Chapter 6: Rules to Obey

The butler of the Alpha’s mansion, Mr. Judson, was waiting for me at the gates when my family car arrived. The middle-aged man was with some maids to assist me.

“Welcome, Miss Loraine. Let us help you with your things.”

“Have the others arrived?” I asked.

“Yes, they are at the dining hall with Alpha Calix. They are all waiting for you.”

I nodded and followed the butler. The maids took care of my belongings. I didn’t want to bring more than necessary but Dad insisted on bringing more than what I would need in my one month stay here. I guessed he was expecting I’d be chosen to be the Alpha’s wife and there was no need to come back home.

“Alpha has arranged everything for all the ladies. Your rooms are ready and I will let you see them later,” said Mr. Judson.

When we arrived at the dining hall, I realized what the butler said was really true. Everyone was already present at the table. Alpha Calix was sitting at the head of the table, on his right were Genevieve and Lea, while on his left were Marianne and Evelyn.

“Finally, you are here, Miss Loraine. We are just about to start our lunch,” Alpha Calix said, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. “Take a seat. I’m sure your ride tired you out.”

“Thank you for your grace, Alpha.”

I could feel Alpha’s eyes as sat next to Marianne. There was plenty of food served on the table but I couldn’t feel any appetite.

“Your face seemed to lack color, Loraine. Didn't you sleep well last night?” Genevieve asked in a concerned tone but I knew better. With those snake-like eyes of hers, she just wanted to make a fuss about how gloomy I looked thinking it would make her shine more.

“I guess it was the excitement. I found it hard to sleep myself,” Lea covered her mouth as she giggled.

“So were you so excited that you couldn’t sleep, Miss Loraine?” Alpha asked, staring at me intensively with his prying eyes, making me feel suffocated in my seat.

“T-there was a thunderstorm last night, Alpha. I find thunderstorms rather noisy,” and it was true. Partially. Because the main reason why I barely slept last night was I didn’t want time to pass by quickly and wake up only to be sent to the Alpha’s estate. If only I had the means to stall time longer, I would have done it.

“Don’t worry, I assure you the rooms here in my mansion won’t allow you to hear the thunderstorms.”

“How sweet of you, Alpha. You really are so considerate,” said Marianne with a sweet tone.

“Of course, you are the belles of Clayburrow. I promised your families to take care of you. How shall I face them if you are not well taken care of,” smiled Alpha Calix. The kind of smile that wasn’t to be trusted.

“It is our pleasure, Alpha,” Genevieve flashed a flirty smile.

I just looked down on my plate. Perhaps Alpha brought us five ladies here in his mansion to entertain him. He should have paid whores instead of giving us the job to please him. I always looked up to Alpha Yorrick since I was a child because of how good a leader he was, but I didn't think I could do the same to his successor.

After the dinner, Alpha said he had to leave for work. Mr. Judson showed us our rooms in the west wing of the mansion and while touring us around the big estate, he told us the rules Alpha Calix made himself.

The butler said Alpha was very particular with rules and didn’t take mistakes lightly even when he appeared to be easygoing.

“First rule, you are not allowed to go to the east wing. It is where the Alpha’s chambers are located. His bedroom, his office, his playroom, are all off limits. Second, you are allowed to go out any time of the day but make sure to come back before eight in the evening. Third, you will only go meet the alpha if he asks for you and if he doesn’t, you can’t disturb him. Fourth, you shall not make trouble for the other ladies…”

It was a long list of rules. Even when I felt sleepy listening to all of it, I still paid attention. Who knows what kind of punishment would the alpha give for not abiding by his rules?

Alpha Calix might appear like an easy man because of his playful personality, but deep down I knew he was twisted. A dangerous man one shouldn’t mess with.

I slept the rest of the afternoon because I was really tired. When I heard Alpha Calix didn’t return for dinner, I asked a maid to send my dinner upstairs. The other girls seemed to be good so far, but I knew Genevieve wouldn’t keep her mouth shut if we were in the same room.

Considering the Alpha’s rules, she wouldn’t make a scene for sure, but she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from throwing unnecessary comments which I didn’t like. I was still fighting an internal turmoil and I didn’t think getting involved with the other girls would help me.

After having a night bath, I talked to Rose over the phone because I promised I would call her. It didn’t take long though. It was late and she needed to sleep early for tomorrow’s class so I decided to end the call fifteen minutes later.

But the problem was… I couldn’t sleep.

I just laid there on the bed staring at the ceiling with wide opened eyes and a mountain of thoughts stirring up my head.

The sound of the engine interrupted my busy mind. I rose from bed and walked to the window with my bare feet touching the cold floor along with the hem of my long night dress.

It was Alpha Calix’s car. Did he just arrive? But it was already eleven in the evening. What a busy man he was. If this would be the case every day, then there was nothing to worry about.

He got out of the car and I was about to go back to bed, but before I could, Alpha’s gaze lifted to my direction, making my heart jump in surprise.

I wanted to think that he couldn’t see me because the lights in my room were off, but the way his stare lasted for several seconds, I started to doubt it.