Chapter 05~ Something About her Eyes

ALPHA KAEL

It was a hectic day for me, and I wanted every chance to rest. The sudden weakness I was feeling wasn't the kind I've felt before. I felt drained, like there was nothing left in me. Plus the ceremony which was tonight, I still had a lot to work on even though Beta Alfred had it all handled.

"Any information from the Crimson Moon Pack?" I asked.

"Not yet, sir." Alfred answered. "But we'll be getting one before nightfall. Our spies have been facing difficulties in getting closer to the Alpha. But we are certain Alpha Dan is doing something."

Alpha Dan has been a pain in the ass for quite some time now. Killing him wasn't a problem to me, but for now, he was of much advantage to me. That was the only reason he was still breathing.

I let out a deep breath, but didn't say anything.

Sensing my tiredness, Alfred looked at me. "You should get some rest, Alpha. We'll take it from here."

I wanted to refuse, but I knew indeed I needed it. "Let me know when you get information–" The words seized from my mouth the moment I perceived the scent.

It was strange, yet familiar in some ways. I sniffed a bit, trying to get where the scent was coming from. I felt my wolf growl softly, like it was hungry or something.

"Did you perceive it too?" I mentally asked my wolf and it growled in response.

Noticing my sudden pause, Alfred stared at me questioningly. "Is everything alright, Alpha?"

I looked at him, but said nothing. I was very much focused on the scent, and I wanted to know who it belonged to. My eyes glared around the hallway, and for a second, the scent seemed to fade just as the wind blew in.

Just then, Ms. Hilda's voice yelled, her voice ached my ears. "Arin!" I knew what followed after was curses and insults, so I had to leave before I felt pity for whoever it was she had called.

I turned to Alfred who was still watching me suspiciously. "Return to your duty. I'll get some rest now."

I walked in, meeting Lorna standing by the mirror with my mother's photo in her hand. She was staring at it like it was her first time. I walked to where she stood, wrapping my arms around her waist, and resting my head on her left shoulder.

"What's wrong?" I asked, sensing there was more to her silence. "Is there something you want to talk about?"

She sighed heavily, shaking her head. "I wish she was here." She said, dropping the photo back on the drawer.

"Me too." I said lazily, wishing she could stay like that while I slept in her arms.

"You look tired, why don't you get some rest?"

I shook my head, "I feel safer this way."

She chuckled. "Don't be silly, Kael. You need to stretch your body, and you can't do that while standing like this."

I looked at her, "I didn't complain, did I?"

"You don't have to complain, we both know standing up to sleep isn't healthy." She lectured. "Come on, let's take you to bed."

"I won't if you don't join me."

"Okay. Fine, I will." She chuckled again. "Happy now?"

I let myself fall freely on the bed, trying to get myself to sleep. My back ached a little, making it almost impossible to enjoy the fun of sleeping. But as much as I tried to, I couldn't let go of the strange feeling that came with perceiving that strange scent.

I've never felt this way before, not even around Lorna. I always believed Lorna was my mate. We grew up together since childhood, and she was the only one who understood me more than anyone else could.

But today, I couldn't shake the feeling that something – or someone, was about to interfere with my relationship with Lorna.

I turned to look at Lorna, she was fast asleep, snoring like a child. For some reason, I wanted to believe it was my imagination playing tricks on me. If there was anyone I could feel this way for, then it could have been her.

I only slept for an hour which didn't do enough justice to the level of tiredness I was feeling. The ceremony was in less than an hour, and I haven't had my shower nor dressed up.

I laid on the bed, reluctant to get up. Lorna walked to and fro the room, trying to get everything I would use ready before the time.

"You're awake," She smiled. "How do you feel now?"

"I feel like getting back to sleep, but I can't."

She smiled widely. "That's because you have a special occasion to attend. Sleep should come later."

She wouldn't understand. Not like I didn't have the power to call off the ceremony, nor was I concerned how everyone would feel when I eventually called it off. I was more worried at the fact that a single scent could fill my thoughts and make me weak and useless.

"Are you sure you're alright?" She asked, now looking concerned.

"I wish."

****

I stood near the mirror as Lorna fixed my collar, staring proudly at myself. It was another day to celebrate my victory, and I didn't feel much of the vibe though. It wasn't any different from the other days.

I heard the sound of the door open. Someone walked in, and at that moment, something in me shifted. Like the atmosphere wasn't the same, and like whoever it was had this aura that matched mine. Not until the same scent hit me.

I tried to ignore it, convincing myself it was my imagination. But the closer she got, the stronger the pull, wrapping around me like an invisible chain.

My wolf stirred inside of me, like it had found something it never wanted to lose again.

She stood there, with her head lowered like she had walked into the wrong room. I watched her from the mirror, she didn't move, she didn't dare to look up. Worse, she didn't even try to say a word.

"Who sent you?" I asked.

Lorna paused, turning to look at her but didn't say anything.

"Madam Hilda, my lord." The voice sounded a bit familiar, but I couldn't recall where I had heard it from.

"Why?"

"She said you needed my presence, sir." She said, "But since she is already here, please permit me to leave."

Lorna looked at me, as if expecting what my answer would be. "It's too late to leave when you just walked in," I was left with my cloak remaining. Lorna was about to get it, but I ordered the young lady to do it instead.

I wanted to feel her presence more, I wanted to sniff her in, to know where I had met her and why the pull was radiating stronger around her.

"Get me my cloak," I ordered.

She silently walked to where it was. She was about to hand it to Lorna who was ready to take it, but I stopped her.

"I want you to put it on me… yourself."

Lorna's expression shifted a bit, but she was too quick to hide it.

The young lady stood before me, and while she wore the cloak on me, she didn't dare to raise her head, like she was scared she'd die if she tried to. I wanted to know if she felt it too. But then, she looked normal, like she didn't even realize the problem she was causing.

My gaze dropped to her neck, then, the fabric. It was wrapped neatly at one side of her neck, like she was hiding something deep she didn't want to expose.

“Why do you wear that?” I asked.

She touched it quickly, like she was guarding something precious. “It’s my family’s mark, my lord,” she replied. “It’s a tradition not to expose it outside our land.”

I wanted to believe her, but something in me didn't let me. I could tell she was lying, I could smell her fears, but I wasn't in the mood to question her.

“What’s your name?” I asked her.

She answered quietly, “Arin. My name is Arin Stark.”

The name didn't sound familiar to me.

“Arin, look at me,” I ordered.

She hesitated.

"Look. At. Me." I said, a bit authoritative.

Slowly, she raised her face at me, her eyes meeting mine. Those crystal clear eyes, piercing deep into my soul. Suddenly, I felt everything inside me grow quiet, like the universe had snapped life out of me.

The scar on her face looked too deep for a fragile girl like her to survive. "Who did this to you?" I didn't know why I cared, I didn't know why I felt too bothered to know who the hell did such a thing to her face.

"It's a long story, sir."

I didn't know if it was my curiosity, or just my imagination. But there was something about those eyes I couldn't explain. Something about it that reminded me of six nights ago.