MATED TO THE CRUEL DEVIL

A SERVANT IN THE CASTLE

AMELIA’S POV

It was days already, since Jax left on his trip, and I was in front of the mirror, arranging my hair, unable to repress the smile that was splattered on my face from the events of the day.

Jax was coming back today, and the excitement I had tried to dismiss continued to bubble inside me. It's not that I'm eagerly waiting for him to return; no, that would be absurd. I just felt so good this morning, I repeated for the thousandth time that morning, before wiping the smile off my face.

But it wasn't long before it came creeping back, only for my grin to widen. I was dressed in one of my best outfits, and I was trying to attribute my chirpy feeling to the happiness and joy that graced my heart. But my mind was at it again.

I could try to tell a lie to anyone, but my subconscious could not be fooled. It whispered the truth to me, telling me that I knew I was on pins and needles, waiting for Jax to come back. I dismissed the thought immediately but the mocking voice at the back of my mind didn't let up. It returned a few seconds later.

"Why would you deny it, Amelia?" My subconscious taunted me.

"You bathed for the third time today just to look fresh and pretty for him, hmmm. Pathetic." I clenched my teeth, hearing myself scoff. I huffed, pretending like I didn't hear that. But my subconscious was relentless and it just reminded me that I was getting dangerously close to the devil Alpha I swore I was going to steer clear of.

I always remembered this whenever I was alone and thought about the chain of events that had led me to this present moment, but it all changed when he was around. I found myself acting in a different way, very different from the resolutions I had made earlier.

Delusional thoughts soon started crossing my mind. I knew our relationship had somehow changed, and I was happy it did.

It changed for the better and I hoped it would continue that way. I kept talking to myself while getting dressed up, doing everything possible to drown out the nagging thoughts.

"No way. I am not getting pretty for him. It's just another day, and I'm not eagerly waiting for him. I just want him to see that I'm gone doing doing without him and that's all." I said the words to myself again, but a few seconds after that, I reminded myself that I was fooling myself yet again.

I was not just fine, to be honest. I was anxiously waiting for his return to the Pack, and I couldn't help but wonder what I was supposed to expect when he was back to the Pack.

I wondered if things had changed between us, or if it was going to be the same it was before he left. He was as volatile as the weather and could be choking you to death just after you laughing with you. I kept muttering to myself, trying to calm the butterflies that kept fluttering in my stomach. I was just done with my dress and hair when I heard a distant honk.

The sound seized my attention immediately and I rushed towards the window, before looking out towards the gates. It was far away so I had to stay there for a while before I finally began to see something.

Just as I had expected, it was Jax's entourage coming into the Pack. I felt a sudden wave of nervousness as I stood there. I could could my skin tingling with anticipation as I watched the whole thing. For some time I couldn't move.

I just stood there, taking it all in before finally getting myself back. I turned and sprinted back to the mirror, giving myself another look while contemplating if I should go out now to welcome him or wait until he was settled.

The dilemma spun in my mind, but the impulsive decisions won in the end. Unable to contain the excitement, I chose the former and left my room before starting the descent downstairs.

I struggled to hold back the smile that crossed my features as I walked down, not wanting to look crazy in front of the guards and the maids who were walking in and out of the passageways now.

The castle had already turned into a hive of activity when it was announced that their Alpha had arrived. Thankfully, only a few of them were free enough to notice me as I slipped through the commotion, before finally getting outside.

As soon as I stepped through the door, Jax emerged from the car. He was dressed in the same clothes he wore when he left, and even though he was far away, I could mentally smell the woody cologne he had worn when he left.

My heart began to race the moment I spotted him, but he didn't see me. It wasn't his fault though, considering that there were a lot of guards and maids standing around him.

I began to walk towards him, but stopped when I noticed he wasn't heading into the castle yet. It felt a bit awkward, but nobody was watching, so I didn't feel too bad about it.

After that, he turned and faced the car, extending his hand as if trying to help someone out. My heart jumped and curiosity enveloped my senses immediately.

Who would he be opening the door for? I asked myself, feeling a bit, lost. That's when the person got out of the car, and I froze the moment I saw it was a lady. Her hands were entwined with Jax's and she had a smile on her face.

A strange feeling ran through me instantly. It was disbelief, and something I couldn't quite put into words.

He turned around with the lady, and that's when our eyes met. I stood frozen in front of the castle's entrance and even though everyone was staring at me now, I couldn't move an inch.

The world seemed to blur and everything seemed to go bleak. I took a good look at her, and there was no denying that she was dressed elegantly, and she was gorgeous as well.

Something about her screamed sophistication. I glanced down at my clothes and then back at hers, and something made my own outfit suddenly seem inadequate.

ALPHA JAX’S POV.

Something shifted inside me the moment I saw her standing there. I almost stumbled on my feet but Blaine steadied me immediately. I was captivated by the sight of Amelia.

The word "Beautiful" doesn't quite cut it, she was more than that. I internally mused about how I've missed seeing her petite figure these past few days while I was away.

It was a strange thought, a sensation unfamiliar to someone who had been hardened over the centuries. That's when Blaine spoke, drawing me back to the moment.

"Who is she?" She asked, looking at me. I pretended I hadn't heard her and instead, kept staring at her.

But she repeated herself, this time we were impossible close to Amelia.

"Who's she?"

"Just one of the servants in the castle, nothing more." I replied, knowing she heard it.

Amelia gasped in shock the moment the words left my lips, like my statement had pulled her out of some kind of reverie.

She tried to wave in greeting but I nodded and breezed past her without a word. I heard my wolf howl in protest, but there was nothing I could do to change the situation.