Mira woke slowly, her body feeling heavy and her head aching lightly. She opened her eyes and looked up at the ceiling—it was unfamiliar. Her heart skipped.
Where am I? she thought, panic rushing through her.
Then she heard a soft, steady breathing sound beside her.
Terrified, she turned her head and froze.
Lying just a few feet away, asleep in a chair, was the Alpha himself—Alpha Alex.
Mira's heart jumped into her throat. She sat up carefully, looking down at herself, checking quickly. Her clothes were the same, no signs of anything strange.
No one touched me, she realized with relief.
Still, fear gripped her tightly. How did I end up here? Why am I in his chambers?
Without making a sound, she slid off the bed and tiptoed towards the door. Maybe if she moved quietly, she could leave without disturbing him. Maybe no one would know she had been here.
She was just a few steps away when a deep, lazy voice broke the silence.
"Is tiptoeing and sneaking a talent of yours?" Alpha Alex said without even opening his eyes.
Mira froze instantly, her whole body trembling.
She turned slowly, facing him with wide, scared eyes.
"I-I'm sorry, my Lord!" she stammered. "I didn't mean to pass out in front of you! I... I don't know how I ended up here—"
"The physician said you need enough rest," Alex interrupted calmly, still not looking at her. "Go back to bed."
Mira opened her mouth to protest. "But Master... I-I can't... If someone sees me—"
"Do you need me to carry you again?" Alex said in a low voice, opening one eye lazily to look at her.
Mira squeaked in fear. Without thinking twice she rushed back to the bed and sat down without another word.
Alex smirked faintly, amused at how quickly she obeyed.
"You need to be strong," he said, taking a deep breath and stretching a little. "So I don't have to find someone else to pour my wine."
Mira didn't know if he was joking or not. She sat there awkwardly, her hands folded tightly in her lap.
She felt so small in his huge chamber. The walls were lined with beautiful golden designs, and thick curtains covered the windows. A huge fireplace burned gently in the corner, making the room feel warm.
Everything here screamed power and wealth. She didn't belong here.
Suddenly, she heard him again.
"Wine," he said simply.
Mira jumped to her feet immediately, almost tripping over herself in her hurry. She went to the small wooden table where a large bottle of wine and a goblet sat. Carefully, she poured the wine, her hands shaking just a little, and brought it over to him.
Alex took the goblet from her hand, their fingers brushing lightly. Mira quickly pulled her hand away and stepped back, bowing her head.
He took a sip, his sharp eyes watching her over the rim of the cup.
---
Meanwhile, across the castle, Lady Rahila was raging.
She had heard the whispers. Servants talked, even when they thought they were being careful. Her son had canceled an important meeting with the pack leaders—and for what?
For a common girl?
A lowly servant?
Unacceptable.
She called the head cook into her private room and unleashed her anger.
"You fool!" she snapped, her face twisted in fury. "You allowed that worthless girl to stay in my son's chambers?! What were you thinking?!"
The head cook fell to her knees immediately. "Forgive me, my Lady! I had no choice! He ordered it himself!"
Lady Rahila narrowed her eyes dangerously. "If Mira is not out of that room by today, you can consider yourself banished from this castle."
"Yes, my Lady! Right away, my Lady!" the head cook cried.
Without wasting a second, the head cook rushed through the long halls to the Alpha's chambers.
When she got to the door, she didn't knock. Instead, she fell to her knees and began pleading loudly.
"My Lord, please!" she begged, tears gathering in her eyes. "Please have mercy! Allow me to take Mira away. I swear I'll look after her personally! Please forgive her mistake!"
Inside, Mira heard the desperate voice and paled. She knew it was the head cook. She felt guilt and fear rise inside her chest.
Alpha Alex sighed deeply, clearly annoyed.
He stood up and walked to the door. Opening it, he looked down at the head cook who was still kneeling on the floor.
"Come in," he said simply.
The head cook scrambled up and followed him inside, her head bowed low.
Alex walked back to his chair, sitting down casually, while the head cook stood awkwardly near the door.
He motioned to a stool by the wall. "Sit."
The head cook obeyed immediately, clutching the sides of the stool tightly.
"Ma..master"
"Quiet," Alex interrupted
The head cook nodded, her lips sealed tightly.
Mira stood awkwardly by the table, not knowing what to do. She dared not speak unless spoken to.
After a few long moments of silence, Alex raised his goblet slightly.
Mira understood immediately and hurried to refill his wine. She moved quickly but carefully, making sure not to spill a drop.
The head cook watched in stunned silence. The scene before her made her heart sink. Mira was serving the Alpha personally, calmly, like she belonged there.
When the wine was poured, Alex took a sip, his expression unreadable.
Then he spoke.
"You," he said, looking directly at the head cook. "And you," he added, flicking his eyes briefly to Mira. "Both of you. Leave."
Mira hesitated. Was she being dismissed? Was she being punished?
"And listen carefully," Alex continued, his voice turning cold and dangerous. "No one is allowed to punished or remove her from her duties, they will answer to meif they dare .
Even my mother."
The head cook's mouth fell open in shock. She quickly bowed her head lower.
"Yes, my Lord," she whispered.
Mira quickly bowed too. "Thank you, my Lord," she said softly.
Without waiting another second, they both hurried out of the room.
---
Outside, in the cold hallway, Mira leaned against the stone wall, breathing heavily.
The head cook turned to her with a furious look. She grabbed Mira's wrist roughly.
"You foolish girl!" she hissed. "What did you do ?!"
"I-I didn't do anything!" Mira cried. "I swear!"
The head cook looked like she wanted to say more but stopped herself. The Alpha's warning echoed loudly in her mind.
She let go of Mira's wrist with a frustrated grunt and stormed away.
Mira stood there for a long time, trying to calm her racing heart.
---
Back inside his chambers, Alpha Alex sat quietly, staring at the door Mira had just exited through.
He didn't understand himself. Why had he stopped his meetings for her? Why had he carried her personally instead of letting the guards do it?
He looked down at the goblet of wine in his hand.
Mira was different.
There was a strange innocence about her, a strange quiet strength under all that fear.
He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes. The memory of her heartbeat from the night before echoed in his mind—steady, soft, beautiful.
A small smile tugged at his lips before he fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.