Khalshara's point of view
Although Brandon gave me the chance to speak first, I had forgotten what I initially wanted to say. So, I quickly thought of something else. "Thanks for offering to assist me," I blurted out, my voice a pitch higher than usual.
Brandon shook his head, a roguish grin forming on his face, "It's nothing, Khal. I'm glad to be of help."
Khal? Why are a lot of unfamiliar people calling me that?
It feels weird coming from him. But at the same time, I must confess that I loved how he said my name.
Brandon and I continued our conversation as we walked to the venue where Luna's birthday banquet would be held. "I hope you've been coping well since that day," he enquired while I raised a brow.
"Since what day?" I asked, confusion written all over my face. So, he replied, "the day I saw you kneeling in the cold."
"Ohhh..." Now I remember what he was talking about. I've been wanting to thank him for that day, but we never crossed paths. And today that we did, I didn't know how to bring up the conversation with him. Thankfully, he brought it up himself.
"I'm sorry I haven't been able to appreciate your kindness towards me since then. Thank you so much for coming to my rescue." I finally got the chance to thank my lifesaver.
Brandon scratched the back of his head while his cheeks turned red. With a shy smile on his face, he replied, "You don't need to thank me, Khal. You're my Alpha's sister, so it's something I should have done."
Hmm... Right! I'm his Alpha's sister.
I don't know why I instantly felt down due to what he said. All the excitement that had built up in me at the thought of having him by my side suddenly dispersed into thin air.
Without wasting time, we got the venue and started working. As expected, the work was tedious and tiring. This is exactly when I need some wave of magic wand to help me with the arrangement. Although I lived like Cinderella, one thing I'm lacking is a fairy godmother with a magic wand to help with the banquet chores.
Brandon and I had some little talks while we worked on the chair arrangement. "I was surprised to see you at the Alpha's residence this morning. Why did you stop by? My brother wasn't even around."
Brandon smirked. "I knew Zack wasn't around because he sent me to pick something up at the house. I was about to head to the western wing of the mansion when I heard you and your step sisters arguing."
"So, I informed Zack that I would be staying to assist you so he could send someone else to pick it up," he replied, placing a chair in front of a table.
The Alpha King had shared the chores for each one of us yesterday. While my stepsisters and I were supposed to help with the decorations and other stuff. My brother, Zack, and other betas responsibilities were to strengthen parol operations. Which includes tightening the venue security and also the border security against all threats. This is because the enemy pack always sees an all-attendance ceremony as a form of weakness and way to attack.
The Shadow Moon Pack rarely holds any ceremonies that have to do with the attendance of all pack members. The only ceremonies that have to do with all pack members attendance are the yearly mating ceremony and Luna's birthday banquet. Other ceremonies like New Moon and Goddess blessings have been cancelled due to the frequent attacks of a very fierce enemy, the Blood Moon Packs.
For the past few years, the Shadow Moon Pack has been busy trying to defend their territory against the Blood Moon Pack. The war between the two packs had been ongoing for years. In the Shadow Moon Pack, every Alpha and the Beta's responsibilities are to protect the Pack's borders.
While we worked, Linda frequently sent a maid in her name to bring us some snacks. Although it was oddly nice of her, I could tell it was a hypocritic act she did because of Brandon. Still, I didn't mind and ate the snacks happily. It is only when I'm full with food that I can have the energy to throw back whatever agreement she brings in my way.
Brandon gazed intently at me as I ate. It made me feel uncomfortable and at the same time conscious of my facial expression as I ate.
Do I look ugly while eating?
Is something on my face?
I placed a palm on my face, wondering why he was staring at me in such a way. Brandon's gaze did something funny to my stomach, and it made me wonder why I bothered about how I looked while eating.
I mean, I wouldn't even have bothered if it was my brother who was eating beside me.
He must have noticed the look on my face when he said, "Is something bothering you?"
I didn't expect him to say that. I had expected him to tell me exactly what was on my face that was making him look at me that way.
Since he didn't say it, I took the initiative and replied, "Nothing. Just wondering why you kept on looking at me as I ate. It makes me wonder if there's something on my face."
Brandon chuckled.
"No, there's actually nothing on your face. I'm only looking at you because this is the first time I've seen you since that night."
I raised a brow, "How then were you able to recognise me when you walked into the living room? Didn't it come to your mind that I could be a maid since I'm obviously dressed in shabby clothes?"
I didn't mean to look down on myself before him, but it was true. My clothes are faded, old, and shabby because they are my stepsisters hand me downs. And I don't think they would ever look clean or new, no matter how much I wash them.
"Well, I didn't think you were a maid because I know all the maids serving in the Alpha King's residence. Secondly, I was outside for a while, and I heard how you all argued. So, I easily deduced you were the one. Aside from that, you still look so much like you did when I first met you," Brandon explained, and I applauded him for being so intelligent.
I could tell he had more to say but was obviously holding back for reasons best known to him. While I also, on the other hand, didn't pressure him to speak.
Hours went by while the sun's rays followed suite until it was finally dark.
"And we are done for the day," Brandon said, wiping the sweat on his face. We were finally done placing the tables and putting some decorations in place at exactly ten p.m.
A satisfied smile formed on my face as I scanned the whole venue. Thanks to the help of Brandon, we successfully finished today, and I can finally have some sleep. If I were the only one, I would have finished the following morning.
"Thanks again for today, Brandon; I really appreciate your help," I said as I walked him to the gate.
"It was nothing, Khal. I should be thanking you because I really had fun doing something else than patrolling today."
I chuckled at his response.
We got to the gate and I left after we said our goodbyes. I headed straight for the house. By the time I got in, everywhere was dark. I assumed everyone must be asleep, so I decided to head to my room. I was about to place my leg on the stairs when I heard the sound of a switch. At the same time, the light in the living room suddenly went on. It made the hair at the back of my neck stand at alerts like soldiers while my heart skipped a bit.
'Who turned on the light?'
I was about to turn to look when someone said, "Where do you think you're going?"