Chapter 2: The Blind Alpha

The next morning, Jace was woken before the sun.

“Up,” said the head maid. “The Alpha requests of you.”

He rubbed his eyes. “Already?”

“You’re are to move and stay on the second-to-last floor now. Only a few ever go there. Don’t speak unless spoken to. Don’t look too long. Don’t...”

“Touch anything?” Jace mumbled.

She snorted. “That's it. Let’s hope that keeps you alive.”

Jace couldn't understand why she kept saying that because to him Elias wasn't as bad as they made him to look like. He was kind of scary but not to the extent of all these rules.

The stairs creaked under their feet. Jace held onto the banister, carefully trying not to stumble. When he’d come up yesterday, it was dark and raining. He hadn’t seen anything clearly.

Now, the light rays from the tall windows poured in;  the carpets were thick and beautiful, the walls full of old paintings of a history of werewolves, wolves and battles.

The stairs leading to Elias’s floor smelled different than the rest of the house. It smelled like more like Elias but Jace didn't know how to describe it. 

He was taken into a very big and spacious room. It was beautiful nothing like what Jace had ever seen. 

“Stand here,” said the maid. Jace stood still as two older women began to fix him up. They washed his hair, and one of the maids was about to cut his hair when the head maid panicked. "DON'T!.....touch his hair."

They flinched, dropping their tools immediately. "Alpha says no one should touch his hair." The head maid added.

They nodded as they started brushing his hair out. When they were done, he looked beautiful. Even the maids whispered. 

"Wow! he is gorgeous." The first one said. The second one nudged her, teasing. "Maybe Alpha wants him to look like a lady instead, afterall only ladies serve him. The head maid gave them a glare before they kept quiet. 

 

“This Alpha notices everything,” The head maid said. “Even if he can’t see you.”

“He can feel things,” said the other.

“Don’t speak sharply. Don’t drag your steps.”

“Don’t wear strong soap.”

“Don’t wear anything with sugar in it. Drives his wolf wild.”

“Don’t...”

“Enough,” the head maid said. “He’s clean and presentable. Let’s not make the Alpha wait.”

"Go into the Alpha's room and assist with whatever he asks of you." She instructed Jace.

"Yes ma."

Jace went up to the last floor and knocked gently on the Alpha's door. "Come in, Little wolf." He opened the door with a soft creak and  came in quietly. Elias stood near the window just like yesterday night. He had the same charcoal dark hair, same cold posture and the same blind eyes.

But this time, Jace really saw him. He was very tall. Broader than any male Jace had ever seen. His charcoal-black hair fell just over his shoulders. His jaw was chiseled, his lips small but full. His skin caught the light like stone. He looked heavenly.

But it was his eyes that stole the air from Jace’s chest. They were a pale glass, soft gray. Clouded like mist. Still, empty but beautiful. Jace didn’t even realize he was staring until Elias spoke.

“I can feel you staring,” Elias said quietly. Jace blinked and looked down. “Sorry.”

There was a pause, then Elias turned his head slightly. “Walk towards me, Little Wolf.”

Jace stepped forward, few steps.

“Closer.”

He stepped again, close enough to him.

“Now stop.”

Jace did as instructed. Elias reached out, slowly and carefully. His fingers brushed Jace’s wrist. Not to hold it, just to feel.

“You’re small,” he said. “Not weak. Just...quiet.”

Jace swallowed. “Yes, Alpha.”

“I don’t like noise.”

“I won’t make any.”

“I don’t like lies, either.”

Jace froze. His heart pounding fast like it could cut off anytime. He was scared and nervous.

Elias tilted his head. “Good.” 

Days passed in the form of small lessons. Jace was taught how to set the Alpha’s clothes just so....where to place his boots...how to speak softly at the right times... how to announce himself before entering...how to pour the tea without the sound of clinking glass.

“It’s like living beside a storm that’s always listening,” one maid said. “But if he trusts you... the storm stays quiet.”

One night, Jace was nearly asleep when the knock came.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

He sat up in the dark. “...Yes?”

Gavin’s voice came through the door. “The Alpha needs you.”

Jace dressed fast and followed. When he entered Elias’s room, it was dim. A single candle flickered on the table.

Elias sat in bed, shirtless, with a blanket across his lap.

“I dropped my book,” he said.

His book? He summoned me in the middle of the night just because he dropped his book. Jace wondered. He checked by Elias side and looked down. It was right beside Elias and it was easy to reach if he had just bent over to try.

Without a word, Jace bent to pick it up. Elias’s fingers brushed his hands. “Thank you.”

Jace’s heart skipped, sending goosebumps all over. He concluded it was just his fear for the Alpha.

The next night, it happened again.

A knock.

A candle.

Another silly reason.

“I can’t find the matches.”

“The windows are too loud.”

“Pour water.”

Jace came each time. Each time, Elias asked fewer questions. Each time, Jace stayed a little longer.

One night, Jace brought tea without being asked. Elias was sitting by the fire.

“You knew I’d call for you?” he asked.

“No,” Jace said. “I just thought you might want something warm and to make you sleep.”

Elias turned toward the sound of his voice. “If only you knew exactly what I wanted, you wouldn't have brought anything."

Jace smiled not knowing what he meant. He was getting used to the Alpha being gentil with him and talking with him. Elias didn’t smile back as he didn't know Jace was smiling. But he didn’t look away either. When Jace was done, he placed the cup beside the bed, stared at Elias for sometime. He snapped out of it and turned to leave, then Elias said softly; "Wait.”

Jace stopped at the door like a robot.

"You were staring again.”

Jace panicked. “I didn’t mean to.”

“Why?”

Jace looked at the floor. “You’re...unbelievably handsome.”

There was silence after. Jace got nervous, he didn't mean it in a romantic way, he was only stating facts. Elias looked like an art piece that someone couldn't help staring at, be it male or female.

“I just meant...I have never seen anyone like you...I was surprised, that’s all. You don’t look..."

“Broken?”

“No,” Jace said quickly. “Not that. You look like... someone the moon would talk to.”

Elias chuckled then stood, slowly. The gap between them vanished in two steps. He leaned down towering Jace. His right hand touched the top of Jace's head as it slid down the length of his hair. "You've got such soft hair...it feels like cat's fur."

He played a little with the tip of his hair. After a while, Jace flinched which made Elias realise he was going too far. He stopped himself, stood straight and said; 

“Go! Before I forget what I’m supposed to be.”

Jace fled immediately, scared he had angered the Alpha. His heart didn’t stop racing for hours and he didn't know how he would face Elias by morning. And neither did Elias’s. Elias sat in bed, sniffing the scent Jace left in the room. 

"Such an innocent and cute little wolf." He smirked. "I don't know if I can hold myself for much longer. I need to explore every inch of him."