ALPHA OF DARKSTONE

CHAPTER TEN

Ranch del Romance

(Lucy's POV)

I SWALLOWED the big lump on my throat and tried to act normal in front of my stepmother who was at that moment outside of my room. A small lamp was in her hand giving an odd faint glow in the hallway while her crow-like eyes were staring suspiciously at me.

"I heard noises here. Are you somewhat doing something I should know about, dear stepdaughter?" her lips were in thin lines as she asked. Her sharp gaze went past me and looked inside my room trying to figure out what was going on.

I instantly shook my head and answered her in a calm voice. "No, Aunt Selene. It was just a cat trying to sneak into my room. I already sent it away so there's no need to worry. It won't bother your sleep anymore." I put a toothy grin on my face to convince her while I put my hands' behinds me crossing my fingers.

Well, I can't tell her there's a hot plumber man in my room and hiding in my small closet, right? I am sure as hell she will beat me to death if she finds that out.

Biting the inside of my cheek, I also utter a prayer that Aunt Selene won't walk in. I could smell Cria's scent from my spot making me wonder why the elder woman I was talking to did not notice it.

I mean it's too strong that it made me and my wolf intoxicated and dizzy.

My stepmother snorted darting my thoughts back to her. "Make sure that you're not doing things to offend me. You do understand that you'll get punishment if you disobey my rules here in the house right, Lucy?" she prompted and warned in a low but venomous voice.

I bowed my head and nodded. "Yes, Aunt Selene. I understand."

I do understand that she's not allowing unwanted visitors at night especially if the said visitor wants to eat a midnight snack with me. That is if she knows about it.

"Good. Now go to sleep for loads of work is waiting for you tomorrow." With that, Aunt Selene finally dismissed me. She spun around and walked away leaving me in peace.

When I saw her went down the stairs, I let out a deep sigh of relief and shut my door. I turned around and was about to stride to the closet but to my surprise, I collided with Cria's hard chest.

I grunted as I bounced back from the impact and was about to lose my balance yet the plumber man immediately caught me.

"Careful, sweet," he muttered as he caged me inside of his arms while I automatically clung to his shoulder for support.

"You startled me," in a low voice, I snapped at him trying to mask the sudden nervousness and the palpitation of my heart.

Cria helped me back on my feet before he released me. "Sorry. I heard your stepmother walked away so I went out of the closet."

I rolled my eyes and sat on the edge of my bed. "So, are we going to eat or what?"

He smirked, went back to the closet, and grabbed the bag of food inside it. "It's midnight snack time." He then joined me in the bed and finally, we ate in silence.

- TIME SKIP-

“Tell me," Cria spoke up as we were both seating on the window sill and looking at the bright moon. "Why are you allowing them to treat you like a slave?”

I turned my head towards him as I didn't get his question. "What?"

Cria looked at me too with seriousness on his face. "Your stepmother and stepsister. Why are you letting them treat you less?"

That time, I finally understood what he's talking about.

I heaved a deep sigh and shrugged my shoulder. "I have no choice for I am an Omega. A low rank who should obey those who are in the upper ranks."

He should know better, right? I mean, that's how things work in the werewolf realm.

“But it's your own house," Cria grumbled with anger in his eyes. "You’re the del Romance's heiress therefore you're not a low-rank."

My left brow lifted as I was astounded that he's informed about me and with that, many concerns popped into my mind.

How? Where?

Who told him about me being the del Romance's heiress?

Who is he? Why does it seem like he's interested in my private life? And again, we're not that close for him to interrogate me.

"And how about you?" Instead of answering him, I asked him back with slight annoyance in my voice. "Why are you pretending to be a plumber man? Why are letting me think that you're in a lower rank even if you're not? I am not that stupid, sir! You can't fool me."

I saw the man beside me froze at how I easily flipped the situation. And as guilt passed his orbs, I puffed for air in disbelief.

I am right!

He's only pretending.

My eyes turned to slits as I stared at him deeply. “Tell me, are you a plumber man or not? Who are you, Cria?"

Cria took a deep breath and stared back at me before he replied, “Okay, I’m not a plumber man. I’m sor-”

Before he could finish his words, my palm already came across his face but his head didn't even move as he just continued looking straight into my eyes.

I rolled my eyes and snickered. "Okay, explain or I'm kicking you out of my room at this instant."

I heard my wolf groaned at me at the back of my head not agreeing with my plan but I quickly blocked her.

I have no idea why Sky feels comfortable at Cria but I must make sure first that he won't harm us. That he's a good guy.

“What?" I snapped at the man in the hot seat who's still in silence. "I said explain."

Looking distressed, I noticed him contemplating before he sough again. “Alright. I'll explain so don't be mad at me anymore, sweet." He began to explain as I listened to him carefully. "You see I was on my way here when I saw an old man. He asked me to do a little favor for him. I brought his tool here in the villa and then you mistook me as the plumber man. I am deeply sorry if you thought that I fooled you but you're the one who started it, remember?”

I huffed aloud as he blamed me. Disappointed, I shook my head. “But still, you played along, mister. You should have told me who you are in the first place! Geez! You're impossible!"

Cria scratched his nape then winced. “But I fixed all the broken pipes. Isn't that enough for you to forgive me?"

I shook my head and gave him a sharp glare. "I won't forgive you unless you tell me who you really are!" I made my voice sounds very upset pushing him to tell me the truth.

To be honest, I feel infatuated with Cria cause he seems to be a nice fellow. I want him to be my friend but first, I want him to build my trust.

A few seconds later, as he's still not talking, my impatience grew. "What now? Are you just going to---"

Cria suddenly cut my words and finally confessed. “I am Zacria Reid. The Alpha of Dark Stone City.”

Upon hearing his words, my blood rose to my head and before I could stop myself, I pushed him out the window.

Cria didn't expect that as he fell down and landed on his back on the ground that created a loud noise.

"Lucy! What the f*****g hell is happening up there!" My stepmother yelled on the second floor.

I yelled back at her. "Oh, it's the cat that fell from the roof, Aunt Selene! Goodnight!" With that, I shut my window's leaf and jumped on my bed to finally retire to sleep. "Alpha, huh? Alpha my ass!"