Malia’s POV
Penelope’s countenance had fallen so I gave her a hug and then proceeded to plant a quick kiss on her mouth.
I thought she was going to push me away but the weirdo looked at me and gave me a slow sensual smile.
“You know, I don’t need Ronan when I have you. Could you please do that again? It felt really good.”
I looked at her like she had lost her mind.
“It’s okay. I know how to kiss,” she said, leaning towards me. I reached for a pillow and hit it against her face and she burst out laughing.
“You should see your face right now, Malia.”
I rolled my eyes at her. “I’ll always say this. You’re really something else. Looks really can be deceiving,” I stated but inwardly I was pleased that her countenance had become brighter.
“Now, speaking of men and kisses, you and the Alpha need to have sex and get this over with. The room was literally on fire earlier with the sexual tension and he looked ready to kill me when I interrupted.”
I remembered how it had ended earlier in our closet and I felt a stab of guilt. It felt like I had somehow hurt him.
“I guess all is not well in paradise,” Penelope said, noticing the change in my mood.
I shrugged. “There was never a paradise for us and I don’t think we’re going to be having any heated moments anymore.”
“Why? Did something happen between you two?” She asked, reaching yet again for my dessert.
I promptly swatted her hand. “I practically told him to lay off. I’m not going to let him get into my pants just for him to discard me later like some old toy he has lost interest in.”
“Oh. That’s not how I expected things to end between you two. I’ve been silently rooting for you guys,” she revealed.
“Whatever. He has Lila. I’m sure he wasn’t thinking straight when he told me he wanted to push her aside. He’s going to come back to his senses now that I have rejected his advances.”
Penelope sighed. “But you have feelings for him though.”
I opened my mouth to deny it but she raised a finger.
“You do not have to deny it. It’s obvious.”
“It’s just pure lust and nothing more,” I said, scooping the last bite of my dessert with the spoon.
“Okay, Malia. Whatever you choose to believe.”
“Now speaking of Lila, I heard she’s back. One of the servants was talking about how relaxed she looked. She must have really needed those few days of vacation.”
I sat up straighter. “What about Derek? Do you know if he’s around?” I asked even though a part of me already knew the answer to that.
“I don’t think he is. Besides, they didn’t even leave the palace on the same day so I’m not expecting them to return at the same time. It would be careless of them.”
I nodded in agreement. “You’re right, Penelope.”
We proceeded to make small talk until we were both sleepy. Penelope refused to spend the night in my room no matter how hard I tried to persuade her. She didn’t want a repeat of what happened the other morning when Ronan had come into my room to find us still fast asleep.
“The beta isn’t supposed to be the one waking up a servant,” she had said before exiting my room.
I wasn’t sure Ronan even cared about such things. He was friendly to the servants and sometimes turned a blind eye to their mistakes.
The same could not be said for his brother. I don’t think the servants would ever dare to make mistakes where their Alpha was concerned. They were always on their toes around him.
But still, I knew how vulnerable he could be, and how caring. I knew he didn’t show that part of him to people because he feared they’d take him for granted. An Alpha needed to be strong and inspire awe and respect. Even fear.
I turned off the light and pulled the covers over my body wondering how I was going to face Ryder the next day. Knowing him, I was sure he was going to avoid me.
It’s for the best, I said to myself. I couldn’t afford to get hurt again. Zade had taught me a lesson that I was never going to forget.
When I woke up, Lila was in my room, sitting cross-legged on my chair.
“I see you’ve awoken, sleeping beauty,” she said in a cheery voice. I was instantly on guard.
“What do you want, Lila?” I queried, sitting up on my bed and trying not to let my irritation show on my face.
“Oh, just something that I think will benefit the both of us immensely.” She uncrossed her legs and stood up, walking towards my bed.
My forehead creased in suspicion as she sat down beside me. I stiffened when she tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear.
“Chill Malia. I don’t bite.”
“What is it you want to say?” I asked, putting a little space between us.
“You know you’re going to fall off the bed if you move any further right?” She asked in amusement.
I ignored her.
“I know you’re in trouble, Malia,” she began and I promptly stiffened.
I decided to play dumb. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Lila.”
She chuckled.
“You do not have to lie Malia. Your picture was shared with the public at my uncle’s pack.”
My heart sank to the depths of my stomach.
“There’s a huge reward for anyone who finds you and delivers you to the Alpha of the Silver Crescent Moon Pack. I could use that money, you know?”
“What do you want, Lila?” I asked, already having an inkling of what she was going to say.
“Stay away from the Alpha and his brother. I don’t know what you did to get the Alpha of your former pack on your case and I don’t care. I don’t even want to know. All I know is that you do not deserve to even kiss the feet of Ryder and Ronan. So stay away.”
I sighed resignedly. “I’ll do as you say, Lila,” I said, wondering why she wanted me to stay away from Ronan also.
“You don’t have a choice, Malia. If I ever see you within a few feet of them, I’m going to let all the members of this pack know that you’re wanted at a huge price. I don’t think anyone is going to be able to resist that amount no matter how much they like you.”
She patted my hand and then got up from my bed. “It was nice chatting with you,” she said with a grin and then walked out of the room.
I sat on my bed just staring into space for a moment. How the hell was I supposed to avoid the two brothers?
I was so lost in my turmoil that I didn’t know when Penelope entered and put my breakfast in front of me.
She shook me hard and I startled.
“What is wrong with you?” She asked and I could hear the concern in her voice.
“And please don’t tell me it’s nothing,” she added.
I gave her a weak smile. “I wasn’t going to tell you that it’s nothing.”
She regarded me suspiciously for a while.
“Spill, girl,” she ordered as she sat beside me.
I took a deep breath. “Lila was in my room this morning. She knows that my ex-husband is searching for me. She threatened to expose me if I didn’t stay away from the Alpha and Beta.”
Penelope’s eyes widened and then they hardened in anger. “That wench. I hate her,” she spat out.
Then her expression became puzzled.
“I understand why she would want you to avoid Ryder but why Ronan also?” She wondered.
I shrugged. “It beats me too. But I don’t care. I’m more afraid of Zade knowing where I am and coming to get me.”
Her eyes softened and she wrapped her arms around me. “It’s going to be okay, Lia. We just have to find some dirt on her and use it to our advantage. If she’s having an affair with Derek, that’s something close to treason and there’s a severe punishment for that. She’s not going to want that.”
“Yeah. Whatever. But for now, I guess I’m going to have to avoid both of them. It’s for the best anyway,” I murmured.
She released me from her embrace. “So are you going to ask Ronan to quit coming into your room? You’re going to have to give him a very good reason.”
“I know, Penelope. Or I could just start waking up earlier than usual and leaving my room before he comes. I could also hang out with you guys in the kitchen, and make myself busy.”
“We could try that for now. That means you have to hurry up with your breakfast and get yourself cleaned up,” she advised.
I nodded and started to eat my meal.
“And please do something about your hair, it’s a disaster,” she added. Her eyes twinkled in amusement.
I threw a pillow at her but she was already out of the room before it could touch her.