Chapter Twenty-two
Faelen’s POV
I left the kitchen with Caleb’s words still echoing in my mind. I knew he was right… I couldn’t trust Hunter. Not after everything he’d done.
But something about the way he had acted today… it had shaken me. I had expected cruelty, and instead, I got confusion. It made no sense, and it made me uneasy.
As I walked back to the servants’ quarters, I couldn’t help but replay the events of the day in my head. Hunter had dragged me to his room, and I was certain I was about to endure more humiliations.
Today he had done nothing but offer me food and then sent me away. Why? What was he playing at? What was even more troubling was the stupid attraction I felt towards him.
It was stronger now, and no matter how much I wanted to deny it, it terrified me. I couldn’t afford to be attracted to him. I couldn’t allow whatever childish imaginations of a connection forming between us.
When I finally reached my small room, I collapsed on the bed, staring up at the ceiling as I tried to push away the thoughts crowding my mind.
I had been here just an hour ago, thinking of a plan, and had eventually come up with that stupid and risky idea to sneak out into the woods to find out what Hunter had going on there.
Stupid as the idea was, it had worked, but I had escaped barely. The result of that was the whole drama with Hunter and Caleb. It was over now, thank the moon goddess.
I sighed heavily, feeling the need to think clearly this time, to figure out my next move. The gold I had discovered at the border was an information, and I was desperate to send words of it.
But how could I do that without raising any suspicion?
I had already become a person of interest to a few people… Lucy, Caleb, even Hunter himself. My heart pounded as I realized the magnitude of what I was dealing with.
This wasn’t just about me anymore… it was about my entire pack. If I made a mistake, it could cost us everything.
And then there was Caleb. I couldn’t stop thinking about the way he had looked at me, the concern in his eyes, the way he had given me his handkerchief.
No one had ever treated me like that before, with such kindness and care. It was almost enough to make me forget about the danger I was in.
Almost.
I pulled the handkerchief out of my pocket, running my fingers over the soft fabric. It was a simple gesture, but it meant so much. Caleb was indeed different. He wasn’t like Hunter.
Even though I had thought to stay away from him, he seemed like someone I could trust, someone who could genuinely care about me, and I thought to use that to my advantage.
The thought of it made me feel horrible, but immediately, the words of my master echoed in my mind… “Do whatever it takes,” and I forced myself to feel it was necessary for my mission here.
But what would that mean for me? Could I really carry it out without letting my guard down? I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts.
The longer I lay there on my small bed, the more I realized how complicated things had become. I wasn’t just a spy. I was caught up in something much bigger, something if anyone asked me, I didn’t even fully understand.
I was only concerned about loyalty to my pack, and the rewards it would bring if I was successful with it. And it both thrilled and scared me.
I didn’t know when I drifted off to sleep, thinking about everything that had led me to being here, and the situation I now found myself in after that.
…
When I woke up the next morning, the first light of dawn was piercing through the small window in my room. My mind was clearer now, but the weight of all I went through the previous day came crashing on me.
Today, I had to find a way to get a message to my Alpha. I headed straight for the bathroom and cleaned myself up. After, I dressed quickly, pulling on my plain servant’s clothes, and slipped the handkerchief Caleb gave me into my pocket.
I didn’t have a plan yet, but I knew I had to be careful. One wrong move, and everything I had worked for would be destroyed. I couldn’t afford to let that happen.
As I stepped out of my room, I felt a strange mix of determination and fear. The pull I felt towards Hunter was still there, even though I didn’t quite feel it now, I knew it was there, annoyingly growing every minute.
The morning air was cool as I made my way to the kitchen to start the day’s work. The other servants were already bustling about, preparing for breakfast, but my mind was far from the routine tasks.
What would happen today if Hunter and I came across each other?
After breakfast was served, the head maid sent me to clean the upstairs halls. My heart raced as I approached the familiar hallway to Hunter’s chamber.
I didn’t want to be anywhere near him, not after yesterday. But I may not have a choice in the matter. I had to do my job and just hope that he wouldn’t notice me.
As I passed by the door to his room, I heard voices inside. My heart skipped a beat. Hunter was speaking to someone… one of his trusted men, I guessed by the sound of it.
I slowed my pace, trying to catch snippets of their conversation.
“…can’t delay any longer,” Hunter was saying, his voice loud enough to be heard in the hallway. “We need to finish up quickly before anyone catches sight of this. I want every last ounce of that gold in my possession by the end of the week.”
“Yes, Alpha,” the other man replied. “But… our neighbors, they’re obviously growing uneasy, getting more suspicious. They’ve sent scouts to watch the border. We’ve managed to avoid them so far, but it’s only a matter of time before they find out what we’re doing.”
Hunter’s voice turned colder. “Let them try. I’ll crush anyone who stands in my way! No one will stop me from getting what’s mine.” He said, and I could hear the arrogance in his voice.
I felt a chill run down my spine. Hunter’s ruthlessness was on full display, and it terrified me. But I thought it may also gave me the motivation I needed sometime.
As I continued down the hall, I tried to formulate a plan. If I could find a way to slip away a telephone, maybe from of the rooms in the estate… I could send out my message.
But getting out unnoticed would be the hard part. My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps behind me. I turned to see Caleb approaching, his face and expression looking bright this morning .
“Faelen,” he said softly, glancing around to make sure no one else was nearby. “Are you alright? I’ve been worried about you since yesterday.”
I forced a small smile, though my heart was still pounding from what I had just overheard from Hunter’s room. “I’m fine, really. Thank you again for what you did yesterday… for trying to help me.” I said, holding the mop stick with both hands.
Caleb nodded, but his eyes were filled with doubt. “I just don’t understand what’s going on with Hunter, you know. He’s… he’s always been unpredictable. One minute he’s raging, the next he’s calm. But like I told you, you need to be careful around him, alright?”
I almost rolled my eyes with the frustration of having him tell me what I already very well know. I mean, I was damn sure Hunter had never forced him to suck his dick before… so of course I understood how cruel and dangerous he was, perhaps more than even him.
“I know,” I whispered quickly, feeling the weight of his words. “But I think I can handle it.”
“I… I have to go,” I said before he could say anything else, eager to get away from there so I could risk stealing a telephone.
Caleb hesitated, as if he wanted to say more, but then he just nodded. “Of… of course,” he said, almost stammering. “If you need anything, anything at all, you can come to me. I’ll help you.”
His kindness was so touching… too touching. “Thank you.” I said, and just nodded gratefully, before turning and walking away.
The rest of the day passed quickly, I had been unsuccessful in getting a telephone from any of the rooms in the estate, no matter how hard I tried.
Every time I made an attempt, there just seemed to be too many people around, or sounds of footsteps approaching, and then I’d have to abandon my efforts to get back to work.
Still, I’d kept my head down, doing my chores and avoiding Hunter as much as possible. But his presence was still over me even when I couldn’t see him.
As night fell and everywhere grew quiet, I thought it was my chance now. I slipped out of my room, making my way towards the estate, entering through the kitchen just in case anyone saw me sneaking in.
Seeing it was where I worked mostly, it would make more sense to catch me sneaking into the kitchen than anywhere else in the estate.
My heart raced as I crept into the spacious kitchen through a back door I’d observed was less patrolled by the guards.
Exiting the place, I walked silently towards the stairs leading upstairs, where dozens of rooms remained empty… the best place to get hold of a telephone.
But just as I was about to get up the stairs, a figure stepped out of the shadows, blocking my path immediately. I gasped, both in fear and shock, my heart leaping into my throat.
Trembling, I took in the sight of the figure, and my heart almost stopped when I saw who it was… Hunter.
“What do you think you’re doing, Faelen?!” his voice rang through the hallway and into my ears.
My mind raced, trying to come up with an excuse, but I knew it was no use. I had been caught, and there was no way out. I just stood there planted, gasping for breath.
I shook my head retreating slowly away from him. “I… I, I’m, sorry Alpha. I was just…” my voice trailed as my mind went blank for what to say.
Hunter’s eyes bore into mine, and for a moment, I saw something in them… Evil? Cruelty? Or was it something else entirely?
But shockingly, that dreadful look in his eyes disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by a cold, amusing smirk. “You’re not going anywhere, Faelen. Not until you tell me what you’re doing here.” He said, stepping closer.