Khalshara's point of view
I turned to see a handsome young man with sandy blonde hair, brown eyes and chiseled jawline walking towards us. He was none other than my brother's beta, Brandon, a very nice guy. Brandon is the son of my father's beta and has always been close to my brother for as long as I can remember.
Brandon and I have never shared any direct conversation since I've known him. Besides, he rarely visits the Alpha King residence because he and my brother are always out, protecting the border.
The first day I saw Brandon was the day Linda made me kneel all night just because I by mistake broke her favourite cup. That was a few days after I arrived at the Shadow Moon Pack. I had stayed all night in the cold and was on the verge of collapsing when Brandon arrived at the Alpha King's residence.
His father had asked him to personally deliver an envelope for the Alpha King. That was when he saw me lying almost half dead in the cold.
"Khalshara... Khalshara.." Brandon whispered as he carried me from the floor that fateful day. I don't know how he knew my name. But my guess was that my brother might have told him about me the day I arrived at the pack.
Since then, I have been grateful to him and have always wanted to appreciate his act of kindness. However, I wasn't allowed to talk to him or show myself before him from that day onwards. All I could do was watch him from afar.
As Brandon stood before me, a warm smile formed on his face. I was too stunned to speak because I wasn't expecting to see him at all. Nor stand so close to him.
Matilda and her sister, who were frowning and lashing out at me some seconds ago, suddenly had a smile glued to their faces. Their countenance became softer than usual while their eyes twinkled like stars. With how sweet and calm they behaved, one would think they were some sort of angels.
"Brandon..." Linda ran to his side with an angelic smile on her face. "What are you doing here?" She tucked her hair behind her ear while still smiling at him.
However, Brandon didn't even look at her because his gaze was still directed towards me. "What do you need my help with, Khal? Let me know so we can begin with the preparation as soon as possible."
Seeing that Brandon didn't give Linda the attention she craved, she hurried to my side. Pinching me on the arm, she said, "Let me have a word with you, Khal."
Khal? Really? We haven't even exchanged a direct conversation and he has started calling me by my nickname?
Only people close to me call me by my nickname, so, what is happening today?
Why is Linda acting like we are close whereas we are like cats and dogs?
Without waiting for my approval, she dragged me to the side by my wrist. "Wolfless human, are you trying to seduce Brandon just like your mother did to my father?!" She uttered, squinting her eyes while increasing the pressure of her grip on my wrist.
"What are you talking about, Linda? When did I seduce Brandon? Or didn't you see that he willingly offered his assistance to me?" I retorted, breaking myself free from her painful grip.
Linda clenched her teeth at my response. "Alright. Since you claim you didn't seduce him, then you have to decline his help and do all the work alone!"
I scoffed at her statement.
What exactly did Linda take me for?
A fool?
No way am I going to be so stupid to the extent of declining help when it obviously came knocking at my door itself.
"No Linda! I'm not doing that," I responded while she swelled with fury.
I'm sure a slap would have landed on my face if Brandon wasn't currently in the living room with us.
"Who are you to decline my orders? Or do I need to remind you again that you are nothing but a useless maid who doesn't even have a wolf?!"
Linda was right!
The fact that my father is the Alpha King means I'm supposed to have a wolf even though I'm half human. But I've never had the luck to shift like my stepsisters, who got their wolves at birth. Yet, the fact that I'm below the pack hierarchy doesn't mean I would let the two sisters treat me like a dog.
"Listen to me, Linda, you don't tell me what to do! I would gladly accept Brandon's help, and there's absolutely nothing you can do about it." I said before walking out on her.
How more selfish and cruel could Linda be?
You don't want to help me and still don't want others to offer me a helping hand?
What joke!
With a calm smile on my face, I walked to Brandon and said, "Let's begin by clearing out the venue first and arranging the tables and chairs. Then, we would know what next to do as time goes on."
Brandon sent me a heart warming smile, "Alright, Khal. After you." He said as we walked out of the living room in silence, leaving the two sisters boiling with rage.
I'm sure I would be starved as payback for what I did back there. Fortunately for me, I still have a lot of hidden snacks in my room. All thanks to my brother.
The silence between Brandon and I remained even after we walked out of the living room. I've never had a face-to-face conversation with Brandon before. So, I don't know how to behave or what to say to him.
The sudden knot that formed below my belly is also making it difficult for me to say a word.
Geez!
Why am I feeling this way?
What is happening to me?
Am I sick?
I've never felt this way before. Not with my brother and even my stepsisters.
I actually want to engage in a conversation with Brandon because this awkward silence is killing me. But why do I feel a little scared at the thought of making a mistake during our conversation?
Is what it means to be nervous?
I inhaled and exhaled several times while advising myself.
Come on, Khal, say something.
Like just anything!
Taking in another deep breath, I parted my lips to speak, "So, how is..."
However, at the same time, Brandon also spoke, "Are you..."
A chuckle escaped from our lips as we both stopped in our tracks. We looked at each other and chuckled again.
"You go first..." Brandon drawled, but I shook my head slightly and chuckling, "Nah. You go first."
Brandon also shook his head and gave a little bow, "Ladies first. You go first, Miss Khal."
I chuckled at his gentlemanly attitude.
Unbeknownst to me, while Brandon and I were conflicted on who to speak first, someone was watching with rage boiling inside of them.