Chapter 4 No.4

Elvira

His presence sucked all the air out of the room. His broad shoulders filled the doorway, his dark cloak brushing against the wooden floor. The moment he stepped closer, the elderly woman beside me, who had been silently watching over me, bowed deeply before stepping out without a word.

Wait. Bowed?

I blinked, glancing between her retreating figure and the Alpha now pacing the room.

Why was she bowing?

The air in the room shifted, filled with tension. He moved back and forth, his heavy boots thudding softly against the floor. He didn't say a word, just kept pacing, his jaw tight, his brows furrowed.

I swallowed hard. Was he... thinking of what to do with me?

I pressed myself deeper into the bed, my pulse hammering. This man had saved me from the rogues, but why? What if he regretted it? What if he was trying to decide whether to toss me back outside?

Every few steps, he'd glance at me, his silver eyes unreadable. Just say something! The suspense was killing me. The pacing continued. One step. Two steps. A sharp turn. Then again.

I bit my lip, my nerves getting the best of me. Is he planning my funeral, or does he just like wearing out the floors?

His steps halted. For a moment, there was silence. Then, the door swung open again.

"Alpha Jaxon," a voice called.

I jumped. The new arrival was a man, tall and broad like the Alpha but not as imposing. His sharp features were set with urgency, his eyes moved between us.

Alpha Jaxon turned, annoyed. "What?"

The man, who I assumed was his Beta, spoke quickly. "We have a situation. It's urgent."

Alpha Jaxon sighed heavily, rubbing his temples as if the universe itself was testing his patience. He glanced at me briefly before turning back to the Beta.

"Fine. I'll be there in a moment."

The Beta gave a sharp nod and disappeared. Alpha Jaxon turned back to me, his golden eyes locking onto mine.

"I'll be right back," he said, voice firm. "A maid will come to help you with anything you need."

Then, without another word, he strode out, shutting the door behind him. I exhaled, shoulders slumping. Now alone, I let my eyes wander around the room. It was spacious but not overly lavish, with dark wooden walls, a large fireplace, and a window covered by thick curtains.

Where is this ?

I pushed myself off the bed, wincing as my wounds throbbed. I needed to know where I was. I limped toward the window and pulled the heavy curtains aside.

What I saw made me gasp.

I was on the top floor of a massive stone fortress, high above the ground. Below, warriors trained in a big courtyard, and beyond that, a dense forest stretched as far as the eye could see. My heart sank. I couldn't escape even if I wanted to. Even if I somehow managed to sneak past the guards, I wasn't surviving a fall from this height.

I let the curtain drop back in place and turned, my eyes landing on another door across the room. My curiosity got the best of me, and I limped toward it, pushing it open. It wasn't another bedroom. It was a study, or something like it. The room was dimly lit, filled with bookshelves, and a large desk stood in the center, papers scattered across it. But what caught my attention was what was displayed on a pedestal near the far wall.

A black dagger. Its blade shined unnaturally, like it was absorbing light instead of reflecting it. The hilt was carved with strange markings I didn't recognize. It didn't look like any normal weapon-it radiated something powerful.

I swallowed, stepping closer. Instinctively, I reached out.

"Don't touch that."

I jumped, yanking my hand back as a voice spoke behind me. I spun around, my heart slamming against my ribs.

A young woman stood at the doorway, watching me with calm but firm eyes. She wore a simple dress, her hair braided neatly over her shoulder.

"It's for the Alpha only," she added, nodding toward the dagger.

I blinked. "What is that?"

She hesitated before shaking her head. "Not something you should be asking about."

Should've known better. But something about the way she said it made my skin prickle. I glanced at the dagger again before stepping back.

"Are you the maid he mentioned?" I asked.

She nodded. "Alpha Jaxon said you should eat your breakfast." She gestured toward a small table near the fireplace, where a tray of food had been placed. "Then, you should take a bath when you're done."

I stared at the food. My stomach grumbled, betraying me.

She arched her brow. "You are going to eat, right?"

I lifted my chin. "Yeah." I said flatly.

She smiled softly, turning toward the bathroom. "I'll prepare the bath. Try not to touch things that aren't yours in the meantime."

I scowled at her retreating figure. These people are weird. They acted so differently from the wolves in my pack. There was something... off.