Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine
 
JASMINE'S POV
 
"I see the alpha is an early riser then," I said trying to deflect my sudden interest and began to rise from bed.
 
"Oh yes. He is up before nearly everyone in this house. He might not exactly be the most talkative or inviting person, but he certainly does have his eyes and ears peeled on the life around him. He does his best to know and puts everyone else first. I suppose that's one of the things that makes him such a wonderful Alpha."
 
I looked at the maiden carefully before responding, "you don't seem scared of him." I noted and she shrugged.
 
"as I said, I don't see him as the most welcoming, or inviting person, so I do avoid him as often as I can. But that Is not to say that if I were ever in a hard place, and needed to go to him, I would not believe him to be able to be there for me. I don't fear him, I suppose it's much safer to say that I respect him. But I see him for what he is,  a great leader." she said softly, and I chewed on my lower lip.
 
" a good leader," I repeated and sighed. No matter how annoying he was, the fact that his subordinates had something good to say about him, actually spoke volumes, "so the good leader, that everyone tries to give his space, is singing today, and everyone chooses to see that as a good sign?"
 
"yes, ma'am." Natalie said and I smiled quickly, "and we have reason to believe that it truly has something to do with you." she said happily and I raised a brow.
 
"with me?" I questioned, very shocked by it, and she nodded.
 
"as I said, this has never happened. I mean not since I started working here though. Now you're here, and all of a sudden he has tunes. " she stopped suddenly, and looked at me apologetically, "I'm sorry if I have overstepped my boundaries."
 
" No." I said and shook my head, "you haven't. Not really." I said and blew out a breath. "This is all just news to me. That's all. I definitely don't consider things to be that way though." I said and began walking to the window.
 
He was there, out there, looking over the land, and it shook me how it ate me up to know what he was thinking, while standing there, looking so intently.
 
"Ma'am?" I heard, and Jolted. Nat had been speaking to me, and I had not been listening.
 
"Yes, Nat?" I asked, trying to play off my lack of concentration as cool.
 
"I was asking what you'd like to eat for breakfast."
 
"breakfast?" I questioned, and immediately thought of my night time rendezvous, and how I had been caught by Damien. And suddenly my cheeks went red.
 
"I don't know. Whatever Damien's having, and … will he be there?"
 
I saw the ghost of a smile before she nodded, "yes, he will. I'll ask the chef to make a double of what the alpha will be having. Excuse me, while I prepare your bath." she said and walked into the bathroom. I, on the other hand, wasted no time in returning to my view, but he was already gone.
 
DAMIEN'S POV
 
I didn't understand the dream Liam had dragged me out of. But I could have sworn he had honestly dragged me out of hell. But even when Liam had been able to find sleep, I was stuck with having to relive the terrible dream over and over again. Well, until I heard footsteps that I was sure had to be Jasmine's. and if my ears served me properly, she was walking through the kitchen. No big surprise there, if you ask me. I mean, the woman had not eaten anything aside from the chips from the drive thru.
 
I would have loved to be the cool host, who didn't worry about these things, but something bigger than me had me rising from my spot on the couch to go find her.
I did reconsider my actions when I got to the kitchen door, but she was done with her selection for food so quickly before I could change my mind. But when I knew she was coming out, I actually took my time to go into the shadows, and followed her quietly and softly till we got closer and closer to her room, and against my better judgement, I actually spoke up.
 
"didn't consider you to be a night crawler though." I suddenly said, and watched as she paused, froze, before slowly turning around.
 
"takes one to know one," she said coolly, hugging her food close to her bosom, like a woman who had been caught red-handed.
 
I had many petty things to say to that, but seeing as I had just survived a very fitful nightmare, I chose diplomacy. I mean, it worked, until she could do nothing but stand there looking at me like she couldn't quite figure me out.
And alas, when she had had enough, she turned away, and I watched her. But only when I returned to my spot on the couch, did I realize that some of the heat that I had felt right after the dream had somewhat faded away.
 
The rest of the night was entirely less fitful, and when I woke up, I even caught myself singing a tune. I don’t think I have let myself catch a tune since… the accident.
 
Instead of my usual morning workouts and training, I found myself walking around the grounds, and taking in the sunset. That was another thing I had not done in quite some time. I stood in front of the house, and for the first time in a while, really saw this place. Funny how I had lived here all my life and never really noticed the way the sun rose. The pinks, and oranges, and dark blue. The way the birds chirruped, happy for the start of a new day.
 
Without turning around, I knew she watched me. And I fought the urge to turn around so that she didn't grow uncomfortable. I couldn't help but think about the dream, the relief I had felt after our encounter, and I suppose it said something about what our mating would eventually mean.
 
"whatever Damien's having." I heard Jasmine say and figured she was speaking of breakfast. I smiled a bit. The woman was going to lose half her mind when she realized I was a strict health nut, and chose to have my eggs slightly uncooked. I knew the egg one was a turn-off for Liam. It would probably be a turn-off for her. But we will see.
But I was willing to give her one act of kindness, I thought, as I turned back to the house. If she was bent on having what I was having, I would at least ask the chef to make a milkshake, rather than my usual soya milk. Years of stalking her made me know that she wasn't so big on soya milk.
 
"Alpha! Alpha!" one of the stable hands called out as I made my way to the house, and I turned to look at him with a raised brow.
 
"what's got your knickers in a twist, boy?" I asked because the boy really did look like he'd run through a forest with thorns to get to me.
 
"Alpha, it's a witch, she's at the gate, and she is barking mad, requesting for you."