It was barely more than a soft curve of his lips, yet the moment I saw it, something in my chest tightened in that annoyingly unpredictable way I’d been trying very hard to ignore.
Genuine relief lingered in his eyes, as though my waking up had lifted some invisible weight from his shoulders.
For a brief, foolish second… I almost smiled back.
Then his gaze drifted past me, and almost instantly, the warmth drained from his expression as his eyes moved slowly across the kitchen, the stiff-backed servants, the faint dampness still clinging to the floor where water had only just been wiped away.
“What happened here?” he asked coldly.
No one answered.
The servants who had been whispering so freely moments ago now looked like terrified statues, even more terrified than when I flipped out.
The blonde one, the very same girl who had smacked the cup out of my hand, had gone so pale I wondered if she was about to pass out.
Honestly, the drama.
I clicked my tongue softly and turned away, pretending to be suddenly interest in the cupboard behind me.
“Its fine, nothing worth your attention.” Even as the words left my mouth, I had the feeling he wouldn’t let this slide.
“Lina.” Louis called my name In a tone I’d never heard from him before.
It wasn’t loud, yet it carried the unmistakable weight of command.
Fuck, why did I like his tone just now, it made my stomach flip in a weird way “Tell me what happened.” He ordered.
I sighed, realizing avoidance was pointless.
“One of your servants forgot her place, she….” I didn’t even have time to complete my sentence when the atmosphere shifted so abruptly.
Goosebumps prickled all over my skin.
Was he angry?
“Who?” he requested, his tone chilling.
The blonde servant’s breathing turned uneven, her fingers curling tightly into her uniform.
Then she made the mistake, she he stepped back, instantly giving herself away.
Louis moved.
I barely registered the motion itself.
One blink, he stood near the doorway.
The next, and he was directly in front of her, his presence swallowing every inch of space she thought she had.
“Alpha Louis, I—” “What,” he asked quietly, “did you do?” That voice.
That terrifyingly calm voice.
It sent a ripple through the room far more effectively than shouting ever could.
The girl’s lips trembled, her composure cracking.
“I didn’t mean any harm…” I rolled my eyes, I know she’ll have done worse if I hadn’t flipped out on her.
“Answer me.” “I— she came in acting like she owned the place, and I just—” “I did not ask for excuses,” he said coldly.
Then he turned to me.
“I don’t hit women, you do it.” I stared at him, wide-eyed and dumbfounded.
Did I hear that right?
“I should hit her?” I asked, just to be sure.
“Yes, as many times as you want.” I opened my mouth to decline the offer, but suddenly stilled.
Why did I have to forgive her.
She would have done worse if she had been given the chance.
She had clearly looked down on me, so why should I forgive her.
My expression hardened as I walked over to her without hesitation.
She didn’t even have the nerve to look up at me.
I aimed for her cheeks, landing a hot slap that almost twisted her neck.
The sound echoed, sending a feel of satisfaction through me.
Louis turned to the other two servants, “if any of you were to mess with her again, your fate would be worse than this.
Now leave.” The didn’t waste another moment, they quickly rushed out of the kitchen, one of them almost tripping over nothing as the left.
Louis then turned toward me, and the fury in his eyes still there, but his expression softened.
“Are you hurt?” The question caught me completely off guard.
“I’m fine.” I answered quickly.
I could feel the eyes of the Banewolf princess on us, and it made everything really awkward.
Before I could react, he stepped closer, his fingers tilting my chin upward with a firmness that carried surprising care.
My breath hitched.
What was he doing?
“Louis—” I breathed.
His thumb brushed the corner of my lip, making me still, completely forgotten what I was about to say.
His expression darkened instantly has the rubbed over the tiny cut on the corner of my lower lip.
“She did this?.” “It’s nothing.” I replied quickly.
“It is not nothing.” “I’ve had worse.
He stepped closer again, his presence wrapping around me in a way that made retreat feel both necessary and impossible.
“You are under my protection now Lina, like I promised, I wouldn’t let anyone harm you, ever.
Not under my watch.” His tone was deep, soft…and strangely, it brought me a weird sense of comfort.
No one, I mean no one has ever stood up for me this way.
I couldn’t understand nor explain the emotions that were overwhelming me at the moment.
Damn it Lina, control yourself.
I had to, because I was about to cry over something so simple.
A smooth voice broke through the emotions almost about to overwhelm me.
“How admirable.” The princess said in a quiet voice as she stepped forward gracefully.
Her pale eyes moved between us with open curiosity.
“Such devotion,” she continued lightly, “to those under your care.” I raised a brow, but quickly masked my unimpressed expression with a forced smile.
For whatever reason, I wasn’t exactly pleased that she was here.
Louis didn’t respond.
Her gaze lingered on him for a moment before shifting to me.
“You’re Lina right?
I’m Louis’ betrothed, it was nice meeting you.” she replied with a small smile that didn’t really reach her eyes.
What exactly was she trying to prove with that introduction.
I almost scoffed.
Are you jealous?
Carla asked in my head, her tone clearly teasing.
“Hell no I’m not.” I quickly blurted, but instantly realized I had spoken out loud.
Screw you Carla.