Chapter 10: He's Not That Bad.

E M B E R

I absentmindedly follow Fiona.

I have been working since five, as usual. I have been rolling my eyes and groaning as I listen to Rayne and my thumping heart whenever I catch a glimpse of him. I have been wondering why I am even doing this and how my powers are not healed yet.

I'm losing patience. The sole reason that makes me come up with some rules.

Be as helpful as I can, stay out of his way... and leave as soon as possible.

Rayne whimpers at the last part, and I scoff.

Seriously, get over it! You have only met that guy recently. You can't be falling head over heels for him, even if he is the mate Moon Goddess chose for us.

Ember, why are you so heartless? I have fallen head over heels for Sebastian.

Ugh, shut your feelings then.

Rayne narrows her eyes and growls.

I roll my eyes.

Don't forget that we have a pack to lead, that very pack our parents sacrificed their lives for. We can't let a guy get in between that sacrifice. Rayne sadly howls and pouts when someone outside my head calls out, "Oh, I forgot to tell you one thing."

I raise my gaze as I watch Fiona halt and look over her shoulder at me. I step up and nod curiously. She takes a deep breath and states, "You will be serving Alpha from now on."

Huh?

I stare at the head housekeeper in disbelief and confusion. "Pardon?"

Fiona notices and then sighs, "Take good care of him because you are the only one who can—"

We're the only ones... Rayne dreamily beams, which makes me roll my eyes before I blink and look back at Fiona, raising my eyebrow, "I don't understand. Take care of who?"

"Ugh!" Fiona groans and turns to me. "Don't you listen." she rudely points at her ear and gives me a disdainful look. She shakes her head and huffs, "You got to be more attentive, Emmy. Alpha isn't kind to people who are lazy and absentminded."

"Alpha?" I cough up, "Sebastian?" his name rolls off my tongue so smoothly, and I swear my heart skips a beat.

Fiona coughs up and glares at me as she grunts, "Yes, you will be his personal maid."

"Why?" I blurt out, but she doesn't deem fit to answer me as she turns back and resumes walking away. I watch her go and wonder what's wrong with her. I clench my fist and grit. How can she assign me as somebody's personal maid? Can they really do that?

Fiona brings me back to reality as she looks over and clicks her tongue, "Go on now. You have to be by his side now. Make sure you serve him right and clean his study thoroughly. He spends most of the time there."

Rayne grins, and my heart flutters at the words Fiona used while I nod and fake a smile.

"Okay," I mumble.

I descend the stairs and walk toward the study, trying to pretend this innocent human girl is in awe of this mansion until I clash with something or — into someone. I gasp, and I'm immediately able to plant my feet on the ground to keep my balance when he snaps, "What the hell! Can't you see? Are you blind... oh, it's you!"

I blink and look up to find a familiar Asian dude with a disgusted scowl at me. I also notice that he is with a couple of guys when he snarls, "You really have a knack for ruining moods."

Excuse me? I frown and clench my fists when Graham exclaims, "Aww, feeling angry already?" I realize he notices me and scoffs, "What are you going to do about it? Huh?" he pokes my shoulder a couple of times, and the men with him chuckle. He smirks and then tilts his head, looking at me smugly. "I don't know why you are still alive. But then Alpha must have a plan." he leans closer and whispers, "You better lay low if you do not want to die from my hands—"

I interrupt him and startle the group as I scoff.

"You dare to laugh? At me?" Graham raises his eyebrow, trying to look and sound menacing.

"Well," I click my tongue as I lean back and cross my arms, "You know what's funny? Not you, so be quiet."

Graham and his bunch of shitfaces glower at me as he snarls, "What did you say?"

"Ugh!" I roll my eyes and groan. "You would be much likeable if it wasn't for that hole in your mouth that noise comes out of."

His group teases when I hear him growl, but neither that nor his so-called tremble-in-fear gaze scares the shit out of me. I straighten up and clear my throat, "Anyway, let's chat when you are calmer. We can be respectful until then please shut up and mind your own business."

I smirk at him and then walk past the group toward the study. I can feel their angry stares when I open the door and step inside, immediately taken in awe by the room's interiors once again. I know I have my study too, but this room is just so much grander than mine.

"Why do I always find you staring blankly?"

His deep voice brings me back to reality and makes my heart pound hesitantly. I turn my head and find him leaning in the chair with his feet up as he looks over at me and winks that Rayne beams at his strikingly hot presence.

"Huh?" I blurt out.

"If you want, you can read these books."

Really? I raise my eyebrows.

Sebastian puts his feet down and leans back in his chair, commenting, "Only if you beg me to."

I frown and blurt out, "What?" but only hear him laugh.

Asshole.

It's such a pretty sound from an annoying man's mouth. I straighten up and, ignoring him, I ask, "What do you want me to do, sir?"

Sebastian leans forward as he gives me a once-over which makes me shudder, and then says, "You aren't wearing the dress."

I throw him a glare. Don't kill him. Don't kill him. Don't kill him—I sigh. "Well, I found out the truth behind that prank." His stupid handsome smug face makes me want to punch him, but I shake my head as I look back and sigh again, only to repeat, "What do you want me to do, sir?"

"Well." he clears his throat. "I'm afraid I will need this room to be sparkling clean." he looks at my face with such an innocent smile as if he is the purest soul alive and breathing, yet his green eyes glint mischievously.

I take a quick scan of the room, and this time actually notice how messy the study is. What the... there isn't an inch of the space covered with a stack of pages, files, or clothes. I wonder how this is even possible, and does he seriously put in so much effort to infuriate me? "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" I yell and look back at him when he leans back in his chair and chuckles.

"What?" he shrugs. "I work a lot." then he clears his throat, "This reminds me, there is a pastry I want to try." "Then go on and leave me with this mess—" I snap when he interrupts me, "Oh, I want you to feed me."

He wants me to do what? I don't take account of his teasing tone and gape at him, imagining how good it will feel to rip that head off his body. I watch him pull a plate out from under his desk with a set of assorted pastries that would make my mouth water if I weren't feeling a surge of anger.

He wants what? I watch him pull a plate out from under his desk with a set of assorted pastries that would make my mouth water if I weren't feeling a surge of anger.

The vein on my forehead twitches, and my jaw tightens as I glare at him.

Oh, my! Our mate wants us to spoon... Rayne is about to comment as she swoons over his nonexistent charm, but I block her out. I don't need to hear anything positive about this infuriating asshole, especially not right now. I clear my throat and ask the obvious, "You want me to spoonfeed you?" you know, just in case I heard wrong, hopefully.

In silence for a moment, I stare at him with his eyes closed and arms crossed. He looks so calm, unaware of the storm inside me and how much I want to stab him with a fork. That son of a b... ugh, fine. I sigh and bend to pick up the fork, muttering, "Open your mouth."

Startled, his green eyes flutter wide open, and he blurts out, "What?"

Under his confused gaze, I tear and stab a piece of pastry as I move toward him. I snarl, "What? What are you looking at? Do I have horns on my head or what?"

I notice him slightly gulp as he straightens back up in his chair and snorts, "Nothing, it's just you look really weird right now. You're sure you are not going to choke me with that fork, right?"

Amused, are we? I roll my eyes, and I can feel my vein prominently twitching as I yell, "I do not share that kind of fetish with you, jerk! Open your fucking mouth! Are you fucking going to eat it or not?" he briefly has a smirk over on his lips when I take him by surprise by shoving the cake inside his mouth.

I watch him cough and smirk. "Well, I would start cleaning now, sir." with that, I turn around and clear a corner when I feel a presence behind me. "You're not sure who you are messing up with, sweetheart." my heart twinges, and shivers run down my body all the way to my toes as I feel his smirk on my earlobe.

Deja vu?

What the... I look over my shoulder and state, "Oh, I know who I am messing up with, Alpha of Midnight Hunters." I give him a sarcastic once-over and look back at his face with a grin, "He is not even a challenge." He snarls, but he doesn't know it's an obvious lie as I find myself under his scrutinizingly narrowed gaze. I force myself to smirk but gasp when he pulls me to face him and pushes me against the desk with his arm snaking around my waist.

He leans closer, and I feel his hot breath on my face. It makes me feel tingly and fluttery. He then glowers, "I believe that he can make you know that he is not unchallenging and can make your life hell."

Blinking back to reality, I smile and scoff, "Bring it on." I place my hands on his chest and push him away without letting a single doubt seep into my mind. He stumbles briefly but manages to gain a foothold to keep his balance.

He smugly looks at me and murmurs, "Sure, as you wish, love."

I narrow my eyes and then straighten up, faking a wider smile and turning away to resume working when he calls out, "Oh, I just remembered that there's laundry to be done," what? I look over at him as he tilts his head and smacks his lips, "—and do you think you can make me something nice for lunch? I want to eat something savoury."

We stare at each other in silence for a while when he leans back and blows a deep breath as he shoves his hands into his pockets, clicks his tongue and turns around, walking toward his desk.

I gape at him in disbelief when he suddenly halts, lifts his hand and snaps his fingers.

I raise my eyebrow.

"This all reminds me —" Sebastian glances over at me and twirls his fingers in the air. "Sparkling clean, please!" I so want to wipe that sarcastic smile off his handsome face.

Rayne purrs.

***

I don't know how many hours I act like his personal maid, and he bosses me around like the arrogant jackass he is.

But I am no innocent.

I didn't back out one bit and play fire with fire. If he wants to be my boss, I show him he can't.

Do you want to know how?

Simple.

My mate asked me to do his laundry... I mix his whites with colourful ones or hide the ones he needs most.

He asked me to cook for him... I made it extra spicy.

You shouldn't have done it, Ember. Have you forgotten the pastries you received from him? He isn't bad as you think, but you have been so mean to our mate. He suffered because of your pranks. Rayne pouts.

I roll my eyes but end up letting out a snicker.

Oh, please! You may be blind in love, but he deserves it. But, according to you, he is our mate, yet he treats me like a slave.

Because you are pretending to be one.

I am pretending to be a servant. I am not a slave. There is clearly a difference. I notice the sugar jar, and my expression changes as I look away and scoff. I mean, look at me. I'm making coffee for an infuriating jerk.

Can you believe it?

I shove the jar to the side and scoff when something clicks in my mind. I scan the kitchen counter and then lean over to grab the salt and pepper shaker. A faint smirk begins to appear on my face as I stare down at the pot of thick brown liquid.

What are you planning now, Ember? Don't you think it's enough?

My smirk widens.

Uh, one last prank? I scoff and peek my tongue out as Rayne shakes her head in disbelief.

It's a devilish idea. Could you not do it, Ember? Don't you pity our mate?

Ugh! I shouldn't have seriously let my guard down, and I block Rayne out of my mind. I am about to sprinkle some into the mug when suddenly I sense a presence in the kitchen with me right behind me as a voice startles me, "What's funny?"

I gasp and turn around to find Clayton. He looks soft and concerned.

I take a deep breath. "Nothing. Why?"

Clayton tilts his head and shrugs, asking, "I don't know. Is he giving you a lot of trouble?"

He? Sebastian? I raise my gaze. My answer seems right on the tip of my tongue, but for some reason, I stay mum no matter how friendly this guy is. I straighten up and smack my lips, "Well, he is bothersome, but nothing I can't handle." I sigh and shrug, "Also, he gave me some pastries to try on, so there's that."

Clayton sighs and smiles, "Oh, that's a relief."

I smile back as we stay facing each other in silence. I then see him look over my shoulder and blurt out, "Is that coffee?"

I glance at the pot and look back with a nod. "Oh, yup. Want some? I made a lot."

As a response, he raises his eyebrows and snorts, "Um, why a lot, but sure, I would love a cup." I roll my eyes and grunt, "Well, your Alpha is responsible for the mess." I gesture around and then turn to pour coffee into another cup as I notice him move to the counter beside me. I continue, "No matter how many times I have brewed coffee today, that man has been unimpressed by every cup. He unnecessarily nitpicks and even resorted to rejecting the drinks without tasting them." I then turn to hand him coffee.

He murmurs, "Thanks."

But I continue to whine. "I have been working all day because of him. It's irritating to see that stupid face and that stupid smirk on that stupid face. I want to wipe it off." I tighten my grip on the mug and grit, "I swear that when I go back to give him this 15th cup of coffee and if he nitpicks again, I will actually kill him—" He accidentally takes a sip, "Hmm, it's good." which makes me pause and my head snaps in his direction. Wide-eyed, I gasp and then awkwardly giggle. "Oh, no! I'm ranting."

Clayton startles me with a laugh, and I frown. "Huh?" A grin follows after his laughter as he wipes a tear and looks back at me.

He straightens up and nods. "It's okay, and I apologize for you going through all that."

I lean back and scoff, "Why are you apologizing? You are not the one who is making me work like a freaking maid."

I see him trying so hard to stifle his laugh, noticing how pleasantly amused he is when our eyes meet. I roll my eyes, let out a deep breath, and sigh, "Has he always been like this? Annoying, I mean?"

He pulls his lower lip and shrugs, "It depends."

I sarcastically ask, "On what?"

Clayton throws his head back and chuckles as I stare at him quizzically.

He takes his time as he looks around the room. I try not to look eager and look away, but the moment he clicks his tongue, I look back at him. "Well, I understand what you are going through, but I also know Sebastian."

That name makes fluttery sensations in my body. I tighten my face and clench my fists to focus.

He continues, "I have known him since childhood. We were born weeks apart, and I know him inside out." he shakes his head and exclaims, "No matter how rude and infuriating he is and can be, deep down, he is a very sensitive and caring guy."

I gape at him and blurt out, "Really? That guy?"

He grins and then nods. "Yeah, that guy."

I lean back and cross my arms as I scoff, "I can't believe it. I mean, I have heard the rumours about him. They say he is extremely handsome, merciless, cruel, and too cocky for his good, and just yesterday, he confiscated Ivory's shopping bags? How can he be caring?"

"All the things he has gone through, his wish is to protect what's his."

What?

Clayton looks me in the eye and smiles.

That look makes me shudder.

I shake my head as I look back up and clear my throat to ask when he moves to the side. I raise my eyebrow as he says, "I gotta go."

"What? Where? I want to ask you—" "Urgent. See you later." he turns around to go but not before he looks over to wave at me and calls out, "Anyway, he sent the bags back to Ivory's room."

Huh?

He shrugs, "Just for your information." In the blink of an eye, he rushes out of the kitchen, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I can't help but wonder what did Sebastian go through?

Or is it what Rayne is making me wonder?

Oh, no... you are curious.

I thought I blocked you.

You can't as long as we want the same thing.

Ugh! I roll my eyes and notice the mug.

Uh-oh, it has gone cold.

Who cares.

I look up and smirk as I begin to walk back to study. I re-enter the room, and it's a bit darker with the curtains drawn, and lights switched off. What the heck! Why did he switch the lights off? Has he gone out? Why did he not tell me before I made him coffee? Ugh, no matter what Clayton said, this Alpha irks me so much.

My jaw tightens.

Thankfully, the streetlight outside is able to seep through a teeny-tiny gap as I slowly take steps. Cautiously.

I stop by the desk and sigh as I keep the mug down. I am about to turn when I hear a snore. Checkered shirt, sleeping snoring Sebastian. I can't help but stare and smile at this sight. However, I notice a disturbing frown on his peaceful face when his groan brings me back, and I wonder what's going on in his sleep.

I move to his side and lean down.

I press my fingers on his forehead, trying to straighten the frown, and he mumbles something in his sleep, which makes me giggle.

I press my fingers on his forehead, trying to straighten the frown, and he mumbles something in his sleep, which makes me giggle. He is cute, and he's got such long eyelashes. So why can't he be this peaceful and adorable when he is awake?

It's only a matter of time before I find myself sitting beside him and laying my head down as I stare at his sleeping face. His red hair. His soft face and full pink lips. I let my hand cup his face. I slowly close my eyes, letting him be the last thing I see as I let sleep sink in. That's when I sense something hovering over me and then touching my forehead. I'm too tired to look, but I remember having a sheepish smile before I fell asleep.

Maybe he isn't that bad.