"What's happening to me? Why's my life going astray as though I committed a great sacrilege to the pack?" Adolphus lamented bitterly as he paced around his chambers with his hands positioned behind him.
He has numerous questions in his head that need to be answered. Given the current situation, he doubts that those questions will be answered anytime soon.
He hadn't been this confused before, and that worried him. For the first time in his life, he forgot how to make decisions on his own or what it requires to be an Alpha.
In the process of trying to figure out a way out, he hears a knock at the door.
He hated this. He hates to be distracted from his thoughts, especially when it's messing with his head.
"Who's that?" He asked rudely without considering who it might be. He wasn't even bothered if that was his mother.
"It's Antonia, brother," a voice answered from outside.
The kind of voice that melts his heart. He wasn't pissed off anymore.
Rather, he's filled with happiness that it was his sister knocking.
He's been dying to find someone to advise him. Fortunately for him, his wishes finally came to pass.
"Can I come in?" She asked nicely despite not getting a response earlier.
"Of course, you can, sister," Adolphus replied.
He quickly wore a happy look to stop Antonia from having a clue that something was wrong.
He would rather not be perceived as that weak Alpha that can easily be weighed down by his problems.
Antonia walked in majestically to see her brother facing the wall. Immediately, she knew something was bothering him.
She hasn't seen his face yet or heard him speak, but she could feel it.
"Brother," she tapped his shoulder in slow motion, "Is there something you wanna talk to me about?"
"Nothing, I'm fine," He declined.
He faked to be a tough man, but inside of him is gradually being torn apart. He would rather not make it seem like he's desperate to depend on her advice.
"You're good? Well, I don't think so. You haven't eaten for days now. How can you explain that?"
"Fuck the food!" Adolphus blurted out as he spun around in her direction, "Why should I care about food when my pack is in ruins? At this point, food has become my greatest foe,"
In just a short time, Antonia has managed to get his attention. How she did it effortlessly needs to be studied. She made him spill without dropping a sweat.
"Please tell me about it. Does this have anything to do with Ainar?" She broke the camel's back with her intrusive question.
Adolphus didn't respond to that question. He left her stranded and walked away to continue grieving like a pathetic widow.
"Oh, my days. It's about her," she covered her mouth to stop her loud scream from alerting everyone.
"Do you love her?" She kept pushing to mount the pressure on him.
"Hell no, I don't," he debunked it with alacrity.
"Then forget about her and move on with your life," she advised him. "There are still better girls in the pack,"
"And you think it's that easy? Have you forgotten what the moon goddess said about the prophecy?" Adolphus wailed.
He was so emotional. It was just a matter of time before he started crying his eyes out. He managed to fight back the tears and stay strong.
Antonia pitied her brother. Seeing him in this condition breaks her heart.
She knows her brother to be very courageous and steadfast. She doesn't know him to be this weakling standing next to her.
"You know what? I've got a plan." She snapped her fingers after racking her brain for several minutes.
She wasn't just silent for nothing. She was trying to come up with a perfect solution to end this mystery that is tormenting her household.
"Please spill. Don't leave me," he held her closer as though he wanted to rip her skin apart
"Don't worry. It's a surprise. Telling you about it will only ruin the fun. I wouldn't want that to happen," she winked at him.
"I see," Adolphus itched his beard.
In the process of creating a solution, she ends up boxing him in a web of confusion.
He's dying to hear from her. She doesn't see it that way.
She's ready to keep her plan to herself. She left him isolated with more mountains to climb.
"I just hope she knows what she's doing," that has been the question on Adolphus' lips since her exit.
He tried not to be bothered but deep down, he cares the most.
____
It's been over 2 days since Antonia vowed to end the Alpha's mystery and nothing has been done about it since then.
She's making it seem like a prank. She's putting Adolphus in the kind of situation he'd rather not be.
Emotions are high. Fear is gradually setting in, and it's tearing him to shreds.
If Antonia weren't his sister, he would have punished her a long time ago for pulling his legs in that manner.
No one has ever tried such with him before. Yet, Antonia did it as though it weren't a big deal.
"I cannot take this anymore. I need answers. She must provide them to me," He moaned and prepared his punch as though she were beside him.
"Go summon my sister this minute. Tell her the Alpha demands her presence now," He ordered one of his guards standing next to him.
His patience is fading away. He can't tell how long he intends to stay calm anymore.
"As your lordship pleases," Piero, the guard, bowed in respect and walked away.
All along he was away, Adolphus prepared his mind not to do anything stupid to his sister.
He did a quick practice on how to control his rage when Antonia gets to him.
He hasn't laid his hands on a lady before. He doesn't intend to start with his sister.
He fears footsteps from outside his chambers. Different narratives start to fly in his head.
He has a clue who it might be, but he'd rather not get his hopes high only to be disappointed afterwards.
Then came the presence of Piero and Antonia. They weren't alone. Antonia was accompanied by a strange face.
Naomi.
A beautiful young girl in her early 20s. She looked like the goddess of beauty herself.
She's got a sparkling skin that was made of glass. The way she flaunted her auburn hair can sweep any man off his feet.
She's got a charming smile and a deepened dimple that can get the attention of any man.
"Piero, leave us," He dismissed him and all the guards just to have a private conversation with Antonia.
"Who's she?" He popped the question while ignoring Naomi's greeting.
They only just met for the first time, and he's already treating her like a nobody.
He may not have admitted it, but his body language has been sending a message to Naomi that her presence might not be needed in the pack.
"She's Naomi, your new wife," Antonia replied with so much happiness on her face.
She's proud of herself for solving the mystery that was wrecking her brother's soul.
She can't wait to be compensated or praised for this new discovery.
"You got me a wife? I don't get it," Adolphus laughed.
It wasn't just normal laughter. Behind that laughter dwells an angry lion seeking whom to devour.
"I don't recall telling you I require a wife. Wait a minute," he halted as a thought swarmed across his mind. "Is this the solution you were referring to?"
"Yes, brother. She's a perfect replacement for Ainar. Can't you see how pretty she looks?" Antonia clarified further.
She's yet to understand the signal that Adolphus is sending across to her.
She was so adamant that Adolphus would like Naomi despite not hearing directly from him yet.
"Naomi, go wait outside. I need to have a word with my brother," Antonia said to her.
She dismissed Naomi without making it sound rude.
"You need to stop now. I hate what you're doing to that poor girl. She doesn't deserve it," Antonia berated Adolphus shortly after sending Naomi.
What was supposed to be a private conversation has now been heard from outside due to Antonia's loud voice.
Adolphus was speechless. He feels like an ingrate right now.
He is aware of the stress that Antonia went through just to bring Naomi to the Pack.
It wasn't only Antonia he was worried about. He also pitied Naomi and how disappointed she must have been to see this happen.
He saw the sadness on Naomi's face. The poor girl must have been assured that she would end up as the Alpha's bride.
"I'm sorry for treating her that way," Adolphus apologised.
Something he barely does. He can see the trajectory of the conversation, and he's ready to stop it.