Lilith
“A cold-blooded beast?” I repeated. My mind flashed to Daphne’s words and fear seized me.
“Don’t be scared, as long as you don’t cross your boundaries with him, you will be fine,” she assured me, placing a hand on my slender shoulder.
“What if I cross my boundaries with him? What is the worst that could happen?” I dared to ask, cocking my head to the side.
Since I was a child, I was inquisitive in nature. I never ceased to ask at the slightest opportunity.
As a teenager, my curiosity spiked and sometimes, I dared to indulge and explore some of the things that spiked my interest.
As a youth, I couldn’t help it. I longed to satisfy my curiosity. To see things beyond this horizon. To know the reasons behind some rules. To know the worst that could happen if it is flaunted.
To others, rules were made to be adhered to, but to me, rules were meant to be broken.
Anna munched the apple deliciously before moaning. “I don’t know because I never pushed my limits with him, but I am certain that what he would do to you would be horrible,” she stated. Her words stirred fear within me, but it only arose the curiosity in me.
There were so many things about the Alpha that I would love to know.
So many dark, hidden things.
“Do you still insist on living here?” Her eyes dropped to my level, holding my gaze firm without blinking.
I nodded affirmatively. “Yes, but can you tell me what to avoid so I won’t make him furious?”
“And I would also like to know if he was like this or if something led to him behaving this way,” I added.
A long sigh rolled off Anna’s lips and a frown descended on her pale face.
“Alpha Casper was ruthless, but he wasn’t a monster. 10 years ago, he lost his only source of happiness because he was deceived by the person he trusted. That explains it.” She said briefly. But I wasn’t convinced that she told me the whole story.
I knew she was being economical with her words and there was more to it.
“That’s it?” I asked, my voice dripping in disappointment.
I longed to hear more, but Anna wasn’t the type that spilled secrets, unlike Daphne.
“Yes.” She said, biting her bottom lips as if trying to forcefully stop words from her mouth.
“Then who is Marina? Or Maria?” I asked boldly, earning a loud gasp from Anna.
Her eyes widened like they were about to pop from their sockets and her jaws dropped in shock.
“Who told you about Marina? How do you know about her?” She asked, breathless in shock. Her eyes roamed all over me as if forcing the truth from me.
My brows creased and I released my head carelessly in the air as if gesturing to her that I had no idea of what she was saying.
“I heard the Alpha mumble her name under his breath. It’s either Maria or Marina. Who was he referring to? And what was her relationship with him?” I threw my questions at her without giving her space to breathe.
Anna’s hand dropped on her head as if scratching it while her eyes wandered about confusion.
I could tell that several thoughts streamed down her head.
Her trembling lips were heavy with words, but she tried hard to keep them sealed.
“I am sorry, Lilith, I am not permitted to tell you about her. The Alpha would kill me if he finds out that I’ve been discussing his private life with you,” she explained, shoving me an apologetic look.
“Why?”
Anna released a tensed sigh, her face creased in worry. “I don’t want to get into trouble but I can’t give you that information.”
“He is not here. It’s just the two of us. Please tell me and I also want to know if her name is Maria or Marina.” I gave her a puppy face, trying to cajole her, but she wouldn’t oblige.
“I am not permitted to say her name either. You will understand as time goes on.” Her words came out low, barely above a whisper.
I rolled my eyes, irritated by her cowardly act.
She acted as though the Alpha planted cameras everywhere to eavesdrop on conversations.
Maybe when his presence in the house frightened her. I knew that when he had gone to his pack, she would loosen up. By then, it would only be the 2 of us in this big house.
“When does the Alpha go to his pack or is this his pack house?” I asked. “Where is his pack situated?”
“Oh, Lilith. Your questions are terrifying me. I’m not allowed to give anyone that information. I have said before that Alpha is a very private person.” She replied in a flat tone, moving away from me.
Why was she acting like a robot programmed to only reveal certain things?
I groaned in frustration, turning to leave but I halted in my tracks when her hand held my elbow.
“I might not give you the information you want because we are careful of who we reveal the Alpha’s secrets to, but I can tell you ways to avoid his wrath.”
“What do you mean by his wrath?” I queried, turning to her quickly.
“Has he mentioned anything about rules?”
My eyes grew wide at her question and my mind did a flashback to our last encounter.
He was actually serious about those rules.
“Yes, he said he would have you present it to me today. But what are the rules about?”
“You will be given some rules that you must adhere to.” She began, deliberately ignoring my question.
“You should not walk randomly once it’s past 11 pm. Lock your door and stay in your bed. Don’t open the room no matter what you hear.” Her voice sounded like a warning that ignited fear in me.
“Why? Is this house haunted?”
“No. It’s just friendly advice. You might not see it in the rules. Before 11 pm, get everything you want and shut the door of your room. Even if you hear your name, don’t open the door. Have I made myself clear?”
I nodded like a scared toddler. “Yes. But what if it involves the Alpha? What if it’s a matter of life and death?” I asked, my voice laced with worry.
“Ring Beta Raphael and he will get to it. But leave the Alpha alone.” She concluded.
“On no account should you step your foot on the last floor. That floor belongs to the Alpha and it is prohibited to everyone, except Beta Raphael. If you need to see him, no matter how urgent, wait until he comes to the middle floor or ground floor. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Thirdly, if you don’t see the Alpha for days, don’t look for him. He will find his way home. If you also hear him groaning, call Beta Raphael, he will handle it.”
“Fourth one, Don’t engage in a conversation with him. He hates petty talk. Just do your job and leave.”
“Woah, that’s a lot of rules,” I scoffed, trying to hide my fear and surprise.
“I didn’t say living here is like walking on eggshells for nothing,” she responded, maintaining a rigid look on her face.
“The last one I can remember is that you should not ever mention the name Marina or ask him who she was. Take this rule paramount, please. It’s for your safety.” Her hands were clasped around my hands as if pleading with me and a serious look fell on her face.
She was joking all along.
“You adhered to all these rules all these years?”
“And many more.”
A wave of curiosity and fear embalmed me as I replayed all the rules in my head.
But the last one re-echoed in my head.
Seems Marina brought pain to him.
But who was this Marina? And where was she?