Trapped in the Den of Alphas

Chapter 8

I tuck the broom in the corner of the cleaning closet and wipe the sweat from my brow before looking back into the kitchen. Sighing heavily, I mumble insults under my breath when I see the mess left behind by the two great oafs who prepared dinner in here earlier. “Disgusting pricks,” I groan, lifting the tray with remnants of a few chicken carcasses to toss it in the trash.

I have already cleaned this part of the house today. Well, if you can even call it cleaning. I spent at least three hours mopping and scrubbing for it to look only marginally better at the end of it all. It seems that looking after this house is going to be a lot harder than I expected. More than a few times, I almost threatened to give up. To head back to my room/prison cell and pretend I never made the stupid deal with Mateo in the first place. But I know for a fact that I would regret it soon enough. Allowing my body some freedom to move today has made me feel slightly better.

After washing my hands, I glance at the wooden table to see a plate lying there with some chicken meat and bread. “I assume this is mine…” I say to no one in particular, slouching down onto the seat to begin eating.

It’s not unpleasant but a little bland for my tastes. From what I’ve noticed already in this place, the food is pretty dull, with bread and some kind of meat being the staple of every meal. Seasoning also seems to be non-existent, but for now, I’m not going to complain. I’m too damn hungry for that.

“How has your day been?” a voice asks from behind.

I turn around to see Mateo standing in the doorway. “Awful,” I answer without delay. “But better than yesterday.”

“At least that’s something,” he says, folding his arms over his chest as he gives me a sympathetic look.

“What is it now?” I ask suspiciously, raising an eyebrow.

“They wanted me to tell you that dinner is almost over upstairs, and the plates are waiting to be cleared.”

I tut in annoyance and roll my eyes. “Never saw that one coming,” I groan sarcastically, finishing the last piece of bread. “This evening just keeps getting better and better!”

It’s then that I notice the pensive look on Mateo’s face as he stares off into space. “Are you alright?” I ask curiously.

“Huh? Yeah fine… I guess I just know the feeling,” he shrugs.

“You’ve had a bad day?” I enquire, picking up a cloth to take with me upstairs.

“Not really, but I’m about to,” he answers cryptically. “Never mind.”

My eyebrows crease, and I open my mouth to question him further, just as a gruff voice disturbs the silence. “ELF! WHERE ARE YOU? COME. NOW.”

I turn to look up the stone steps, and my shoulders slump. “I’ll see you later,” I grumble to Mateo, taking the route to the main living area as quickly as possible.

As I round the corner, I cast my eyes over the long rectangular dining table set out down the side of the room. There are a few empty chairs here and there. However, the majority are occupied by the beasts who are still eating, drinking and laughing together. It doesn’t escape my notice that he isn’t here.

Does the leader ever eat with the rest of them?

I hold my head high and walk toward the men, starting at the top of the table, where I begin piling the finished dinner plates in my arms. “About time, elf,” one of them snorts. I stare at him blankly for a moment taking in his red hair and scruffy beard before I decide to ignore his taunts completely. My jaw begins to ache under the pressure of gritting my teeth together, but what would be the point in arguing back anyway. It will only land me in more s**t. I continue working my way down the row of men until I have just about as much crockery as I can carry before returning it downstairs.

The cleanup process takes more than a few trips, but I’m relieved to be left alone for most of it, save for a few snappy comments here and there.

Finally, the men disperse from the table, allowing me some breathing space from the thick tension. It appears it’s not only me who is having a hard time adjusting to this new arrangement; it seems like perhaps some of the wolf-men are too. Of course, there are the mouthy ones who seem to enjoy partaking in my misery, but there are also a number of them who can barely look me in the eye. Who tend to just ignore me altogether. It’s as though my presence here makes them uncomfortable. I prefer this. I’m happy to be ignored if it means I can go about my business in peace.

On my final trip to the kitchen, I am stopped by a voice from behind.

“Elf.”

I turn to see the blond man, Zeke, looking back at me. “My name is Eden,” I retort, narrowing my eyes.

He nods but doesn’t bother to correct himself. Instead, he points to the narrow staircase, the one which I have been warned not to go near.

“Conall had dinner in his quarters. You should remove the plates. They will be outside his door,” Zeke explains matter-of-factly before heading off on another mission.

I watch him leave for a few seconds and briefly wonder what he does around here all day. I didn’t see him relaxing with the other men earlier, and he always seems to be charging around with great intention. Still, I have no idea why or what he is actually doing.

Quickly, I scurry into the kitchen and get rid of the stuff in my hands before I begin making the journey up the narrow set of forbidden stairs.