Chapter 21

Earl ate his breakfast in silence, it was just him, Charlie, Oliver and Ma'am Dodda at that table. Today was an exceptionally good day for him, Ma'am Dodda was finally able to walk on her own after five weeks of being bed ridden. Out of his excitement, Earl had asked Oliver to join them on the table, the boy looked so shocked that Earl was having a hard time controlling his laughter.

"How long before Nellie wakes up?" Ma'am looked up from her plate.

"I don't know, she should be up anytime from now. Her wounds are healing" Earl replied with a smile.

"How long before the Witcher finishes the portion? It's been five weeks already" Ma'am Dodda asked again.

Earl looked at Charlie for answers, Charlie seemed lost in his thoughts. He was not his usual self this morning, Earl could tell there was something wrong with him, once or twice he had seen that distant look in his face like he was thinking of something.

"Beta?"

Earl used his usual teasing tone but Charlie still said nothing. He reached out and touched him lightly, Charlie simply shrugged his hand off. It was not until Ma'am Dodda patted him lightly on the face that he looked up at everyone questioningly.

"What is wrong?"

"Oh nothing" He shrugged.

"You were lost, is everything okay?"

"Yea I am fine, did you say something?"

"Is Kayel back already?" Earl asked

"No, I expect him to be back today"

Ma'am Dodda nodded. Earl could tell something was bothering Charlie but he probably didn't want to talk about it, he let it slide. The rest of the meal went on in silence.

After breakfast Earl asked that Oliver should join him in his courtyard, they walked in silence for a while before Earl spoke.

"Oliver"

"My Lord" Oliver stopped and bowed. Earl motioned for him to continue walking.

"Where are your parents?"

"My father passed, my mother is alive and well"

"Siblings?"

"I have a sister Your Honour"

"How old is she?"

"She is 18"

"Have you found your mate?"

Oliver blushed shyly, he looked away from Earl and smiled sheepishly.

"Yes" He finally replied.

Earl was tempted to ask how he knew she was the one but he swallowed it, it wouldn't be nice to ask him that as the Alpha. He had a Luna before now and he assumed everyone guessed she was his mate.

"Why were you so scared yesterday, I can still sense the fear though?" Earl paused and crossed his hands around his back.

"I'm sorry My Lord," Oliver blushed again.

Earl thought he was doing too much blushing for a man "You don't have to be, I understand your fear. How did you get to join the army?"

"My mother thinks it's the right place to be. My father died serving the pack" Oliver muttered and looked down at his feet.

"The Invasion?"

"Yes, My Lord"

Earl sighed, he wondered how many families in the pack were not affected by that bloody war.

"So you don't really want to be a soldier?"

"I am scared but I don't want to disappoint my mother"

"How about you become one of my guards instead?"

Earl observed Oliver's expression, it went from fear to shock and from shock to happiness. He jumped up in joy and opened his hands as if to hug Earl but he recoiled and bowed instead.

"I will be honored, My Lord" He nearly screamed.

"That is too much emotion coming from a man," Earl chuckled. "As a Royal guard, I'll expect you to be more reserved, don't show fear and don't express too much joy. That doesn't make you a ma, it makes you a weakling"

"I understand, My Lord"

"Your job will be to protect Nellie, keep her safe at all times and watch her every move. Be with her at all times and report your findings to me"

"Who is that?" Oliver asked sheepishly.

"The Alpha of the Moon pack, she is a lady and she is here, were you not listening when I addressed you all yesterday?"

"I am sorry, I remember now"

"You will see her soon, she is recovering"

"Yes, My Lord"

"I will be training you from tomorrow, for now u can return to your chambers"

Earl left Oliver in the courtyard to look around, the boy was too happy that Earl feared he was making a mistake picking him, as a boy he was taught to not show his emotions. Earl shrugged, the boy was probably happy to be relieved of the position of a soldier.

He found Charlie in the garden staring into space, Earl stood behind him for a while, observing.

"What is wrong"

Charlie turned around and regarded Earl for a while, he contemplated whether to tell Earl or not, Earl was his best friend and the closest he had to a brother it was only normal he told him about Ariel.

"Don't even think about it," Earl warned.

"That is an invasion of privacy" Charlie gave Earl a menacing look.

"You might as well start talking, or maybe you prefer I read your mind" Earl gave him a wicked grin.

Charlie sighed in exasperation, typical Earl.

"Well, do you believe in having a mate?"

"Oh, so it's a woman. I thought as much" Ofcourse he didn't, I mean it wasn't everyday someone saw Charlie fuming and raking his head over a woman.

"Be serious for once Mr. Alpha" Charlie said sending glares at Earl.

"Oh should I? Who is she?"

"Earl!"

"I am your Alpha, you will regard me with respect" Earl said sarcastically.

"Just go in already and let me be, you play too much for a man of your age and status"

"How sad, just few days ago you called me a grumpy old man. Today I play too much, fate has a way of dealing with people" Earl was grinning widely now which only provoked Charlie more.

"You are so angry I can feel the heat from here, mind taking it out on me with your sword?"

It was a good offer, it had been a while since they last had a sword fight. It was one of those habits they had developed as kids growing up.

"You know I'll always beat you to it" Charlie scoffed.

"I'd love to see you try" Earl's grin widened.

"This evening, 6pm. I'll be waiting in the yard"

"Oliver will be there too, it would be a great opportunity for him to learn from the best"

"You are really having a very wonderful day today"
•••••••••••

Charlie scoffed at Earl and left him in the garden, he headed up to his chambers, for the first time in a long time he felt he needed to rest. He made his way to up the stairs and was terrified to find Ariel standing there, sinfully beautiful, she was smiling at him with a devilish smirk on her face.

"One would think you have useful things to engage yourself in, as a maid" Charlie remaked dryly, he intended it as an insult and hope she would pick offense and run off crying like any other lady would have done.

"I am sorry to burst your bubbles, mate, but I am not 'every other lady',"

"You read my mind?" Charlie was very surprised.

"I am a purebred mate, what do you expect?"

"You are a lady, a maid" Charlie reminded.

"Your attempts at mocking me fail too woefully, don't say too much though, you might regret them later" Ariel gave him one of those discerning smile that annoyed him.

"What else can you do?" He ignored the daring look in her eyes.

"I can listen to your thoughts, speak in your head and feel your heartbeat" She replied, the smirk on her face never wavering.

"What the bloody hell are you?!"

"I told you already, I am your mate" Her voice was as calm as ever.

"That is bullshit" Charlie tried to control his temper.

"I can do other things though, do you want to see?" She made an attempt to touch him but he jumped almost immediately. He was not ready for that damn current that passed through them each time their body came in contact.

"Don't you dare!"

"I told you yesterday, you don't have to run away from it. It won't hurt if you accept it"

"Stay the hell away from me!"

Charlie walked up the stairs angrily, he wondered how bad his day could get. Why was she hell bent on recking his life? where had she come from, he knew she had been working here for as long as he could remember but he had not noticed her until Nellie came.

He took off his royal attire and made for the bath, he was about ringing for a maid when Ariel appeared in the doorway. Earl sighed in frustration, he fell on the bed with a thod and covered his eyes with hands, he was going crazy.

"What the actual fuck are you doing here?" He ran his hand through his hair.

"You were about ringing for a maid" She said simply and closed the door as she stepped in.

"I did not call for you" He fired back.

"But I'm here" She let her gaze run through his bate body shamelessly.

"You are so unladylike" He made a failed attempt to sound disgusted.

"You like them timid? Too bad you have to be tied to me for the rest of your life" She smirked again. God! He was loosing it.

"I will not marry or have anything to do with you!" He tried not to raise his voice, he did not want the guards outside his room to hear whatever was going on.

Ariel ignored the tone of his voice"I enjoyed kissing you last night, thank you. It was worth the wait"

"Look, I am about having a bath and I would appreciate if you left the room, now" Charlie tried his best to keep his voice down.

"I will help you, you were about calling for a maid to help wash your hair. You called me a maid earlier I am here to do my job"

"I don't need you to help, get out" The menacing look in his eyes did not scare her.

Charlie did not understand why he couldn't bundle her out of the castle and make sure she never steps her feet inside, she was just a mere maid after all. But somehow he found it thrilling that a woman was talking to him in this manner. Apart from Nellie, he knew ladies to be quiet and more observing, he took exception to Nellie ofcourse because she was an Alpha, but that was even more surprising, a lady rulling over so many men. And here stood Ariel, a maid, challenging and claiming to be his mate.

"Why are you still here?"

"Because you want me here" She smiled

"Is this some kind of adventure to you? Probably a bet you made with the other servants? Well you won, I won't hurt you and I'll let you keep your job if you leave and promise never to bother me again" He really hoped she would be scared now.

"Nice try Charlie, your eyes say the exact opposite, I can sef the loneliness in them. I know you haven't been with a woman for some months now, you can take me"

Charlie was perplexed by her boldness, there was no trace of fear in her eyes as she spoke. She could read his mind, that was certain and it was even more surprising because no woman dared try it, apart from his mother and sister of course.

"I prepared your bath before you came in, shall we?"

Her voice came again, he had no strength left in him to argue with her. He simply went into the bath and positionef his hair so he could wash it. The thought that she could slit his throat crossed his mind, he made to look at her but she held his head down.

"I would never hurt my mate" She said simply.

Her hands came into his hair, loosening the bun he had made the hair into, the current passed and he closed his eyes, she had said it wouldn't hurt if he didn't fight it. He just relaxed and enjoyed the feel of Ariel's hands in his hair, he couldn't deny he enjoyed it more than he had ever thought the simple act of a maid washing his hair could bring.

"You have a beautiful soft hair" She complimented.

"Don't you have anything else doing? Nellie, you are supposed to be with her" Charlie ignored the compliment.

"Nellie is fine, she will be awake soon, the Alpha will take care of her if need be"

Charlie sighed and relaxed in the bath, enjoying the feel of her magical hands in his scalp. When she finally finished washing his hair, she left him alone to bath.

When Earl came out of the bathroom, dressed in a tunic Ariel was waiting for him on the bed, he made a mental grown and raised a questioning brow.

"I thought you had left already. I would like to take a nap"

"I know, but I have a request" She pouted. That was the first time Charlie saw her do something ladylike and it only reminded him of how feminine and beautiful she looked, heat rose in him.

"I am your Beta,The Alpha's Beta. I get rid of nuisance and so far you have been a thorn in my flesh, aren't you afraid I will hurt you?"

Earl hoped to see a little trace of fear in her eyes but there was none.

"I know you'll never hurt me" She replied confidently.

"What did you want me to do for you, I'm tired already" Earl sighed again.

"Would you please kiss me again?"