INSIDE THE NORTHERN PALACE.

The early evening breeze filtered through the windows of Rex's room.

Akira was on her knees scrubbing the edge of the floor with damp cloths,her arms aching and back stiff, she's been on the floor since the last two hours.

A small blister had already begun to form on the edge of one of her fingers.

Despite the blister,she didn't pause,she couldn't. She needs to be done with this before the arrogant brat comes back from whatever he'd left for.

She'd hate for him to meet her in his room knowing how much mockery she'd receive.

A few minutes ago she'd just finished sweeping the floor, beating out the thick woven rugs and arranging the whole place. It was scattered. Each item she picked up, anger surged through her chest but she kept reminding herself that Rex was just a kid without the northern gene to make him look and think twice his age. She moved from place to place moving his armours on the oak rack like Beth taught her.

Suddenly the door swung open. Heavy footsteps matched forward echoing through the room.

Boots slammed against the floor followed by loud laughter.

Rex,She could tell from his voice. Akira turned stiff at once. Nothing good comes from the arrogant kid.

He was talking with another pup who was around his age. He walked into the room like he owned the world,well he did.If not the world he owned the Northern pack.

His training gear was still on him,black leather vest unbuckled,his was damp sweat,an evidence of his vigorous training.

The Northern packs made sure everyone of their pups started training from childhood.

Mud crusted all over Rex boots,he was laughing at something his friend had said behind him as he walked into the room without stopping.

His judder boots hit down on the floor,one step and then another and then another………

Right across the rug Akira had just spent the last one hour dusting .

Rex didn't stop; he continued his feet against the floor she had just scrubbed clean.

Exact section she has just wiped spotless..

Squelch….. Squelch……. He dragged his feet, not bothering to raise them up.

Mud,grass and even dried pieces of leaf fell off the bottom of his boot. He didn't care to look at her once, he didn't acknowledge someone was inside, he just continued to speak with his friend and dragged his feet across the room.

He shrugged off his vest and let it drop,right on the bed she'd just arranged. Then he yawned.

Akira froze,she watched him, her hands tightening around her cloth, her eyes tracking down every of his steps. She couldn't bear it but she had to, scolding such an arrogant child would put her in trouble.

Instead she swallowed hard, staying still even if there was a fire burning in her chest.

Rex walked over to the chair and settled in,he leaned back crossing his legs and began unstrapping his muddy boots casually.

He sighed “ Damn training was hell today,you should have seen the way that rogue tried to claw at my face. “

“Filthy mutt, he thought he had the upper hand because he was in his wolf form “ he finally raised his head up only to realize that his friend was still outside.

“What is it?” He asked in disbelief.” Why are you standing there? Come on inside….. who the hell stopped you?”

The young pup looked down at the muddy floor and Akira who was still staring blankly at Rex.

Once Rex noticed he eyes fell to the floor and then slowly to Akira. He barked.” I said come in. That's her damn job!”

The pup's lips curled into a lazy smile as he walked past Akira.

Akira didn’t move. Her knuckles had gone white around the cloth. Her jaw was tight with anger.

Rex looked at Akira with a sideways glance, his eyes sweeping from her face to her wet cloth.

“You look a little upset Nia.” He said faking concern “ Is it because he came in when you were scrubbing the floor?”

Her nails dug into her palm. She didn’t speak. She arched a brow not giving a fuck. She glared at him.

After that Rex left with his friend leaving Akira an even dirtier room to clean up again. Akira narrowed her gaze and a deep wave of exhaustion washed over her. She was just happy a few minutes ago that she's almost done so she could take a break. Maybe go somewhere where no one will see her or perhaps go talk with Beth.

Now Rex has dirtied everywhere. She swallowed hard before bending over again and began scrubbing the floor like her soul depended on it, next footsteps started to approach again and Akira fists curled into a ball she wasn't going to let the arrogant brat off this time if it was him.

Footsteps continued,slower this time but there was no thud,it sounded like it was that of a woman,it was slow, short and in rhythm.

Akira stood up and when she turned she saw Brevin standing at the door of the room..

“In here?” Brevin flashed her a small reassuring smile.” You don't get angry,no one gives a fuck.”

Akira stared at him for a while,it was the first time she was seeing the infamous “ Grand King's dwarf”. Her eyes swept over him from head to toe. He had a wine jar in his hand, always ready to drink. She didn't know much about him but he was the most popular figure in the whole four axes of the werewolf kingdom. Back in school the teachers and students gossip about him. She had never been the one to give a fuck about gossip but it was a well known fact that the grand king son is an imp who has no wolf nor skills. He was the most useless wolf in the werewolf kingdom. No matter how much she avoided gossip, talks about Brevin still came her way so seeing him now she wasn't fully surprised.

Brevin lips pressed together into a small smile as he walked into the rec room placing the wine jar on the table.” I came to drink with my nephew but it seems he's not here?”

Akira nodded.

Brevin chuckled.His eyes to the floor then he noticed the mud and tossed boots ” I want to apologize on his behalf.” He said and Akira's eyes widened slightly. She paused, her hand still pressed against the wet cloth.

Tsskk………Tsskk……..Brevin hissed.” Silly kid.”

“I'm sorry dear. Sometimes he might be a handful like his father.”

“It's fine. He's just a kid.” Akira forced a smile that quite didn't reach her eyes.

Brevin tilted to meet her gaze and he chuckled softly.” Try lying better. I can see it from here.” he pointed out and Akira's face flushed,heat started to form immediately.

Akira averted her gaze darting away from Brevin. Irrespective of anything they'd been calling him he was still a royal and can have her head on a spike if he wants. Rumors say he is not smart…. But that seems to be an unconfirmed rumour. For Akira now it was a lie since he could see through her lies.

“Come, girl,” he said, popping the cork with a quick twist of his stubby fingers. “Take a break. You look like you’re about to pass out in your own mop water.”

“I’m not allowed to drink wine,” she said quietly, not lifting her head.

Brevin raised a brow. “By whose law? The royal code? “

“I insist.” He said.” Drop your mop and come have some cups. That's an order”

Brevin poured a goblet of deep red wine and held it out to her.

“Come on,” he said, stepping forward. “One sip. I won’t tell. I promise”

Akira hesitated,one rule they warned her about from day one was taking wine. It was meant for just the highborns.

Brevin grinned, then added, “come on,come join me.”

She finally gave in and joined him on the table sipping her goblet of wine,it burnt down her throat and brought back memories of her little time in the eastern pack with her family where she had the right to take as much wine as she ever wanted.

However about thirty minutes into drinking and talking the door creaked open and Akira froze once she saw Dominus walking in.