Chapter 7 - Overwhelmed.

- Aurelia -

I moved quietly, my eyes scanning the hallway ahead.

I couldn't smell or hear anything from a distance because my suppressants were doing their job. My eyes had to do the work instead.

I let out a deep sigh.

Now how do I gain Beta Ilan’s trust?

Earlier I had thought it would be easy but now thinking about it, it seems difficult and that's the first step to my sinister plan.

Either difficult or easy, I will be the death of Alpha King Alaric.

Uncle is right, he has always been. Death was nothing but mercy to monsters like Alpha King Alaric. When he goes down, he should get a taste of the pain, agony and misery he had caused.

I balled my fists and gritted my teeth as anger rose in me, I shook my head trying to push away the hurtful memories of the past.

Tears gathered in my eyes… but I reminded myself that this wasn't the time to cry and then I quickly blinked them back.

As I was about to turn the corner of the hallway leading to the maids’ room, my ears picked the sound footsteps that were fast closing in on me.

I was planning to hasten up and even break into a run but that thought came rather too late because a stern deep voice came through.

“Stop right there!” The deep masculine voice commanded. “Who are you and what are you doing here?”

Damn! I halted immediately.

There were times I wished I wasn't on suppressants and this time was certainly one of them.

Should I run? I mean with my veil covering almost all my face I don't think this person would recognise me but then again I am the only veiled omega amidst the maid, that would be a very bad idea.

The footsteps drew closer and closer and I began thinking about who it was that had stopped me.

It must be a guard. The night guard. I began putting up different valid reasons why I was out walking this night.

The figure slowly walked past me and then stood before me.

I raised my head to see who and all the valid reasons I thought about vanished, panic washed over me as my eyes widened as recognition hit me.

What was he doing around this place by this time!

Towering above me with a frown on his face and his dark hair almost hiding his piercing gaze is the third in command to the Alpha King, Gemma Garvin.

Oh goddess! Please help me!

Just like Beta Ilan, Gemma Garvin was also said to be a very sensitive he-wolf. I have heard stories of how he could get information out of you, not through his heightened abilities but through physical and mental torture.

I shiver at the recall … my plan doesn't have a chance to fail because if it did, I am so doomed.

Quickly, I bowed my head just to avoid his gaze which had been trying to hold mine since he stepped in front of me.

“Greetings my lord-”

“You haven't answered my question.”

Right.

“I am a maid, my lord.” I answered in the most quiet voice I could summon.

“Why are you walking around at this time of the night?” He asked, his tone very unfriendly as he took a step closer.

“I went to check on the Alpha King. I was appointed as his caregiver, my lord.”

“Oh.”

I noticed the recognition in his voice, “You must be the veiled Omega Slave that Elder Sage and Ilan talked about.”

I nodded, letting out a silent sigh. He would leave soon, I just have to keep my head down -

“Raise your head, you have been bowing since I stopped you.” His tone sounded a bit skeptical.

I swallowed. “I…I..”

Why does he want me to raise my head? Does this mean Beta Ilan must have told him about how he feels that I shouldn't be appointed as the Alpha King’s caregiver.

Did he tell them how he had seen from my eyes that I was smiling? Damn!

Slowly, I raised my head and his eyes found mine, his gaze seemed to search for something in mine, it was as if he wanted my eyes to pop out and tell my secret.

I was beginning to feel so uncomfortable, I resisted the strong urge to shift my weight to the other foot.

The weight of his intense gaze was beginning to press on me.

‘I just… I need to look away.. just for a bit.’ I thought mentally.

I was seconds away from averting my gaze when it suddenly occurred to me…

Gemma Garvin knew what he was doing, he was doing this intentionally because from what I have learnt as a Crown Princess of the North… this was mind torture.

He was intentionally making me so uncomfortable that my gestures would reveal whatever it was I was hiding.

The mind torture could be so subtle and also very intense

He seemed to be gaining on me because my heart was picking up pace, and within minutes it was pounding hard against my chest.

My breathing was becoming erratic… I had to stop, I have to bring my body back under my control. Because if I didn't I would be exposed.

I clenched my teeth so hard that my jaw began to ache, my fingernails dug into my palms because of how hard I fisted them.

I can't get caught. Not now, not ever!

What should I do?!

Aurelia, think! Think!

My mind was racing through anything I could recall when Uncle’s words from my training flooded me.

“The trick to overcoming a mind torture is to be relaxed and calm, no matter whether your body is saying otherwise.”

Slowly, I released my fists, unclenched my teeth and relaxed my face. I took slow steady deep breaths till I began to be calmer.

Now, I feel more in control of my body although my heart was still not calm but I didn't focus on it.

Beneath my veil, the side of my lips curled up before I flattened them, I relaxed the more I kept on holding his gaze.

I saw something shift in my eyes, he shook his head and broke off his gaze, he stepped aside and said, “Please carry on.”

I nodded.

Just as he walked past me, I caught his almost inaudible words, “She is harmless, why is Ilan so skeptical?”

I smirked.

Oh well! I have successfully fooled the third in command, interesting.

My brows pulled together as my nostrils perceived a very strange scent… which strangely was coming from the Gemma.

“That's… strange. Did I perceive well?” I muttered to myself as I turned to see the Gemma already several feet ahead.

I tried to get a hold of the scent again but he was already so far away and the scent was already fading.

I must have perceived wrong, it has to be wrong because the scent oozing from the Gemma was a feminine one.

And not only that, the feminine scent smelled mated and the last I checked the Gemma wasn't mated and this means…

Whoever scent that was on him belonged to a mated she-wolf.

I frowned all the more because that conclusion wasn't right at all… I shook my head at the ridiculous thought.

I pushed open the door and walked over to my spot and laid down to sleep.

***

I picked up the piece of cloth inside the warm pot of herbs, I squeezed out the excess water, I turned around and walked slowly towards the unconscious Alpha King Alaric.

I started wiping his body, my hands stopped just above his sword wound.

I tried to avert my gaze from the cruel looking wound but I just couldn't.

My vision blurred and all I could see was blood oozing out of my mother's mouth, blood oozing out of the sides of my faces where my mother had dug her claws into to stop me from looking at her.

Blood… screams… blood.

My hands tightened around the cloth as my lungs constricted and pleaded for air, I tried to breath but I couldn't.

“You don't deserve to live! You deserve death! You monster!” I gritted out.

My gaze caught the knife that was used earlier to cut his bandages, I grabbed it, raised it up and aimed to drive it straight into his wound.

“What are you doing?” The Beta’s voice cuts through my thoughts.

I froze.

My hands wrapped tightly around the knife, stilled mid air.