CHAPTER 15

Beta Kaiden's eyes snapped up to meet mine, a hint of guilt flashing across his face. “Ah, the dagger. I don't know... ” He said, trying to keep his eyes on my face. 

“Where is the dagger?” I asked, turning to grab the gown I had pulled off a while ago. It was a loose fitting blush coloured short gown, it had been made with lightweight materials that gave the feeling of comfort and beauty to the wearer.

As if enchanted, as soon as I pulled down the gown over my body, he snapped back to his senses. “You were saying?” He asked again, his eyes blinking repeatedly.

“Where is the dagger?” I asked again, covering the distance between us, to look up at him. Just like Alpha Axel, Beta Kaiden was just about the same height.

“The dagger is a trail, we need it to find out who needed the Alpha dead by all means possible.” Beta Kaiden said, thinking about something. He made to say something but he plopped his mouth shut again. 

“Okay, this is where you'll be staying while you serve your confinement punishment. Some maids will bring your things in a while. That lady over there…” his voice trailing off as he pointed his nose behind him, “Stay as far away from her as possible. She's a viper.” 

I followed his direction and the lady was still kneeling there, her back bowed. She looked pitiful and helpless, but since I was warned to stay away from her, I better do… Till I can figure all of these things out. 

I nodded gently, looking at the woman again. “Also, you only do what the Alpha tells you to do. Your punishment is not to be decided by anyone else but the Alpha. Do you understand?”

“Yes I do,” I murmured, my eyes cast downward, my voice barely above a whisper. 

He stared at me for a while, before nodding his head energetically. “Alright, I'll leave now and send the maids to get you your stuff,” He said, as he turned to leave without another word, he stopped at the door, staring down at the woman; then he trudged on.

As soon as he left, the woman began sobbing quietly. I wouldn't have noticed, if her back weren't shaking. She looked so lonely, so innocent, so beautiful. I stood watching her, my hands crossed my chest to hold the back of my neck. 

The words of Kaiden reverberated in my head, but I couldn't ignore this woman. I took slow and steady steps towards the woman, unsure of what her reactions would be. 

“Hey,” I called out a few steps away from her, “Are you okay?” I called again but she didn't respond. I walked closer to her and touched her shoulder, I could feel extreme sorrow emanating from her. I felt touched so I knelt in front of her and did the best I could do - hug her. 

Her wails became louder as she cried into my shoulders, I patted her back softly encouraging her to let out her grievances and so she did. A long while later, my knees were numb but she was asleep in my arms. 

‘What kind of pent up emotions has she been keeping bottled up and for how long?’ I thought but my thoughts were interrupted by three young maids who came, bearing bags which I guess must be filled with my ‘stuff’.

I reckoned on them to come in, so they side stepped both of us, walking in and dropping the bags. But they didn't leave, they stood there as if waiting for orders. 

“Are you waiting for something?” I asked, my curiosity perked by their unusual behavior. “Did Beta Kaiden instruct you to stay here with me?” I inquired further, my eyes narrowing slightly as I tried to make sense of their actions. 

They exchanged a glance, probably uncertain about how to respond, before one of them spoke up. “Beta Kaiden instructed us to make sure your part of the room is arranged,” her voice low and cautious. 

“Oh!” I exclaimed softly, “Why don't you just arrange the whole room then?” I asked, my eyes peeking up in amusement. 

“We are following orders,” the maid said, avoiding eye contact with me. 

I didn't say anything for a few seconds, but my thoughts were all over the place, “Okay, arrange the right side of the room,” I said, while pointing to the left side of the room which had a mirror on the wardrobe, it wasn't hard to guess, that was my roommate part of the room.