ALPHA KAEL’S POV

Last night, I was out to seal off a deal with a neighboring pack. It took a while to reach a common ground of agreement, but at the end of everything, I was tired to my bones.

I rushed down to my pack to rest, only one to be met by another emergency to handle.

The Silverfang pack had insulted the benevolence of my soldiers by giving in return to our supply of quality firearms to them, a weak pregnant female omega.

With rage boiling beneath my skin, I had resolved to match back to the pack myself to demand a better compensation of our deal.

My eyes were heavy and my eyeballs threatened to fall off their sockets as I dragged my feet back to my Chambers to get some rest.

A good bath, a good liquor and quality sleep time was all I needed to be back and active on my feet again.

I had already ordered that my preferred choice of liquor be delivered to my chamber. While waiting for it, I decided to run through a quick shower.

Half way through, I heard a faint knock, then, the door of my Chambers creaked open, gently and calculating. I immediately knew it was a stranger.

I remembered I had failed to bolt it earlier. I usually forget to. Now, I had to handle whatever intruder it was thought they could trespass easily through my chamber.

It might be one of the guards thinking his dream of toying and making merry with a bag of gold coins or two could be achieved through stealing.

There was a case in the past but I guess I was mistaken to think the punishment that was issued to wrap up that case was enough to sway anybody's mind off stealing.

I listened attentively with soap pods covering my body head to toe, careful to not make any sound that might make the intruder flee.

Silence.

I listened again.

Total silence.

I looked around me for my mask; a curse yet to be explained, a secret I had protected with the grace of a soaring eagle, a secret only I know but still can't explain completely.

I searched the entire bath area with my eyes to confirm my fear. I had left it on the table outside. This was not a good sign.

I listened again, but silence echoed back at me. Immediately, I sprang up. I washed down my body to rinse, grabbed a piece of cloth to tie around my waist, and just as I drew open the screen of the bath area, my eyes met with hers.

The pregnant omega from the Silverfang pack.

Why was she in my chamber?

It was too late to ask that question.

I didn't have my mask on. My face was bare. More than any sword, more than any arrow, my bare face was instant poison to any female wolf.

My heart raced uncontrollably, waiting for the worst. She was going to drop dead right in my room, before me. Just like Gwen, Toria and Aggie.

I was going to have to come up with a believable excuse for her death, just like I had for their deaths. An excuse the public will not suspect. I must keep living like the mask was just a harmless piece of junk I enjoy wearing. That was not true. But only I knew the truth.

My breathing became heavy, my eyes still locked on hers. My stomach tightened to the point that my lungs refused to take in any more air. Time slowed.

But...

She didn't flinch. Her eyes were just glued on me, it made my senses return to the fact that I didn't have my clothes on.

"What is going on now?"

Then, I think she was shocked too, because I watched her hand suddenly start to tremble until the tray containing a bottle of liquor and a cup slipped and landed to the ground with a loud crash.

Taking charge of the distraction that opportunity provided, I disappeared through the blinds.

The guards had heard the loud crash and were matching their way into my chamber now to check the situation.

"Grab her!" I heard the commanding hoarse voice of my chief guard,then a ruffle followed.

"Was she still alive?" I wondered.

"I'm innocent. I haven't done anything," a soft feminine voice cried repeatedly in response.

Her voice fading as the guards dragged her farther away from my chamber.

She was alive. How is it possible?

When I was sure the coast was clear, I sneaked out of the bath area to get dressed. I already secured my mask unto my face, before even pulling a robe over my head. I was fastening my armour when a soft knock landed on my door.

"Leader, is everything okay?"

"Of course. Keep the offender unharmed until I get there," I managed to say calmly, very sure the guard must have noticed how I stuttered through those words.

Before me was the pregnant omega of the Silverfang pack, pinned to a chair by two strong guards of the house.

"Was this what she looked like without the blindfold?"

Pale skin. Tired eyes. Heavy heart. Alive.

Clearing my throat loudly, I proceeded to ask some questions, careful not to ask what I really had in mind.

"Who exactly are you?"

"What led you to my chambers, lowly omega slave?" I questioned, my eyes fixed intently on her like it would give me an explanation to why she was able to escape the curse.

"I was asked to bring you your liquor. I had no hidden agenda," came her response amidst heavy breathing.

"You trespassed. If you were loyal to your former master, you should know to drop the tray and leave immediately," I replied, my voice taut and unyielding.

For a few seconds, she remained silent.

So, I continued, determined to see how much longer the curse would favour her.

"You would face the five karma self punishment. Your survival is in your hands now." I finished.

"Prepare the materials!" I beckoned to the guards next.