30

30


The next morning,

8:29.

°°°

Standing on the veranda, close to the entrance of the Alpha's office, was Bellatrix. Her dark hair was swept up in a side-braided ponytail, and she was wearing a V-neck grey tunic top paired with black leggings.

With her hands intertwined before her, her lips tightly pressed together, and her eyes failing to conceal her anxiety, she appeared visibly tense. Xoey had accompanied her here upon her request, but she didn’t stay long, claiming she had to oversee the Luna's performance in the woodshed.

The artfully made wooden entrance door was left a fraction open. However, Bellatrix was unwilling to cross the threshold without permission.

The Alpha had told her that day at the training grounds that he would be the one to handle her training. From the Beta's reaction, she knew it wouldn't be a cakewalk; her mate wouldn't be lenient or biased towards her just because of the mate bond they shared.

And though she was worried, she knew there was no way to back out. He was her master, her king and her mate; whatever he says, goes.

Yesterday had been a day off for her, so she would be prepared to report to his office every morning at a certain time for training purposes. She wondered, though, how physical training could be done in the office.

Several minutes went by, and she eventually saw the Gamma (Sergei Dulio Treyton) walk out of the office, holding a black folder in hand and dressed in smart casual attire. She greeted him respectfully, and he acknowledged her with a smile.

“How are you doing, Royal Breeder?” he asked as he halted in front of her.

“I-I’m doing well, sir,” she replied, mustering a polite smile at him while internally hoping her disquietude didn’t seep out.

“That’s good to hear. I hope you survive,” he smilingly gave her a thumbs-up before taking his leave.

Bellatrix was left stunned by his words. What did he mean by saying he hoped she survived?

A chill sprinted down her spine as pessimistic thoughts started creeping into her mind uninvited. Although she shook her head and dismissed them from her mind, she couldn’t get rid of the butterflies that had converged in the depths of her gut.

Not long after, the Alpha stepped out with his hands placed in his pockets, sporting slightly tousled and rimless spectacles.

She was a bit surprised; she’d never seen him wear glasses before. They suited him, though, added to his attractiveness even.

But his outfit today…

Why was his black shirt totally unbuttoned? Not that it was a bad thing…

His well-defined and striking abs were on display; an unexpected but drool-worthy feast for the eyes.

A part of her was strongly drawn to the idea of closing the distance between two of them and feeling his abs’ firmness, planting a kiss on his chest...

‘No, what am I thinking?’ she mentally scolded herself, quickly casting away the inappropriate thoughts.

“G-good morning, Your Majesty,” she greeted with a bow, her tone deferential. After he acknowledged her, she raised her head after he had ordered her to.

"You're not looking horrible today," he told her.

She didn't know what to make of his words. Was it a compliment or...not?

Regardless, she didn't dare to keep silent. Flashing a contrived smile, she responded, “Thank you, your Majesty,”

“Why didn’t you enter? I guess you’ve been here for a long while,”

She shook her head, “Not that long, Alpha. I was afraid to bother you, and I understand that there's confidential stuff that someone like me, who’s not even a member of this pack, is worthy of hearing or seeing.”

“Like what?” he asked, a brow lifted.

“Well… l-like…” she was tongue-tied. Why would he be asking her such questions?

He let out a sigh, “Forget it, your brain can’t be able to process such questions.”

Bellatrix felt like glaring at him. Why was he calling her stupid?

Still, she pursed her lips and encircled her right fingers around her left wrist a little tighter, praying not to act on impulse, reminding herself that the other party was an Alpha king.

“Are you unhappy? Offended?”

Should she say yes?

She definitely lacked such courage.

“Bellatrix, answer me,”

“I…I…”

“Stop stuttering. Do I look like a predator?”

‘You’re worse than that,’ she thought.

Although his usual Alpha aura was nowhere to be seen right now, she knew one wrong sentence from her and it would appear and suffocate her.

“I’m not, Alpha.”

“So,” he crossed his arms, “…tell me, what things are you, as my chosen breeder and mate, unworthy of seeing? Or what were you hoping not to see?”

“Map. The pack’s map,” she responded.

“Your little brain wouldn’t even recognize it if you saw it.

“Confidential documents…” she said again, her nervousness spiking by the second.

“Really?” he asked, looking amused, “Do you even have the courage to go near my desk?”

There again! He was now calling her a coward.

She couldn’t refute this one, even in her mind.

“Were you hoping for me to come out yawning and looking shagged out from overworking? That way, you get to skip training.”

Her eyes widened upon hearing his words, and she quickly waved her hands in denial while shaking her head. “N-no, Alpha. I never thought of that,”

He shook his head and sighed, “You’re no fun to tease. One more teasing, and your brain could literally flee your skull.”

Bellatrix pretended he had not just said that.

Yes, just pretend. Before she knew it, it would be all over.

If this was the training he wanted to give her, then he was doing a damn good job at it—at making her negative emotions climb heights quicker than she would ever want.

“Come in,” he told her after uncrossing his arms. Then, pivoting on his foot, he headed for his office.

The Omega watched as her mate’s back disappeared from her line of sight.

After punching the air repeatedly, she took deep breaths and then took tentative steps forward, her right palm feeling along the wall as she moved.

But when she got to the entrance, she acted on her thoughts and decided to peek first, only to see the Alpha standing in front of her, arms folded.

Her eyes dilated, and a surprised gasp instinctively escaped her lips as she fell back quickly.

“Are you waiting for me to tie a rope around your neck first, Bellatrix?” she heard him say, and a strong chill went down her spine, causing her to shudder.

“A-Alpha, I didn’t mean to…”

“Step in,” he ordered, cutting her short.

She clamped her lips together and entered the office, head inclined.

“Wait on the couch,” he instructed, “… I still have a few things to finish. Once I’m done, the training begins. If you get thirsty, feel free to visit the fridge over there,” he pointed to his right, and she nodded wordlessly.

“If at one point you feel tired, feel free to sleep. If you feel the urge to relieve yourself, though, make sure to hold it in. You can do some exercises to help you with that. But don’t make my office stink with your perspiration, otherwise… you’re toast,”

She nodded vigorously, “Yes, Alpha,”

“Good,”

She watched him head over to his desk up ahead.

Did he say he was free that day at the training grounds? What are these stacks of documents waiting on his desk then?

And what he’d basically told her just now translated to: no going to the fridge and no sleeping. She wondered how long she’d have to wait before the training would even begin.

“Bellatrix!” at full tilt, her mate's call brought her to reality with a jolt.

She quickly rose to her feet, hands clasped in front of her, ears perked up, “Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Get me that brown book on the shelf,” he told her.

“Yes, Alpha,” she replied softly and quickly made her way to the shelf.

But soon she encountered a dilemma— there were several brown-covered books.

She turned to face her mate, “Your Majesty….”

“Refer to me as ‘Sir’ in private from now on,” he instructed, eyes glued to the document he was perusing, his right fingers holding a high-end black pen.

“Sir, please, I don’t know which book you want. Many of them are brown…”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. It’s the one at the first tier,” he told her, still not taking his eyes from the document in his hand.

“Huh?” She couldn’t believe he’d ask her to do such. Even if she jumped severally, her hand wouldn’t easily reach the top tier of the shelf.

Even if she did, how would she know which book to pick when that tier had 5 brown-covered books?

“Then…can I get a stool perhaps?” she asked, her tone uncertain.

"No. Consider this as a warm-up before your training," he said, raising his head to look at her, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Bring down all the brown books on the first tier. Also, add that cyan book on the second tier to the list. And of course, the eburnean book on the fourth tier, and the black book enclosed with vines at the bottom tier. Once I've chosen the brown book I want, you try your best to put back the other four at the top tier. That's all,” he flashed her an impish smile before returning his gaze to the document.

Bellatrix was doing everything she could to restrain herself from glaring at him, clenching her fingers or worse, cursing at him.