"Alpha Liam?" The big man said, and jumped back. His flabby arms shook as he moved away from Sonia. His eyes widened in shock, the confidence he had monts ago completely gone.
"What are you doing to the girl?" Alpha Liam growled at him again, and hurried forward. His boots made heavy sounds on the ground covered with bones and dirt. The stench of decay was thick in the air, but he didn’t seem to care.
Dropping to his knees, he picked up Sonia into his arms, and stood up. She felt so light against his chest, her body still trembling from fear and cold. Her cream silk gown was wet and dirty at the hem, clinging to her legs and stained with mud and sothing darker from the ground. The thin fabric had slipped off one shoulder, showing her pale skin marked with small scratches. Her auburn hair was ssy, strands sticking to her damp face.
"You can’t do that, alpha Liam. It was Alpha Ramon’s orders."
"What exactly were Ramon’s orders? To kill her? Why?"
"No alpha Liam. He didn’t ask to kill her. Just to scare her."
"But why?" Alpha Liam’s voice was low but firm, his arms tightening protectively around Sonia.
"I can’t explain that. He’s the only one that can."
"Well then. Tell Ramon that I took the girl to my room. Let him look for and explain what madness this is."
The big man knew it was fruitless arguing with the alpha. No one had a stricter sense of morality than he did. He watched him carry the girl who was shivering uncontrollably away. Alpha Ramon was going to be mad when he discovered what had happened. He worried for his head when word eventually got to him.
Alpha Liam avoided the paths he was sure to encounter people. He walked through quieter routes, his steps steady and purposeful. He didn’t say a word to the girl who was clearly frightened out of her mind. She would talk when she felt safer. Her breathing was still fast and shallow against his chest, her small hands clutching his shirt tightly.
However, he wanted to know what had gotten into Ramon. And that was sothing he was going to find out as soon as he set eyes on him.
On reaching Alpha Ramon’s quarters, two of the guards stepped to him.
"Good morning alpha Liam. Back from your run so soon?"
"No," he simply replied. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that made the guards stand straighter.
"Alpha Ramon is still having a eting with the alphas. He’s not out yet."
"I know," he said. "Do you know this girl?"
The guards stretched their necks to see her face. They quickly exchanged nervous glances when they saw it was Sonia. Her wet gown made her look even more vulnerable in Liam’s strong arms.
"Yes, alpha Liam."
"Good. She’s going to be in my room. I want the finest maids to attend to her imdiately."
He didn’t wait to hear a response from them, as he walked past them. The corridors felt longer than usual, the stone floors cool under his boots. The girl in his arms was so lightweight. He could carry her all day and not feel a thing. Her body was still cold from the water they had poured on her, and he could feel her shivering against him.
The maids that passed were stunned when the alpha did not respond to their greetings. He was usually always wearing a smile, so it was surprising to see him frown so deep. They cleared out of the way as he walked past, sensing danger in the air.
Alpha Liam, determined to save the girl, walked into his room, and shut the door behind him with his legs. The room was quiet and warm, the bed large and neatly made. He went to his bed, and dropped her on it gently. The mattress dipped under her weight, the clean sheets contrasting with her dirty gown.
"There you go," he finally said, pushing the hair that had covered her face from his view. His fingers were careful, brushing the wet strands away softly.
His heart skipped a beat when he saw up close what she looked like. She was beautiful beyond words could describe. Her face was pale but delicate, her lips slightly parted, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. The wet silk gown clung to her body, outlining her small waist and the gentle curve of her breasts. It made her look fragile, like sothing that could break if handled too roughly. It made his heart ache so more that soone as gorgeous as she was could go through that kind of horrible experience. Especially when it was said it was orchestrated by Ramon.
Ramon of all people? He knew him like he knew himself. What could she possibly have done to him for him to step so out of character? It made no sense.
The girl turned her face away from him, and he nodded in understanding. He could sense she felt so sort of dread. He couldn’t bla her. Imagine going through that nightmare. None of what he had chanced upon had been funny. The sight of her on the ground surrounded by bodies still burned in his mind.
He straightened up, and went to his closet. Pulling out a clean shirt, he returned to the bed. The fabric was soft and warm, much better than her wet gown.
"Hey, I told them to call in so maids. Do you want to wear sothing less wet before they arrive?"
Sonia didn’t respond. Her mind was too blank to draw up a response. She felt numb to her skull. Her brain felt even more empty. She just lay there, staring at the wall, her body still shaking slightly.
"I understand you don’t want to talk. Maybe—"
A knock sounded on the door, interrupting him.
"Yes?" He called with a raised voice.
"Ivy, and so other maids."
Sonia turned on hearing Ivy’s voice. She didn’t see Liam roll his eyes.
He couldn’t believe that after all these years, Ivy still played the maid gimmick, and Ramon just watched her do it. It wasn’t in his place to talk her out of it, and that was why he never bothered.
"Co in."
The door opened, and Ivy with other maids walked in. Their footsteps were quick and light on the floor.
"Sonia!" She dashed to the bed, and pulled the girl who had straightened into her body. Her arms wrapped around Sonia tightly, holding her close.
"Are you okay? I’m so sorry. Please don’t be upset—" she burst into tears as she tried to comfort her. Her hands rubbed Sonia’s back gently, trying to warm her up.
Liam watched the scene with a raised brow. He couldn’t tell what it was yet, but sothing wasn’t adding up. The way Ivy held her, the worry in her voice—it felt deeper than just a maid and her charge.
"Do you want to step out for soti so we can take care of her, alpha Liam?" Ivy asked behind her shoulders. Her voice was polite but firm.
"Sure."
He took one more look at Sonia, before walking out of the room. Her eyes t his for a brief second, and he saw the mix of fear and gratitude in them.
He was barely halfway down the corridor when he looked up, feeling a presence.
"They didn’t lie. You’re around," Alpha Ramon said, coming closer. His steps were heavy, his face set in a hard line.
He used the few seconds he had before Ramon would get to him, to gauge his reaction. Ramon’s eyes were dark, his jaw tight, the anger clear in every line of his body.
"Ca at dawn. They said you were in a eting. Decided to do other things before you finish."
"And other things include overriding my command?"
"He knew," he thought in his head. Good, because there was no need to dance around the bush.
"About that. What has gotten into you? Why would you take an innocent person to the traitors post?"
Alpha Ramon stopped before him. "What business of that is yours? Do I tell you how to run your pack?"
Alpha Liam took one step forward, so there was no room between them. "Why did you send the girl to the traitors post?"
"Because I can?"
"Bullshit, Ramon! It’s her, isn’t it?"
"Who?" Ramon’s eyes narrowed.
"The slut."
"Lorena? No. But since you’re so curious, I’ll tell you who the girl is."
"Do tell."
"Ferins daughter," he replied in an irritated voice.
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