*****CHAPTER 43

DRAVEN'S POV
 
Today, I had to escort Alcot to visit the Red Wolf village, as ruled in the treaty. Even though I wasn't the slightest bit interested in having anything to do with the people of this pack, I had no option but to obey. And I dared not protest against it either. If I did, it would be obvious that I wasn't interested in the treaty and was only doing this for personal gain.
 
war gain, to be precise.
 
As I walked with Alcot and the guards outside the Alpha's Quarters, headed for the royal carriage that would transport us there, I decided to take advantage of this and make a mockery of Alcot.
 
"I swear by my father's white hairs; it has been many, many years since I'd last used a carriage to travel."
 
"You mean cheap carriages with dirty horsemen and malnourished horses?"
 
Alcot's question almost caused a laugh to escape from my throat, but I held it back with all the restraint left in me and smiled instead.
 
"You have no regard for anyone, Alpha Alcot. It makes me look up to you sometimes."
 
"Of course.  "No one has the balls to look down at me."
 
Again, I smiled to myself. He was right, even with his arrogance.
 
I opened my mouth, intending to say something again, but as I raised my eyes, they met with dark hazel ones that stared back at me in recognition. Pearl.
 
A frown subconsciously crossed my face as I took notice of another girl standing beside her, arms locked protectively around Pearl. Their uncanny resemblance, same dark hazel eyes, and outstanding beauty knocked right into my senses. That instant, I felt stupid and dumb that I had failed to take notice of all these features earlier, until today.
 
The servant girl and Pearl were sisters. Pearl had mentioned the other day that she was visiting a relative in the castle. That relative was the servant girl. Alpha Alcot's secret lover
 
My eyes moved to Alcot, who had his own eyes fixated on the servant girl. He seemed to have forgotten everything and everyone else around him. His only focus was on the girl. As if sensing that I was watching him, he immediately looked away again and switched back to his cold composure.
 
After we passed the girls, a cunning smile crossed my face again, and I teased Alcot in a low, foreboding tone.
 
"She is beautiful." "I bet you have eyes for good things."
 
At first, he pretended not to hear me until I added, intentionally pushing him to the wall.
 
"I was wondering why the Alpha of the Red Wolf pack would choose a servant girl over his own Luna. She's the sweeter one in bed, isn't she?"
 
This time, he shot me a warning glare. His nose was slightly flared, and he looked visibly upset.
 
"Mention anything about Mae again, and I swear by the gods, I will slit your throat and drink your blood." "Do you understand?"
 
I didn't reply. Instead, I locked eyes with his angry ones, a sly smile playing on my lips. I was intentionally testing his walls to see how far his emotions could break, all because of a mere servant girl. And I wasn't the least bit wrong. He had a fragile spot in his heart for the girl. If anyone struck that fragile spot, it would break him. Shatter him completely. Again, I wanted to wonder why he chose the servant girl but stopped before I could think far.
 
Just like the Alpha, I was beginning to find myself getting smitten by the same servant girl's sister. We were in the same boat. Except one of us knew the other's weakness first and was going to use it against the other.
 
"Yes." My smile did not fade for a second as I finally answered Alcot. "Perfectly understood."
 
 
………….
 
The visit to the village was tiring as hell, and by the time we were done, my whole body was aching really bad. All I badly wanted was to take a long, cold shower, lay down on a large, comfy bed, and have a long night of peaceful sleep. And hope that I never had to go for another horrific visit to the village in my entire stay here. Worse, by the time we were done, it was already nightfall, and the guards conversed amongst themselves about how dangerous the road from the castle to the village was at night.
 
"Prepare yourself to pass the night in the village. We leave for the castle first thing in the morning." Alcot gave an order. I was sure he had overheard the complaints of the guards too.
 
Who would have ever thought a demon of an Alpha like Alcot would ever consider the plights of others? Much less ordinary palace guards. This man interested me with every passing minute, and I couldn't wait to keep getting more surprises from him.
 
An elder of the Red Wolf pack council had openly taken us in as soon as he heard that the Alpha wanted to spend the night in the village. He was a kind and cheerful man, whom I recalled to be the same man who was almost implicated in a crime by his fellow council elder. But Alcot had smelt foul, and upon discovering the shameless act of the wicked elder that had tried to implicate the other man, he had cut off his head right in front of the entire council. I had heard the news back in my pack. It was one crazy news story that shook the entire country for a few days and caused almost everyone to dread the Alpha even more.
 
The elder's house wasn't big at all. But at least it was fair enough to accommodate Alcot and me while the guards would have to guard and keep watch on the outside. Alcot and I were given a shared room that was only separated by a sheer curtain, and I could tell from the hard look on his face that he was not welcoming of the idea of sharing a room with me. If he had his way, he would rather have me sleep outside with the guards too.
 
"Arrgh. I miss my pack." I said as I plodded my weight on my bed and lay carelessly on it while Alcot slept on his own bed, completely ignoring me. I turned my head to look at him, trying to catch a glimpse of his silhouette through the curtain.
 
"You have a sadly boring pack." "You should try to spice things up, Alpha Alcot."
 
Again, he did not reply to me and only gave me a frustrated grunt that warned me to piss off. But I wasn't ready to do that yet. If anything, I was having fun pulling his legs.
 
"What about you holding a nice, formal ball for the fairest of ladies and honorable men? I bet you..."
 
"Shut up!" He suddenly yelled at me, pulling the curtain aside to get a proper look at my face. This time, I was laughing hard. Even though it pissed him off and I tried to fight hard to stop laughing, I just couldn't. I was laughing so hard that I could feel tears welling up in my eyes.
 
"I am trying to sleep, asshole." He said it between gritted teeth and drew the curtain back again to shield himself from me.
 
But I still couldn't stop laughing. I just couldn't stop. I was having fun and getting on his nerves.
 
Just like their brothers did.