Jacky’s POV
I reached the palace gates and squared my shoulders, preparing myself for the role I’d come to play.
“Alpha Roman, please,” I said to the guards, keeping my voice low, feigning humility. “If he would have me.”
They exchanged looks before one of them gave a dry laugh. “Of course. He told us you’d be coming.”
How did he know?
The guards flanked me as they escorted me through the towering doors and down the polished marble hallways, every detail of this palace screaming opulence and intimidation. Finally, they stopped in front of a set of large, carved doors. One of the guards gestured for me to enter, and I stepped into the cavernous room.
It was more than an office; it was a throne room draped in dark, rich colors. Everything about it was designed to put anyone in their place. It was as if the air itself thickened, reminding me of exactly who ruled here.
“You can wait here,” one of the guards said, before closing the doors behind me.
I was left alone. A large desk dominated one side of the room, a heavy, intricately carved thing covered in stacks of paperwork and scrolls. Beyond it, a set of glass doors led out to a balcony that overlooked the gardens. But what struck me the most were the paintings. Enormous, detailed portraits of previous Alphas adorned the walls, their eyes dark and imposing, as though they could judge me even in their lifeless states.
Minutes passed, and the weight of their stares, along with the silence, grew. I waited, doing my best to remain calm, but soon enough, my legs grew stiff, and I shifted. Ten minutes turned to twenty. Then thirty. It was clear-Alpha Roman was making me wait on purpose, a calculated play to remind me of my place, to make me feel small.
After a few more agonizing minutes, I stood, slowly drifting over to his desk, feigning casual interest. I glanced down at the neatly arranged papers, trying to make out the words. They were mostly official documents with seals I didn’t recognize, names I didn’t know. But there was one that caught my eye: a letter with my sister’s name scrawled across the top.
Just as I leaned in closer, the door swung open, and Alpha Roman strode in. I spun around, eyes wide, schooling my expression into what I hoped was surprise and innocence.
“I was just… I thought that door led to the balcony. I needed fresh air.”
He paused, his gaze shifting from me to his desk and back. A faint smirk twisted his lips. “I’m sure.”
Alpha Roman’s usual severe demeanor was softened today by something else-something I couldn’t quite place. His eyes gleamed, his movements were almost… buoyant. It took me a moment to understand: he was in an unusually good mood.
“Sit,” he ordered, gesturing to a chair in front of his desk as he settled in behind it. He adjusted his collar, then glanced up at me, amusement dancing in his eyes.
I forced myself to lower my gaze, feeling the weight of his attention. “Alpha Roman… I came to apologize. I realize I disrespected your commands in the ring. My actions were… unacceptable.”
He leaned back in his chair, nodding slowly as if savoring the moment. “Good,” he said, his voice oddly light. “It takes strength to admit fault. But remember, strength without respect is nothing. You will not disobey me again. Understood?”
“Yes, Alpha,” I replied, making my voice as steady as I could.
With a flick of his hand, he dismissed my apology. “Consider it forgotten. In fact, I’ve decided to cancel today’s challenges. The rest of you could use the time to… recuperate. You’ll need your energy for what’s coming.”
Relief washed over me, though I kept my face carefully neutral. “Thank you, Alpha Roman.”
Alpha Roman leaned back in his chair, watching me with an intent gleam in his eye.
“I hear you trained at a temple, Jacky,” he said, his words rolling out slowly, almost as though he was savoring each one. “I’ve been considering the temple as a training ground for my warriors and guards here. Tell me, what do you think of it?”
The question took me off guard. I nodded, scrambling to answer with something that didn’t make me look as stunned as I felt.
“The temple is… disciplined, Alpha. The training was intense and thorough.”
He looked at me, waiting, his gaze unyielding. “And what of your master?” he continued, his voice softening slightly, as if he were coaxing the answer out of me. “I assume he was a man of great skill?”
I started to answer, my mind reaching back to that familiar ground, a place I’d always relied on in moments of doubt or strength. I could see myself there, in the harsh stone courtyard of the temple, breathing in the scent of incense and cold iron. My mind searched instinctively for the steady, patient face of the man who’d guided me. His name was…
A blank.
I paused, bewildered. His name was- I tried again, reaching for it, knowing it had to be right there, but it was like trying to catch smoke with bare hands. I blinked, searching my memory, frustration rising as nothing came to me.
“His name was…” I said aloud, desperate to pull it out, to give shape to the image, but my mind was just… empty. The more I struggled, the further it slipped, like a door I’d walked through a thousand times was suddenly locked tight.
The feeling spread, tightening in my chest. I tried to picture his face, the creased lines of his skin, the stern eyes that I knew had to be there, but all I saw was a void. His voice, his scent, even the tone he used when he corrected my stance-all of it was gone, wiped as clean as a blank page. I could remember the shapes of the words, but nothing of their meaning.
Alpha Roman’s gaze sharpened. “You don’t remember?”
I swallowed, his voice grounding me even as confusion made the edges of my vision blur. “Alpha, I-” The shame of it burned. It wasn’t like me to forget something so essential. It felt wrong, as though a part of myself had been torn away, leaving only emptiness.
“No, Alpha. I… I don’t know why, but I can’t remember.” I said, shaking my head. “I think I’m under a lot of stress and tired. It’ll come to me.”
He nodded, though his expression remained thoughtful, skeptical even. “Rest, Jacky. Your mind is your most valuable asset. I’d hate for it to fail you.”
He glanced down at his desk, gathering a few documents into a pile. Then, as I rose to leave, his tone shifted again, almost amused. “And one last thing. On your way back, would you kindly pass along a message to Malia? Tell her she’s needed here immediately.”
I fought to keep my face neutral, nodding briskly. “Of course, Alpha.”
He turned his attention back to his paperwork, but I couldn’t shake the flicker of something sharp in my chest. Why did he need to see Malia now? It was just business, I told myself. Still, the image of her here in his office, basking in his attention, lingered as I turned and left.
Why did I feel jealous? I didn’t want him, right?
—
The walk back to the dorms felt long. When I reached the entrance, I spotted Malia immediately. She was seated with Jessy, her shoulders squared and her gaze cold as I approached.
“Oh, look who’s back,” she drawled, her tone thick with disdain. Jessy smirked beside her, looking eager to back up whatever trouble Malia had planned.
I held her gaze, rolling my eyes with a pointed sigh. “Alpha Roman wants to see you, Malia. Immediately.”
Her eyes widened, and for a moment, I saw something flash across her face-fear mingled with excitement. She straightened, her entire demeanor shifting from taunting to eager.
“Of course,” she said, barely concealing her thrill. With a quick, sharp glance at Jessy, she rose, brushing past me with barely a second glance as she dashed out.
I watched her go, fighting the strange pang that settled in my chest. Whatever Roman wanted with Malia, it didn’t matter. I had more important things to worry about-answers to find, and a plan to forge.