Page 50

Rasmus stared at the girl that was sitting on the couch clutching onto his master's coat that she was wearing. He sighed and his eyes went to the mark on her neck. He had seen it a dozen times now but every single time still felt like the first time and comes as a shock. He still couldn't believe that his master has found his mate at long last and it was a howler, the very creature he hates the most.

He sighed and withdrew his gaze, standing in his position as he waits for what she would order from him. His Prince has left over an hour ago and he didn't tell him where he was going only that he should watch over her and provide her with every need she demands from him. He let his gaze wander on her again, she looked so young, maybe seventeen or nineteen tops. Just how did it happen, he was dying to know, however, he could remember his prince's order not to question her about anything.

A soft rumbling, although as silent as it was made him look at her then, she gulped and pretended like the noise wasn't coming from her stomach. He sighed and finally brought himself to ask after keeping silent for over an hour. "Are you hungry?" it was a question but he figures the prince won't mind that he asked it.

"Um..." Aliyah cleared her throat, "actually, I am a little hungry."

"We don't have any food here."

"Oh," she nodded, "okay." Of course they don't, what did she expect? That he would show a refrigerator filled with all she could ever ask for? They are blood suckers for Christ sake, if there is going to be a refrigerator, it will be filled with frozen blood.

Rasmus watched her, she was pretty calmed if you ask him and certainly not demanding. That was the first words she had said to him since he met her in the house. He knew he must do something, he doesn't know how to cook, obviously and he has never found the need to learn anything culinary and never thought he would ever need it but he guess he must find something for her to eat now and be fast about it. "Well, I can get you something. Can you cook?"

"Of course," Aliyah answered, hope finally shining in her eyes that she won't be starving to death.

"Well, which animal do you want?"

"Animal?"

"Yes. I would go hunt one down and you can cook it or something to eat."

"Do you have any utensils?"

"Are you trying to make a joke?" Rasmus raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry," Aliyah gulped and looked down at her folded hands. There was no need for the hope, now she knows. Finally, the front door opened and Edward stood in front of it. Her eyes shone in happiness and she let out a sigh of relief, finally, she thought as she stood up immediately.

Edward's gaze went from her to Rasmus who bowed in greeting and sensing that everything was fine, he went into the house and dropped the bags he was carrying on the table. He nodded at Aliyah, "have a look," he said.

Aliyah sniffed and moaned in satisfaction at the delicious scent and her nose was leading her right to the table before she could even take a step. She quickly tore open a bag the scent was coming from and moaned in excitement at the sight of the delicacies. She was eating before she brought herself to kneel in front of the table and devour the meal. Edward watched her with a light chuckle and Rasmus just stood aside and watched him, mesmerized at what was happening. Ever since the Prince woke up, he has not seen a smile on his face that wasn't one of taunt but now, he was actually smiling at the howler's action, a nice gentle and genuine smile. Is this a curse or a blessing?

"From now on, no one is allowed inside without my permission," Edward said in a voice so low that only Rasmus could hear.

"Yes sir, but can I ask a question?" Rasmus replied in the same tone.

Edward exhaled and after a while, he nodded, "go on."

"What is going on? You have been unnecessarily obsessed with the Rogues these past days and then yesterday, you took me to a witch's hut and left in a haste, throwing an order to me to go home and then I didn't see you all night and you showed up with a night howler whom you are undeniably gentle towards. Like, I don't understand. I know that it is not in my place to question you or your action but I just want to know what I am doing, the best way to answer questions when thrown one."

Edward licked his lips, he understands the man and to be honest, he really deserves an explanation. "On the blood moon night after I left the party, I found her." he looked at him, "My mate. I have been trying to live in denial but I guess I am not anymore. I mean, it is not deniable, now is it?"

"No my Prince," Rasmus shook his head, not as surprise as he should have been had he not taken a whole two hours to think about it all. "But...there is still something."

"What is it?"

"You have been obsessed with the rogues recently, is it because of her? Is she the reason you always go there? Is she one of the pack-less wolves?"

"No."

"Then..."

"Someone is after her. I don't know who but I will find out and until then, she is to stay with us, with me, so that I can protect her at all times. And also, I noticed the person is using the rogues. Now, I need to know that I can trust you to keep this a secret to figure out what is going on and who is after her."

"Of course, my Prince, you don't need to ask that of me. I am sworn to protect you just like my grandfather. It is what I live for, that and only that," Rasmus replied.

Edward smiled but he said nothing anymore and just went over to the hungry wolf. He squatted beside her and watched her eat for some seconds, a soft smile playing on his lips. "If I had known you would only be interested in the food, I wouldn't have wasted my time in the others."

Aliyah frowned. "Others?"

"Won't you look in the bags?" he raised an eyebrow and nodded at the other bags on the table.

Aliyah followed his signal and chuckled at her own action. "I'm sorry, my nose just..."

"It's okay, I understand. I only took so long because it is hard to decide. It's quite different from what I am used to so I needed to make the right choice," he frowned.

Aliyah was now intrigued after hearing him and quickly reached for the first bag her hand touched. She opened it and was surprised to find a dress inside, a very beautiful purple dress that would have been amazing if she had an evening party to attend. She brought it out of the bag and loved the silkiness of the dress, it must definitely be worth a fortune. She looked at the man who shrugged on seeing her gaze and she placed the dress beside her on the floor and reached for the last bag. She opened it and it were two dresses, one green and one red. Both of exquisite material and really quite expensive, but still, it was something that would be greatly appreciated if she has like a really, really big, expensive party to attend.

"These...are beautiful, really," she said, touching the dress.

"You don't like them? But I handpicked them and they are of excellent materials. It's the materials that are used to sew for princesses..."

"No," Aliyah rushed to say seeing that the man has misunderstood her. "Edward, really, they are beautiful. Awesome in fact. I have never owned something quite expensive before and my father is considered rich. The thing is, I can't wear these on a daily, like, I can't train in them, I can't run in them and I certainly can't do anything of a daily in them. Times have changed Edward. I can't wear these on a normal anymore unless if there is a party or something formal to attend which we must admit don't happen on the daily anymore."

Edward's frowned only deepened, "but Genevieve still..."

"Genevieve?" Aliyah asked and she certainly can't explain the feeling that soon consumed her heart over this Genevieve. "Who is Genevieve?"

Edward shook his head. "Don't worry about that. So I am to understand that you want extra clothes to train and run in?"

"Something more sporty and less princess-y, if you don't mind," she smiled.

"Well, if you are up for it, you can go with me then to the human realm so that you can make your choice, I don't trust myself to choose the right ones in those aspect. You can rest though, we can go later in the evening when the sun is down so that Rasmus can come with us. He knows the human realm way better than I do." He glanced at Rasmus then, "right Rasmus?"

"Of course, my prince," he bowed slightly.

Aliyah smiled, going shopping for her was certainly the last thing she had ever expected him to do but guess the man really knows his way to a woman's heart and is finally showing her the better version of him and not the one that only talks about how to kill her and the best way to do that.