"Mr. Maximus," Katherine wiped her lips as soon as she finished her dish and saw the man standing from his place.
The man just turned towards her, not saying anything else.
'What do you want to say to him now?' Daisy also stood, alert.
"Your overcoat is a bit crinkled. Aren't you going for a meeting?" Katherine pointed at his coat, and without waiting for his reply, she walked out of the dining room.
'Woah? What was that all about?' Daisy asked.
She was actually going to ask the same question to Maximus that she asked the Prince, but thought against it. She made a mistake at that time which was covered and overlooked by her fainting.
Prince Elwin probably let go of the matter, but what would she answer if this man asked her why she was interested in the organization and knew about them in the first place?
Black OPS wasn't an organization that was known by civilians and packs who didn't fall in the top tier packs. It was both sacred and a secret.
"I have to find a way to get at least one man from the upper-class soldiers on my side. Someone who can give me information about what is going on with the Black OPS. But none of them look trustworthy enough," Katherine whispered.
As Katherine walked towards the exit to go for a walk and get to know this place better, she heard a few maids talking as they were working.
"It's a full moon. Everyone is preparing for it,"
"I heard Charlotte's daughter turned fourteen recently. This would be her first full moon after that. She is so excited to meet her daughter's wolf,"
"I can understand. My mom threw her hands on my wolf and cried because she was so happy that I got my wolf and I wasn't one of those unlucky people who don't find their wolf or are born -" The maid stopped talking when their gaze fell on Delilah.
Katherine's heart pinched softly when she recognized the look in these people's eyes.
Pity, a look similar to what people used to give her back in the days when they found out that she was an orphan and had no one by her side.
'Don't be dejected, Katherine. You have a wolf. It's just locked for some time,' Daisy tried to console the girl, and Katherine nodded, her smile nowhere to be seen.
"Please, continue. I was just passing," Katherine smiled forcefully and started walking towards the exit in hurried steps to get away from the situation.
Maximus, who was also going out of the royal palace and heard everything the maids were talking about, looked at the girl, who looked like she would be anywhere but here at the moment.
He looked at her back for a few seconds before sighing.
"Come with me," He held her good hand and pulled her out of the royal palace.
Katherine, who was already walking, looked at the man with raised brows as he started to pull her even faster.
What was going on? Why was he reacting like this? He wasn't acting like this because she said something about his crinkled coat, right? There was no doubt he was grumpy.
Wait. Could it be that he was taking her somewhere secluded to kill her? Like he mentioned in the morning? Katherine's mind went haywire.
No. No. She can't allow that. This chance was bestowed on her after praying so earnestly. She can't lose it. Katherine's pupils dilated.
"What is going on? Where are you taking me? Hey, are you listening to me? Am I getting kidnapped in broad daylight? Leave my hand. Are there no rules in this kingdom palace? Back in my days where -"
"Will you shut up for a minute before exaggerating a situation?" Maximus stopped, making her bump into his back before she scowled, rubbing her nose that tingled with pain.
He is definitely made of steel. Katherine scowled harder as she felt her nose to ensure he didn't break her nose this time.
What was wrong with this guy, seriously? She swore he suffers from bipolar disorder or something. She glared at the man who rolled his eyes at her.
"Sit in the car,"
"I am not sitting until you tell me where you are taking me," Katherine said, looking at her feet.
There was no way she was going to give up so easily. She needs to fight back to save her life.
"I am taking you to the University," Maximus said, and Katherine furrowed her brows.
"A University? Why would you do that? I am not qualified to be a teacher," Katherine looked at him, confused.
"I swear you can't go more stupid than you already are. Why do you think so? A teacher? You need a college degree if you want to pursue a career," Maximus opened the door for her.
"Ha, as if I didn't know that. I have already completed my Bio -" Katherine paused when she realized that it was her previous life.
Delilah here was only 18 years old and had completed her schooling a month ago.
Does that mean---
'Oh God, please don't tell me I have to go through those boring torturing lectures again.' Katherine's pupils dilated in pure horror. She hated studies the most and would've never been admitted into a University if having a degree wasn't a prerequisite for being a leader.
"Your?" Maximus looked at the girl with quirked brows.
"I... I have already completed my basic education in...biology. Why do I need to study more?" Katherine scowled.
Maximus looked at her dejected face. It didn't take a genius to know she hated studies. So different from Delilah.
Katherine turned to look at him with suspicious eyes, making the man barely hold back his amusement at her expression.
"I didn't know you were that kind of person. You definitely hold a grudge. Is it because I called you hot in the morning? That you have nice eyes?" Katherine looked at the man, who looked into her eyes before smirking.
He bent towards her, making her breathe hitch at how close he was to her, her gaze roaming on his face that was half hidden with a mask as usual.
Then again, what was the use of this mask when everyone had already seen his face?
She kept looking into his eyes, none of them breaking their stare as they tried to find the truth about each other through their eyes.
As Katherine kept looking at him, not wanting to lose this game at least, she subconsciously bit her lower lip, making the man's gaze snap to her cherry lips.
It was for a minuscule second, but Katherine was sure she saw something change in his gaze. Her heart thumped loudly, her throat going dry.
"If I had held a grudge, you wouldn't be sitting here, Kitten. You would be 6 feet under with a cherry plant on your grave," Maximus whispered, his masked lips only a couple of inches away from hers.
Katherine took a deep shaky breath as her heart skipped a beat when he got too close to her, his intoxicating scent wafting through her nostrils, making her heart pump the blood faster than before.
It was as if she had no control over Delilah's heart anymore, and this man basked in every second of it.
Maximus pulled the seatbelt before he locked it and sat in his seat.
"We are not punishing you or something. Your sister will be attending University too. It was decided for your sister only since she is on her way to becoming Prince Elwin's wife, but the Prince said that it would be better if someone she knows would be there with her. That's why I am ordered to take you there," Maximus cleared.
Katherine hummed vaguely, still not recovered from the mini attack she had with his proximity.
What was going on? She was sure this wasn't the first time a man came this close to her, and apart from his eyes, his perfect jawline, intoxicating scent, muscled, perfectly carved body and - Katherine stopped when she realized she was drifting from the main point again.
Anyway, as she was saying, she was sure that something was definitely wrong, and it wasn't the type of wrong where you suspect the person of a murder. It was wrong with her heart.
Why does it react so wildly when this man is around? It isn't supposed to be like this.
Shouldn't it only beat like that for Prince Elwin since it was Delilah's destiny, and it's practically her heart?
Was it because she was really crushing on this jerk?
Katherine looked at the man from the corner of her eyes before cursing in her head and looking out of the window.
'F*ck my life!' Katherine hissed under her breath.
It was true that she wanted to live a life full of excitement and emotions, but it didn't really have to revolve around love interests.
Did she make a mistake specifying the kind of life she wanted from the moon goddess? Katherine scowled, feeling wronged.
Meanwhile, Maximus, who saw her expression in the mirror, scoffed inwardly.
Let's see what she has got when it comes to academics. If she is indeed the same Delilah, she will have the same results, but if she is different, it will be clear from the results.