Chapter 59

Gideon’s POV

There was a knock at the door this time. “Enter.” I commanded not looking up.

I kept on doing my paperwork, I knew it wasn't Daphne at the door this time since I had already dismissed her but her fake sweet smile didn't leave my mind at all like a stubborn glue it stuck.

But the scent drifting into the room now was not hers. It was familiar, sharper and steadier. My Beta.

I placed the pen down on the desk I’d been using, I then picked up the pen again and started playing with it as I leaned against my chair. My wolf shifted restlessly under my skin, uneasy from his intrusion and now prickling with anticipation. I looked at him and our gaze met, I saw the way his gaze wandered past me as he kept on staring at the door weirdly.

Daphne. I think he saw her lurking.

Beta’s brows furrowed but then he quickly put back on his mask of calm neutrality. He closed the door behind him with deliberate force, sealing us away from her ears.

“Alpha Gideon,” he said respectfully as he stepped forward, his tone as controlled and professional as ever. “i have bought the documents you want.”

I saw the thick leather folder in his arms as he placed them on the desk. That was the file I wanted two days prior: the list of the new servants, fresh loyalties, fresh names. I sighed as I knew I had to change their servants because I didn't want them to obey Daphne. I want my servant to be loyal to me and only me. It was intolerable. My household needed to breathe my will, not hers.

I motioned for him to place the folder on my desk. “Let's start looking for new servants.”

As he set it down, I caught that flicker in his eyes again. His eyes were sharp with suspension. My hand almost went for the glass of water as I needed to drink since I was getting thirsty.

Two of them sat there: one half-filled from earlier, when I had poured it myself; the other newly placed. I sighed as I took a deep breath as I remembered how insisting Daphne was for me to drink water.

“You’ve been working too hard, Alpha. Please drink.”

I hadn’t touched it then. I had sent her away, annoyed at the intrusion. But the glass was still here as I looked at the still water in it.

Without hesitation, I took it now.

Cool liquid slid down my throat, soothing the dryness from long hours of speaking, commanding, questioning. I drank, satisfying my thirst and nearly finishing the whole glass as I set it back on the desk.

My beta stood still as he observed my every movement. Too closely. Too intently. I arched a brow at him. “What is in your mind?”

He shook his head gently. “Nothing, Alpha. I was only… surprised to see Daphne leaving your office so soon.”

I can tell he was speaking carefully. Measured. But the way he spoke was sharp and observant.

I leaned back relaxingly in my chair as I looked through the folder of servant records. “She came to pester me about rest. Brought water. That’s all.” I spoke dismissively, irritated by the memory.

But my beta knew me enough to know that was not the whole truth as he looked at me, not really convinced. He stared at the glass of water a bit too long before he focused back on the papers between us.

The first name on the list was of a young male who was from a neighbour pack. A kitchen staff, he has strong arms and most importantly he had no ties with Daphne. I looked through the details very carefully.

“Not bad,” I muttered to myself, as I ticked his name.

My Beta inclined his head slightly. “Thank you Alpha, I have made sure that the list only contains the staff who are only loyal to the pack, not with specific individuals.”

Meaning not to her.

I glanced up at him, a faint smirk tugging at my lips. “I always knew you had a sharp eye.”

He dipped his chin respectfully and in acknowledgment, but I didn’t miss the tension in his shoulders. He was still distracted, still chewing on something unspoken.

As I moved to the next page, my hand brushed the empty glass. A faint prickle crawled over the back of my neck. Strange. I was surprised that I am reacting to something so mundane.

I ignored it.

We spent the better part of half an hour combing through the list. I approved most of them—farm-born sons and daughters with no history in my court, wolves from distant villages eager for steady work, all vetted by my Beta himself. A few I rejected outright, noting gaps in their records or vague connections to old enemies.

It was good work. Necessary work. The air in the pack house was tense due to her influence and I knew I had to stop that influence at any cost.

Still, my Beta’s gaze kept drifting there was a hint of worry in his eyes. To the door. To the glass. Back to me.

I finally set the pen down again and looked at him firmly. “Speak.” He blinked and looked at me surprised. “Alpha?”

“You’re holding your tongue like a wolf with a bone he won’t drop. Out with it.” He hesitated. His eyes flicked once more to the glass, then back to mine. “Why did she bring it?” he asked finally. Quiet. Careful.

“Water?” I scoffed. “Because she wanted an excuse to hover over me. Because she cannot stand to be ignored. You know her.”

He didn’t answer.

Something in my chest tightened. Irritation. No—unease. My wolf stirred again, restless, pacing inside me.

I clenched my jaw, forced my attention back to the papers. “Enough. We’ve wasted enough time on her games. These servants will start tomorrow. I want every one of them watched for the first month. Any who show signs of divided loyalty, send them away. No exceptions.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

He gathered the approved list, tucking it under his arm. His eyes lingered on me one last time, sharp and searching, before he gave a short bow. “I’ll see it done.”

I nodded, dismissing him.

When the door closed behind him, silence settled once more.

I exhaled slowly, rubbing my temples.

Why did his words cling so? Why did his look pierce me deeper than usual?

My eyes drifted again to the glass. Empty.

The faintest trace of sweetness lingered on my tongue. Not unpleasant, but unusual. I frowned, lifting the glass again, sniffing it. A whisper of something floral. Odd.

I set it down sharply.

For the first time, unease coiled in my gut.

The lights flickered, their light bending strangely in my vision. My pulse felt louder than it should have, echoing in my ears. A warmth—not entirely unwelcome, but unnerving—began to creep through my veins.

I gripped the desk, steadying myself. It was just water.

Yet instinct screamed otherwise. And at that moment, I cursed myself.

Because my Beta had been right to be suspicious. Because Daphne had never given me anything without strings.

And because I had drunk it without thinking.