Chapter 12
TOSCA
When the bell rang for the meal to be served, Lucey, who was our head chef for the night, announced, “Alright. It’s time. Let’s get everything loaded up.”
Everyone pitched in and loaded the trays with the hot food, then the three of us who were on service made our way to the food hall.
I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, I was nervous about being exposed to the betas, when I usually went out of my way to stay below their radar, and on the other hand, I was intrigued by the idea that I might catch a look at the visiting alpha.
It seemed likely he would be eating in the hall with Zarbius and the betas, as there had been no request to deliver food to his cabin tonight.
But as we gathered at the door, fear was winning out over curiosity.
“I’ll go last,” I told Owen and Lucey.
“Sure,” replied Lucey and Owen together. They both knew how terrified I was of Zarbius and the betas.
But as we stepped into the shed, O Goddess, he was here!
I knew it instantly. I could smell his wonderful alpha scent, and a wave of excitement rolled through me.
I trembled, eager and nervous to see him again.
Keeping my head down, I carried the heavy platter to the end of the table and set it down with trembling hands, only then looking up through my lashes.
Yes! It was him! My heart thumped, excitement and I don’t know what else running though me.
But then I wondered. Why was he here? How did he know Zarbius?
Was this a good thing or a bad one? Why was he sitting at Zarbius’ left-hand side?
I collected plates from the cabinet and started distributing them around the table.
By now my thoughts were running wild. What if he acknowledged me?
Zarbius would want to know how he knew me, and my secret – my absence, my heat – would be revealed.
Oh Goddess! Now I was terrified. What would happen to me if Zarbius found out?
I would be punished. And I’d be fair game for the betas. I trembled violently.
Where a few minutes before I had been daydreaming that the Alpha might speak to me, now I was desperately hoping he didn’t.
My hands were visibly shaking as I slipped his plate in front of him. Despite my anxiety, I couldn’t resist a quick glance at him from beneath the long strands of my hair.
Our eyes met. His were warm and dark, with tiny wrinkles at the corners as though he laughed a lot. His lips curved into the subtlest of smiles, my breath hitched… and like the magnificent Alpha I knew him to be, he said absolutely nothing.