CHAPTER 36: 36

NYLAH

The knock stopped, and a female voice spoke instead.

"I’ve brought your food ma’am." My stomach rumbled at her words.

I’d been so occupied with thoughts of Xavier that it hadn’t crossed my mind that I hadn’t eaten.

"Come in," I answered, feeling better that I wasn’t about to be attacked by a mob of angry females.

The petite female walked in with a tray in her hands, bearing dishwares that were covered, cutlery, and beverages.

"Thank you," I mumbled when she set down the tray before me.

"I’ll be outside your door, in case you need me." She informed me politely to my surprise.

I expected her to treat me with disdain since I was seen in the arms of the Alpha. Or could she behave like this because she’s scared of him and doesn’t want to get on his bad side?

My thoughts and questions were pushed to the last on my list of worries the minute the aroma from one of the dishwares I opened up hit my nose.

I pounced in on the meal, relishing every bite like it was my first meal in years. In a matter of minutes, I had empty plates staring up at me. I jumped off the bed with satisfaction and headed towards the door, but as soon as I pulled it open, two hefty guards and a maid with a worried face turned to me.

"Uhh, I’m fine, I just want to step out for a bit," I said, sensing their concern for me but they wouldn’t budge, instead the guards blocked the way with their bodies even more and the maid shook her head.

"It’s not that serious, guys... I just need to step out for a bit." I said again, trying to smile this time around to ease up the tense air around, but my words were like a breeze to their ears.

"Alpha said you shouldn’t be let outside. Not without his permission." I bit my lower lip hard in an attempt to control the anger that was building up inside me.

I know he thinks I need rest, but I’m fine. I needed him to know that, but I couldn’t, not with these guards refusing me passage.

"So what?" I started with a question, knowing fully well that there was nothing I’d say that would make them change their minds.

"You’re just going to keep me locked up in here because the Alpha says so?" I knew my question was stupid, I was fighting a won war.

I scoffed in defeat and walked back inside my room and straight to my bed, I was back to being locked up... I could’ve said princess, but there was no need to deceive myself that I remained Xavier’s slave.

I’d fallen asleep somehow, and when I awoke, I found Xavier sitting beside me like the first time, only, this time around, he wore a different outfit.

"Welcome back, darling," he greeted with a smile on his face.

"You’re one hell of a deep sleeper." He remarked, but his face paused with the smile on it as I didn’t react to any of his words.

"What’s wrong, darling? Did anyone hurt you?" He asked with concern.

I turned my face from him, with determination not to look at his face until I got a favourable response from him. It was mostly because I didn’t want my heart to melt while talking to him and those stupid butterflies, I didn’t want them to flutter in my stomach when I gaze at him.

"Tell me, Nylah, who upset you?" He asked again, and I couldn’t hold back anymore.

"You. You are the reason for my sadness. I’m sick of you telling me what to do and what not to do. You keep guards in front of my door all day like I’m some fugitive or a prisoner locked up in a fancy room." The words fell out of my mouth before I was able to hold them back.

"What’s the use of bringing me here when you won’t even let me walk around freely?" I bit my lip to stop the next words from dropping from my mouth.

Xavier didn’t say anything, and it made me scared that I might have said too much or acted ungrateful.

There were other people in worse situations than I was, but I felt like a heavy weight had been lifted off my chest.

Hell, I was ready for his response, whether it be strict or even worse, I just wanted to be heard.

He exhaled sharply and shrugged before giving me a sharp reply.

"Okay."

We sat there in silence for some seconds, which felt like an eternity until I broke it.

"Okay...? What?" I was unsure what the word meant in this context.

"Okay, you can go out whenever you like, but not without my guard’s supervision. They’ll follow you everywhere at all times." I didn’t like his answer at all.

"Then it’s as good as still being locked up. There’s more than a hundred guards positioned at the nook and cranny of the pack house. There’s no way none of them are keeping an eye on me."

"All I want is to be able to walk around freely without being escorted like a criminal who’s going to steal the next thing she sets her eye on." My voice cracked at the last word. My face mirrored what I felt, and he must’ve seen it too.

"Okay, fine. You can walk around the pack, and I’ll tell the guards to put an eye on you." He replied with resolve.

"Like you already haven’t." I finally managed a smile.

"I want to stroll now, I love to watch the sunset, and it seems exceptionally beautiful this evening," I added, hoping that he would allow me to go out like he promised, hoping that he meant what he said.

After what seemed like a strained moment, he replied in almost a whisper, "Okay."

I was ecstatic that I could finally leave the walls of my room that had haunted me every night and ran to the lush greenery at the other side of the pack that had always caught my eye but I’d not been able to see because of the tight security.

It was exactly like I imagined, peaceful, and beautiful and gave an even better view of the sunset. I found a spot; a little rock with a smooth surface, I sat on it with my legs folded so my knee would be close to my chest, and then I wrapped my hands around my knee and placed my head on it, I was almost lost in the surreal beauty of nature.

Almost, because I heard some footsteps, the exact ones that always spelled trouble.

"It’s the wet chicken girl." A familiar voice informed.

"I told you we’d find her here." Another replied with a mischievous chuckle.