Chapter 4: A Pleasant Coincidence

'If you work as a kitchen maid in the Twilight Pack, then you will surely know of the Masked Alpha', he said, making it sound like a question.

'Why?'she asked curious. 'Do you like the Masked Alpha?'

'Don't be silly', he said. 'But no one seem to have seen her before. How can one live with such mystery? It can be very frustrating and draining. I pity her', he said and she felt bad.

'She has done so much for her pack', she pointed out.

'That is what I am saying', he explained. 'someone who has done so much as she has should be proud to show her people, her ack her face. What is she hiding or does she feel no one is good enough to see her face?' he asked.

'It's not like that, and she isn't hiding anything', Diana answered defensively, his words irking her. 'It just isn't time yet!'

'You speak like you are the Masked Alpha yourself!' he observed, looking at her suspiciously.

Oh, my goodness, what have I done? she thought wildly. 'Er.. I wish!' she said laughing nervously.

'You were so defensive just now. Is there something you're not telling me?' he asked, his suspicion increasing.

'She is my Alpha and my idol', Diana replied, looking him straight in the eye. 'Isn't it right that I should be very defensive and protective of her?'

'Yeah, that's understandable', he said and she heaved a silent sigh of relief. 'It's not as if you can really protect her physically and seeing the way those rogues nearly tore you apart, you are definitely not the Masked Alpha, no offense intended'.

'None taken', she replied, smiling in relief and nodding, thinking that she had to be careful around him. He was too perceptive. 'I could never compare myself to such a Phoenix'.

'Anyway, you should feel better enough to continue your travels in two days', he said, and it was evident he had already lost interest in the Masked Alpha. Later that evening, he took her to see his Alpha.

'Alpha Benard, this is the she - wolf I told you about', Beta Troy informed him.

'Alpha Bernard Shaw, greetings', she said, curtesying.

'humph', he said, looking at her suspiciously. 'Sorry you had to go through all that but hope you are better now?'

'Much. Better, thank you', she replied. He was civil enough but, she could sense an evil aura around him.

'Welcome to the Blood Moon Pack', he said, still looking at her intently.

'Thank you so much, Alpha. I am much obliged', she replied with a disarning and hopefully, charming smile.

'I hear you were on your way to the Crescent Pack before the attack', he observed. 'Why are you going there?' he asked.

'I'm sorry Alpha but it is something I do not care to share with anyone'.

'Humph', he said, pulling at his beard thoughtfully. 'I might ask Alpha Cosmos to expect you', he offered.

'That is not necessary, my Alpha', she answered, taking care to keep her voice steady and not to sound too hasty in her objections. 'I am but a little kitchen maid, not worthy of that consideration. Alpha Cosmos himself might wonder at the act'.

'Wise girl', he said, nodding in approval. 'You have a point. What's your name?'

'Da.. Daisy. Daisy Holt', she replied, thanking the Goddess that she had not committed the blunder she had been about to commit. She had nearly called her real name - Diana Miller but quick thinking had made her give the name of her wolf instead - Daisy, though the Holt was an imaginary one. So, she didn't really lie and it was a name she wouldn't forget easily, in case they met again, not that there was any chance of that after her mission was completed.

'A lovely name for a lovely she - wolf like you.

'Thanks for the compliment, Alpha she replied and Troy came to the rescue.

'She will be leaving in a day or rwo', Troy told him and he nodded waving us off dismissively. I curseyed again as Troy led me out of his presence.

'Beta Troy', she started, the next morning as he got up to go attend to Alpha Bernard.

'Yes?' he answered, still buttoning his shirt. 'You don't have any concerns, do you? Hope you slept well?'

'I did, thank you and Good morning', she replied, flashing her best smile. I came here on a mission and the earlier I got around to accomplishing it, the better, she thought. 'I made breakfast. Would you come to the table and have some?'

He looked shocked. 'Why did you do that?' he asked and I was hurt by his tone. 'You are supposed to save your strengy for recovery', he added and she felt touched. Why had I thought he was anything but considerate of my welfare? she thought to herself.

'It really didn't take much effort on my part and it is something I like doing', she explained, shrugging as though it was not a big deal.

He hesitated, then nodded and walked with me to the dinning table. She sat beside him and watch him take a spoon of the dish. His eyes opened wide and he nodded in approval and appreciation.

'Wow, this is really delicious!' he said. 'And how did you know this is my favorite dish?'

I couldn't possibly tell him that I had picked it through his numerous mind links to me. 'It is? That's great!' she said smiling. 'I am glad you like it', I replied instead. 'It is my favorite as well and that is why I prepared it. What a pleasant and gratifying coincidence that it is your favorite as well'.

'Yeah', he said thoughtfully. 'And you prepared it exactly the way I like it. Only one other person prepares this for me this way. It is uncanny but thanks', he said. 'I now know why the Twilight Pack has kept you on to work in their kitchen', he smiled in appreciation as he continued eating ravenously. she smiled happily. I wondered why his praise made me so happy and why my heart is constricting as I watched him eat. He wasn't eating enough, esoecially of the meals he liked, she thought pityingly. 'They must really miss ypu'.he added.

'Oh, there are a lot of great cooks in the Pack', she shrugged. 'I cannot even begin to compare to them'.

'I doubt that anyone can cook better than you but if they really can, then your pack is really gifted' he said.

'You flatter us too much, Beta Troy', she said, feeling a flutter in her heart. 'Thanks for the compliment all the same'.

He wiped his mouth with the table towel and stood up after the meal. 'I have to get going', he said. 'Alpha and I have an important meeting with the elders and he is already waiting for me. Make sure not to overexert yourself', he said and grabbing his blazer, he walked briskly to the door. 'Thanks for the meal. I haven't tasted such in a long while', he added before walking out the door. she smiled. The mission to heal him had already started. She knew what to do next. 'Operation Heal Beta Troy has been launched! ' she squealed in delight. She spent the day communicating with her Beta. The pack was doing great as she knew it would and no one knew as yet that she was not around. After communicating with her, she got ready for her next act with Beta Troy. Funny, he had an aura of an Alpha, but he was just a Beta. She recalled how he dealt with the rogues when he thought he was rescuing me from them. She had been planning on helping out and attributing it to luck later on but that hadn't been necessary. He was strong and hot.

Why are you having such thoughts? ' she berated myself. Snap out of it,. You are not here to get laid or to seduce Troy. You are here to help him heal. His body and looks should mean nothing to you!

Right!