The Alpha's Personal Valet

ETHAN'S POV

THE NEXT MORNING

I woke up to bright light on my face which is weird because light doesn't seep through the cracks on the closet wall.

"Dad requests your presence." Jasmine said flatly, already walking away.

My stomach dropped. That was the fastest I’d ever been dragged out of the closet. A heavy sense of dread settled over me as I slowly stood to my feet. “Something’s wrong.” I muttered to myself as I walked out of the closet.

Getting to the living area, my step dad was seated on one of the patched-up animal-skin couches, the pouch of gold from last night clutched in his greedy hands. His eyes gleamed as he rolled it between his fingers.

When he senses my presence, he looked up.

“You’re going back to the palace. You will get a job. I don’t care how you do it; just make it happen.”

“I... I—” My voice caught.

"I wa... I was...." I stammered, unable to put my words together.

“If you don’t want to be sent away to live like a rogue, you'll do as I say,” he growled.

“Yes... yes, sir.” I flinched, my voice barely a whisper.

I wanted to tell him the Alpha King had personally asked for me. But what if he forgot? What if it had only been a passing thought? Raising my stepfather’s hopes would only backfire and I'm not ready to bear the consequences.

“Get ready. You're leaving now.”

I rushed off, took the quickest bath I could manage, and pulled on one of my stepbrother’s old hand-me-downs.

Luckily, the hood covered part of my face, enough to hide most of my ugly scars.

My healing was slow since I wasn't a full wolf yet, and it hurts so bad.

“What’s taking you so long?” my stepdad barked from outside.

“I’m coming!” I called, hurrying out the door.

“Don’t come back without a job,” he warned, his voice low and final. From the way he sounded, he meant every word.

I nodded and left.

It was nearly noon by the time I reached the palace. I lingered in the courtyard, pacing nervously. My thoughts spiraled. What if he didn’t remember me? What if I was turned away?

I thought of the right words to use when presenting myself, but it felt useless.

Maybe I should give up now before I would be punished for unauthorized lottering.

Just as I turned to leave, a strong hand gripped my arm.

“I thought I asked you to report back early,” came a deep, unmistakable voice.

Alpha Ryan.

I froze, completely speechless.

He turned me toward him. “Look at me.”

I hesitated, head bowed. He gently lifted my chin and brushed his fingers along my face.

"I said you should look at me." He said, but this time his voice was softer.

My body reacted to his touch, it sent a strange, soothing warmth through me. My bruises felt better.

"Was he... was his touch taking the pains away? only a mate's touch could do that." I thought.

“Your face,” he said, voice low but firm distracting me from my thoughts.

I jerked back, suddenly self-conscious.

"The bruises." He continued, his tone sharper maybe he was getting angry I didn't look as presentable as I should.

I pulled away immediately, tried giving an excuse.

“They’re—” I started.

“Fresh,” he cut in. “How?”

“I... I fell. On my way here,” I lied, eyes darting away and my body visibly shaking.

I wasn't good at telling lies, anytime I do, my heart beats like it's going to explode out of my chest.

He stared at me for a long moment. I didn’t dare move. I was afraid of what his reaction would be.

ALPHA RYAN'S POV

I woke that morning with a strange flutter in my chest. Excitement? That emotion had no place in my life.

Battle plans excites me, but this? This was different.

I ran my hand through my hair as I stood up from the bed. Just then, his face flickered in my mind.

Could seeing him again really be the reason?

The morning dragged. No sign of him. I asked the servants, no one had seen him. My wolf was on edge, pacing restlessly.

“This is your fault,” he growled. “You scared him off.”

He kept taunting me with those words every passing hour.

I went to the courtyard again, restless.

"Does he not want to be around me that much." I thought.

Just as I was about to leave, I saw him and surprisingly, everything inside me shifted.

“It’s just the bond,” I reminded myself. “Once I reject him, these uncontrollable reactions will stop.”

I walked towards him as he paced nervously like a cornered pup. As he turned to leave, I reached out and stopped him.

Up close, I saw them. New bruises.

Fury flared inside me.

His excuse of falling was clearly a lie.

He was trembling. His eyes wouldn’t meet mine and I could feel his heart beat frantically from where I was standing.

His lies were transparent.

"You have to find the wolf that did that." My wolf raged.

“No one touches what's ours,” my wolf growled. “If you won’t act, I will.”

“I’ve got it,” I gritted my teeth.

“I... I came to ask for a job at the palace,” he said softly, barely above a whisper.

Then he dropped to his knees taking me unawares.

"Please, I’ll do anything. I can’t go back without a job. I’ll take anything.” He pleaded.

“You already have a job,” I said. “And you’re late.”

His blue eyes looked up at me with a glint of life in it. They were impossibly beautiful. The most pretty eyes I've ever seen, yet it always looked dead, stormy and dull.

“Thank you. I won’t disappoint you,” he said, bowing again.

"Get up, you will hurt your knees." I told him, the whole bowing was unnecessary. From anyone else, yes, but not from him.

“Where do I report to?” he asked with this beautiful smile on his face.

I took a step closer. My hand lifted on its own, brushing against his face again.

“To me. You report to me.”

I pulled my hand back, already annoyed at my lack of control.

“To make it clear, you’ll stay within three feet of me at all times. Call it whatever you want; assistant, attendant, shadow, I don’t care. Just don’t wander. Most important don't answer to anyone else."

He looked confused but said nothing.

“Come with me,” I said, turning. “If anyone asks, you're the Alpha's personal valet.”