The Alpha's Unwanted Bride

Chapter 790: HANDMAIDEN

RUBY’S POV

I stood outside Aiden’s door for several seconds, staring at it like it was the entrance to my execution.

I could still feel Alice’s claws digging into my palms.

My cheek stung from her slap.

My back hurt from where she had slammed me against the wall.

And somehow, I was expected to walk into the room of the man who had caused half of my problems and pretend everything was normal.

I raised my hand and knocked once.

“Come in.”

His voice was cold.

Of course it was.

I pushed the door open.

Aiden was standing beside the window with his back to me. His shirt was discarded on the chair, leaving his bare back exposed. There were several scratches across his shoulder, probably from the fight with Aston.

I looked away immediately.

“I’ve come to resume my duties.”

He didn’t turn around.

“You are late.”

“I fell asleep.”

“I noticed.”

I frowned.

“How?”

He finally turned around.

His eyes immediately landed on my face.

Then my hands.

His expression changed.

“What happened?”

I instinctively hid my hands behind my back.

“Nothing.”

“Ruby.”

There was something about the way he said my name that made my stomach tighten.

I swallowed.

“Alice.”

His jaw clenched.

“She did that?”

“It’s nothing.”

His eyes narrowed.

“She put her claws in your hands.”

I glanced down.

The small cuts were already beginning to dry.

“She was angry.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

I sighed.

“She came to get me because I was late for my duties. We argued.”

“And then?”

I didn’t answer.

Aiden took a step toward me.

“Ruby.”

“She slapped me.”

His face became unreadable.

“And then she attacked me.”

His nostrils flared.

I quickly added, “Levi stopped her.”

For some reason, I felt the need to defend Alice.

Perhaps because despite everything she had said, I still remembered the girl who had once been my only friend.

Aiden walked closer.

“She could have seriously injured you.”

“She didn’t.”

“That’s not the point.”

I looked up at him.

“Then what is the point?”

His eyes met mine.

“The point is that no one touches you without consequences.”

My heart skipped.

I immediately pushed the feeling away.

He was probably only saying that because I was his handmaiden.

Nothing more.

I folded my arms.

“I don’t need you fighting my battles.”

“I didn’t say I was going to fight her.”

“You looked like you were about to.”

“I said nothing.”

“You didn’t have to.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then his gaze dropped to my hands again.

“Sit.”

I blinked.

“What?”

“Sit.”

“I’m here to work.”

“And you’re injured.”

“It’s barely anything.”

His expression hardened.

“Do not argue with me.”

I rolled my eyes and sat on the edge of the chair.

Aiden disappeared into the adjoining room and returned with a small bowl of water and a cloth.

He crouched in front of me.

I stared at him.

“What are you doing?”

“Cleaning your hands.”

“I can do it myself.”

“I know.”

He took my hand anyway.

His fingers were surprisingly gentle as he cleaned the small cuts.

I watched him silently.

This was strange.

This was the same man who had ripped Aston apart without blinking.

The same man who had threatened me.

The same man who had called me troublesome more times than I could count.

Yet right now, he was carefully cleaning blood from my palm.

I couldn’t understand him.

“You don’t have to do this,” I whispered.

“I know.”

His answer made me look at him.

He didn’t explain.

He simply continued.

When he finished, he released my hand.

“There.”

I pulled my hand toward myself.

“Thank you.”

His eyes flickered toward mine.

“Don’t make me regret protecting you.”

My eyebrows rose.

“I didn’t ask you to protect me.”

Something flashed across his face.

“That’s exactly your problem.”

“What is?”

“You think you have to face everything alone.”

I scoffed.

“I’ve had to.”

His expression softened for the briefest second.

Then it disappeared.

“Your duties.”

I stood.

“What am I supposed to do?”

He pointed toward a pile of clothes on the chair.

“Prepare those for tomorrow.”

I walked over and picked them up.

“Anything else?”

“Bring me the reports from the eastern patrol.”

I turned.

“Anything else, Your Highness?”

His lips twitched.

“Don’t call me that.”

“Why?”

“You sound sarcastic.”

“I am.”

Aiden stared at me.

For a moment, I thought he was going to reprimand me.

Instead, the corner of his mouth lifted.

Barely.

I froze.

Had he just smiled?

He immediately turned away.

“Go.”

I shook my head and began arranging his clothes.

I had barely finished folding the first shirt when I noticed something.

Aiden had gone completely still.

His hand was gripping the edge of the table.

His breathing was heavier.

“Aiden?”

He didn’t answer.

I dropped the clothes and walked toward him.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.”

His eyes flashed toward me.

“I said I’m fine.”

I stopped.

There was something strange in his eyes.

For just a second, they looked darker.

Almost black.

Then it disappeared.

I frowned.

“What happened?”

“Nothing.”

I didn’t believe him.

But before I could ask again, he straightened.

“Finish your duties.”

I nodded reluctantly.

As I returned to the clothes, my eyes wandered toward the window.

Outside, the moon hung above the pack.

Beautiful.

Peaceful.

Nothing like the chaos inside my head.

Alice’s words returned to me.

You don’t belong here.

I touched my emerald necklace.

Then I thought about my mother.

My father.

My red hair.

The old man.

The old woman.

The strange visions.

The blue soil sitting beside my bed.

Too many questions.

Too many things that didn’t make sense.

I looked toward Aiden again.

He was staring out the window.

And for reasons I couldn’t explain, I suddenly wondered if he knew more than he was telling me too.

I quickly looked away.

I had enough problems.

I didn’t need another mystery named Aiden.

Or at least, that’s what I told myself.

Because somewhere deep inside me, I already knew I was lying.

JASMINE’S STORY HAS RESUMED/ CHECK OUT MY NEW NOVEL MY DARLINGS❤