TWO

Alisha

His touch burned on my skin and I ached badly for more of it. Only when we were like this did the burden in my heart cease.

“Sebastian,” I cried out his name and his gaze on me turned dangerous. Before I knew it he had taken several steps from me and I was left devoid of his touch - a regretful outcome.

I whined from where I was pinned on the bed only seconds ago, my body wanting him and only him - my mate.

“Sebastian please,” my voice became a whisper.

“Get the fuck out,” was all I heard. It was like a bucket of cold water being splashed onto my face and I shivered, tears prickling my eyes. His eyes bore into me as I opened my mouth and tried to speak.

But he didn’t wait for that. Instead he grabbed his jacket and stormed out of his own bedroom, slamming the door so loudly that it shook.

I had broken one of his rules again.

…

That core memory still replayed over and over in my head as the head maid handed us tasks to do.

Despite being the mate of the Alpha, I was practically still the same as before - a maid with nothing to her name except the clothes on her back.

I raised my gaze as I heard my name being called.

“Yes, madam?” I asnswered as was expected.

“You will go with Eva today. There is a gathering in the next few hours at a large pub, and the Alpha will need to have his needs met.”

I swallowed; the thought of swing Sebastian again so soon after he had mocked me and all but rejected me the day before had me wondering if I was in some special kind of . Nevertheless, I couldn’t flout an order from the head maid.

I nodded.

“Yes madam,” I responded, bringing my gaze down to my feet and waiting to be dismissed.

Hours later found me helping to set up the pub with the other maid.

“Where do I put this?” I asked the pub’s owner - a sharp-eyed man who couldn’t be any younger than 50.

He gestured without speaking to a table and I moved to place the large tray of beer mugs on it.

I took in my tasks that morning with a sullen heart, and a hopeless outcome in mind

The attendees had already started coming in, and I scurried over to take down some of their orders.

Yet as time went on I knew my heart wasn’t in it in anyway.

When he came in, I knew it from the bond we shared. I turned my head and our eyes met just a little bit before he looked away, loudly talking with his friends.

I watched as Sebastian sat on the most comfortable chair set out for him specifically, and then a blonde girl sitting beside him, clinging onto his arm and smiling.

Suddenly my mouth felt bitter and I couldnt bear to look anymore.

I kept my head down, the tears building up, but not falling down.

Why was he doing this to me?

I moved around stopping at tables as the owner instructed me to do.

I stopped at one of the tables in the darkest corner of the pub, looking down at me feet.

“What will you have?” I asked.

“Maybe you should look up at me instead of at the floor instead?” I heard a man’s voice so baritone smooth. It wasn’t a familiar voice but the chiding was enough for me to raise my head and meet his gaze.

Oh.

His eyes were like golden orbs, piercing into mine.

I couldn’t help but wonder why I hadn’t never noticed this handsome stranger before. Was he a member of our pack?

“As to what I will drink,” he raised a glass and I saw it was nearly empty. “Whiskey, neat.”

I nodded, my gaze drawn to my feet again as I turned to go.

“Hey hey,” he said. “Why the long face?”

A part of me wished to snap at him. But I had not the energy.

Who was he to ask me any questions anyway?

“I have to get your order,” I said by way of response. “Please excuse me, sir.”

“You’re deflecting. Tell me the truth, and I’ll let you be.”

“I don’t believe that,” I snapped back at him, unable to control myself. Then I realised what I had done and made to apologize. But before I could I heard a smooth chuckle that left me feeling confused.

“You’re really upset aren’t you? Well… You could always stay here with me,” he offered. “Relax a little bit.”

He sounded so sincere that I couldn’t help but pause.

Was this a game or was he being serious.

“You want me to stay with you?” I asked him, still confused.

“Why not? You’re beautiful. And there’s nothing I love having than a beautiful companion to talk to,” he replied.

That compliment took me completely off-guard, and I blinked, slowly processing his words. He smirked at me and I couldn’t hold down the earth building up on my face.

Dear goddess, this man was strange!

“You shouldn’t say that to women you don’t know,” I responded after a while.

“It’s the truth,” he shrugged. “Do you work here?”

I shook my head. He probably meant if I worked at the pub.

“I work for the pack,” I said. “I’m only here to attend to guests.”

“Oh?” He quirked a brow, and shook the whiskey tumbler towards me. I got the message and stood up to quickly get a new bottle of whiskey from the bar. As I passed by where Sebastian was supposed to be I noted that the chair was empty. And the girl he had been with was nowhere to be seen as

well.

Was he with her?

My heart grew heavy and I tried to keep my feet moving.

I reached the strange man’s table and poured another whiskey for him. He looked inscrutable at me.

“You’re looking upset. Did anything happen?”

I shook my head.

“Come on, beautiful,” he tried to goad me and I felt his hand touch my arm gently. “Sit down and share your troubles with me.”

“My troubles aren’t your problem. I’m not sure you can do anything about it really,” I shrugged and gave him a small sad smile. “Besides, it’s not like you can beat the person up or anything.”

He may be drop dead handsome but who would want to put themselves on the line for a maid to beat up the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack? Definitely not anyone at this party.

“Whoever hurt you should be ashamed of themselves. They will regret it deeply.” He leaned into my face and I didn’t flinch. I felt safe here with him for some reason. “Why don’t you spend the night with me? You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, just to talk.”

My heart beat faster at his words for some reason.

No one had ever really given me a second glance before and here was this stranger… asking me to stay with him.

“B-but…” I tried to speak but he cut me off.

“But nothing,” his growl was so deep and it left my stomach in knots. Even when he was angry, he was attractive. “You don’t get to be all sad and moping around the fucking place, alright? I’ll take care of you, trust me.”

I nodded, considering his words briefly. It wasn’t like the attendees of this party needed me anytime soon… and most were already taking care of themselves. Eva was there, as was the pub employees as well…

“Okay,” I said.

The beautiful stranger smirked triumphantly.

“My name’s Derek,” he intoned. His hand found mine and caressed it gently. I smiled at him, feeling a lot better already.

“Alisha.”

That was the most that I remembered of the rest of that night.

It was all a strange blur after that…

Until I opened my eyes through the pounding in my head.

“Ungh,” I groaned, trying to stand up slowly to quell the queasiness I felt.

Where was I?

It took me longer than I could admit to realize that I felt a cool breeze on my skin. Like, all over…

I looked down at myself.

I was naked.

And it was then I noticed the companion beside me.

The man from last night.

Oh no.

What had we done?