Alpha Temptations

14 | Encounter

After getting the supplies needed, Kaia and I decided to tour around the camp together. We somehow just clicked after a few talks, and I feel like I have known her for years already. Actually, we just used it as an excuse to avoid our ‘masters’. Kaia revealed that she had no choice but to come with the prince to serve him just like I do to Hunter. We basically share the same fate, and that’s probably the reason why we have gotten so close already.

“This camp feels like a little community, don’t you agree?” she said while we were sitting on a bench near the open field. “I mean, like a small village isolated from the city.“

“You mean, like a pack itself?” I responded and smiled.

“Yes, just like that,” she agreed. “Even if this place is full of strong werewolves, there will always be someone who will rise to the apex and be seen as the strongest, as the alpha among all alphas.”

“And we are yet to know who’s the alpha above all.” I smiled at her before looking at the field. “I wonder what this camp holds for people like us.”

“I just hope we will not be treated poorly,” she said, letting out a soft chuckle to make her words sound light. “I am so done already with all the bullying and oppression from the royal palace. I don’t think I can take any more of them in this place. I really hope this will become my safe space.”

I stared at her and gave her an empathetic smile. I then tapped her shoulder before slowly shaking my head. “If this place happens to be the same exact place we ran away from, then let’s help each other and make this place a safe space for us.”

Kaia just smiled at me, and we both stared at the open field. After a few minutes, we decided to go and check the list of those who passed the alpha class. But I am not really expecting anything. I am pretty sure I will be put under the warrior class.

It took us a while to find the bulletin board, which was located beside the trainers’ office. There are already a few first-year students who came to check the list, too. We waited ‘til they left.

“Let’s go,” Kaia said and gently pulled me. “I’m sure you got in,” she added, smiling at me enthusiastically.

“I hope so,” I responded and started going through the list. I saw Prince Blake and Hunter’s names on the alpha class but not my name. I wasn’t really disappointed since I already saw it coming.

“Maya…” Kaia called in a consoling tone. “I…”

“It’s fine, Kaia. I don’t really mind,” I replied with a genuine smile since that’s what I really feel. I just tried taking the alpha test since I wanted to know something about my past, of who I really am. “Besides, being in the warrior class is a lot better since you’re there, too.”

She just gave me a smile before asking me to your around the camp again.

The whole camp looks no different from a small village aside from the vast open field in the middle, which I think is the central place for training. And one thing I really love about this place is the fact that it makes you feel like you’re in a completely different place where in fact, it’s located just in the heart of the central region.

After an hour, Kaia decided to head home since she still had some preparations to make, but I decided to stay a little bit longer to give myself some time to think and absorb everything that had happened to me so far. I even sat on the grassy ground underneath the shade of a tree and leaned against its trunk, and closed my eyes to feel the moment.

I couldn’t stop smiling before letting out a soft exhale—finally, freedom. Things may be a little hard for me in this camp, but I am sure I can get through it. I am no longer alone. I have someone I can call my friend now. I didn’t know having a friend would be so amazing. The comfort, the fun, and the lightness of their company are just so insanely unbelievable. I wish I met Kaia sooner or anyone that could be my friend. Maybe I wouldn’t see the world the way I see it now.

I took a deep breath and was about to stand when I felt a pair of eyes looking at me from afar. And when I traced the direction, I saw the prince a few meters away from me, getting closer and closer as he walked our distance.

I quickly stood up and bowed my head. “Prince Blake…” I called as soon as I felt his presence, a step away from me.

“Who are you?” he asked in his low and cold, emotionless voice.

I raised my head but still refrained from looking at him. “What do you mean by that, your highness?”

“Enough with courtesy. Call me Blake or whatever you want. I don’t want to be treated well here just because I have the king’s blood in me,” he responded, but still with his monotonous voice. “I am asking you, who are you?”

“I…I am Maya—Maya Davidson from the Nightshade Pack,” I introduced myself, although I am not sure if that’s what he meant by his question.

“Nightshade Pack…” he uttered, sounding a little intrigued.

I wanted to raise my head to look at his reaction, but something in me just stopped me from doing it.

“Are you Alpha Lancer’s child?” he inquired, and I quickly shook my head.

“No, Prince Blake. I am a nobody who was graced by the chance to use their family name,” I told him with all honesty. “I am an orphan saved by the alpha and was brought to his pack. And right now, I attend this camp to aid his son with his training,” I added. I even wanted to add ‘just like how Kaia is to you’, but I don’t think it was necessary and good for me.

“So, who are you?” he asked once again. But this time, his voice sounded a little impatient.

“I already gave you my response, Prince Blake,” I answered, taking a step backward since the air surrounding me seemed to have become thinner. “I-If you may excuse me, I forgot I still have something to do,” I said just to avoid him. I don’t know why, but talking to him feels so uncomfortable as if he’s sucking my strength out of me.

“You haven’t answered me yet,” he said. “Look at me and tell me who you really are.”

I took a deep breath since he was starting to sound really irritating. I gently nodded my head before looking at his face. “I am Maya Davidson, a member of the Nightshade Pack,” I said, bowing my head. “I’m sorry, your highness, but I have to excuse myself now,” I added and took another step away from him and started walking away, not giving him a chance to say anything.

I don’t know what has gotten into him to ask me such a weird question. I also don’t see any reason for him to ask me that.

I froze when a question popped into my head: what if Kaia told him about me, and he wanted to make sure that I meant no harm to her, that he is just protective of his servant?

I shook my head. I don’t think someone of that status would do something like that for his servant.

——

“You’re late.” Those were the words that welcomed me as soon as I opened the door. And there, I saw Hunter, cozily sitting on the couch with his arms crossed and wrinkled forehead. “I think you’re forgetting something, Maya,” he added, raising a brow.

“What?” I responded and was about to pass through him when he stood up just to stop me.

“What time do you think it is right now, huh?”

“Oh…” I gently nodded my head when I realized something. “Right…Did you have lunch already?”

I saw how his eyes flickered in annoyance as soon as he heard me. The side of his mouth arched as his eyes narrowed at me. “What do you think?”

“You haven’t,” I quickly replied, passing through him. “I’ll cook you something. Just wait for a while,” I added, heaving a sigh out of disappointment. He could have just eaten anything to fill his stomach.

How can someone who doesn’t know a single thing about household chores lead a whole freaking pack? He can’t even organize his things, so what more than an entire dámn pack?

“Don’t you ever do this again, or I’ll tell my mom about this,” he said after following me in the kitchen.

“Tell her, mama’s boy,” I murmured while heating the pan.

“What?”

I scoffed and shook my head. “I didn’t say anything,” I told him and started putting the ingredients in the pan.

He just hissed at me before he went to the table. “Classes will start tomorrow. I hope you won’t do anything stupid again, just like what you did back at the alpha test.”

“Do you really think what I did back there was stupid?” I asked, looking at him to show him a smug smile. “I hit Prince Blake and was told that not everyone can do that to him, even you.”

He laughed at me and shook his head. “Don’t get too full of yourself, Maya. He probably didn’t take you seriously because he thinks you’re weak.”

“Well, I should take that as a compliment. Making him think that I am weak is a skill, Hunter. Not everyone can do that,” I responded and saw how one of his brows arched for a second. “Making your opponent drop their guard is a powerful skill. Look what I did—I landed a blow.”

“Enough with your delusions, and just serve me my food already,” he said, ending the conversation, but I just knew that he no longer had anything to say. He just can’t acknowledge the fact that I am strong and well-trained by his father. Well, he doesn’t have any idea about the secret training I had. I wonder what his reaction would be once he discovers that I received the same training he did from his father.

I’ll make sure to tell him one of these days. I can’t wait to see the face he will make once he hears about it.

After serving him his lunch, I brought mine to the mini living room because I could never stand eating with him.

And as I was eating my lunch, I felt a sudden surge of searing pain in my chest, causing me almost to drop my plate. I had to stop eating just to focus on it. My chest feels like it’s burning inside. I drank a freshly squeezed juice to ease it, but nothing happened. I tried drinking water, and the result was the same. And it’s not getting any better!

My brows furrowed in bewilderment. Just what the hell is happening to me?