Sold To The Demon Alpha
Chapter 34

Aria’s POV

“Did you hear about the bonfire?” Sophia asked as we cleaned the dining hall together and I shook my head, my hand stopping on the painting that hung on the wall that I had just cleaned.

It had bent to one side and gently, I tilted it back to the original position.

I had settled into the routine of working for Roma and had made even more friends besides Sophia but she continued to be my favorite person. I had even earned money from drawing requests made by members of the pack thanks to Sophia who had helped me get the jobs.

I was surprised when I had first heard that all the servants received stipends from serving him but Sophia had told me that it was how it had been and that Roma was one of the best Alphas that the pack had seen in years, especially because he treated everybody equally, whether they were Gamma wolves or Omega, whether they were the elite or the servants.

That information was not necessary especially because it did not help to dissolve the crush that I had on him. And everytime that butterflies fluttered in my stomach when I saw him, I had to remind myself that I was nothing more than a servant paying my debt and that it was only a matter of time before I would have to leave when I paid my debt.

“What bonfire?”

“It’s a really big party, to celebrate the goddess. The wolves would shift and run as one in the forest at dawn and at dusk, there would be a huge bonfire. It is kind of a big deal. It’s coming up in two weeks. I can’t wait for the party. I feel like I haven’t been to one in ages.

I raised my eyebrows in question

“When you say party, do you mean in the pack?”

Sophia shook her head with a sly smile.

“No, silly. In Shadow plains, the town. Sometimes, we dress up and go and mingle with the humans, dance with men. You people do have a few men that are attractive.”

I rolled my eyes with a laugh and when we were done cleaning the hall, Sophia and I headed out of the hall.

Sophia was telling me more about the parties that she used to attend when we turned into the hallway and ran into Carlos.

Bowing, we greeted him and were about to walk past when he cleared his throat.

I saw the way Sophia’s body stiffened when he called my name and my eyes widened because I had never thought that he would know my name. I had heard about the incident where he had tried to harass a maid and heard that it was not his first time. Only that it was the first time that he was caught.

“Your name is Aria, is it not, human girl? And why have you not turned to face me?” He growled and I swallowed nervously, turning to face him.

Sophia took a step forward in front of me protectively and my eyes watered with gratitude because I knew that she was terrified of Carlos Ruggiero. Like we had been told to be.

Carlos Ruggiero was tall and huge like his brother, his dark hair long and always packed into a bun at the back of his head with eyes that were equally dark and even though there was a smile on his face, there was nothing friendly or sincere about it and where Roma was intimidating but didn’t set off my alarm bells, Carlos was downright terrifying, his presence always inciting nothing but fear.

“It is.” Sophia answered and Carlos rolled his eyes and closed the distance between us to gently push Sophia back with a finger pressed against her shoulder.

“I don’t believe I was talking to you.” He said, his smile dripping with insincerity and a penchant for harm and my throat dried up in fear.

What was his plan? And why had he stopped us? What did he want with me?

“I am” I pulled Sophia back to stand beside me as I answered and kept my gaze calm and reserved even though I felt like fleeing immediately.

“Well, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. I have heard a lot about you. And how precious you are to my brother. Precious enough that he would go to the forbidden forest to rescue a runaway. Eyes even said that when you were in the infirmary, he practically visited you everyday.”

My face paled and I wondered if Roma knew that his brother was keeping tabs on whatever he was doing. But whatever Carlos was thinking, he was wrong. Just as I was. Roma was only doing those things because I owed him and despite his inability to look like he was capable of nothing but violence, Roma was a kind man.

The same could not be said for Carlos.

“I am owing the Alpha and until I pay my debt, I am not allowed to leave. This is why he rescued me. And you are wrong. He did not come to visit me. If he was in the infirmary when I was recovering, I did not see him. He must have come to visit Scian, the chief healer. They are very well acquainted, but I’m sure you know that.” I answered and the smile on Carlos’ face disappeared, his face hardening.

“I don’t know what it is about your tone, little human, but I do not like it. And my brother is rich enough that your debt would be nothing but a pinch of salt in his fortune, which still begs the question of why he would stress himself to save you because Roma Ruggiero may be many things but he is not a hero.”

I took a step back as he took a step forward, my hand still tightly wound around Sophia’s who was shaking with fear. Maybe it was because of everything that I had gone through since I was brought here, but I didn’t cower at Carlos’s glare even though I could see that it infuriated him.

Like Roma had rightly pointed out, I was not very smart and did not value my life as much since I always seemed to be getting into trouble.

“I don’t know why you are telling me all of this about the Alpha, because I am nothing but a servant.”

He closed the distance between us and raised his hand and I waited for the slap to come but it never did.

“What is going on here?” Raphael said and when I opened my eyes, Carlos had taken a step back as Raphael walked up to us.

Sophia heaved a sigh of relief and I squeezed her hand.

“Nothing, chill out. I was just getting to know Roma’s little pet. Wasn’t I?” Carlos said with a smile and when I didn’t answer, Raphael raised his brows.

“The two of you can go.”

“You think you’re all high and mighty because you’re Beta, aren’t you?” I heard Carlos tell Raphael as Sophia and I walked away but I didn’t look back.

“See you around, human.” Carlos added as we turned the corner into the next hallway and I made up my mind to avoid him like my life depended on it.

I would not be seeing him around if I could have my way.