18
Alexia was inside Steele's study room with Kade, both keeping each other's company. She couldn't sleep no more how much she tried to lure herself into bed. Although it felt self going to wake Kade up from sleep, she didn't regret it.
"No. I only met her once and that was a month ago." Kade replied her, and she nodded affirmatively, crossing over to the next page of the bookl he had first given to her to pass the time.
Alexia was asking him if he's met his mate. For someone he said he has, he doesn't look like it, considering he's always etched by the Alpha's side from time to time.
"You don't want to see her again?" She raised a brown passing a dubious look at him from the top of the book and he chuckled. "When chanced, I do go back to the market and that same spot, that same time I had sensed her, but no. Ever since then, I never see her."
He was smiling while speaking but right from his face, she saw he wasn't content with that.
"Have you told the Alpha?" Alexia asked.
Kade stopped roaming about the library shelves and faced her, whispering. "I did. You wouldn't believe what happened next."
"What happened next? You were scolded?" She asked back, taking her eyes off the book pages to look at him properly since the past two hours they've been in there.
"He followed me and together, we waited at the market from morning till night. unbelievable right?"
He was right. That was unbelievable.
It was also not surprising. Rumors of Steele's coldness didn't just began to spread like wildfire. It has been for many years now.
Alexia always thought the rumors were true, even until the night she was sent to go sleep with him. He wasn't what they all rumoured him to be.
"Wow. Your Alpha is surprisingly a gentleman, Kade." She teased going back to her book.
"To those he wants to be." She heard him say but before she could ask her of it, the door opened and Alpha Steele burst in, to the surprise of both of them.
Alexia rose up front her seat and bowed alongside with Kade. "Welcome back."
"Why so soon though? You ought to arrive tomorrow morning instead." Kade added, receiving the Alpha's suitcase from the maid and dismissing her.
"Well… I missed her." He pointed at Alexia who immediately looked away, hiding her blush away from him. "I also had to leave before I would turn things upsidedown."
After Alexia left for her room few moments later, he assigned his Beta to find out more about to hotel he was just coming from. He needed to know who gave his information out.
***
Just she planned, Alexia rose with the dawn, the sun filtering through her room windows..She dressed quickly, her mind already occupied with other day ahead.
She made her way to the kitchen, the place still silent and void of the maids' presence. There, she began to prepare a light breakfast, the scent of freshly baked bread and the hot lasagna taking control of the atmosphere..
P0As she worked, Alexia's thoughts turned to the suggestion Steele had made before he left her go yesterday. Luna Celeste wasn't a woman she had yet to meet.
The Alpha had told her little of the former Luna, but Alexia knew that this woman held a place in his heart, a place she had yet to understand so thus, she was going to put in more effort as from now.
Secretly, though.
The breakfast finished, Alexia carried the tray carefully, the silverware clinking gently as she made her way to Luna's chamber. The door was ajar, so easily she entered quietly, the room silent save for Luna's breathing that occupied the air.
She went into hidden as fast as possible. Alexia's heart beat faster as she watched the former Luna stir in her sleep, the blankets shifting with each movement she made.
When she finally opened her eyes, she sat up slowly, her gaze drawn to the tray of food on the bedside table. Her eyebrows furrowed, her eyes scanning the room.
"Who brought this?" She asked, her voice quiet and cautious as she saw no one in the room with her. Not often does she request a breakfast in bed.
Meanwhile, Alexia, the doer, remained hidden, her breath catching in her throat as she watched the former Luna sniffed at the bread, taking a cautious bite.
She grinned to herself.
After about twenty minutes, Luna Celeste slowly rose from the bed, her gaze still fixed on the empty tray, and Alexia saw her chance.
With quiet steps, she moved swiftly across the room, gathering the dishes with a practiced cautiousness.
Whereas, Luna Celeste crossed the room, slipping into the bathing chambers with her back turned to Alexia who darted across the room, her heart hammering in her chest at the idea of been caught.
She ran through the hallway, after the door did a closing behind her with a gentle click.
Alexia let out a breath, a wide smile breaking across her face once she was done with the first step. A small victory, but a victory nonetheless.
After gathering some more courage, she made her way to the laundry. The fresh-scented dresses of the Luna hung in.
She carefully took down a simple, yet elegant gown, holding it against her chest to see whether it was a good pick. Then, she turned towards Luna's chambers, her pace slowing as she approached the door carefully.
Alexia hesitated, her hand reaching out towards the handle. She knew that Luna's maids would be arriving soon, so she stayed on the watch.
She turned the handle slowly, easing the door open with a slight creak. Fortunately, The former Luna was still in the bathing room, the sound of running water a testament.
Alexia crept inside, her gaze fixed on the bed in which she gently laid the gown out, smoothing the fabric with her hands.
With a slight smile on her face, Alexia backed away from the bed, her hands gripping the doorknob. She pulled the door shut.
Then, she took off, her feet pounding against the floor, her laughter also bubbling up from deep within her chest.
She ducked into the nearest corridor, her laughter echoing against the walls of the pack house, earning a few glances from the guards in position.
"Two for two." she murmured to herself, a grin stretching across her face joyfully.
She made her way to the kitchen once again. She set about preparing a fresh pot of hot coffee. Then, she poured the steaming liquid into a silver glass, carefully carrying it to the dining hall.
She went for a tray. With it in hand, Alexia returned to Luna's chambers, her mind already planning her next move. As she approached the door, she hesitated, a slight frown creasing her brow.
What if the Luna was still in the bathing room? What if she caught Alexia there?
With the tray still in hand, Alexia turned, her steps already retreating down the hallway. It was her last stop for the day and wasn't worth risking.
A firm hand clasped around her wrist, stopping her in her tracks before she could completely leave.
She stopped, holding the tray tightly to her chest. She battled her lashes, surprising as she turned to face the Alpha. His expression was unreadable, though.
"Let me." he offered as he took the tray from her hands. Alexia watched without a choice as he entered Luna's chambers. Her back was getting stiff so she couldn't peek.
Steele disappeared into the chamber, the door swinging closed behind him.
For a moment, the silence was deafening. She was attempting to leave when the door swung open once more, the Alpha emerging with a small almost unrecognizable smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Right, he just never smiles.
"She liked it. You should have seen her face, mate. She thought I had made it." He led her away.
For the first time since she's started living at his place, she spent a quality time with him today. In short, he didn't let her out of his sight. Luna Celeste also seemed to have forgotten about Alexia for the rest of the day.
The next day, before Kade could go to meet Steele, Alexia was by his room's doorstep. Just like that, she forced him out to the market. 'Luck could be on your side today.' Was the trick she used on him.
"What if Alpha Steele ends up firing me?" Kade groaned for the umpteenth time, causing Alexia to roll her eyes. The last time she checked, they've only just arrived barely ten minutes ago.
"He won't. Weren't you the one who told me he gave you his support at first? C'mon, Beta." She scolded.
Kade ran his hand through his hair. He has a lot of work to do for Alpha Steele, most importantly the research he'd sent him three days ago.
"I—" He was saying, about to give one of his complaint again, when his nostrils picked at his mate's scent from the air. Startled, he frantically scanned through the dozens of market crowds.
"I think I found her!" Was all he screamed before bolting off toward the left direction.
"What a betrayal? Now you can leave me? Let's see if Steele fires you or not." She yelled after him but he was already gone.
He tried to mind link Steele for a carriage, a car, or just anything to pick her up but his mind link was blocked, which only happens when wolves are busy or… asleep?
By the time she reached the pack by foot, she almost collapsed. Her thighs are wobbling terribly. Why was she only just realizing the market is far?
She kicked at her door, and entered, not bothering to close it behind her. Thereafter, she headed for her bed and slumped on it. On him?
Startled, she made to jerk up from his body when he pulled at her arm. The movement causing their heads to crash together and their lips to… meet.