*****CHAPTER 47

MAE’S POV
 
I had had enough trouble this week, and after the incident with Alcot, I didn't know what to think about anymore. I had been in my thoughts for too long, and it was eating me up inside.
 
I lied to Alcot. I could perceive that he knew something was wrong, but I couldn't bring myself to tell him about shady Scarlet, which I was sure he suspected already. But who will believe a servant's words about Luna's infidelity?
 
I dragged myself up from my bed, heading to get ready for the day's chores and my regular pathetic life. Taylor and Piper had gone out for their duty already, and I was the only one left with Pearl, who had also stepped out to get breakfast.
 
"The gods! I hate my life so much." I said as I let a huge sigh out and dragged my feet against the hard wooden floors, towards the bathroom.
 
I got dressed after taking a cold bath, and just as I was about to step out, someone banged on the door of our room, yelling:
 
"Mae! Mae! You have a call to receive from Snow. She says it was very solemn, and you should hurry up." Pearl's frenzied voice rang out.
 
My heart skipped, and I froze for a moment. Snow had never called me since I got here, and I wondered what could be the reason that she was calling me now. I was beginning to fear the worst.
 
"Mae! Open up!" The knocking continued, and I broke off from my trance, diving back into reality.
 
Just when I thought the day was going to be normal, I got a call from home. From Snow of all people. I prayed in my heart that everything was fine at home.
 
"Pearl?" I asked as soon as I opened the door. My heart beat even louder as I took in the sight of Pearl's teary face and shaky lips.
 
I was right. All was not well at home. Something was wrong.
 
Immediately, I grabbed the phone from Pearl rather carelessly and placed it close to my ears.
 
"Snow."  I hesitated a moment before calling her name.
 
"Oh, my goodness, Mae. It's Snow" Her voice rang in my ears. Her tone sounded as frenzied as Pearl's. I tried my best to maintain my composure and not jump to conclusions.
 
"Snow?" I asked, confused. "What is the problem?"
 
"It is Mother," she said, her voice shaky and trying to keep calm. "Her medicine hasn't been helping, and her condition has become worse."
 
"Where is she?" I asked. My eyes were beginning to get teary, and I bit my bottom lip to stop myself from crying. Pearl was sniffing and crying beside me, and I tried to shut my ears from hearing her cry.
 
"At the physician's ward." "You have to come home as soon as possible."
 
"Okay." I said with a deep sigh, trying my best to calm my nerves and reassure myself that all would be fine. "I'll be home soon."
 
My heart hurt as the call ended, and my brain went completely blank for a second. I wondered why my family deserved all the bad things in the world. Why couldn't good things happen to us? Why was life so painful?
 
"Mae?" Pearl's teary voice called my name. "Do you think Mother would be fine?"
 
I did not reply to her because I didn't know what to say. I wasn't sure of what to say. With the way Snow had sounded on the phone, it was obvious our mother's health was on edge.
 
I have to attend to the first things first. And that would be to find a way to get permission and go home. I would have to ask the Alpha for that.
 
Without thinking too much, I left Pearl behind and headed out of the servant's quarters, heading towards the alpha's quarters. As I did so, I thought of how my mother was doing and how the sickness had brought her down for as long as I recall.
 
I remembered when my mother was well and how she looked out for us when we were all younger, how she was so nice compared to my father. She would try all she could to put food on our table and cater to me and my sisters. Those years were more optimistic, as we were all together. Father wasn't around much, but we didn't care.
 
Vitality became harder when my mother was diagnosed with a deadly illness and I had to find money for her treatment. I even had to cater to Pearl and everyone else in the house. I never had a normal life after that.
 
I was sure Alcot would let me go home, but I only hoped he had no company, as it would be easier to talk to him alone. To me, he was a very understanding man, he just has some bad rumors about him. I prayed silently that he would be alone as I approached the alpha’s room.
 
 
….
 
 
"A servant is here to see you, sir." The guard by the door said something to Alpha Alcot as I waited outside.
 
"What does a servant want with me? What is her name?" I could hear the tone of disinterest in his voice.
 
"Mae, my Lord."
 
"Let her in." He said, almost immediately.
 
I walked in and saw him behind his desk, and as I bowed down to greet him, he asked;
 
"What is wrong, Mae?" There was a tone of concern in his voice.
 
It was surprising how he studied my looks and could tell when something bothered me.
 
"I have come to ask for your permission to go home," I said as I raised my eyes, which had been staring at the floor the whole time.
 
As I looked at him, sitting behind the desk with his face covered by his mask, my disturbed heart felt lighter, as if I had found comfort just by standing in front of him and looking at him.
 
"Permission?" he was asked. "What for?"
 
"I got a call that my mother is ill, and I have to be home to help." I answered immediately.
 
He stood up from his desk and analyzed me carefully for a moment before asking;
 
"Are you running away?"
 
"I am not, my Lord." I could feel tears choke my  feel tears choke my guts, and my eyes watered. "My mother is dying."
 
"Mae…" A frown crossed his forehead now as he stared at my pathetic state of worry. I could sense that he wanted to hold me. To comfort me. But he was fighting to hold himself back.
 
"You can go." He paused for a second before speaking. "Prepare yourself and leave at noon."
 
"Thank you, my Lord."
 
"Please promise me you will be safe." He added it rather hurriedly. "Promise me you will be fine, whatever is going on."
 
As I tied my gaze to him, his green eyes stared at mine, searching for my answer as he focused on me.
 
"I will be fine, my Lord." I promise."
 
Then, before I knew it, he hugged me. I was in the Alpha’s arms in his room, and the comfort I felt when I was in his presence grew as I felt at peace. I could stay there all day.
 
He rubbed my hair and patted my back as I just stood still with no knowledge of what to do. I felt this was more than okay, and I was sure that Alcot cared for me. He hugged me like he shared my pain and understood everything about my situation, but even if I knew he couldn't understand everything, as he held me, I let myself believe he did.
 
As I stood there, in his arms, with my head on his chest, dwelling in our separate thoughts, the voice of Luna Adeline calling his name as she cleared her throat brought us back to reality.
 
He let go of me, and I stood in shock, knowing she saw us in the most misunderstood situation that was inappropriate for a servant and an alpha.
 
I bowed to her and hastily left the room, leaving an awkward situation. I was so stupid to let myself get carried away in Alcot’s room. What made me feel so comfortable with his hug that I stood there for so long until we got caught?
 
I left the Alpha Alcot chamber as I went to find Pearl and get us both home. I thought, "At least I will be away from the castle for a while.
 
As soon as I walked out of the Alpha's Quarters, I caught the sight of Pearl sitting in the garden, looking so forlorn and lost.
 
"Pearl," I called out to her as I hurried to her. "Come. We need to leave for home now." I said as I grabbed her hand.
 
"Let's go to mother."