13. Cray-cray

The next floor after the Beta and Gamma chief's floor is occupied by the Sentinels. There are usually four Sentinels in a pack. They are two mated pairs that the Alpha and Beta chose and train to take their places if anything bad should happen to them in future

By this time of the day, every shifter would have gone to their various workplaces or duties. Since I have the key cards to all their apartments, I open the first Sentinel apartment and enter their living room.

Even though I bring Ethan along just to accompany me, I'm glad a nd relieved when he offers to help with the vacuuming while I clean every other place in the apartment. Division of labor is exactly what I need right now.

The bathroom is always the last place I clean in every apartment. When I enter the Sentinel's bathroom, I'm in awe and couldn't believe my eyes when I see myself in the mirror above the sink.

"This is amazing! When did this happen?" I ask the face staring back at me in the mirror. I didn't get to see what my face looked like earlier after I was badly beaten by the Gamma chief but I felt how swollen my eyelids and lips were when I touched them with my fingers.

I couldn't see clearly before. One eye was completely shut while I could only see through a slit left between the two eyelids of the other eye. The same goes with my lips, they were so swollen, getting words through them was a task

With the way I was badly beaten, it would have taken a normal shifter about twenty-four hours to heal and all bruises to fade away. The former me would take at least two days since I didn't get my wolf at the right time.

It's been just minutes since I woke up with a badly swollen face and serious pain all over my body. Now the pains have all but disappeared and all swelling has drastically reduced leaving only the different shades of red, blue, black, and purple that mask my face and make me look like a painted masquerade.

I must have been too caught up in work to notice the pains and discomfort I was feeling when I got out of Ethan's bed were gone. The speed at which I heal this time is amazing! I've not related with many shifters but I know my healing is faster than the injuries Kent once got from when he was attacked by some rogues during pack duties.

When I'm done cleaning the bathroom. I go back to the living room and my eyes nearly fall out of their sockets when I see Ethan who had since finished with the vacuuming, now reclining on the Sentinel's couch. He made himself comfortable with a can of beer in one hand and a TV remote that he's using to flick through channels in the other.

"Oh my goodness! Ethan what are you doing!" I scream-whisper, rushing forward to grab the remote away from his hand

"What?... I'm taking a break, what's the big deal? Am I not allowed to take a break after a hard day's work!?" He asks in a nonchalant manner

"You only vacuumed this space, what hard day's work are you talking about!? You're going to put me in trouble, don't you know that? Get up right now!" I say, looking around to see if he's had more than that one can of beer or moved something else from where it was placed

"No!" He replies in a matter-of-factly manner

"Are you crazy?" I ask and take his hand trying to drag him out of the chair but he won't budge no matter how hard I pull

"Get out of the chair right now and go take your break somewhere else!"

"No!" He replies again like a stubborn brat

"Will you stop telling me no!" I whisper-scream furiously, stamping my foot in annoyance. "What is the matter with you!? What has come over you all of a sudden..." I ask irritatingly.

"Well, I'm sure you pretty well understand what the word 'No' means, right? It means I won't get out of this chair because I'm taking a break!" He declares with a grin, now lifting his two feet and casually crossing one over the other on the nearest coffee table.

God! What have I gotten myself into?

"Get up right this moment and go take your break somewhere else! Stop playing with me Ethan, this isn't funny! This is my job and I might get punished for what you're doing, don't you understand!"

"Okay, okay, I'll go, only if you promise you will go with me."

"I can't go anywhere with you right now, I am at work!" I stressed my words

"Alright, what about during your lunch break? We could..."

"I don't take lunch breaks. My job doesn't afford me that opportunity. I mostly eat my lunch on my feet while attending to one thing or the other around here."

"Are you kidding? You don't get lunch breaks with this much work! But that's ridiculous!" His face scrunchs up for some seconds as he asks before it returns to being mischievous "Okay, then what about when you close from work?"

"Ethan!" I call his name in exasperation before taking a deep breath. "I don't get to close from work until late at night. The earliest I've ever closed from work was 11 pm."

"Okay, that's fine. Don't worry about timing. I'll make sure you close earlier today since I'm helping you with your chores... There's this place I want to take you to. I'm very sure you will have so much fun and..."

"I cannot go out on a date with you, Ethan! I'm a maid and...

"So what if you're a maid!? What's wrong with a maid going out to have fun after a hard day's work!?... Besides who is talking about taking you out on a date? We are two friends going out to have fun!... We are friends or aren't we?... Don't tell me you still don't consider me your friend after all I've done for you! I helped you get the laundry when my mom was not around, saved your life, helped you with your chores, and..."

I roll my eyes at the way he's counting everything he's done on his fingers

"Don't be dramatic please!"

"Come on Ash!" He threw his hands up in resignation. "It's just a pub that hosts trivia shows! It's going to be fun. You'll like it I promise... You've been through a lot today. I just want you to unwind and enjoy yourself for once in God knows how long. You got a friend in me and that's what friends do for each other you know."

I look at him for what seems to be a long time, asking myself if he's for real or just a very smooth and deceitful talker. I mean we just met today and he's already calling me, an ordinary Omega maid, his friend! Why me? What does he really want from me!? No one wants to be seen with me so why is he so eager?

"Okay..." I agree reluctantly. If you want me to close earlier then you're gonna have to do more than vacuuming one apartment because I still have seven more to go" I tell him, hoping he will back down but he hooted in excitement instead.

I look at him and immediately make up my mind that Ethan is certainly a cray-cray kind of person. Otherwise, how can someone be excited to work alongside a maid, doing back-breaking work? I think as I watch him punch the air in excitement

"I'm at your service ma'am" He replies with a smile.

I nod and realize that I just gave my word to go out with him without actually meaning to. I unintentionally serve into this mischievous shifter's hands.

"Okay, moving forward, never forget that you're not a guest. I hope you know you can't be opening fridges and beers like you own the place. You will put me in trouble!" I firmly say to wipe the satisfactory smile off his face

"Okay, no problem. Even though I'm sure Mark and Beth wouldn't mind me raiding their fridge and kitchen, it's cool. Let's just return to work."

"Mark and Beth?... You know this Sentinel couple?"

"Yeah... Mark is my high school buddy"

"Great!" I smile with relief. "I'm happy to hear that. At least now I know I won't get punished. I'll just tell them you forced yourself in if I'm questioned about the can of beer you stole. And please no more! I don't care if you're chummy with the apartment owner or not, understood!? No more raiding fridges on my watch.

"Yes, Mistress..." He replies and grins. Now can we please get back to work, I'm eager to get started?" He sprang up from the couch, immediately making his way towards the door while I quickly straightened the throw pillows and returned the remote to where he picked it from.

"Wait a moment..." I hear him say as I straighten up from putting everything back in order. I look up to find him looking at me strangely.