Chapter 21 missing
One week passed, and everything felt like a strange dream drifting slowly around me. One full week of me living in an unfamiliar environment, surrounded by people I barely knew, yet somehow I was adapting little by little. The days blended together in a mix of confusion and forced comfort. The maids constantly checked on me, making sure I ate enough food and rested well. Candice frequently visited, offering a bit of warmth and occasional conversation, but throughout that entire week, I did not see even the smallest trace of Kaelrix. It was always Versus and Candice who stayed around me.
Every morning, I found myself glancing at my door as if expecting it to open on its own. For some reason, I was always checking to see if he would walk in the same silent way he used to creep in without warning. But every day, it remained the same. The door stayed quiet. There was no movement. No sound. Not even the shadow of his presence. I wanted to ask Candice about him, to know where he had gone, but every time the words reached my lips, they became heavy. Ego and pride held them down like chains. How could I ask about a man who punished me simply because I disrespected him? A man who frightened me, frustrated me, confused me, and yet somehow left me feeling restless?
So I kept repeating to myself that I did not care about him. I told myself every single hour that his absence meant nothing. But no matter how much I repeated those words, something stubborn inside me refused to listen. It bothered me. It bothered me that I had not seen him. It bothered me that I kept searching for him without meaning to. It bothered me that I could not understand what exactly was wrong with me. Why was I feeling like this? Why was I restless? Why was I looking for him at all? None of it made sense to me, and the confusion only made everything worse.
Lola’s words floated back into my mind like a quiet whisper I could not push away. Her voice repeated what she once told me, urging me to stop deceiving myself. I stared around my room, empty and quiet, and allowed a deep sigh to leave my chest as the weight of my thoughts pulled me down.
I walked toward the window and stared out at the city walls of the pack house. The sunset washed everything in warm colors, and the people walking around outside looked peaceful and beautiful. They moved freely, talking, laughing, doing their daily activities with ease while my mind was tangled in emotions I could not name.
"Lola, I know you can hear me," I whispered gently. "But me too, I was betrayed just like you were. I do not understand what is happening to me. I do not know why, but why am I searching for him?"
I expected silence. Lola rarely replied unless she felt like it. But unexpectedly her voice came through, low, cold, and a little sharp. "You know what is wrong. You know how you feel. You simply refuse to admit it, and now you are asking me again."
Her tone made my skin crawl with irritation. Ever since the incident between my father and me, she had acted like everything was my fault. She held resentment inside her, resentment that I never truly understood. Why did she blame me when she should have been on my side? She was supposed to be my wolf, but sometimes it felt like she had become my opponent.
"To be honest, I am still trying to figure out what is wrong with you," I snapped at her, unable to hold back the frustration in my chest.
Just like that, she went silent again, retreating into that familiar coldness she always hid behind. I sighed and rubbed my forehead. Sometimes I wished I could change my wolf entirely. Maybe then I would stop feeling like the enemy inside me was louder than the world around me.
Suddenly, the door to my room creaked open. I turned quickly and recognized the maid who walked in. She was the same young woman who had been taking care of me from the moment I stepped into this pack house. Her familiar face eased me slightly, but I frowned when I realized she entered without her usual gentle knock.
I wondered why she came at that hour. The sky outside showed that it was around 5 p.m, and I was certain I had no appointments or duties. So what was happening?
She smiled warmly. "Good evening," she greeted politely.
"Good evening, Miss Lena," I replied, returning a small smile of my own even though confusion lingered in my mind.
My heart skipped a little. She looked genuinely excited, almost too excited. Why was she smiling so much?
"Maam, please, I would love to get you ready," she said politely.
My eyebrows shot up. "Get me ready for what please?" I asked, confusion filling every part of me.
Her being there meant something important. She never came into my room without a message or instruction. If she was here, there had to be a reason, and the fact that she wanted to get me ready made me even more curious.
"For dinner," she answered calmly.
I stared at her lazily, almost annoyed. Was this pack obsessed with food? Every day they insisted on feeding me. Even when I was not hungry, they forced food into my routine. I had literally eaten not too long ago, and yet here she was, asking me to get ready for more food.
"Lena, I think you forgot that I ate a while ago," I reminded her softly.
She nodded. "Yes I know. It is Alpha Kaelrix. He is requesting to eat with you. He personally asked that you join him for dinner."
For a moment, I could not breathe properly. My stomach twisted, and an unfamiliar emotion danced inside me, making my chest flutter. As ridiculous as it sounded, I felt a little happy. He was back. He actually came back.
"Do you know where he went all this while?" I asked, unable to hide my curiosity anymore.
She shook her head. "Honestly, I do not know. Sometimes Alpha disappears without a trace. Sometimes he stays away for months before returning. But this time he came back early. It has only been one week. That is unusually early."
I blinked. So this was normal? This was something everyone was used to? He vanished often, and no one questioned it? Not even his brother?
Where exactly did he always go?
I did not want to think too deeply about it. Without asking any more questions, I hurried to the bathroom to take my bath. Lena helped me dress in one of the most expensive gowns I had ever worn. The fabric hugged my skin softly and flowed beautifully. I grinned at my reflection, amazed at how much the gown complimented my curves.
Lena styled my hair into a high ponytail, twisting the tip neatly. She applied light makeup that made my features stand out without looking excessive. When I looked at myself again, I felt breathless. I looked stunning, almost unreal.
I followed her down the hallway toward the dining room. My heart beat faster with every step. When the maid pushed the door open, my eyes instantly landed on Kaelrix.
He sat quietly and dangerously calm. His hair was longer than before, and dark bags sat under his eyes. He looked exhausted, as if he had been fighting battles no one else could see. Yet he was still hauntingly handsome.
I wondered where he had gone that drained him this much.
I sat down gently, and the aroma of the food filled the room. Even though I had eaten earlier, the delicious scent made me crave more.
But Kaelrix did not even look at me. Not a single glance. He kept eating in silence, eyes fixed on his plate as if nothing in the world mattered. His behavior stung my chest, and irritation mixed with something I refused to name.
I inhaled deeply and cleared my throat. "Where have you been?" I asked, finally breaking the silence.
He looked up slowly, eyes heavy and distant, and glared at me lazily.
"Eat."