The Alpha's Fated Mate Is an Outcast-Chapter 12

"Pay..." The man let his knuckles trail down her neck, thinking of a suitable demand. "I don’t need you to pay. But you’ll work here."

"Work?" Alexis asked.

"Yes," he hummed. "It would be weird if I brought back a random beta into my home and he just stayed without a reason. If you work amongst the staff, you’ll be fine, no one will suspect a thing."

"Oh..." She contemplated his words and slowly nodded. "I’ll do it."

"Of course you will. I wasn’t giving you a choice."

Keelion lifted her off his lap and scrutinized her from head to toe. "How do you feel?"

She fluttered her lashes, hands rubbing her arm. Her heat had calmed down, and she could smell him on her. But she knew no one else would be able to because it was fading off. "I feel fine." freewёbnoνel.com

"Good." He crossed his legs and nodded to his bed. "Sit in here, and after an hour, meet Augustus, he’ll arrange you for your work. I’ll speak to him."

Alexis watched him stand up from the sofa to head towards the door. He grabbed the handle, but before he left, he glanced over his shoulder, saying, "I need you back in this room every night. Understood?"

Though she wasn’t sure why he’d asked, she nodded.

He left, shutting the door behind him.

.....

Augustus burst into Keelion’s office. "Sir, you can’t be serious!"

Keelion raised an unimpressed gaze from the sets of documents he was going through, and Augustus stiffened, immediately apologizing for his outbursts.

"My apologies, I didn’t mean to."

"Why did you barge into my office?" Keelion questioned.

Augustus forced himself to meet his gaze despite the speckles of fear that stayed stuck in his throat like sawdust. "I’m sorry, sir, but I don’t think having that beta work in this place is a good idea. We don’t even know who he is or what is going on with the Ruderth family. Sir, every single beta or alpha that works in this building, they go through thorough checkups, but the beta hasn’t even—"

"Did I ask for your opinion?" Keelion asked. "I brought the beta in myself, surely you don’t think I would put myself at risk? Or do you think I’m stupid?"

"Of course not," Augustus said, swallowing thickly.

Keelion’s gaze sharpened. "Do you perhaps have something to say, Augustus? You seemed to have been questioning a lot of my words since the beta arrived."

The man hesitated, reluctant to voice his opinion. Keelion was like a match to gasoline, someone who anyone needed to be careful around, especially when speaking.

He drew a soft breath. "I don’t understand what is happening with the beta."

"And what do you mean by that?" Keelion pried. "What is your point?" He leaned back on his office leather chair and crossed his legs, his fingers steepled.

Augustus didn’t think he’d ever felt so uncomfortable in the man’s presence, still, he went ahead to make a response, "You wouldn’t just bring in a random beta, keep him in your personal home, and give him work too. He didn’t go through proper security either, I just—"

"The beta has nothing to do with you," Keelion said amicably, the look in his eyes anything but amicable. "Or should I believe you have some sort of interest in him?"

"No, sir."

"You seem awfully interested in him."

Augustus took a step back. "I have no interest in him, sir."

Keelion eyed him before supporting his chin with his fisted hand. "In case you’re wondering, though, he’s just a helpless beta I picked up. And I want you to do what you are asked."

Augustus frowned. "Sir—"

"I don’t want her—him, uncomfortable in this place, and certainly not because of you. Give him the job like I asked, and let him know how things work over here. Am I clear?"

The man wouldn’t respond.

Keelion leaned back in his chair and regarded him coolly. "Augustus, am I clear?"

"Yes. Yes, sir." Augustus nodded. "I’ll make sure everything is done, and I’ll also see to it that eyes are kept on him if perhaps he is some sort of danger."

He wasn’t sure what about his words amused Keelion, but the man’s lips had stretched into a grin.

"It’s funny that a man like you thinks that beta could be a danger. You may leave."

Augustus turned to walk out like he was told, but he stalled, turning and glancing at Keelion. "What room do I give him? The staff’s quarter is fu—"

"He’ll stay in the room next to mine."

He blanched. "Sir? But that’s your private—"

"He will stay in the room next to mine!" Keelion repeated, his tone final.

Augustus nodded reluctantly. "Understood, sir. I’ll have that arranged."

"Good. You’re dismissed," Keelion returned his focus to the work documents he was signing and stamping.

Augustus turned and walked to the door to leave.

"Augustus," the cold call of his name brought him to a stop.

He spun on his feet to look at Keelion only to flinch upon meeting the pure threat burning in his blue eyes.

Keelion said calmly, "Let this be the first and the last time you will ever question my words or my orders. The next time you make a repeat of it, I’ll forget that you have been working for me for ten years. No one crosses me. Not even you. You are not indispensable, understood?"

"Understood." Augustus gave a curt nod and fled the room as quickly as he could, slamming the door shut and inhaling sharply to fill his lungs with air.

Not even a day in, and Keelion’s trust in him was already beginning to take a shaky route. And it was all because of the damn beta.

He wasn’t saying there was anything between Keelion and the beta—Keelion had never shown interest in betas. There was no reason why he would. Still, it didn’t deviate from the fact that Keelion certainly acted so awfully strange when it came to him.

Keelion wasn’t and isn’t an alpha who acknowledged anyone. Never. Picked up a helpless beta? He would never do that. Not if there wasn’t something to it.

And there certainly was something strange about the beta—something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.