Maya didn’t even try to sleep until past midnight. Only then did she drag herself off the floor and onto the bed. She had thought to remain on the floor, but not knowing how long she would have the soft bed propelled her to move.

It was simply an excuse, as what she truly wanted was to sink into the same bed that Keenan used. It felt like the closest she could ever get to him.

Despite moving to bed, she didn’t fall asleep immediately. Memories of Keenan clouded her mind. She pressed her hands to her chest as she remembered the pressure of his weight on her.

She eventually drifted to sleep with her hands on her chest. Perhaps being surrounded by things that belonged to him was comforting despite the situation she was in.

Maya blinked rapidly as she woke up suddenly. The sheets felt soft beneath her and her hands still pressed against her chest. The first thing she noticed was the darkness, the candle must have died out, and by the darkness, it wasn’t dawn yet.

She wanted to return to sleep, but a bad dream had woken her up. Maya wasn’t exactly sure what she had dreamt about, but it was exceedingly uncomfortable.

Suddenly, the side door opened and Keenan walked into the room. She couldn’t see him, but she could pick up his scent. She didn’t want to give any clue she was awake, so she lay unmoving.

She thought to open her eyes but knew it was futile; with no wolf, her sight betrayed her in the dark. Keenan would also know she was awake. So she kept her eyes shut and just listened to his movements.

He walked toward his wardrobe, threw it open, and she heard some shuffling as though he was putting on clothes. Then soon after, he started to walk away from the wardrobe toward her.

Her heart dropped to her stomach, and she could hear it pounding loudly. Maya did her best to calm down and appear as though she was asleep. Keenan would be able to hear her loud heartbeat if she didn’t keep it down.

She didn’t know what would happen if he knew she was awake. The fear of the unknown only seemed to make her heartbeat worse.

She heard his footsteps pull closer, and he stood over the bed. She nearly held her breath but knew that would give her away. She lay stiffly, barely breathing as she prayed he would go away without noticing.

He stood over her for a moment, but instead of walking away, he sat across from her as he had done while she was unconscious.

Dread crawled up her skin, and her heart was beating loud enough for it to echo in the room. She shut her eyes tightly as fear made them water.

"You’re awake, aren’t you?" His cold voice reached her ears.

Maya’s eyes flew open. "I-I am sorry," she immediately started to say as she moved to a sitting position. "I wasn’t trying to—"

"Save it," he blurted out as he stared at her from across the chair. "Get out."

The order wasn’t harsh, it was devoid of any emotion. She couldn’t see his face, but his green eyes glowed in the dark. She had heard his orders, but she couldn’t will her body to move.

This isn’t it, right? Is there something more I can do?

"Did you not hear me?" He leaned forward, staring intensely at her.

Maya was out of his bed before she thought about it. It was terrifying. He was terrifying. How was she going to make any headway when their interaction was always like this?

"Thank you," she mumbled and rushed out of his bedroom.

Thank you?

Maya almost smacked herself as she sped down the hallway and toward the stairs. Why did she say that?

She made her way to her bedroom without incident and shut the door behind her. Maya crawled to the pile of clothes and lay on it with her hands to her chest.

It was uncomfortable, and despite the tense atmosphere of Keenan’s room, she would have preferred to remain there. Perhaps not on his bed, but in his presence.

What am I thinking about? 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

She didn’t get any sleep and just tossed and turned. Soon enough the sun poured through the windows. She got ready for breakfast and exited the room.

Her mind churned as she made her way toward the dining room. Just as she passed Claude’s bedroom, the doors opened in her face, and Claude walked out with Hilbert holding the door.

"Alpha Claude," she said with a bow.

"Maya," he called casually. He didn’t hold out his hand, and there was a certain look in his eyes as he stared at her.

"Good morning," she whispered as she slowly lifted her body but kept her head down.

She stopped moving so he could put some distance between them. Keenan didn’t like that she interacted with him, and after that pretend kiss, she knew better than to be close to him.

"Did you sleep well?" He asked with a raised brow and looked in the direction she had just come from.

She instinctively glanced back. "Yes."

Claude stepped forward, and Maya forced herself not to step back. It would be rude. He stopped two feet away from her, wearing similar clothing from the day before except his tunic was deep red instead of black.

"Alpha Keenan’s room?" He questioned.

Maya nodded. She didn’t know what his goal was, and that gravely unnerved her. She was uncertain whether his intentions actually involved her or were just a ploy to anger Keenan.

"Yes," she mumbled.

He stepped forward, and unable to take it, Maya took a step back. He smiled at her. "You have no reason to fear, Lady Maya. I merely have some questions. I heard you’re the reason for the scar on the Alpha’s chest. Would you—"

Claude’s eyes narrowed, and he took a step back. "I apologize," he said. "I should know better than to ask you such personal questions."

Maya forced her gaze to the floor. She didn’t know what the Alpha saw or noticed; she didn’t even know what look she had on her face. But hearing him casually ask her about one of the worst days of her life was hard to bear.

"Shall we head toward the dining room?" He offered.

She shuffled on her feet. "No," she mumbled. "Would you please give me a moment?"

"Hilbert, would you go ahead?" Claude asked without looking at him.

Hilbert nodded and promptly walked away, but Claude didn’t move.

"Take all the time you need," he said to her.

Maya wanted to say ’away from him,’ but even while upset, it was impossible not to see how rude that was. He was nice to her, true, but she couldn’t help but think he made things between her and Keenan ten times worse.

"You don’t have to wait for me, Alpha Claude."

"I have to. You’re upset because of me, are you not?"

"I am not upset," she replied. She was unsure if he really cared that he had upset her. Considering how he had asked, she doubted it.

"You are. You didn’t like my accusation, but at the same time, you’re not denying it."

"There is nothing to deny."

"Perhaps," Claude said and shrugged. "But you’re the one who did the damage. There is no reason why you should look so hurt."

Maya winced at the truth in his words. "I am not hurt," she replied and walked forward, wanting to be rid of him.

"Okay." Claude walked in step with her but didn’t crowd her or ask more questions.

"You don’t have to worry about me, Alpha Claude," she muttered when they got to the stairs and she couldn’t shake him off.

"I am not worried, Lady Maya. Curious is more the word. Your actions intrigue me, particularly so because I still haven’t figured it out, and I am certain you won’t tell me."

"There is nothing to tell," she said and went down the stairs.

"You’re right," Claude replied and didn’t add anything else.

Maya glanced at him, and the Alpha met her gaze with a bright smile. She wondered if her attention wasn’t solely focused on Keenan, would she find him charming?

"Alpha Keenan," Claude called out. His smile was even wider than the one he had given her.

Maya felt horror and turned her forward. Keenan was approaching the dining room from the other direction. His gaze simply glanced over them, and he looked away, pushing the doors open and disappearing inside.

"Hmm," Claude said with a disappointed tone. "Last night, he destroyed the railing, and now I don’t even get a glance." He looked down at Maya. "It would be futile to ask you."

"Futile?"

Was there something that she missed? Keenan’s reaction was strange, but Claude had her even more confused. Did something happen last night?

Claude hurried forward, and she rushed after him. "Did something happen last night?" Maya asked.

"Well, it’s not my place to tell you," Claude said and pushed open the dining room doors.