Chapter 19

Anita’s Pov

I stood there, watching Alpha Hades’ reaction as I tried to process everything that had just happened. The whole situation felt surreal, as if I were trapped in a strange dream that I couldn’t wake up from. What had started as a simple task of assisting the Alpha had spiraled into something much more complicated, leaving me feeling off balance and unsure of how to proceed.

Alpha Hades had reacted so strongly when my forehead had brushed against his lips, so strongly that it left me questioning why it had affected him so much.

To me, it wasn’t a big deal. Accidents happen, and it wasn’t like I had intended for it to happen. But the way he recoiled, the way his eyes widened in shock as if something important had occurred, made me realize there was more going on beneath the surface.

I couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking, but before I could say anything, he quickly instructed Damian to escort me out. His tone was clipped, as if he were trying to regain control of a situation that had slipped through his fingers.

I felt a pang of confusion, why. It wasn’t as if we were close, and yet, the way he had looked at me, the way he had touched his lips afterward, as if he was lost in thought, left me with more questions than answers.

Damian approached me as his usual stern expression softened as he looked up to my face, “Come on, Anita,” he said gently, guiding me toward the door. “Let’s get you out of here.”

For a moment, I thought about asking Alpha Hades if he was okay, if there was anything disturbing him or if i wad the one, so i glanced back at Alpha Hades one last time.

He was still standing there with his hand still on his lips and his face had more of a concerned look to what had just happened, but I held back.

It wasn’t my place, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answer.

As Damian and I walked down the hallway, the silence between us was thick. It wasn’t until we were a good distance away from the Alpha’s quarters that Damian finally spoke.

“Anita,” he began, his voice low but firm, “I need you to forget everything that happened tonight.”

I blinked, taken aback by the sudden seriousness in his tone. “Forget?” I echoed, with a puzzled expression on my face, clearly not quite understanding what he meant.

“Yes,” he confirmed with a steady gaze at my face. “Forget about the Alpha’s reaction, forget about the hug, forget about everything. None of this should have happened, and it’s best if you don’t dwell on it.”

I frowned, feeling a mix of emotions bubbling up inside me. “But… why? I mean, it wasn’t like anything major happened. It was just an accident.”

Damian sighed, running a hand through his hair as he considered his next words carefully. “The Alpha is going through a difficult time right now,” he explained. “His mate, well, let’s just say things aren’t easy for him. The last thing he needs is for you to misinterpret what happened.”

I stared at him, still not fully understanding what he meant, “I wasn’t going to misinterpret anything. I know it was just the wolf needing comfort.”

Damian nodded, but there was a shadow in his eyes that told me there was more to it than that. “I know you understand, but the Alpha is… complicated. His relationship with his mate has left him in a vulnerable state, and he’s not thinking clearly. That’s why it’s important that you don’t harbor any inappropriate thoughts about him.”

“Inappropriate thoughts?” I repeated, feeling a bit defensive to what he had just said.

How would I have inappropriate thoughts towards him?

“I don’t have any inappropriate thoughts about him. He’s my Alpha, that’s all.” I said firmly to the beta.

Damian studied me for a moment, as if trying to gauge whether I was telling the truth. Finally, he seemed to relax slightly, offering me a small, approving smile. “Good,” he said. “That’s how it should be. The Alpha is loyal to his mate, even if things are rough between them right now. He despises anyone who would try to come between them, so it’s best if you focus on your role in the pack and nothing more.”

I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and unease. “You don’t have to worry about me, Damian. I’m just trying to do my job and stay in the pack. That’s all I care about.”

Damian’s smile widened, and for a moment, I saw a respectful glimmer in his eyes, “That’s the right attitude, Anita. Just keep your head down and focus on your work. The Alpha will appreciate that.”

We continued walking in silence, but my mind was racing with everything Damian had said.

I hadn’t realized just how complicated things were for Alpha Hades. From the outside, he always seemed so composed, so in control. But now, after everything I had seen tonight, I knew there was a lot more going on beneath the surface.

When we finally reached the end of the hallway, I turned to Damian, “Damian, do you think the Alpha’s mate really cheated on him?”

He hesitated a bit then composed, “It’s not my place to say,” he replied after a while, “But from what I’ve seen, the Alpha is a good man. He’s strong, loyal, and dedicated to his pack. It’s hard to imagine anyone giving up someone like that.”

I nodded as my thoughts kept racing to different directions, “Yeah… it doesn’t make sense to me either.”

As we stood there, I noticed the way Damian looked at me, as if he were weighing his words carefully. “Anita,” he said slowly, “the Alpha may be going through a rough time, but he’s still the Alpha. He needs to be strong for the pack, and that means we need to be strong for him too. That means no distractions, no unnecessary complications.” he added and I nodded in response.

I understood what he was saying, even if he didn’t spell it out. The Alpha’s position was precarious, and any hint of weakness could be dangerous for him and the pack. That included any potential rumors or misunderstandings about his relationship with me.

“I get it,” I said softly. “I’ll do my best to support him, but I won’t get in the way.”

Damian seemed satisfied with that, and we shared a brief look of understanding before he gestured for me to head back to my quarters. “Goodnight, Anita. Get some rest.”

“Goodnight, Damian,” I replied, watching as he turned and walked away, his figure disappearing into the shadows of the hallway.

As I made my way back to my room, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed tonight.

The Alpha’s reaction, the tension between him and Damian, the way Damian had warned me—it all pointed to something deeper, something I wasn’t fully aware of yet.

When I reached my room, I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, letting out a relief breath. My mind was still reeling from everything that had happened, but I knew I had to put it all aside. Damian was right. I couldn’t afford to get caught up in whatever was going on with the Alpha. I needed to focus on my role in the pack, on staying in the Alpha’s good graces.

But as I lay down in bed, my thoughts kept drifting back to Alpha Hades. The way he had looked at me, the way he had touched his lips as if deep he was in deep thought. It all made me wonder what was really going on inside his head. Did he regret what had happened? Or was he just as confused as I was?

I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away. It didn’t matter. Whatever the Alpha was dealing with, it wasn’t my place to get involved. I was just a rogue trying to find my place in the pack. Nothing more.

So I drifted off to sleep.

---

The next day, I woke up feeling slightly more composed, though the events of the previous night still lingered in the back of my mind. I went about my morning routine, trying to focus on the tasks ahead rather than the confusing emotions swirling inside me.

After breakfast, I met up with Damian again. Today, we were scheduled to check on the pack’s defenses and ensure everything was in order.

As we walked through the pack’s territory, I noticed Damian was more reserved than usual. He was always serious, but today, he wasn't. I wanted to ask if everything was okay, but I decided against it. Damian was a private person, and I didn’t want to overstep.

We reached the training grounds, where some of the younger pack members were sparring. Damian observed them with a critical eye, occasionally offering pointers or corrections.

I stood by his side, trying to absorb as much as I could.

After the training session, Damian turned to me. “Let’s head to the swimming pool,” he said.

I raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Swimming pool? What are we going to do in there? I asked myself but shrugged off the weird feelings and joined him.

As i approached, I saw that Alpha Hades was already there, standing in the shallow end of the pool and had his phone pressed to his ear.

He looked different today, more composed, but also more frustrated.

His voice carried over the water as he spoke into the phone, clearly agitated. “I don’t care about the complications,” he was saying. “I need this annulment processed as soon as possible. No more delays.”

I froze, feeling a sudden pang of... something I wasn’t sure what it was, but hearing him talk about the annulment so forcefully made my chest tighten.