Chapter 28: This Is a Trap
*Theo*
As I followed Ciana and her former governess, or so I’d learned, back to the Alpha’s mansion, I couldn’t believe the story she’d made up about me. How dare she?!
The girl was obviously having way too much fun. It all seemed so amusing to her, and I just wanted to shake some sense back into her–to take her in my arms, stare into her eyes, breathe in her scent–and tell her it wasn’t funny at all.
But I knew it wasn’t the right time to do so, so I forced myself to filter the nonsense pouring out of those two women and focused on the key piece of information-
revolution?
Would it have anything to do with that Luther guy? What was their ultimate goal?
Regardless of the situation, something wasn’t right here, and I needed to know exactly what was going on, not only for Ciana and her pack, but also for the overall security of the country.
After turning the corner, we arrived at our destination. The
J
Alpha’s house was clean, fairly sizable, and well kept. The moment we entered it, I could tell the owners put their heart into their home.
Unlike the royal palace, which was filled with meaningless luxuries, the design and decoration of this place was quite simple. Yet, the mood was such that the moment anyone walked in, they would feel welcome and relaxed, like a long- time traveler who had finally reached their home.
Needless to say, Ciana’s parents had good taste. Maybe one day, I would be able to meet them.
I followed Ciana through the door and noticed that, unlike most Alphas‘ residences, there weren’t other servants. The place was quiet–quiet and nice.
“Miss, you must be very tired,” Susan said to Ciana while looking at me. Did she want anything from me?
I ignored her and walked straight through the door, as I heard her mumble to Ciana, “Miss, he doesn’t act like a servant at all… I can ask my nephew to come here to help, if you’re okay with it.”
“Oh, no, no need, Susan! Um… Thorn is actually very competent.”
“I don’t see it. Miss, you need someone who is smart and
understands what his master wants to serve you.”
I clenched my fists. Ciana better get this done quickly. My patience was limited. Obviously, Ciana could tell I wasn’t happy. She looked at me with a bright smile.
Good. And she’d better say something nice.
“Thorn, would you fix Susan and me a nice glass of lemonade?”
I frowned. She really wanted to treat me as a servant? Was I
too nice to her?
But then she gave me a pleading look, and she mouthed, “Please.”
I stared at her for a second, and for the reason I didn’t understand, I nodded. Maybe I knew she was trying to put some distance between me and that Susan woman, so that I wouldn’t hear more of her ridiculous comments, or maybe I just couldn’t seem to be able to turn her down….
struggle out of her jacket, hanging it on the back of her seat as she pulled out the heavy
to her. “Really, Ciana, what kind of a servant is he that he doesn’t help
out
making our drinks,” she said, a bit more defensively than I would’ve expected
didn’t understand her–since I’d been kicked in the head by a mule
life had
I picked up the lemon scooper–thingy and placed it down into the table with a clatter
them both.
Susan spoke again, trying to prove her point. “I
saying anything more. Then she lowered her voice. Maybe she thought I really couldn’t hear her when she whispered, “Well,
What?
dear. Man, oh, man. He’s got
cleared her throat. “Anyway… what else is going on
Was that how she felt about
up–curl on
by my people and dealt with–easy enough–and Ciana
sticky liquid all over the white tablecloth and nearly hitting Ciana in the face. “This
spat
something but Ciana got out of
honey,” she said, patting me on the shoulder while she gave me a look
me not to blow our
together in an effort to keep my
Thorn lays down for a
sure that’s a good idea, dear?” Susan asked. “You don’t know him that well. He might
“Susan, you know what I’m capable
plump bottom up out of the chair. “All right. We’ll talk soon.” She didn’t approach Ciana to hug her, probably because she knew I’d strike her down like a bear swinging at a beehive looking
were left alone,
laugh. “I just thought it would be more believable that way, and if you did accidentally say you were the prince, I could blame it on
“Don’t be mad… please?”
what this girl did to me, but when she was not intentionally provoking me, it
at her.
now,” I said
and her eyes narrowed
Go where?”
started to walk to
No!” Ciana shouted. “I just got here, to see
was in trouble, and it turns out it is. So you
to pick her up and carry her out of there. But that would cause alarm, so I
it?” she repeated. “And how exactly are you going
of
the country. Even in your packland, I’m still in charge here, over your father. I said
leave it to
you don’t really have
could. “But I will. I
here. This is
telling her the truth
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