Alpha’s Black Furred Slave Mate
Chapter 44

I felt as though I couldn't breathe; I was holding my breath the entire time the Duke of North-Valley and Marlon were in the small foyer area, right outside the door. I could hear them so clearly it was as if they were standing right next to me. The duke had touched the door handle and I could nearly see my life flashing before my eyes. The room was closing in on me and I kept thinking to myself, "this is it. This is how I'm going to die. At the hands of a duke."

I guess there could be worse ways to die, but then what about Mateo? It's how he would die too, and I didn't want that for him. I could hear the footsteps of the men on the floor above me; they were raiding through the manor to specifically look for Mateo and me. How did they even find out about us? We've been doing so well at keeping us on the down-low.

I kept Mateo, who was still sleeping, pressed firmly against my chest, even after the duke was gone. My body was trembling, and I felt tears burning in my eyes. I don't know what we would have done if we were caught. What would Marlon's excuse be? Knowing Marlon, he probably would just throw me at him and tell him to have at me. Marlon doesn't care about me, and no amount of acting will convince me that he does.

I heard the front door of the manor slamming shut and I knew the duke and his men were gone for now. But I also heard him saying that he was going to return with even more men. I'm not sure how long Marlon expects to keep this up, but I had a feeling his plan was going to unravel soon enough.

Moments after the duke was gone, I heard the door to the grocery room unlatching. I knew it was Marlon, but the sound still made me flinch and I recoiled towards the far corner of the room, farthest away from the door. I hid in the shadow section of the room with Mateo sleeping soundly in my arms without a care in the world and unaware of everything going on around him.

Marlon stood at the doorway, he gazed around the room with curiosity, and yet a bit of worry, lingered in his eyes. Eventually, his eyes found mine and I saw them softening.

I refused to fall putty to his handsome features; my wolf, on the other hand, I could feel her awakening with excitement as he came closer. She was stretching and howling at the same time, wanting to jump through my skin and embrace him. But I held her back; I buried her back into my stomach.

I wasn't going to give Marlon what he wanted anymore; I'm not even sure what it is that he wanted, but he wasn't going to get it from me. He would need to find a new slave, or a maid, for s*x and whatever else he's after. I wasn't going to listen to his lies and his bullshit excuses.

I could feel myself almost enraged at his very presence; he could feel my anger and probably see it on my face as well because he stopped walking towards me and stared around my features. He was frowning and still had that trace of worry in his eyes. "He's gone," Marlon assured me.

"He will be back," I reminded him; trying and failing at keeping my voice even.

Marlon took a step closer to me; I would have taken a step back, but I was already pressed against the far corner of the wall with Mateo pressed against my chest. There wasn't really much of anywhere I could disappear to.

"And once he does, we will be ready," Marlon tried to assure me.

His voice was anything but assuring though; I could feel the tightness in my stomach as my wolf attempted and failed to tug me towards him.

"How did he find out about us?" I asked him; looking down at Mateo.

"I'm not sure, but I promise I'll find out and take proper action," Marlon told me.

"North-Valley is outside of the kingdom, if he heard about us from outside of the kingdom, that means the entire kingdom also heard about us."

He frowned as he thought about it.

"You haven't mentioned anything at school... have you?" He asked, eyeing me carefully.

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"If I had, do you think we'd be alive right now?" I shot back.

He shook his head.

"No," he answered. "But somebody knows about you and Mateo and spread the word."

"Could it be somebody from the manor?" I asked.

My mind instantly went to Bob and Alex. I know Alex was having a tough time processing and adjusting to the thought of Mateo possibly being his competition for the sole heir. Alex even went as far as to try and set me free from the manor grounds. But Marlon caught him trying to steal the cufflink key, stopping his plan altogether.

Knowing Alex, though, that wouldn't stop him from getting what he wanted. He was the smart one of the two and when he set his mind to something, there was nothing he wouldn't do to accomplish it. His telling the kingdom about my presence could have been his last attempt at getting rid of Mateo and me.

Maybe he even told the duke directly.

Staring at Marlon, I could tell he was thinking about something intently. Perhaps he was thinking the same thing I was. Or perhaps he was thinking it could have been one of the maids, or Dr. Lovewitt. I wanted to bring up the fact that I thought it was Alex, but I also didn't want to infuriate him. It wasn't a conversation I really wanted to have at that moment.

I was exhausted and I felt weak; my body was no longer going to allow me to stand for much longer. I knew Marlon was going to try and get us to stay in his room for another night, but I couldn't bear the thought of being entangled in his arms after everything I had just found out.

The thought of my parent's kept circulating through my mind and all I kept thinking about was, "How could Marlon not tell me?"

"How long do you expect to keep this a secret?" I asked him, eyeing him.

"As long as I have to," he answered without missing a beat.

I frowned because that wasn't an answer.

"We can't be stored in this manor as a giant secret forever, Mr. Roessler," I told him, keeping the formality in my voice.

"The world won't accept you yet," he told me.

As if I needed him to tell me that. I knew the world wasn't going to accept me; which is exactly why I needed to get out there and make them accept me.

"But that doesn't mean they won't," he added, surprising me. "You look tired; we should get you and Mateo to bed. You can sleep in my room again." He tried to guide me out of the room.

"Actually," I said, pausing before walking with him. He turned to look at me. "I would like to sleep in the shack tonight."

He rose his eyebrows at me.

"What?" He asked.

"I would feel better if I were to sleep in the shack, with Mateo," I explained further.

His frown deepened.

"Why?" He asked, tilting his head at me.

"I think it would be better that way. With the kingdom talking, it's better to not risk it and give them anything else to talk about. Sleeping with you could be life or death for Mateo and me. That's not something I'm willing to risk," I answered.

As true as it was, I also just didn't want to get too close to him. I was already feeling a magnetic pull toward him, and my wolf wanted to be with him, which made my person also want to be with him, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I needed to keep my distance so that I could clear my head on everything. Once the timing is right, I will confront him about my parents. But not now. I couldn't do it now.

"I was also thinking, maybe I could resume my duties in the rose garden," I told him. "The maids saw me entering the manor not long ago, so they all know that I'm alive now. They will start talking if I don't resume my duties soon."

He thought about it for a moment before nodding; I could feel my wolf growing disappointed and her aura began to lighten up until it was no longer there. It was the right thing to do; at least for now until I can figure out my thoughts. I knew he wasn't going to argue with me. But I could see the slight sadness in his eyes.

No.

I had to be mistaken. Marlon doesn't care about me. I had to remember that it was all an act. An act I was falling for, but never again. I won't fall victim to him; I refuse to be weak. I spent my life being weak and I refuse to continue down that road; especially now that I have some education under my sleeve and a son to protect.

What's more dangerous than a smart slave?

A smart slave who happens to be a mother.