THE ALPHA AND HIS MAID

The pack house was booming with activities, as it always was during the early hours of the day. Warriors moved through the hallways with purpose, their heavy boots thudding against the polished floors. Maids darted from room to room, their arms laden with linens or trays of food.

At the center of it all was Kaelen, the alpha, commanding attention without even trying. Isolde kept her head down as she dusted the edges of the grand staircase. She had learned to blend into the background, moving quietly enough that no one would notice her. But she couldn’t help sneaking glances at Kaelen as he stood in the main hall, speaking with a group of his top warriors.

He was a force of nature, his tall frame radiating power and authority. His voice, low and steady, carried through the hall like a storm on the horizon.

“You call that strategy?” Kaelen’s sharp tone made the air in the room feel heavier. He leaned against the large wooden table, his piercing blue eyes were fixed on a map spread before him. “If that’s your idea of a defense, then you may as well invite the rogues to walk through our borders.”

One of the warriors, a younger man named Garrick, shifted nervously under Kaelen’s gaze. “I thought reinforcing the southern patrols”

“You didn’t think,” Kaelen interrupted with a cold voice. “That’s the problem. You act without considering the consequences, and that kind of recklessness puts this pack at risk.”

The room fell silent. No one dared to challenge Kaelen when he was like this. Isolde froze, her hand gripping the duster. She could feel the tension in the air, the weight of Kaelen’s authority pressing down on everyone present. It was both terrifying and thrilling to witness.

Kaelen straightened, his expression unreadable. “Fix it, and don’t make me repeat myself.”

“Yes, Alpha,” Garrick murmured, bowing his head before retreating.

Isolde let out a shaky breath once the warriors dispersed.

Her heart pounded in chest as she watched Kaelen turn to speak with Dain, his second in-command. There was something about him, his confidence and his ability to command respect with just a few words that left her in awe.

But there was also fear. Kaelen was not a man who tolerated weakness, and Isolde couldn’t help but feel small and insignificant in his presence. She didn’t belong in his world, yet she couldn’t stop herself from admiring him from afar.

She quickly returned to her work, moving to dust the edges of a nearby window. As much as she tried to focus, her thoughts kept drifting back to Kaelen.

Kaelen was aware of Isolde’s presence even though she tried to stay invisible. He always noticed her, whether she was quietly cleaning in the corner of the room or slipping through the hallways with her head down.

It irritated him more than he cared to admit. She wasn’t like the women who usually caught his attention, powerful, confident, and capable of holding their own. Isolde was… different. She was quiet and unassuming, yet there was something about her that kept pulling his gaze in her direction. He clenched his jaw, forcing his attention back to the conversation with Dain. It was ridiculous to let his thoughts wander to her, a maid of all people. Kaelen had responsibilities expectations to meet.

He needed a mate who could strengthen his position, someone with power and influence. Isolde didn’t fit that mold. She was a distraction, nothing more.

“Alpha?” Dain’s voice broke through Kaelen’s thoughts. “What?” Kaelen snapped, his irritation was evident.

Dain raised an eyebrow but didn’t press. I was asking if we should increase patrols near the eastern border.”

Kaelen nodded, his mind still lingering on Isolde. Later that evening, Isolde found herself in the library, tasked with dusting the shelves. The room was quiet, the faint scent of old books filling the air. She loved this space, even though she rarely had time to enjoy it.

She was reaching for a high shelf when she heard footsteps behind her. Startled, she turned to see Kaelen standing in the doorway. Her heart leapt into her throat. “Alpha,” she murmured, quickly bowing her head. Kaelen stepped into the room, his gaze sweeping over her.

“What are you doing here?”

“I was asked to clean the library,” Isolde replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kaelen crossed the room, his movements slow and deliberate. He stopped a few feet away from her, his eyes narrowing as he studied her. Isolde felt her cheeks heat under his intense gaze.

“You’re always working,” Kaelen said, his tone softer than she expected.

Isolde blinked, unsure of how to respond. Was that… concern in his voice, she wondered. “I -I don’t mind,” she said quickly. “It’s my job.”

Kaelen frowned, his expression unreadable. For a moment, neither of them spoke. He leaned closer and pinned a kiss on her lips, then withdrew almost immediately. Isolde’s heart raced, the silence between them afterwards was like a taut string. He was just looking deep into her eyes, as if searching something. Finally, Kaelen turned away, his voice gruff. “Don’t overwork yourself.”

Isolde stared after him as he left the room. Then touched her lips, her thoughts were mixed with confusion and hope.

The following night, Isolde was walking past the council room when she heard voices inside. She paused, recognizing Kaelen’s voice.

“I need a mate who can stand beside me,” he was saying. “Someone strong, with influence. The pack deserves nothing less.”

Isolde’s heart sank. She pressed herself against the wall, her hands were trembling. She shouldn’t be listening, but she couldn’t tear herself away.

“What about Liana from the Silver Moon pack?” another voice suggested.

“She’s a possibility,” Kaelen replied. “I’ll consider it.”

Isolde bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes. She had always known Kaelen would never see her as anything more than a servant, but hearing him discuss his plans for a mate after a shared kiss felt like a dagger to her chest.

She forced herself to move, her footsteps silent as she retreated to the servants’ quarters. Once there, she sank onto her bed, her shoulders were shaking with quiet sobs.

Kaelen couldn’t shake the feeling that someone had been outside the council room earlier. As he sat in his study later that night, his mind wandered to Isolde.

He hated the way she made him feel, conflicted and uncertain. She didn’t belong in his world, yet she had a way of slipping into his thoughts when he least expected it.Kaelen ran a hand through his hair, frustration boiling within him. He couldn’t afford to be distracted, especially not by someone like her. But no matter how much he tried, he couldn’t deny the pull he felt whenever she was near. And the kiss... it was real, he could remember her soft lips and the beauty in her eyes.

Kaelen finds himself outside the servants’ quarters, drawn by an inexplicable urge to check on Isolde. He pauses at the door, hearing her muffled sobs. His chest tightens, and for the first time, he feels a pang of guilt he just can’t explain.