Chapter 6

ACHILLES. I wake up with a gasp, sitting up abruptly like a marionette whose strings got yanked. My head starts to spin, but it’s not because there was no gentle introduction to the waking world. It’s because of the dream. Because of Claudia. I clutch my chest and feel that my heart is going haywire. My back is slick with sweat and I can almost feel it soaking my sheets. I close my eyes for a moment, gathering my thoughts, but the first thing I see in the darkness is Claudia’s face. Her voice is ringing in my ears, the first voice I have heard in so many years. She’s the Siren, the Moon Goddess said. The Alpha’s Voice. What does that mean? What does it have to do with me? What does that make her? I have more questions than answers and the frustration building up inside me is turning into anger. I don’t want that. I have to focus. Because if there is one thing I know, it’s that I fucked up by demanding her to leave. And I need to get her back. Fueled by the sudden fiery desire to chase after her and hold her down in the castle if I need to, I jump out of bed. I push open the door and startle the guards. I can see them mouthing, “What is the trouble, Alpha?” I ignore all of them. I just run along the hallway until I find Kiernan’s room. The guards step aside when they see me, so I push open the door, stumbling inside like a sweaty, clumsy ogre. Meanwhile, Kiernan is still awake, staring through the window. My heart sinks when I see that it’s already daylight outside, but I still have to try. I need to. Kiernan turns around, frowns at me, and asks, “Your Majesty. What brings you here?” He knows that it irks me when he calls me that, but I ignore it anyway. 'I need to find the maid, Claudia.' I thought he would ask why, but he just narrows his eyes. “The maid you kicked out last night? I found her in the freezing cold, just staring into the distance like she couldn’t believe what happened. I actually told her I would talk to you about it, but when I got to your room, you were already asleep.” His words hit me like arrows to the heart. I can almost picture Claudia standing where I left her, crying and wondering what she did wrong, all the while I was sleeping soundly with no care in the world…. No. I can’t think about that. It hurts too much. I step back, the tightness in my chest so extreme that I have to inhale and exhale slowly. Every time I blink I see her distraught face and hear her broken voice, appealing her case and showing me that she deserved to stay. And what did I do? I kicked her right out like she meant nothing. Like we never had anything together. I swallow hard. ‘I need her back here. I made a mistake.’ “Then let’s go to the maids’ quarters,” Kiernan offers. “Maybe she’s still there.” I nod, and together, we barge into the lower floor where the maids stay. The rooms are already empty as they start their day at dawn. Every empty room we pass makes me want to punch something in regret, but I can still catch the sweet scent of Claudia in the air, lingering like a whisper. Finally, we arrive at her room, where her scent is strongest. The door is still closed. Kiernan lifts his hand to knock, but I’m desperate. I open the door. And there is one person inside the room. But it’s not Claudia. It’s a maid I remember as Maia, her best friend here. She whips around as soon as we get in, and I immediately see her swollen eyes and red face. “Alpha,” she mutters, sinking into a bow. “Gamma. I will go to work as soon as possible.” “No, take the time you need,” Kiernan says. “You are obviously in distress. What happened?” My breath gets stuck in my throat. I already know what she’s going to say, but I find myself searching the room in hopes of finding any proof that Claudia actually chose to stay. However, the room is blissfully empty. Vacated for the next maid. “Claudia left, Gamma,” she answers. “She said she needed to go back to her family. It was just so unexpected. I asked her if it had something to do with the meeting, and she said no. She said she’s tired of working. I don’t believe that. She always loved working here….” I freeze in shock. Kiernan glances at me pointedly before turning back to Maia. “I completely understand. Please, take the day off and rest. The Alpha and I will get going now.” He grabs me by the arm and pulls me out of the room, closing the door behind us. I can’t even walk properly. I can’t believe what I just heard. After all the bad things I said to her, she still chose to cover for me. I stop moving as soon as we reach the foyer. I hold onto the stair banister for support, my throat closed up. Kiernan stands next to me. “What happened, Your Majesty?” ‘Don’t call me that,’ I sign to him. ‘Go prepare a carriage—no. A horse. Ready a horse for me. I will be setting out soon—’ “No, you’re not,” he interjects, his eyebrows scrunched up. “You are the Alpha King. Do you know what it would mean to the Rogues if they took down the head of the whole land? The revolution would be over!” ‘Fine, I will do it myself.’ I try to push past him but he blocks me. ‘Move out of my way. I need Claudia back here right now.’ He shakes his head, putting a firm hand on my chest. “You’d have to kill me if you want to leave alone.” Kiernan is one of my oldest friends and most loyal men. We’ve butted heads many times before, but not like this. I can see his quiet anger, and I know from the look in his eyes that he can feel mine. Still, he stands his ground, staring at me like he’s daring me to attack him right now. And I almost want to. The thought of Claudia getting farther and farther away is tearing my soul apart. But I take a deep breath to steady myself. ‘You don’t understand.’ “Then make me understand.” ‘Claudia is important to me,’ I tell him after a pause. ‘The Moon Goddess told me so. She is the Siren and the Alpha’s Voice. I have to get her back or else—’ “Alpha Achilles.” He signals me to turn around. I see Carlos standing by the end of the stairs, his torso still wrapped in bandages. However, he’s not alone. Standing next to him are the Housekeeper and the Chief Butler. Both of them are carrying files, laid out as though they’re asking for advice. ‘What is this?’ I signal to Carlos. ‘I don’t need any interruptions right now. I have somewhere else to go.’ Carlos shakes his head to stop me. “Alpha… today is the Winter Solstice festival. Our pack is hosting. You cannot go anywhere.”