I stormed away in anger, but as I reached the guards, I slowed my pace.
"When was the last time she was given food and water?"
Both of the guards stiffened as they bowed their heads.
"Not since she arrived, sir!" one of them replied.
"You're telling me she hasn't had any food or water for over three days?" I hissed.
I had to bite my tongue to calm my wolf's anger. This time, it was very evident to me how displeased he was with the news.
"N...no, sir. We weren't told to—"
"Having her die from thirst or hunger would defeat the purpose of putting her in jail. Go get the kitchen to make her some food, and bring her a jug of water!"
"Yes, Alpha!" they shouted. One guard returned to watch her while the other ran toward the kitchen. I continued back to my room, mulling over the fact that despite my anger there had been an unmistakable flicker of joy when I saw her just now.
When I came back, I noticed that the stack of papers on my desk seemed to double. I only spared it a glance before walking out to the balcony.
"Getting her to talk isn't going to be easy, but I need to get information out of her," I sighed as I leaned against the wooden railing. The crisp air cooled my remaining anger, allowing me to think straight. "There has to be some way to make her speak."
On the plus side, the restlessness that had plagued me that morning eased considerably.
I frowned.
The only thing I did differently was visit the human woman, which meant that whatever she was doing to me also affected my wolf. And that was something I didn't like.
If the humans possessed a method to pacify a werewolf's wolf spirit, that would guarantee the end for us.
-
I used the next few hours to dedicate to getting through as much of the paperwork as possible. Things like harvests, weather reports, finances, and any other miscellaneous information needed my attention.
The Alpha's duty was not only to keep the pack safe, but to ensure order and prosperity in the territory. Of course, my Beta, along with other members on the council helped with day-to-day tasks.
My stomach growled, pulling me out of my concentration. I set the last harvest report back on my desk and stretched my arms.
"I should get something to eat soon," I mumbled to myself as I stood up from my chair.
The amount of papers piled up lessened significantly. It was motivating to see how much work I was able to get through in a single afternoon. I missed the feeling of being able to focus on something other than keeping my spiraling emotions in check.
Seeing that I only had a little bit more work left, I decided to pay the kitchen a visit. Normally, I would have my meals delivered, but I didn't want to be disturbed today.
It was only when I finally left my room did I notice how late in the evening it actually was. The sun was already setting, staining the sky into a deep orange hue. My lips curved up ever so slightly as I quietly admired the beautiful view.
I wonder if she would enjoy this view.
My body stiffened as I realized where my thoughts had wandered. I once again caught myself thinking about the human woman.
The muscles in my jaw tightened. I snapped my head away from the window and continued down toward the kitchen, forcing my mind away from thoughts of her.
I just made it to the staircase when I suddenly stopped. Below me was one of the guards who was supposed to be keeping watch in the dungeon. He looked clearly panicked and in a hurry.
"Alpha! She fainted!"
His words hit me like a bucket of ice.
"What?!"
Without waiting for his reply, I changed course and ran down to the dungeon. The entire way down, I couldn't shake the panic that seemed to completely consume me.
When I arrived, another guard leaned over the cell, peering inside.
"Step aside," I barked.
"Alpha!" he greeted, and moved to the side so that I could see into the cell. "We brought her food and water, but she refused to eat. We thought that maybe she would eat it a bit later, but the food was still untouched."
I glanced down at the frail figure. She was lying on the ground, curled up into a ball. A whirlwind of emotions burst through me like a broken dam. They were so strong that before I realized what was happening, she was already in my arms.
"Alpha?" the guard asked, looking at me with a puzzled expression.
"From now on, she's under my watch," I said as I carried her out of the cell.
Outwardly, I appeared calm and collected, but internally there was yet another war.
If she dies, that will only give the humans a reason for war. I need to keep a close eye on her.
I could invent a dozen logical reasons to justify my actions, but the truth was I couldn't tolerate seeing her like that. It angered me, yet there was nothing I could do from where I stood. If I didn't take her with me now, I knew I would remain in the dungeon instead.
Whatever she drugged me with was too strong. It was impossible to resist.
I carried her out of the dungeon, surprised at how light she was. The main question that hung in my mind now was: why did she refuse to eat?
It was impossible that she wasn't hungry after three days of not eating. There must have been a different reason.
I carried her almost to my room, stopping at the chamber beside it. This was the only room directly connected to mine, as it was originally designed to be Luna's suite.
However, since there was currently no Luna, this was the best place to put her so that I could have a constant watch over her.