Maria.
We kept staring at each other, neither of us willing to look away, as though we had unknowingly entered a silent staring competition. The air between us felt heavy, thick with something unspoken. I could feel the tension rolling off her in quiet waves, sharp and unmistakable. Her fingers were clenched tightly around the fabric of her dress, twisting it as if she needed the pressure to steady herself. The more she tightened her grip, the more uneasy I became.
"Galen!" I called out again, breaking the silence. My voice came out firmer than I intended. "Are you planning to escape?"
As I spoke, I moved toward the bed and sat down slowly, never taking my eyes off her. Every movement she made felt deliberate, measured, as though she were weighing each breath.
She paused for a brief second before her lips curved into a sheepish smile. "Come on, Maria," she said lightly, almost teasing. "Why would I want to escape?" Her tone sounded casual, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I just got here, and honestly, I'm kind of scared. The territory is too big. I might get lost in it!"
She stood up then, straightening her dress as if shaking off the tension I had just noticed. Suddenly, her face lit up with the brightest smile I had ever seen. It was dazzling—almost blinding. Her crystal eyes sparkled beautifully, catching the light in a way that made her look innocent, carefree, and completely untroubled.
"Don't get too worked up over my question!" she added quickly, waving it off with a laugh. "If you don't know, never mind I asked…"
"Okay," I managed to reply, forcing a small smile of my own. My voice sounded steady, but inside, unease curled tightly in my chest. Something about her sudden cheerfulness didn't sit right with me. It felt rehearsed, like a mask carefully put in place.
She tilted her head slightly, studying me now. "The Alphas," she asked quietly, her voice softer this time, "are you that close to them?"
Her question caught me completely off guard. I shifted uncomfortably on the bed, the mattress creaking beneath my weight. Heat rushed to my face as I let out a nervous laugh, hoping it would cover my discomfort.
"No, I'm not," I replied quickly. "I'm just their personal maid." I laughed again, a little too loudly. "How could a rogue be close to the Alphas?"
"Oh," she said simply. "I thought as much."
But even as she spoke, I noticed the change. The smile on her face began to fade—slowly, subtly—until it disappeared altogether. Her eyes dimmed, the sparkle vanishing as if it had never been there, leaving behind an expression I couldn't quite read.
A sharp knock thundered against the door, jolting me upright as if lightning had struck the room. My heart slammed violently against my ribs, loud enough that I was sure Galen could hear it. The night was far too quiet for visitors, the kind of silence that made every sound feel exaggerated. It was late—too late for anything good.
Before either of us could speak, a stern voice cut through the door.
"Roll call! Rogue 456, Rogue 457!"
My breath caught. Galen and I exchanged a quick look, tension flickering between us before we answered at the same time.
"Yes!"
We moved quickly, opening the door and stepping out into the corridor. The cool night air brushed against my skin, doing nothing to calm the unease crawling through my chest. Outside, several other Rogues were already gathered, standing in uneven lines, some half-awake, others visibly nervous. Low murmurs rippled through the group before falling silent as familiar figures stepped forward.
Beta Torin stood at the front, his broad shoulders squared, flanked by a few top-ranking wolves of the pack. Their presence alone was enough to straighten spines and still wandering gazes. This wasn't a casual announcement.
Beta Torin's sharp eyes swept over us before he spoke. "We will be having the birthday banquet of Ms. Vanessa in three days' time."
A faint murmur stirred, quickly silenced by his raised hand. He cleared his throat, his gaze moving deliberately from one Rogue to another, ensuring not a single person was distracted.
"And excellence is expected of you all," he continued coolly, "as other top-ranking Alphas and delegates will be present."
My stomach tightened at his words. Events involving outsiders—especially Alphas—were never simple.
He turned slightly and gestured to one of the officials beside him. "Hand over the booklet to me."
The official obeyed at once. Beta Torin took it, then faced us again, his tone sharpening. "Are you following?"
"Yes, sir!" we answered in unison, our voices echoing faintly through the corridor.
Yet even as I spoke, an unsettling feeling coiled in my chest. It came without reason, heavy and persistent, like a warning whispered directly into my bones. Something about this banquet didn't sit right with me. Still, I shook my head subtly, forcing the feeling aside. I couldn't afford distractions now.
I still needed to find a way to escape.
That thought steadied me. A small smile tugged at my lips—faint, fleeting, but real.
"The guests will be arriving tomorrow," Beta Torin added, his voice firm.
He opened the booklet and began calling out names one after another, assigning rooms both to Rogues and incoming guests. The guests, however, weren't addressed by names—only numbers. That alone sent a chill crawling up my spine.
"Rogue 456!"
I stiffened immediately.
"Room 402 and 407," he read. "Belongs to guests 112 and 117. Once they arrive, take them to their rooms."
"Yes, sir," I replied with a nod, keeping my expression neutral despite the tightening knot in my stomach.
As Beta Torin continued, calling Galen next, my focus slowly drifted. His voice faded into a distant hum as the unease inside me grew heavier, darker. My instincts screamed that this event would change something, maybe everything.
Something bad was coming. I could feel it deep in my gut, an undeniable certainty.
I clenched my hands at my sides, forcing myself to breathe evenly. Whatever this was, I could only hope it wouldn't interfere with my escape plan.
But hope, I knew, had a way of betraying people like me.