He tries. Even the Moon Goddess knows that Alpha Hillary has truly tried to sleep, but it's become impossible.
All he wants is to hold her in his arms, but he also knows he can't. She had asked him not to sneak into her small servant room anymore because if their secret relationship was ever revealed, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Still, despite everything, he finds himself heading toward the servant quarters. He slips through the back window, lowering himself slowly and silently, his steps careful and light on the ground.
He knows Clara never locks her window, especially not at night. And sometimes, he wonders... does she leave it open hoping he'll come in even though she always says she doesn't want him to?
He eases himself inside quietly. The room is dim and still, filled with the familiar scent of her. With soft movements, he lies beside her in the narrow bed, carefully wrapping his arm around her waist.
He hears her soft chuckle.
He chuckles, too, leaning in and pressing a kiss to the side of her neck.
"I knew you weren't asleep," he murmurs.
"I don't know if I'll ever be able to sleep again without you by my side. You've made that impossible, and honestly...? I'm scared. What if, one day, we really can't end up together? Will I stay awake for the rest of my life?" Clara says, her voice sounds casual, but Hillary hears the weight behind the words, he can feel the worry woven into her tone.
"How many times have I asked you to stop thinking like that? Because it won't happen. No one is going to stop me from spending my life with the person I love. Not my parents, not even the pack. No one," Hillary says. His voice is firm and certain.
But even as he says it, he knows things have become more complicated, and they've just started unravel, especially today after what happened at the Alpha and Alpha Heirs' Annual Celebration.
He had met his fated mate.
Since that moment, he's refused to accept that Clara isn't his mate but someone else, he doesn't want to believe it's true. And even though everyone witnessed it, he continues to pretend it didn't happen.
The Alphas from the other packs saw the bond form, even his parents saw it too, because when fated mates meet, a visible sign always reveals their connection, and he knows there's no hiding it nor escaping it.
Victoria. The perfect she-wolf. The one the entire wolf world admires, Queen of beauty, Queen of perfection, Every Alpha's dream.
But Hillary doesn't care about any of that. Clara is the one who lives in his thoughts. Morning to night.
"Why is your heart beating so fast?" Clara asks, turning to face him.
"It does that every time I'm this close to you. Are you just now realizing that?" he replies.
Instead of answering, she looks away, smiling. That smile melts him, making him unconsciously leaning in and connecting their lips in a soft kiss, yet full of longing.
The kiss deepens quickly their breathing quickening, and their hands begin to explore, the desire between them growing stronger. It becomes hard to stop, but Hillary forces himself to pull away, even as his wolf begs him not to.
He knows where they are, the servant quarters house all the servants. A place like this isn't appropriate for what they want.
By the time they stop, the night has turned to dawn. He holds her close, their bodies warm against each other as sleep finally takes them.
But it doesn't last long.
They are startled awake by a loud knock on Clara's door.
"Wake up, you sleepyhead! If Alpha Hillary wakes up and you haven't prepared his breakfast, planned his outfit, or cleaned his room, you're going to face the music! This is not your mother's house! Get your lazy head up!" the servant manager's voice barks.
They both freeze.
Did they oversleep?
The soft morning light filtering into the room answers that question.
Clara sits up quickly, panic flashing in her eyes. "What are we going to do?!"
But Hillary's mind is still on the servant manager's words. "Did he just call you 'sleepyhead' and 'lazy head'? Is that how he talks to you?!"
"Why are you thinking about that now?! You need to get out of here! Everyone's awake now, how are you going to get out of here?!" Clara says in a hushed, frantic voice. Her heart pounds in her chest, she knows the risk, no one would ever accept this relationship.
And she knows just how far his parents might go if they found out, she could disappear without a trace- for ruining their reputation.
She dives into her pile of folded clothes and pulls out a long, baggy servant dress and matching head scarf. Without hesitation, she slides them over Hillary's head.
"What the..." he starts to protest but she shush him.
"Shhh! Come on. No one will recognize you," she says, hurriedly pushing him toward the window.
With no other choice, Hillary climbs back out the way he came and makes his way to the pack house. He quickly changes into proper clothes.
But before he can even breath, there's a knock at his door.
He opens it to find his bodyguard standing at attention. "Alpha Hillary, your father says to report to the council room immediately. You have visitors."
"Visitors?" Hillary repeats under his breath, confused.
He walks down the hall, his steps fast but steady, and enters the council room.
Inside, Victoria and her parents are already seated, laughing with his mother and father, their eyes all turn to him as he steps inside.
Victoria stands the moment she sees him and walks straight over, throwing her arms around him in a tight hug.
At that exact moment, Clara walks in with the other servants, each carrying trays of elegant breakfast, her hands tremble as she sees the embrace.
She nearly drops the tray, but catches herself and swallows hard, holding it together, she walks forward to set the table.
"My mate..." Victoria says sweetly, hugging Hillary even tighter. The words make Clara's movements pose for a second while, Hillary's eyes are locked on her, standing frozen, his arms at his sides.