Maddening

Chapter Five

Faelen’s POV

I stood in the Alpha’s room, my hands trembling as I cleaned the table. He was just a few meters away, staring at me with a fierce intensity that made my heart race with fear.

But it wasn’t just fear. There was something else, a strange pull towards him that I couldn’t explain. I had felt it yesterday at the gathering when I spilled drinks on him, and now, with him standing there shirtless, it was even stronger.

I tried to focus on my task, but my mind was a mess of emotions and thoughts. I could feel his eyes boring into me, and it made my hands shake even more.

He stepped closer, towering over me. He watched me as I cleaned, and I noticed every of his movements carefully. Despite his anger, I couldn’t help but notice he too couldn’t shake the strange pull I felt towards him.

I realized he was feeling it too, and I suspected it annoyed him even more, which explained why he hated me being in his present. 

“Be quick about it,” he snapped as I lifted my head to look at him. “And make sure it’s spotless!”

“Yes, Alpha,” I replied, my voice steady but my hands shaking slightly.

But suddenly, my hand brushed against a cup, and it fell to the floor with a loud clatter. The noise seemed to echo in the room, and I felt a chill run down my spine as I looked up to see Hunter’s fiery gaze fixed on me.

His eyes were like burning coals, full of anger and something else I couldn’t identify. I quickly picked up the cup, my heart pounding in my chest. “I’m so sorry,” I stammered. 

But my apology didn’t seem to matter. “You idiot!” he barked, his voice loud and harsh. “Can’t you do anything right? You’re incompetent and weak. How did you even get assigned here?”

His words cut deep, and I felt my breath begin to seize. I kept my head down, trying to focus on cleaning, but his insults kept coming. “You think you can just waltz in here and mess up?? Do you even know who I am?” he yelled. 

“Yes, Alpha,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

“Then act like it,” he snapped. “You’re nothing but a useless maid. If you can’t handle simple tasks, maybe you’re better off in the gutters.”

I felt a lump form in my throat, but I forced myself to keep working, my hands shaking uncontrollably. The room felt suffocating, and his presence was ever overwhelming.

Despite his harsh words, I couldn’t ignore the pull I felt towards him. It was both confusing and terrifying. As I continued cleaning, I could feel his eyes on me, watching my every step. 

My mind raced with thoughts. What was it about him that affected me so deeply? Why did I feel this strange connection? And why did it have to be him, of all people?

I finished cleaning the table and moved to the next task, trying to keep my head down and avoid his gaze. But I could still feel his anger all over the room. It was like a starting storm, and I was caught in the middle of it.

Hunter’s voice cut through the silence again. “Look at me,” he ordered.

I hesitated, then slowly lifted my head to meet his gaze. His eyes were piercing, but there was something else there too, something that made my heart skip a beat. 

“Do you understand the consequences of your incompetence?” he asked. 

“Yes, Alpha,” I replied. 

“Good,” he said, stepping closer. “Because next time, I won’t be so merciful. One more mistake, and you’ll regret it.”

I nodded, swallowing hard. “I understand.”

He stared at me for a moment longer, then turned away. “Finish up and get out.”

I quickly finished my tasks, my mind filled with fear and confusion. As I left the room, I couldn’t help but glance back at him.

There was something about Hunter despite his harshness. And it scared me more than anything else.

As I was about to leave, he emerged from his room. He stared at me, and I froze, bracing myself for another round of berating. 

“Wait,” he commanded, his voice authoritative. “Before you go, I have a new task for you. You will clean all the toilets and bathrooms in the estate. Maybe that will teach you a lesson about doing your job properly and help you toughen up.”

His words shocked and annoyed me. I squeezed my fists at my sides, trying to hold back the anger and frustration that built up inside me. 

What kind of man was he? Arrogant, rude, abusive, hateful, and proud. Yet, my mind betrayed me with a nudge, reminding me of how incredibly handsome and irresistible he was. It was maddening.

I nodded stiffly. “Yes, Alpha,” I replied, my voice strained.

He smirked, seeming satisfied with my humiliation, and turned back towards his chambers. I felt a sense of resentment but kept my head down and made my way to the first bathroom.

The task was humiliating, but I had no choice. As I scrubbed the floors and polished the seats, my mind was occupied with several thoughts emotions.

I wanted to hate Hunter for his cruelty and arrogance, for the way he had humiliated me in front of everyone. But deep down, I felt a strange softness for him, a part of me that couldn’t ignore the magnetic pull I felt whenever he was near.

It was confusing and frustrating, and I didn’t know how to deal with it. As I worked, some of the other maids passed by, done with their tasks and began to laugh at me.

Their mocking laughs stung me, and I felt tears of anger and humiliation prick at the corners of my eyes. 

“Look at her,” one of them sneered. “The Alpha’s favorite maid, reduced to cleaning toilets.”

“Serves her right,” another chimed in. “Maybe she’ll learn not to be so clumsy next time.”

Their words hurt, and I cursed Hunter in my mind. Why did he have to be so cruel? What had I done to deserve this? 

“Shut up,” I snapped, my voice trembling with barely contained rage. “Just leave me alone.”

The maids laughed again but moved on, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the cold, hard floor. As I scrubbed, I couldn’t help but think about Hunter. It was as if a part of me was connected to him, and no matter how much I tried to push it away, it kept coming back.

I finished cleaning one bathroom and moved on to the next, my hands bruised and my back aching. Each room was a new challenge, and as I worked, I couldn’t shake the feeling of Hunter’s gaze on me, even though he was nowhere in sight. 

“Arrogant bastard,” I muttered under my breath, scrubbing the tiles with renewed strength. “Who does he think he is?”

But even as I cursed him, a part of me felt a strange sense of desire to understand the man behind all that harsh exterior.

What had made him this way? Why did he feel the need to be so cruel? And why, despite everything, did I feel this inexplicable pull towards him? The questions kept flowing into my mind. 

By the time I finished, I was exhausted and emotionally drained. I leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath and trying to steady my thoughts.

As I made my way back to the servants’ quarters, I made up my mind to stay strong and keep my emotions in check, most especially, to never forget the reason why I was there.

Hunter might be the Alpha, but I wouldn’t let him break me. No matter what he threw at me, I would endure it and carry out my mission without obstruction.

Maybe I would find a way to get the information I needed to return home soon, and perhaps understand the man who had such a powerful hold over my mind.

… 

On my way back to the servants’ quarters, I was still reeling from the exhausting task and the flood of emotions when I bumped into Lucy. The girl who believed I had stolen her job, leaving her to work in the gutters instead of me. Her smirk was infuriating.

“Well, well, look who it is,” Lucy said, stepping in front of me and blocking my path. “How was cleaning the toilets, Faelen? Serves you right, you know. And trust me, this is just the beginning.”

I tried to sidestep her, but she moved to block me again. I sighed, not in the mood for this confrontation.

“Lucy, right? Look, I don’t want any trouble,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “I just want to go to my room and rest.”

She laughed, a harsh sound that pricked my nerves. “Rest? After spilling drinks on the Alpha and getting on his bad side? You should be grateful you’re still alive, let alone resting. But don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re placed where you belong permanently, soon.”