
I took it from her and muttered a thank you. "I do not expect you to bring it"
"You told me how precious it was to you and how you can not stay without. I presume you might need it in a situation like this"
I touched her cheek and smiled. "Thanks, Bella. I appreciate"
"Can we go now?" The guard asked.
"You should leave, ma'am. I will be in the house awaiting your return" Bella said.
"Do you think I might be able to return today?"
She sighed. "It depends on the Alpha's mood. Or you might not..." She stared at me and sighed. "You should leave"
"Or I might not return at all" I concluded in my heart and sighed. "Bella, you should go back and not worry about me," I said to her. "Because if I happen to die, I do not want you to worry about it"
She waved at me and then left, while I returned to meet the guards waiting for me. There was silence as we walk to the packhouse. The packhouse was dead silent with only a few people walking about. Some stared at me like they had not seen me before while others go about their normal business not sparing me a glance. I wondered why the packhouse was silent despite having people in it. As we walked through the hallway, we met some maids who whispered to themselves staring at me.
Two maids walked past us so quickly only to stop behind us.
"Is she the Alpha's mistress?" One whispered to the other.
"Yes, I heard her pack members gave her out as an exchange for peace" the other answered.
"She is too beautiful to be treated that way. Do you think she did something terrible to her pack members to have been given out?"
I could hear them speak though they talked more in a whisper. I wondered if they were following us from behind and wanted me to hear what they are saying.
"I had she is cursed," one of them said and I stopped moving.
She knew I was cursed? Did a member of my pack tell them that?
"She is cursed? By who?"
"By the moon goddess. I heard she doesn't have a mate because she is too beautiful" I heard and I sighed.
Thank goodness they did not know the real reason I was cursed.
"What would have been my fate if they do?"
I breathed a sigh of relief and made to go when one of them bumped into me from the back. I guess they did not notice I had stopped.
"I-i am so sorry" she muttered and I smiled.
"It's nothing"
"T-thank you, ma'am" she replied and they both hurried away quickly.
I followed the guard and we got to a door with three guards guiding it. I suspected the door leads to the Alpha's room. One of the guards that had brought me whispered to one of the guards on guard and he entered the room.
"This is where we are going to go back," one of the guards said and I stared at him.
"Y-you want to leave me?"
"The other guards will take it from here," he said and they left.
I waited for the guard that had gone in to return. I was soon pacing around the hallway getting bored just standing here doing nothing. I wondered why it is taking ages to talk to the Alpha and bringing the report back.
"Did the Alpha stop him from coming out? What if he had killed him for coming to talk to him about me?" I shivered a bit.
The thought of him killing someone because of a tuber of yam made me think of other reasons he might kill people. I see him as a ruthless person who cares less about others. Despite not meeting him before, I still could not help but think that way.
"When is he coming back?" I asked and the two other guards stared at me. "I mean the guard that had gone in. When will he return?"
They only stared at me but said nothing to me. I wondered if they were deaf or being directed not to speak to me. They looked away when I made to say something and I knew immediately they must have been directed not to speak to me.
"That is so childish of the Alpha," I thought and frowned.
Though I fear him to some extent, I still cannot help but think ill of him when I have the chance.
"Did he really, kill him?" I thought when he still did not show up. "Is he..."
The door opened and he walked out. "Follow me," he said and turn to leave.
"Is the Alpha..." He turned to glare at me and I kept shut.
What is so special about the Alpha, that he can not be talked about? Why is he being treated like some sort of god? I had so many questions running through my mind as I followed him into the room. I had thought it was a room but instead, it was just a door leading to another hallway. I was surprised at what I saw. Who built a packhouse like this?
"Was my pack's packhouse the same as this?"
I had not been to a packhouse before as I wasn't allowed into ours. And when I was supposed to enter into one, my dad died. I walked slowly behind him wondering what sort of a place this is. It was so dark and quiet. We got to another door and he opened it.
"Wait here. The Alpha will see you soon"
I furrowed my brows. "H-he is not in here yet?"
He ignored me and left. I pointed my index finger at him in anger and cussed him with gritted teeth. I think his guards must have taken the rudeness from him. I opened the door and entered. It was an empty room with just a bed, a couch, and a table. I sat down on the couch.
"What am I supposed to be doing until his arrival?"
**
I staggered a bit when I felt I was going to fall and then opened my eyes. I had fallen asleep while waiting for the Alpha. I could see the sun shining in through the little opening of the window. It was morning already and the alpha did not show up. I yawned slightly, wiping off the drool at the corner of my mouth. I stretched feeling sour. I could hear the cracking of my bone and I groaned. I had fallen asleep on the couch and now all my body hurts badly.
"Was I supposed to remain here until he comes?" I wondered.
I was still contemplating what to do when the door opened and someone walked in. I stared at the shoes first and then slowly lift my eyes. My body shook in fright as everywhere suddenly became blank for a few seconds. I felt the surge of fear grip me and all I could think of is death. The aura was just not cold. It was strong and intimidating. I had met him before but what I see now was more fearful than I can imagine. His eyes were like flakes of fire and his hair red like burning coal.
I could only stare at him not because I was lost in thought but because of the fear that had taken over my soul and body. It was like he had a grip on me and I could neither move nor utter a word. Slowly I got my voice back and all I could mutter is "Y-you"
- Writer
