I went up to my room immediately we got back to the pack house and Alexander helped me down from the horse. I didn't look back at him or say anything to anyone, my mind was too full.
The moment my feet touched the ground, I headed straight upstairs to rest.
As soon as I entered my room, I shut the door. The riding attire felt heavy on my skin, itchy and uncomfortable, so I quickly changed out of it.
I didn't know how I managed to wear it for almost two hours but thank my goodness I'd gotten rid of it.
I slipped into a simple gown, something soft and loose, hoping it would help me relax. And it did.
My room felt dark. I went straight to the window, grabbed the curtain, and pulled it open, letting the daylight spill into the room. I unlatched the window I had closed earlier that afternoon. A cool breeze brushed my face as I leaned forward slightly.
Down below, the white wolf sat in the middle of the yard. Calm. Quiet. Almost majestic. It looked so peaceful, like it belonged to this place more than any of us did. For a moment, I envied its calmness.
Then something struck me, something I had completely forgotten.
I'd forgotten to thank Alexander for telling Mia to stop chasing Kathy. If he hadn't stepped in, Kathy might still be hiding in her room. She had just come out today for the first time in a week.
But then again… why should I thank him? He is the Alpha. Kathy was his responsibility. He should have been the one ensuring his pack wasn't terrorizing guests.
Why should I thank someone for doing the bare minimum?
I sighed and walked toward the dressing mirror. My phone lay exactly where I had placed it earlier. I picked it up and checked for any calls or messages from home.
Nothing.
No missed calls. No messages. No voice note. Just an empty call log that made my chest tighten.
I had already given up calling. I understood, at least partially, why my mother didn't pick up. She was always emotional, always dramatic, and maybe she was too busy with my father that she doesn't have time for me yet.
But I didn't understand why Jared, my brother, the acting alpha hadn't called or even returned the calls I made since when Kathy and I first arrived at Darkblood Pack.
He should have called. He didn't even call the day he'd sent us with Alexander. Jared never stayed silent this long.
I tried to breathe through the growing worry. Everything will be fine, I told myself. The pack is fine. Jared is fine. They're just busy.
I placed my phone back on the dressing table and sank onto my bed. The softness of the mattress felt heavenly. I didn't realize how exhausted I was until I sat down.
I yawned.
We hadn't even spent up to two hours outside, yet my whole body felt like I had run for miles. My arms, legs, even my neck ached. But why? I hadn't done any hard labor. I wasn't even the one riding the horse, Alexander was. All I did was sit.
And I had woken up just a few hours ago. I was supposed to be full of energy.
But I wasn't. My body felt heavy. My limbs felt drained. My eyelids felt like weights.
Maybe I just needed rest.
I lay down on the bed, planning to close my eyes only for a few minutes just to regain my strength before dinner. I pulled the covers lightly over my legs and let out a slow breath.
Within seconds, my eyes closed on their own.
---
I wasn't sure what woke me...a sound, a feeling, or maybe just the heaviness in my eyes. I pushed myself up slowly, blinking.
Or trying to blink.
My eyelids were glued shut by a sharp, bright light. I hissed under my breath and shut them again, letting the burning sensation fade. It took almost a minute before I managed to open them fully.
The light was pouring in through my open window.
I scrambled to my feet and hurried to shut it. Then I pulled the curtains together until the room dimmed again.
"What in the world…?" I muttered.
It didn't look like evening outside. The light was too bright, too warm.
I turned to the alarm clock on my bedside table. When I saw the time displayed on it, my heart nearly slammed into my ribs.
8:00 a.m.
I froze. Completely froze.
What—
How long had I slept? I had gone to take a "short rest" before dinner, and now it was morning?
I had missed dinner. And I was about to miss breakfast too.
I rushed to the dresser and pulled off the gown I wore the previous day, tossing it aside. I grabbed a towel, dashed into the bathroom, and took the quickest shower of my life. My mind was racing the whole time.
Why had I slept that long? What was wrong with me?
After dressing in fresh clothes, I snatched my phone from the table. I was about to open the door when the device buzzed in my hand.
A new message.
I tapped the notification.
My eyes widened so fast they almost hurt.
"Your resignation letter has been approved."
What resignation letter?
When had I sent a resignation letter?
The shock turned into confusion, and then into something cold fear. Had they decided to fire me? Was this their new method? Had something gone wrong back at the office?
Or was it because of what happened the last time. I'd sent an email and they had responded positively. Why the sudden change?
I dropped my bag and immediately opened my laptop. It sat on the table like always, neat and untouched. I tapped the power button, and as soon as the screen came on, I navigated to my work email.
The resignation letter was there.
Sent from my email.
Two days ago.
I read the email three times. Four times. Five times. My brain refused to accept it.
I hadn't written any resignation letter.
I loved my job. It was one of the few things I could proudly say belonged to me, one of the few things I worked hard for. Even if I were drunk, half-asleep, or possessed, I would never send a resignation letter.
Someone had done this.
Someone had used my account.
Someone had gone into my laptop.
Only one name filled my mind. One name echoed in my ears like a drumbeat.
Alexander.
My chest filled with heat, anger, disbelief, frustration all mixing together until I felt like steam was about to pour out of my ears.
I stormed to the door, yanked it open, and slammed it behind me. I didn't care how loud it was. I marched down the stairs, every step echoing with my heartbeat.
I reached the first floor where the dining room was. Kael looked up immediately as I barged in.
"Good morning..."
"Where is Alexander?" I snapped, cutting him off.
Kathy and Kael stared at me like I had grown two heads.
"You look really angry…" Kathy said softly.
But I didn't let her finish. I turned around and stormed out of the dining room.
I didn't know exactly which room Alexander slept in, only that the Alpha suite was somewhere on the fourth floor. That was enough. I took the stairs, climbing them two at a time, powered entirely by fury.
I reached the first-floor landing and stopped.
Alexander was there.
With Ellen.
I didn't think. I stomped toward him, my footsteps louder than usual on the wooden floor. My pulse was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears.
"Did you send my resignation letter?" I demanded the moment I reached him.
He looked at me with those cold blue eyes. He didn't hurry to answer. He didn't look shocked or confused. He just stared at me for about ten seconds, as if calculating something.
"Yes," he said simply. His voice was flat.
My breath caught.
"You invaded my privacy," I said, my voice low but shaking with anger. "You invaded my privacy and cost me my job."
He shrugged.
He actually shrugged.
Like he didn't care.
I stared at him, speechless. My mouth hung open as I tried to find words...any words that could match the storm in my chest.
"I didn't say I wanted to quit my job!" I yelled.
Instead of responding to that, he asked suddenly, "When last did you feel your wolf?"
I blinked. "What?"
"When last?" he repeated, his tone firmer.
"The night of the blood moon," I answered automatically.
"That's more than a week ago." His eyes flicked to Ellen. "The blood moon effects shouldn't last more than a day."
Ellen frowned and stepped closer. "The other girl...Kathy she can feel her wolf, right?"
Alexander nodded slightly, hands in his pockets. "Do you have a solution?"
"I don't know yet," Ellen said. Her brown eyes settled on me, concerned. "First, we have to locate the source of the problem."