HIS MATE, His Seductress

You Smell Differently

ELSA'S POV:

The ringing sound in the background pulled me from my restless sleep. I groaned and blinked my eyes open, desperately searching for my phone.

“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, trying to control the wave of anger bubbling up inside me.

“Mr. Graham?” I mumbled as soon as I answered the call.

“Elsa?” His voice was tense, making me sit up straight. Every muscle in my body protested from the ache of spending the night kneeling in the cold.

“How’s everything going?” He asked.

“Great,” I lied, forcing a cheerful tone despite the despair clawing at me. I had just been allowed to rest and instructed to sleep for a while, a command from Ezekiel that still stung.

“Okay, just checking in. Don’t forget to take your pills,” he said, and before I could even respond, he hung up.

I let out a heavy sigh, the weight of frustration crashing down on me as I pulled myself out of bed. The wall clock flashed at 9 a.m. I was late for my morning duties.

After changing into my uniform, I dragged myself to the storage room for my cleaning supplies, dreading what lay ahead.

When I knocked on Ezekiel's door, a sinking feeling told me he might not be there.

Gently, I opened the door and stepped inside. Just as I suspected, his chamber was empty.

A wave of relief washed over me; I didn’t want to face him, not after everything. I was still furious that he had let me sleep in the cold.

It took me nearly an hour to tidy up his room. As I searched for anything I might have missed, I felt a sense of satisfaction, everything seemed in order.

Just as I was about to leave, the door swung open, and there stood Ezekiel, radiating confidence.

My breath caught in my throat as I took in the sight of him.

He wore a snug, sleeveless black tank top that clung to his sculpted arms and chest, emphasizing every muscle. The dark gray athletic shorts hung low on his hips, drawing attention to his strong legs and narrow waist. His hair was slightly damp and tousled, giving him an irresistibly rugged look, and beads of sweat glistened on his forehead.

I swallowed hard, my eyes briefly tracing over his physique before quickly snapping back to his face.

He caught me staring and a smirk spread across his lips.

“You like what you see?” he teased, swaggering further into the room after shutting the door behind him. I shook off the daze I was in and rolled my eyes, determined to stay silent.

“Aww!” he exclaimed, feigning disappointment. “Not the silent treatment, Princess.”

His playful tone only fueled my frustration, stirring a mix of annoyance and undeniable attraction inside me.

“Whatever,” I muttered under my breath, trying to push past him. But he grabbed my arm, and before I knew it, I was pressed against him.

Time seemed to freeze as we locked eyes, our hearts pounding in sync. I swallowed hard, feeling my legs tremble beneath me.

“Oh no, I can't let him see me weak,” I thought desperately, searching for my inner strength. I needed to stay angry at him, not turn into a quivering mess.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly, breaking the moment.

“Hmm,” I replied, trying to pull away from him. I knew that if I spoke, I would betray my feelings.

Then, out of nowhere, he leaned closer, his face near my neck. “You smell different today,” he remarked, and it jolted me back to reality.

I suddenly remembered I hadn’t taken my pills yet. Panic surged through me.

Without giving a response or giving him a reason to pry further, I wriggled out of his grasp and bolted from the room, not daring to look back.

“Hold on!” Mina shouted as soon as she spotted me. “Who’s chasing you?” she asked, her nose instinctively sniffing the air.

“Later!” I yelled, racing down the stairs. Once I stashed my cleaning supplies, I rushed back to my room.

I forced the pills down my throat, the bitter taste a harsh reminder of why I was here. My heart raced, a mix of anger and frustration swirling inside me.

“I hate this!” I screamed in frustration, feeling the weight of my situation crushing down on me. I just wanted my life back, free from this nightmare.

A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.

“I’m coming in,” Mina said, pushing the door open without waiting for a response.

“You’re acting strange,” she observed, eyeing me with suspicion.

As she stepped closer, she sniffed the air, studying me for a moment before shaking her head. “Are you hiding something?”

“No,” I laughed nervously, trying to appear nonchalant while watching her closely.

“Anyway,” she continued, “your Master’s girlfriend wants to see you. She’s in the lounge.” Her expression turned sympathetic. “Honestly, it looks like you’re in for a rough day.” With that, she turned to leave.

At the door, she looked back and said, “my heart is with you, dearest. Much love.” And then she was gone.

It felt like she was urging me to be brave. Rue was a constant thorn in my side, and as long as things stayed like this, I knew she wouldn’t let up.

I rushed to take a shower, anxious about when Rue would decide to release me, especially after what had happened yesterday.

True to Mina's warning, Rue was already in the lounge, accompanied by two of the ladies I had met at the hunt, one of whom was Mariel. My stomach twisted at the thought of facing them.

Mariel was the first to spot me.

“Elsa?” She smiled brightly as soon as she saw me.

Rue huffed, shooting me a glare. “The maid is here,” she announced, then turned to the other lady, who rolled her eyes and looked away, clearly disgusted by my presence.

“Why do you need her here?” Mariel asked, her gaze suddenly intense, pulling my attention to her.

“I don’t need her here. I need her to take care of my bedroom,” Rue whined, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

If that was all she wanted, she could have said so from the start. I wouldn’t have had to come here and face the judgment in her eyes.

“I’m sure there are other maids available. This girl looks worn out already, especially after what you told me she went through last night,” Mariel defended me, and my heart skipped a beat. It was such a small gesture, but knowing she might actually care about me filled me with a warmth I desperately needed.

“Who cares?” the other lady piped up. “Maids don’t need rest. They should work until they drop dead.” Her tone felt personal, as if she had something against me. Maybe it was because of what Rue had told her.

“Don’t be mean,” Mariel said with a chuckle, turning to Rue. “If you really don’t want Elsa working for your guy, she can come work for me instead.”

“You wish! Ezekiel wouldn’t let her go,” Rue spat viciously. “If there’s any way I can get rid of her, I’ll do it as soon as possible.”

I cleared my throat softly, reminding her I was still in the room.

“What are you waiting for?!” she yelled, suddenly springing up and lunging at me. But before she could reach me, Mariel grabbed her and held her back.

“Elsa, just go do what she asked,” Mariel said calmly, and I nodded, biting my lip to hold back my frustration.

“If you hate her this much, just send her to me,” I heard Mariel joke, but there was an undertone that made me wonder if she was serious.

“Maybe she likes you,” a voice in my head suggested, and I froze in my tracks. “No way!” I screamed internally.

Could the rumors about her being gay actually be true?