Someone

MALIA’S POV
I felt a lot better after eating and suggested that we go to the training grounds or any other location of his choice for our training sessions.
He advised that it was better I just get enough rest for the day and take a walk within the palace if I got bored.
“Do I need a bodyguard to do that within the palace? I’d prefer to walk alone. I don’t think that there are any dangers within this place,” I said and got up from the bed to help him with his tie.
He had yet another meeting and was going to be driving down to another Pack. All the Alphas were going to be there for the meeting.
I didn’t like the fact that he was always so busy but I couldn’t complain.
I knew exactly what I was getting myself into when I said yes to him. Perhaps, when I became crowned as Luna, I’d also be pretty busy and not feel his absence as much.
“It’s true that there are no dangers within the palace but you know that I’m going out of town. I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on the meeting knowing that you’re all alone without your bodyguard.”
“Or is it that you do not like him in particular? I could dismiss him and appoint another right away.”
Even though I didn’t like the guy, I wasn’t cruel enough to be the reason he lost his job.
“It’s not about whether or not I like him. Besides, I’m not going to be alone. Penelope is going to be with me,” I replied, smoothening his coat.
He placed both hands on my shoulders and gave me a quick peck on the mouth.
“No hate to your best friend, I like her. But she’s just an omega and can’t protect you just in case you need to be protected.”
I rolled my eyes. “Has it ever occurred to you that I am capable of defending myself?” I queried.
“Honey, I have no doubt about that but I’m just so fiercely protective of you, and I don’t want to lose you just like I lost her,” he replied with a tender voice.
I saw the pain in his eyes and my heart sank. “Your mom?” I asked softly.
“No, not her. Look, I do not wish to burden you with my sorrows or even allow them to affect you in any way,” he replied.
Then he sighed deeply. “You know what? You are right. You do not need to have a bodyguard follow you everywhere. But please, just make sure you’re reachable. Your cell phone should be with you because I’m going to call at intervals to check on you.”
I wrapped my arms around him, already saddened. I needed to know who he was talking about and what had happened to make him so protective. Or was it paranoia?
“Ryder, you can tell me anything. I’d really appreciate it if you did so freely without thinking that you’re burdening me. So please, tell me what happened.”
I released him from my embrace and moved a step backwards to look into his eyes.
He closed his eyes for a moment and then inhaled deeply. When he opened them, I nearly gasped at how dull they were.
He began to speak. “Zara was my closest cousin and she often spent the holiday with us when we were little.”
He paused and smiled at something that only he could see.
“Thinking about it now, she was very much like you. Beautiful, strong, loyal, compassionate and loved to eat.”
I smiled at his words and took his hands in mine.
“Zara and I had this habit of creeping around the palace at night. At that age, she was already good at using pins to unlock locked doors of rooms my parents didn’t want us to go snooping around in.”
“One day, on one of her visits, the last actually, I fell ill and was being closely monitored so I knew I wouldn’t be able to leave my room at night without getting caught. She wanted to stay by my side all night, we were that close. But I knew how much she loved to roam the palace at night and I thought it’d be selfish of me if I didn’t let her go just because I couldn’t. So I told her that I’d be hurt if she didn’t do it just because I was ill.”
I saw the stark pain in his eyes before he closed them again and my heart broke.
“Her dead body was found the next morning in one of the rooms. She had been raped and killed. That wouldn’t have happened if I had been there with her.”
“Oh my Goddess,” I gasped and wrapped my arms around him. “Was he ever caught?” I asked.
“Yes, he was,” he replied in a hoarse voice. “It was one of the guards who did it. He had foolishly taken her favourite hair bow which she had on that night, as some kind of trophy or souvenir. Another guard saw it and reported him.”
“Oh Ryder,” I sighed, tightening my arms around him and thinking that it was best if I allowed my bodyguard to follow me around. I didn’t want to be the reason that the Alpha wouldn’t be able to concentrate on his meeting just because he was worried about my safety.
“Do not worry about me. My bodyguard is going to be with me,” I murmured. “Just focus on your meeting.”
He inhaled sharply and gently pulled out of my embrace. I saw the mild panic in his eyes as he glanced at his wristwatch.
“I have to leave now, Malia. I’m running late already,” he said and planted a kiss on my forehead before picking up his briefcase from the bed.
I waved goodbye and watched as he made his way out of the room.
I sat on the bed for a moment, still saddened by what had happened to his cousin. That must have been really traumatizing for him.
I was still lost in thought when Penelope waltzed in. “A penny for your thoughts, white wolf,” she said, plopping down beside me. “And why do you look all gloomy?” she queried.
I sighed and narrated to her what the Alpha had told me and she sighed deeply. “Poor thing. How come I never heard about this story though?”
I shrugged. “Perhaps, people didn’t like to discuss it because a kid was involved,” I answered.
“Yeah, maybe,” she murmured and fell silent for a moment.
Then she inhaled deeply, stood up and also pulled me up into a standing position. “Don’t let that story weigh you down, okay?”
I nodded and she grinned. “Good. Because your best friend is bored and needs to be entertained. It’s crazy just how many meetings Damien has to go for. I need a man who is present.”
I smirked. “Who is supposed to be entertaining who? And who says you can’t call it quits with Damien for being too busy?” I joked.
She gave me a look. “Don’t worry. I assure you that I’m going to do that the minute you break things off with the Alpha for the same reason,” she replied.
I giggled. “I’m not complaining about it. I knew what I signed up for.”
“Whatever. Just go freshen up so we can leave this room and explore the palace in ways we have never done before,” she said excitedly.
I gave her a strange look before shaking my head and making my way to the bathroom.
She was snacking on some grapes and leafing through the pages of a magazine when I got out.
“Oh yes. Do please make yourself comfortable,” I said sarcastically and she giggled.
“Well, you were staying so long in there so I decided that I might as well make myself comfortable while I wait,” she replied.
“So where should we go first?” she queried as we walked out the door.
I was very aware of my bodyguard walking behind us. His eyes had been cold and indifferent when he had greeted us. Obviously, he was still mad about what had happened the previous night. But in my defence, it wasn’t my fault. He was the one who had given me full access to his mind.
“And you took advantage of it. You have to apologize,” my wolf said.
I mentally rolled my eyes. “Does he look like he’s ready to listen to my apology?” I replied.
Beside me, my best friend grumbled. “It’s been seconds since I’ve asked you a question and you haven’t bothered to reply.”
“Like how many seconds now?” I queried jokingly and she playfully smacked me on my arm.
I giggled. “I thought you were counting. Anyway, have you ever been to the late Luna’s conservatory? It has all sorts of poisonous flowers.”
She shook her head. “I’ve only heard about it. Apart from the servant who tends to it and the royal family, of course, no one else was allowed in there.”
I suddenly stopped in my tracks and she gave me a strange look. “Is the fact that I’ve never been there so shocking to you?” she queried in amusement.
I burst out laughing. “Of course not. It just occurred to me that I can’t remember the way there. Do you know the way?”
“Oh please. Just because I haven’t been in it doesn’t mean I haven’t been around it. So of course I know,” she replied smugly and linked her arm around mine.
Of course, she knew where it was. I was even surprised she hadn’t tried to enter when no one was looking.
We got there and she gasped when the beauty of the flowers greeted her eyes.
“Remember not to touch them with your bare hands, Penelope. There are some gloves in that corner. They are meant to be used.”
She rolled her eyes but went to fetch and donn them.
I noticed that my bodyguard hadn’t gone in with us. I went to look outside and as expected, he was standing by the door.
I cleared my throat and he didn’t even spare me a glance but just kept on looking straight ahead.
“You should join us. It’s a really beautiful sight inside,” I said.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but I can’t get distracted on the job,” he replied.
“Well, preventing me from touching the poisonous flowers and getting myself hurt is now part of your job description. So please let’s go in.”
He was so still for a moment that I thought he was going to just ignore me.
I couldn’t help but grin when he nodded in agreement and proceeded to follow me into the conservatory.
Penelope arched an eyebrow when she saw him behind but said nothing.
I turned to look at him and hated the fact that I couldn’t tell how he was feeling. He had that annoying expressionless mask on his face and I wondered what I could do to get him to take it off.
We spent about thirty minutes there and our next stop was the room of sculptures. Not even Penelope knew of its existence and I was surprised.
I was even more surprised when Zade, my bodyguard said he knew where it was and led us there.
I practically forced him to go in with us because he ignored me and didn’t seem amused when I told him that any of the sculptures could fall and crush me to death.
This time, his mask slipped a little and I saw the awe in his eyes before they became cold again.
I literally had to carry Penelope out of there because she didn’t want to leave.
“There’s a place that I think you’d like to see,” she said and led us to Damien’s room.
I arched an eyebrow at her. “Really?”
She grinned sheepishly. “You’ve never visited me. So, come on in,” she replied and turned the door open.
My bodyguard stayed outside this time.
The room was tastefully furnished and was very large. Though not as large as Ryder’s chambers.
“Your mate has better taste than you,” I commented.
She scoffed. “You can’t be so sure. Just wait for when I refurnish it.”
I gave her a look of mock horror. “Oh dear. Someone’s about to take away the beauty of this place,” I teased.
Without warning, she tackled me to the ground and attacked me with tickles. But this time, I was strong enough to have our positions switched and I smiled triumphantly as I sat atop her and tickled her mercilessly.
I stopped when she was nearly out of breath and she weakly gave me the middle finger.
I giggled in delight just as my stomach growled in hunger.
Penelope rang the kitchen to bring us lunch. I asked my bodyguard to join us but he declined.
“But you must be hungry,” I said.
He looked me in the eye and I involuntarily shivered. I guess he noticed because his eyes darkened a little.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I mentally berated myself. Then I went on to convince myself that there was nothing going on.
“He’s not Zade, our mate. He is Zade, your bodyguard,” my wolf reminded me.
I mentally rolled my eyes. Of course, I knew that. There was no reason at all for her to remind me.
“You know what? You can do whatever you want. Starve, join us or go eat in the kitchen. But you should know that I’d be in here for a while. No one is going to come in and kill me if you leave for a few minutes,” I said and went back inside.
Penelope and I ended up stuffing ourselves with food and slept until Damien and Ryder returned.
The latter who had followed Damien to his room because he knew I’d be there with Penelope, lifted me into his arms and carried me into his chambers. I was still feeling a little bit sleepy so he allowed me to sleep some more.
I woke up to him shaking me gently. “There’s someone here to see you, Love,” he murmured.