*****CHAPTER 46

MAE’S POV
 
After the incident with Alcot, I tried my best to avoid the situation, and thanks to Scarlet, I didn't have much choice.
 
Getting through with my work and trying to act normal has been hard after facing rejection from Alcot. I gave him consensual approval, which he turned down without thinking twice, and he wasn't kind about it.
 
Why was I forsaken by all? My whole life has been a roller coaster of ups and downs, so much unbalance, and I only hoped of getting a straightforward path with Alpha Alcot, but who was I to wish that? A mere common servant, I thought of myself.
 
Mating with Alcot was never a thought of mine, but after he kissed me, I found myself wanting him more than ever, but the situation we both found ourselves in was not making it easy.
 
I thought about when our condition was easier and we exchanged letters, which were a lot more comforting to us.
 
He was the only thing that eased my burden then, and as he described, I brought him to peace, but I doubt that is the case now.
 
Because right now, I'm not sure if he even wants to see me. We have both done well at avoiding each other. But I can't help the part of me that craves his company.
 
Stressing about my thoughts wasn't going to help, and I knew it, so I screeched in my head to let the thoughts out.
 
"Chop chop now." said Karen, signaling to me to get the dinner out and serve it to Alpha Alcot and his family.
 
As I entered the dining room and bowed down to greet Alcot, I tried as hard as possible to avoid eye contact with him.
 
"Food at last." Scarlet let out a cry, but no one paid attention to her.
 
I won't say I hate being a servant at the castle, but the reasons I hate my job were more than the reasons why I liked being here.
 
Scarlet was one of the reasons I hated being in the castles. I liked working here because it keeps me off the streets, and I can help Mother a lot better.
 
"Let me help you with that," Scarlet said again with a smile on her face.
 
She can't fool me, though, because I know Scarlet can only be nice if hell is turning cold. I knew she was putting on an act concerning her threats to me; Alcot also noticed because he had a confused look on his face.
 
I raised my head to look at Scarlet and shifted my gaze to Alcot as I caught a glimpse of him, and he glanced at me, making our eyes lock for a few seconds before we hurriedly looked away.
 
Scarlet headed over and helped me as I served Alcot and the rest of the family.
 
"You cook well, Mae; your food constantly delights my taste." Alpha Draven said it pleasingly as he lifted his lips in what looked more like a smirk than a smile.
 
"Thank you, my lord." I said this as I bowed again.
 
"She is supposed to cook well because that's what she is here for," Scarlet said, rather sarcastically and with a sinister smile playing on her lips.
 
"Fucking hypocritical bitch!" I cursed in my head as she looked at me, while I faked a small smile in return.
 
"He can praise whomever I feel like Scarlet," Alcot fired back, rather fiercely. And at that moment, everyone went instantly quiet, and the atmosphere tensed. I wasn't spared by the silence, and I wondered why he had snapped at her because of me.
 
"I was just saying everyone should be good at what they do." "Just like dear Mae, here is good at being a servant," Scarlet got ahold of her composure again and answered, still smiling and acting nice.
 
"Well, get to your food, everybody, before it gets cold," Luna Adeline said, rolling her eyes at me like I wasn't worth any of the drama before she continued to dig into her food again.
 
Right. I was clearly hated by both Luna and Alpha's mothers. Big trouble for me.
 
Scarlet shot me an extremely crooked look as she darted her eyes away and back to her food. I knew she put on a stunt by acting nice to me earlier, but I wasn't surprised because she was obviously a corny and evil woman.
 
Going as far as cheating on Alcot with his beta was even worse, and I hoped karma finally caught up on her someday.
 
……
 
ALCOT’S POV
 
I knew something was up between Scarlet and Mae. It wasn't just the regular hatred from the day Scarlet had seen Mae in my room with me while I was shirtless. It was something else. More like, she was bullying Mae subtly while trying to keep Mae's mouth shut as well. I knew Scarlet wasn't a nice woman, so her act of trying to be one today was alarming, and I could smell a rat.
 
I debated my approach to the situation, and I was left with the only option of asking Mae what the fuck was going on. Asking Scarlet wasn't a good idea because she would probably just deny any accusations or questions I asked her. And a part of me wanted to talk to Mae.
 
After the kiss and incident that happened between us, I knew I had to be more careful whenever I was around her because I found myself wanting her more than ever, but it would be so unfair to her to lose her innocence after mating with someone else.
 
I attempted to stay away from Mae, but unlike deciding to stay away, which was a lot easier, having the thoughts of meeting Mae filled my heart. The only place to find her now was the abandoned building by the servant's chambers. That was the only place she could be right now. I thought of the best way to sneak out unnoticed by anyone.
 
As I looked out carefully, making sure I wasn't seen by anyone, I headed out to meet with Mae.
 
…….
 
She was standing by the entrance of the building, staring at the sky, as I went in and grabbed her hand.
 
"Alcot…." She let out a sound of stunned silence as her wrist stiffened in my hand while I pulled her in.
 
"Shhh….." I signaled to her by putting my index finger on my mouth and motioning for her to keep her mouth shut.
 
"What is going on between you and Scarlet?" I asked her as I swirled her around to stand directly in front of me. Standing close to her, I noticed how tired she looks and how her dark, beautiful hazel eyes look rather small and swollen today.
 
She has been crying, hasn't she?
 
"Nothing." "Nothing is going on," she proclaimed.
 
I knew she was not speaking the truth, but I didn't want to look persuasive, and she looked like she needed some rest, so I just wanted to let her go.
 
"You can tell me if something is wrong, Mae," I told her in a reassuring tone as I let go of her hand, rather disappointedly. It felt as though that was where my hand rightfully belonged. Upon her lovely, delicate skin.
 
"I know that, but nothing is wrong," she repeated.
 
"Okay," I responded, clenching my jaw. This was all Scarlet's doing. That bitch was beginning to get on my nerves more than ever before.
 
She let out a sigh, which made me look at her one more time. My eyes shifted to her lips. I badly wanted to taste them again. I shifted a little, giving her space to leave even though I still wanted her to stay and badly wanted to kiss her.
 
I watched her walk hurriedly away as I thought back to what was going on with her and why she was refusing to say anything to me.
 
Was she avoiding me because of the things I said to her that day we kissed?