Chapter 9 IX

Felix is now sure he has lost his mind for good.

Why on earth did he do that?

Last night, after he found Elodie, not only did he forbid her to leave the village, but he also went back home and ordered Caleb to tell Lady Tessa to fetch Elodie Lunt immediately and bring her into the house as a new servant.

Felix could see the confusion on Gamma's face as he gave the order; he was confused too, but he simply couldn't risk leaving her out there unsupervised.

Not after hearing her thoughts about leaving the village.

But why did I get so angry when I found out she was thinking about leaving?

Why did I still care? I didn't want her as my partner, so why was I so furious?

"Because you love her, you idiot." Cedric replies, but I block him.

"Are you sure, sir? We're talking about the same maid you thought stole that uniform the other night, aren't we?" Caleb asked, as if unsure about my mental sanity.

"Yes." I replied, keeping my eyes on the files that contained all of Elodie's information. Everything. From her birthday to her high school certificates. And they all screamed one thing.

This girl was some random woman, more generic and impossible.

"And you want her back here in the pack house, as a servant?" Caleb presses me, still not convinced.

"Did I stutter? Has Mistress Tessa brought her here first thing? And settle her in the room next to mine." I look at Caleb, not believing my own words.

"Sir? But if you are bringing her here as a servant, the proper place for her would be in the servants' quarters on the second floor." Caleb argues incredulously.

"I know where the servants' quarters are, but I need to keep an eye on that girl. So you'll put her next to my room, is that clear?" I shouted, punching the table, my patience already running out.

"Keep an eye on her, sir?"

I realize my outburst must have set off an alarm in my gamma watcher's head.

"We're not sure if she's a thief or not. Her stepmother said she was upset about something that night. So, I would like to give her the benefit of the doubt by hiring her as a maid."

I spoke in an emotionless voice, trying to cover up any sign that showed an interest in Elodie.

"Why not assign a warrior to watch her then, sir? Bringing her into the house would leave her with a clear path to all the valuable goods we possess."

It makes me even angrier that he believes Elodie could indeed be a thief.

"And whose fault is that?" Cedric growls in my head.

"No. I'll be the one looking after her." I say between the teeth. "Now, go and notify Mistress Tessa. I want the girl here before noon. She will stay in the room next to mine and be my maid. Is that understood?"

My tone of voice leaves no room for further questions.

"Yes, sir." Caleb replies, and I leave immediately.

I sit down again and start going through the papers, stopping at the one that mentioned his stepmother, who happened to be a hunter in the gang. One of our best, to be precise.

Then I found the one detailing her father's death.

He and my father died on the same day; we both lost the only family member we had left, except that I was already a teenager at the time.

She was only seven years old...

I pick up Elodie's photo from the file and look into those big gray eyes.

"What are you doing to me, Elodie Lunt?" I mutter, lost in my feelings.

~~

"Okay, Elodie, here we are. Your new home." Mistress Tessa said as we walked down the huge hallway that led to the stairs.

We found the beta and gamma at the bottom of the steps.

"She's finally here!" The blonde shouts, and he reaches down and grabs my bag. "Welcome, Elodie. I'm looking forward to meeting the girl who caught our alpha's eye." He says this, extending his free hand.

"Hm, hi, beta Victor." I try to bow but am interrupted mid-descent.

"No need to be so formal with me. You can just call me Victor." The beta gives me a wink but is pushed away by the gamma.

"You've introduced yourself enough, Victor. The girl should be scared enough without your flirting. Miss Lunt, I'm Gamma Caleb Silas. Welcome to the leader's house." He pushed up his glasses as he spoke.

"T-thank you, Gamma Silas." I reply, bowing my head.

"The alpha has requested you as his maid. Your room is next door to his."

"Huh?" I gape, but he ignores my shock and continues speaking.

"You will be in charge of bringing your meals and also delivering your laundry every morning, understand?"

Caleb raises an eyebrow and looks at me cautiously.

"Hm, yeah. But why?" I look at Mistress Tessa. "I thought I would just be a common maid."

"No, my dear, it was a specific order from the alpha to assign you as his maid." Tessa says, smiling sweetly.

"But why me?" I inquire, still dumbfounded.

"Because I ordered it. That's why." A deep voice echoes over our heads. Shivers run down my spine.

We all looked up the stairs to see the alpha, whose icy blue eyes looked straight at me.

The four of us bowed our heads when we saw our leader.

"Alpha Moonstone." We said this in unison as he descended the stairs.

The alpha stops in front of me, and I can't help but shiver even more.

What if he hit me or punished me for questioning his orders?

"Is there a problem with my decision, Miss Lunt?"

I make brief eye contact with him, but I can't hold his gaze, so I look down at my feet. My hands keep twisting the hem of my shirt.

"No, sir." I manage to say.

"Very well. Come." He turns and leads me up the stairs, away from everyone else.

We walk down the corridor and turn right, stopping in front of a huge mahogany double door. Felix takes a key and opens it; nervously, I follow. The room was sophisticated and elegant, with dark blue-painted walls. The wall to the left contained several shelves filled with books that went all the way to the ceiling.

On the opposite side was an L-shaped leather sofa with a beautiful tea table in front of it. There was also a huge window with beautiful velvet curtains.

Overlooking the window was a large desk with a computer next to a pile of papers, pens, and other things.

There was a leather chair behind it and two smaller wooden ones in front of the guests. The walls were filled with portraits, in which I recognized our previous alphas. This must be his office.

Alpha Felix came around the large desk and sat down. I stand in front of him, not knowing whether I should sit or not. I decided to stand.

"I expect you to be properly settled in later today. Your duties begin tomorrow. I drink my first cup of coffee at six in the morning. My clothes should be ready by seven, and breakfast should be served at half past eight in my room." He looks at me with his usual stoic expression.

"While I have my meal, you will make my bed and collect the laundry. I drink another cup of coffee at eleven and expect lunch to be ready at one o'clock. Lunch is always served in the alpha's dining room. Tessa will show you where it is."

I stand there in front of him, listening to his orders and doing my best to memorize them.

"After lunch, I'll be patrolling, so you'll have the afternoon free to do whatever you want, except for leaving the mansion. Dinner is served in the dining room at seven o'clock sharp. Is everything clear?"

I nod.

"I prefer words to body signals; do you understand, Miss Lunt?"

"Y-Yes, sir."

"Very well. Your room is the one next to mine. Go and settle in." With that, he turns his attention to the papers on his desk.

I stand there, unable to move an inch. There was something I needed to ask, but I didn't know how. He noticed my confusion.

"Was there something you didn't understand?"

"N-no, sir. I... I wanted to ask about Freya. My stepmother."

"What about her?" Felix asks, not bothering to look at me.

"Will I be allowed to visit her?" He puts down the paper he was reading and looks at me for a minute before turning his attention back to his work.

"You can see her on Sundays. That will be your day off." The alpha speaks in a monotone voice. "You can go now. I have work to do."

I take that as my cue to leave.

"Yes sir."