Princess...

Chapter 22

Accalia

The sleep was restless as my inner wolf wouldn't settle but I couldn't shift, in case Alpha Lupus was waiting for me. As I threw the bed covers off of me, I tugged on my uniform in contempt and moved into the kitchen, knowing that no one else would be up yet. I set about making breakfast, it comes more naturally now as I'd watched Raula countless times. I was just plating up the first few when Raula shuffled into the kitchen, buttoning her blouse as she caught sight of me

"Ace! I didn't know you were up already." She blushed and smoothed the apron that hung from her neck. I gave her a smile that told her wordlessly that I wasn't going to question last night's antics as she paused in the centre of the room, eyes falling over the plates I'd already finished

"I'd rather not serve today, Raula. If that's okay?" I gave her a pleading look and she returned it with a knowing one, taking the cutlery and setting the table in the dining room as I mindlessly nibbled on a sausage, recalling the night before. I finished the piece of meat I was chewing on and plated up a few for the workers who were slowly filing into the kitchen, all looking more awake than I felt. I caught the scent of the pack in the dining room through the smell of breakfast meat but forced myself to ignore it as I sat beside Adolfina, not really having a big appetite but scoffing down my egg and hash browns anyway. Raula returned from the dining room looking flustered and I gave her a quizzical look.

"You might want to serve the bread basket, Ace." Her voice was slightly higher and I tried to work out what had gotten her so on edge. It wouldn't have been Beta Deryn, he had more respect for his Alpha than to make a scene. Shaking my head, I took another bite of sausage and Raula groaned, taking a seat at the kitchen island. "I really think you should. I can't go back in there." The older woman was pleading but I stood my ground, firmly shaking my head to indicate that I wasn't serving. Louvel scoffed and picked up the wicker basket

"I'll do it if its that much trouble." Raula went to protest but Louvel had disappeared down the hallway before anyone could say anything and the mother of the group put her head in her hands. I shrugged, discarding the rest of the food from my plate into the bin and setting about cleaning the kitchen whilst Raula ate. Louvel returned a minute later, looking equally as flustered and I gave her the same puzzled look as I'd gave Raula but she wouldn't meet my eyes

"You really should have served the bread basket, Ace..." She mumbled but I couldn't reply as a loud growl echoed from the dining room, causing us all to jump. Everyone's eyes snapped over to me and I shrugged, unable to explain why the Alpha was so angry this morning. I hadn't pissed him off that bad, had I? The workers ate silently, which was a stark contrast from the usual morning chitchat they all engaged in and Raula took over the cleaning so I sat down, waiting until the scent of the pack had disappeared.

"I'll go clean the dining room." I announced, taking the bottle of disinfectant and strolling through the short passage. However as I emerged from the doorway, the Alpha was already glaring at me with such ferocity that I dropped the disinfectant bottle, causing it to fall to the floor and I bowed my head, watching it roll away from me.

"Rogue Ace. So nice of you to show up." He spat and I blinked my eyes a few times, trying to process what he was saying. My inner wolf was too busy submitting to the Alpha to give me any assistance so I took a deep breath, trying to collect my thoughts.

"Alpha Lupus." That was all I could muster, watching the bottle of fluid disappear from my field of vision. He stood quickly and I flinched, taking a quick step backwards as he stalked closer to me until my back hit the wall and he towered over me. Pack bonded or not, I could feel the anger rolling from him that made my inner wolf whimper in surrender.

"Why is your hair not up?" He asked, and I had to bite back a laugh at how mundane the question was. Is he truly this riled up because my hair was not tied back? I had opted to leave it down this morning, especially as I hadn't even been planning to see Alpha Lupus today.