Chapter 26: THE ALPHA IS A VERY KIND MAN

"Hey, what are you doing!" Licia was taken aback by this; she did not expect her to get this scared, "There is no need to apologize for this, Polene. Neither the Alpha, nor I have a problem with that…"

"A- Are you for real?" Polene, who was choking on her own years, asked the Luna cautiously. Licia nodded, "Yes, it is true. The Alpha is not that unreasonable to hold a grudge and punish you for something this trivial." The girl proceeded to kneel down on the floor as well to accompany the housekeeper who was on the floor, begging for mercy. Licia said, "He even admitted his mistake to me and even apologized sincerely. He is, in fact, a very kind and righteous man. Well, at least more so than he seems to be." Licia smiled brightly in order to cheer up the maid, but the latter looked still hesitant.

Even looking into an Alpha's eyes was considered insulting and punishable, she had the audacity to glare at him. If it was someone else, she was sure she would have been banished from the pack and forced to turn into a rogue.

While the two women were conversing, Alpha Enrique, who was riding off somewhere on his horse, sneezed¹. He rubbed his nose and wondered if he had caught a cold all of a sudden.

"Luna… I…"

"Shhh… There is no need to explain yourself." The Luna worded kindly, "I know you did it because you were worried about me. I feel so touched that someone is out here who genuinely cares for me other than my husband."

Polene was relieved when she was assured that she wasn't going to be punished, "No matter how worried I was, I still shouldn't have glared at Alpha. I am really remorseful and ashamed of myself."

Licia shrugged her slender shoulders and said, "I know he didn't mind it but I will still let him know that you are sorry." Licia then remembered that when she changed and came out, Enrique was nowhere to be seen. She asked Polene, "By the way, I haven't seen the Alpha around here today. Do you know where he is, Polene?"

"Oh, the Alpha…" Polene dragged thoughtfully before reporting, "He left saying that he had some errands to take care of in the town. I am afraid I don't know anything else…"

"I see…" Licia didn't ponder much into this subject because it was normal for the Alpha to have work in the town. What touched her was he was starting to take efforts; till this morning he seemed uninterested in doing anything for the town people. It was not his choice to become the Alpha anyway, it was bestowed over him by the Lycan King. But after their interaction in the chamber where she told him how important it was for her to help the town people, he was starting to do his part in supporting her.

She didn't know if it was guilt ridden or his genuine care for his Luna, but seeing him taking efforts was enough to make her happy.

She then asked, "Then Polene, do you happen to know about the Alpha's men who will be returning to the castle?"

"Yes, Luna. Our pack's sentinels, hunters and warriors. Even Alpha's Beta is returning."

"That's good. How is the preparation for welcoming them going?"

"Very well, Luna. The Alpha had asked us to clear out the hall to accommodate the warriors so we have done that already."

"Only the room?" Licia was somewhat shocked to hear this, "It will be winter soon. Will their families all live in the hall as well?"

"Well… That's what the Alpha told us, Luna." Polene said slowly.

Licia remembered that originally, only the Alpha and his family were allowed to live and have their own chambers in the castle. The serving Omegas and pack warriors would either settle in the nearby town with the other members or set up camps somewhere outside of the Alpha's castle.

But right now, the town doesn't have a proper house or inn for the warriors to move in. There aren't even enough supplies nor men to help set up the camp, either. Even the weather and constant storm would not support the idea of setting up camps. So, the right thing to do was let the soldiers live inside the castle and let them occupy the hall.

Even though the hall was huge, still… would it be enough for them?

The warriors were originally from different packs who decided to join the Ravenwood pack for Alpha Enrique. If he even had them bring their families with them to settle down in their pack permanently, they must not be just any Omega or warriors. If Enrique was the one who watched King Cayden's back in the war, these soldiers must have been those who watched Enrique's back. If they are his comrades, who he trusted to have his back during that prolonged war where no one could be trusted at all, they must be really important to him.

Even the soldiers were trusting him with the future of their family by leaving their previous packs to join a new, alien one…

Licia thought for a while before saying, "Please clean out the rooms as well so that the Alpha's men can stay in them."

"I beg your pardon? But the Alpha…"

"Don't worry about the Alpha. I will talk to him." Licia assured the housekeeper and continued, "Winter will be here in two months and I am sure there will be women among the families. It will be too harsh and inconvenient for them to live in the halls."

"My Luna…" Polene thought for a while before nodding vigorously, "As you say, My Lady."

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**AUTHOR'S NOTE**

1- In popular superstitious beliefs, people are said to sneeze out of nowhere if they are either being talked about or being missed by someone. In this case, Alpha Enrique sneezed because he was the topic around which Licia and Polene's whole conversation was revolving.