Chapter Seventeen: Night watchers

"I don't get why you have to come with me," I said, lowering my voice and jumping to my usual spot.

Claude also jumped on my usual spot which made me want to bark at him. And now, we were facing one another.

"I should be following you since you are assigned to me, correct?"

I frowned at his question and approached him. "Mind you that you are the reason why we have to watch out from day to evening. You almost assassinated my comrade," I said in a lowered voice which only the two of us could hear my words.

Claude formed a sly smile. "Mind you are also doing this because our Alpha King is coming surprisingly." He wiggled his eyebrows.

"What?" I furrowed my forehead. "No... The Alpha King must be supposed to have a grandiose entrance not the other way around, Sir Claude."

"What?" His eyes widened and stepped back a little. He clenched his hands. "What do you mean by that, Rachelle?" His tone laced a solemn remark.

I was confused. "Aren't you one of the Knights of the Grand Alpha King? You are supposed to know this."

Claude was taken aback by what I said and nodded hesitantly. "R-Right. I-I haven't been updated. I just arrived."

I rolled my eyes and stayed silent. I sat in the strong branch of the tree and put myself on high alert while contemplating, sticking my eyes in front of the beautiful lake that was shone by the moonlight. I glanced up at the moon and somehow I felt connected with it. It was always I feel. This is somehow I felt like our moon goddess was watching us.

I felt Claude's presence and he was sitting beside me. My heart was jumping enough for me to want to stay away from him but I chose not to be so fully defensive and made sure to calm myself. However, my wolf was hard to control due to the closeness and our skins brushed.

"Distance yourself," I snapped slowly, sending him glares which earned him a grin.

"Why? Afraid to have your heart with me again?" he asked.

I rolled my eyes and looked away then I shook my head and ignored what he said. Touch him, my wolf whispered which I hardly cut her off but she couldn't be stopped because she was jumping in joy by our slight closeness.

"I was wondering..." I turned at him, looking at him, perplexed. I didn't reply to him and just waited for him to continue while I was arching my eyebrow. His eyes were on the lake. "What were you doing in the Downcast Woods last night, Rachelle? Looking for me?"

My eyes widened, gasping softly. My heart went wild from his question. "How..." I paused, didn't know what to say next. How did he know I was at the Downcast Woods last night?

"I'm watching you from a proper distance so I can see your beautiful face." He winked.

"What?" I looked at him, unbelievable. "You were there last night?" I asked, lowering my voice.

He nodded and tugged a winning smile. "Like I said I was in the safe distance to watch over you."

"But... But if you were there, I should have known your smell."

"How do I smell then?"

"Mint and after rain-" I suddenly covered my hand with my mouth. I slipped! Damn it! I shot him a glare when I saw him smiling from ear to ear. "Forget what I said!" I said, almost snapped.

He chuckled. "So, I do smell like that, huh?" He teased, grinning.

I felt my cheeks flamed from what he said. I could even feel the heat on my ears. "S-Shut up!" I exclaimed in a low tone.

I'm afraid if I shout, I might be overheard by my other colleagues that were just around the surrounding, hiding their presence just like Claude and I were doing.

I heard his soft chuckle that made my heart keep on jumping out of nowhere. Hidden inside, I could feel my wolf wanted to be touched by Claude but I had to keep my distance before something would have happened that I am going to regret.

I slowly took a deep breath before I sighed. "Claude," I called his name.

"Hmm?"

When I turned at him, his eyes softened and made my heart flutter like a butterfly. I looked away and fixed my eyes on the moonlight reflected on the lake.

"How did you find that I am here in the palace?" This time I tried to turn my head to look at his reaction.

Claude looked at me. His expression is passive, unable to fathom his thinking right now. After a moment of silence, he didn't manage to answer my question and just continued staring at me.

Being as impatient as I am and as I was starting to get irritated, I pushed him off from sitting and made him jump out from the tree branch we were sitting at.

"Damn... What was that for?" He frowned while scratching the back of his head, dumbfounded at my action.

"I asked and heard no response from you so I need to eliminate you from my place," I said, arching my eyebrow. "Say, did Casey tell you that I am here in the Avalon Kingdom working for the royal family?" I asked again. This time I made it surely slow and understandable but in a more subtle manner.

Claude formed a smile that was quite passive. "I followed your smell. That's all."

Lies, my wolf growled. I could also tell that Claude was lying. "You are lying. You are making my wolf angry."

He slightly opened his mouth as his eyes widened in surprise. Then he lowered his gaze. "I'm sorry..." His voice softened. The way he spoke was like he was swaying me and singing me a lullaby.

"Say the truth, Claude. Stop lying to me." I laced my voice with solemnity and hostility. This was way important for me as to how he found out where I was.

Claude sighed and stayed silent for a moment before he spoke, "I happened to notice the royal seal embarked in the vehicle you were in before you left."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "Strange... The seal was too small to be seen by the naked eye of a wolf. And only those who had been blessed by the former Alpha King or a royal family can see the embarking royal seal in the vehicle," I remarked.

I watched his reaction that remained passive after I explained. "I'm one of the Knights of the Grand Alpha King, Rachelle. You think you are not the only one who is blessed by the former Alpha King of Avalon Kingdom?"

He is correct. I was wrong. "So, you are also on a vacation just like me?"

Claude shrugged. "Not exactly. My father came to order me to check my sister, Cassandra for a moment, and see how she is going after she got married to your older brother."

"Does this mean, if you are not going on vacation, then where are you from before you came to our pack?"

Claude jumped high and managed to settle himself beside me. "That I cannot say, milady."

"Why not?" Damn him! I was starting to get curious. "Aren't you and Luna Casey from a noble family?"

"Is this getting to know each other? I'll have it recalled you haven't accepted me yet as your mate." He came closer to my face, suffocating me by staring so long at me. Then wriggled his eyebrows.

"Just answer it!" Frustrated and kind of upset with him.

Claude chuckled while turning his back on me. "Let's just say, I'll keep it a secret."

"Huh?" What the heck is he saying?

He distanced himself away from the tree where I was before he decided to face it and glance up at me with a small smile on his place. But the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Just stick with my name, Claude Hackworth," he said meaningfully.