5. Assassin

ZOE ELISE

~<>~

I stiffened because there was no mistaking the deep, terrifying growl that had already made the hairs on my arms stand up in my first few minutes inside this mansion.

Slowly, I turned around. And there he was. 

Alpha King Weston.

He was sitting in the doorway. His gray eyes were fixed on me.

Not the room. Not the machines beside his daughter.

Me.

And if looks could kill, I was pretty sure I would have been dead before I could even apologize.

My mouth opened, but nothing came out.

His gaze dropped to my hand… the one that was still hovering dangerously close to Maisie's, and his jaw tightened.

“Didn’t Theo warn you against stepping into this room in my absence?” He demanded. 

“I—” Again, my words caught in my throat, so I had no choice but to swallow them all. 

“You were told not to enter this room.” His voice was low now, yet that was worse than the snarl.

I straightened slowly. “Y-yes, my King.” 

“Then why the fuck did you step in? Why are you standing close to my daughter?” 

King Weston barked, his veins popping as he wheeled himself closer. 

I made the mistake of looking at Maisie in that moment, and that seemed to make his expression darken even further.

“Answer me!” 

He barked again. This time, my body jumped, and Peach cowered within me. 

Even though I wanted to speak, I couldn’t. My tongue felt heavy and… his authority. It flared so intensely my bones felt weak. 

It wasn’t until he gritted his teeth accusingly that I fought to defend myself. “You were sent to harm her, right? They sent you here so you can kill her and—"

“N-no! That’s not it.” I stuttered, unable to believe my ears. “I only came in because I didn’t hear her voice, and I feared something had happened to her and…”

My voice broke before I could fully clarify my intentions.

So I let my eyes do the talking, holding his gaze even though that was against his rule. 

For a moment, neither of us spoke. I stood there while he sat in his wheelchair, looking at me like I was an assassin that he couldn’t get rid of fast enough. 

His gaze shifted toward Maisie.

And I used that opportunity to mutter, “I was just worried about her. Nothing more.” 

He remained quiet for a few more seconds before he stated in a shockingly soft voice, “If that’s the case, you wouldn’t touch her without disinfecting your hands… your entire body.” 

Even when he wasn’t snarling, his words still pricked my skin. 

But at least the anger in his eyes had begun to fade. 

He took a slow breath before wheeling himself toward a small cabinet beside the door. 

“Wash your hands.” He said.

I blinked, missing the point. “What?”

“Your hands.” He pointed toward the cabinet. “There’s a sink there. Wash them thoroughly before you touch her again.”

I nodded quickly. “Yes, my king."

I hurried toward it, relieved to have something else to focus on besides the intimidating man behind me.

Inside the cabinet was a small sink, several bottles of disinfectant, a stack of clean napkins, and other things I assumed were meant for Maisie.

I washed my hands until they were practically numb before drying them with one of the napkins.

When I turned around, Weston was watching me, and to my surprise, he muttered, "Use the sanitizer.”

I glanced at the bottle. “Again?”

“Yes.” He grumbled. 

I didn't bother to argue.

After rubbing the sanitizer between my palms, I approached Maisie's bed again.

Before I got to her, King Weston said, “Now clean her.”

I hesitated but breathed, “With what?”

He pointed toward a small table beside the bed.

“Everything you need is there. Her clothes are in the wardrobe. Her toiletries are in the bathroom. Anything else you need can be found in the cabinet beside her bed.”

I nodded slowly, taking in every instruction. Or more appropriately, more new rules. 

“She needs to be fed soups and drugs three times every day. Cleaned twice a day. Her bedding should be changed whenever necessary. Don't leave anything dirty around her.”

He paused, then added,  “And don't bring anyone into this room without my permission.”

“Understood, my king." 

I reached for the napkin and carefully began wiping Maisie's small hands.

She didn't move. Not even once.

The sight made something twist inside my chest.

I gazed at Weston, and he was still watching me like a hawk.

“What happened to her?” The question slipped out before I could stop it.

His expression hardened, but for a second, I thought he might answer because I should know these things to care for Maisie. 

Instead, he simply said, “Just do your job.”

I lowered my eyes. “Okay.”

I continued cleaning Maisie in silence.

After a while, Weston moved toward the door, murmuring. “The doctor comes twice a month to check on her.”

I looked up. “When is the next visit?”

He stopped. Then he turned his head just enough for his gray eyes to meet mine. “Two weeks from now.”

I nodded.

Then his lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. “Let's see if you'll still be here to witness her next visit.”

My hand froze on Maisie’s face. 

Was he seriously saying that? I had been here for barely two hours.

How could he already be so certain I wouldn't last two weeks?

King Weston didn't wait for me to ask. He simply wheeled himself out of the room, leaving me staring after him.

I looked back at Maisie. Then at the door, a small smile tugged at my lips.

Two weeks? Please.

I'd survived twenty-one years in an orphanage.

I could survive two weeks in a mansion.

At least, that's what I thought. But even though I tried my hardest, I broke another rule in three days.

And, this time, I didn't just disobey him. 

I crossed a line I was never supposed to come near.