RONIN.Without another word I began to sprint hurriedly down the corridor and towards Andrea's room. I could hear my heart pounding very fast as the urgency of the situation told me that I should he faster even. I couldn't believe that I hadn't hadn't thought about her for the past few days, and I hadn't gone to see and talk to her after what had happened between us the previous day. The thought ran in and out of my mind and I was shocked at how thoughtless I could be. Was she in a very bad condition now? I knew I wouldn't forgive myself if that was the case. The thought that she had locked herself up from five fucking days now told me that what happened had hurt her deeply and it was going to take a while before she got herself back, coupled by apologies from me, telling her how sorry I was about what i had said to her, how I had choked her and nearly made her pass out back there at the room. I could hear the veins in my temple pulse as I turned into a new passageway, ignoring the

-CHAPTER 23-RONIN.The air was charged at this point and the atmosphere had completely shifted. Our faces were inches apart as we stood there, staring at each other. I was taken aback by the fact that she wasn't resisting any of it. She wasn't fighting and asking me what in the world I thought I was doing. She wasn't pulling away. Instead, it all just seemed different, and somewhat beautiful like a fleeting moment where it all seemed like we were about to bridge the emotional gap between us. Something about the passion and vulnerability in her eyes at this point told me that that was how she felt deep down. I continued to close in on her lips, momentarily looking in her eyes to know if she really wanted this, if I wasn't forcing her or if she was doing this because she was too weak to resist and tell me to stop. But it wasn't any of that. Our lips had only brushed, and we were about to lock lips and tongues when a knock sounded on the door. My heart was beating fast when I pulled

CHAPTER 25-ANDREA"Hey!" I called, approaching the group of maidens that were stalled at one end of the long hallway, talking in indiscernible tone as I walked out of the dining room. They all raised their heads simultaneously and immediately scattered off into different directions. That was the moment it hit me, like a freight train, that something was absolutely amiss. I stood there, dealing with the shock and the embarrassment that filled me now. I just couldn't believe what was going on. I remembered how a very similar incident had transpired just some minutes ago in the dining room. The maid just strutted into the room, delivering the delicacies they had made before quickly scurrying out of the room like they were bound under a rule that stated a specific time they were all supposed to be in the dining room.It didn't seem strange to me at first, but when everyone began to behave in the same way, I knew something was up. The days had continued to stretch on and the disquieting

CHAPTER 27.ANDREA.I returned in the evening, just as I had promised. The guard dared not to intercept me now, and he had only nodded in acknowledgment as I passed and made my way towards the office. I walked through the door and found Alpha Ronin sitting behind the desk. He was going through a series of letters and there were other piles of papers stationed beside the letters. He was engrossed, and his focus was slightly veered the moment he noticed someone had walked in. He put down the paper and looked up at me. He didn't say anything until I pulled out a seat and settled on it. His gaze softened and there wasn't a doubt that he looked surprised. Maybe the guard hadn't informed him that I would be coming. That didn't matter at all, as I was only here to talk about the things I felt needed to be taken care of before it got out of hand and I would be forced to hurt someone. "Andrea?" His brows came together in surprise as he stared at me. There was a hint of fatigue in his eyes

ANDREAThe confrontations with Valerie didn't end there. I guessed she had gotten a hint that her attempts to belittle me weren't going as much as she had expected and that's why she continued to confront me. The next day wasn't an exception, as I found myself staring at her in the face yet again, reeking of hate while sensing the maids that were moving around again. This time around she looked happier, and there was a wicked smile on her lips while her eyes gleamed with a malevolent spark. I didn't say anything at first but instead had myself prepared for whatever verbal assault that she was going to come with this time. I was ready to face her head on and I didn't mind if she said that worst. But the funny and yet annoying thing about this was the fact that sometimes after bracing myself for whatever she was going to say, I still felt angry and sad after she had said them. "Andrea, it seems you haven't done what you said you were going to do." She purred, sounding so sweet yet de