chapter 4

Choices

Even though the supervisor had told Bianca earlier about this, she was still shocked by the offer. However, Alpha Alex wanted an answer.

“I asked you a question…” Alpha Alex said firmly. “What do you say to this offer?”

“You are my Alpha!” Bianca said quickly. “I shall comply with your order.”

Order? For the first time, Alpha Alex didn’t feel good. He was used to getting things using his power but he wanted to be different this time. For some reason he didn’t know, Alpha Alex wanted to be chosen by Bianca as a man, not as an Alpha.

“It wasn’t an order,” Alpha Alex corrected her.

“Do you mean I have a choice, Alpha?” Bianca wanted to know. She raised her head slowly but the moment she made eye contact with Alpha Alex, she bent her head immediately.

“You do have a choice!” Alpha Alex was confident. After all, he was a tall, handsome man that every normal lady would go nuts for. “Harry wants you as well. Tomorrow, you are supposed to go to his residence. I don’t know what he wants you for though. It could be a maid, a sex slave, or a concubine at best. Of course, if you accept the honor I am willing to give you, you won’t have to suffer from such an uncertain future.”

Bianca took a deep breath and pondered this. She could stay in the palace as the Alpha’s concubine or go to Harry. To be honest, she had been thinking about Harry after he had saved her. Bianca knew that if she remained as the Alpha’s concubine, she would probably spend the rest of her life in the palace, unable to see the outside world at will.

“I choose Lord Commander Harry,” Bianca decided. Alpha Alex was shocked to hear this and his fists tightened in fury. However, he had his honor to keep.

“Good. You can leave now,” Alpha Alex said coolly. The moment Bianca went out, he grabbed the vase nearest to him and smashed it on the floor. He was furious. Ragnar entered and looked around.

“You should be calm, Alpha,” Ragnar muttered.

“That girl… That bitch!” Alpha Alex swore under his breath. “She dares to refuse me. I, the great Alpha Alex Drakonvale. You tell me, Ragnar. Is this normal?”

“I will bring her to your feet!” Ragnar turned. He was going to find Bianca.

“Stop!” Alpha Alex exclaimed. “Do you think I couldn’t subdue one frail girl? She chose Harry over me and I refuse to take her by force. I refuse to let her go as well.”

“Then what do you want, Alpha?” Ragnar asked, bothered by Alpha Alex’s logic.

“I will get her heart instead. She must choose me willingly,” Alpha Alex clenched his fists. His mind was made up and Ragnar knew that much.

**

Harry couldn’t sleep that night. The thought of Bianca filled his mind and so, he rose early in the morning and went to the palace. The processing had been done faster than ever and Bianca was freed from serving in the palace. The supervisor was shocked at the turn of events. She had expected Bianca to be a concubine of Alpha Alex but it took a funny twist. Harry was there to escort Bianca to his house where she would be staying from that moment.

“Did you sleep well?” Harry asked. His excitement couldn’t be concealed.

“All thanks to you, Lord Commander. However, I hope you got enough sleep?” Bianca asked concernedly.

“Of course,” Harry replied naturally.

“Your eyes tell me you didn’t get enough sleep. You look tired…” Bianca noticed.

“You are right,” Harry affirmed. “I couldn’t sleep all night. Please follow me.”

“Why couldn’t you sleep?” Bianca asked as both of them walked. Harry walked slowly so that Bianca could keep up.

“I have many worries,” Harry muttered. He was right about this, however, last night’s restlessness wasn’t caused by his many worries. It was because of Bianca. Harry and Bianca walked side by side outside the gate. For the first time in years, Bianca was outside the palace. Since she could vividly remember, she had always been in the palace. Being out of there gave her a sense of freedom. Her eyes bloomed, and she was happy.

“Even the air feels different,” Bianca said excitedly.

“Does it? What does it feel like?” Harry asked curiously.

“Freedom!” Bianca replied. Then she added, “Maybe not.”

Come to think of it, it was too early to trust Harry. What if he changed when she settled in his place? It was a bet worth it, Bianca thought. She was better off than Alpha Alex’s concubine.

A servant brought Harry’s horse and he made Bianca ride with him. It was her first time on a horse but with Harry with her, there was no problem. Their bodies touched and Bianca could imagine beautiful flowers blooming in her heart. She only met him yesterday but she could tell she was in love.

She was mentally prepared to spend the night with him today. It was all she could think of until they got to Harry’s residence. They got off the horse there. A woman in her seventies showed up right after. She was the one in charge of the maids. Her name was Sashay and she was born to a maid of Harry’s family. After being a nanny to baby Harry, she rose in the ranks.

“My Lord, who is this lady?” Sashay checked Bianca out from head to toe.

“Oh, her name is Bianca and she will be staying with us from now on. I brought her from the palace so please do not interrogate her. And erm… I am hungry,” Harry said nonchalantly.

“You shouldn’t have left without breakfast!” Sashay said firmly.

“Get her a room,” Harry pointed towards Bianca. “A proper maid’s room.”

“Maid’s room?” Bianca found herself repeating in shock.

“Ah yes,” Harry replied. “You will work as a maid here.”

Bianca opened her mouth in bewilderment. She was no concubine, just a maid.