The Alpha's Fated Mate Is an Outcast-Chapter 38

Keelion sat on the sofa, his laptop on his lap. Every now and then, amidst his work, he would glance at the mini table which was already filled with everything he was sure Alexis liked to eat.

Her absence was too distracting. It was already ten in the evening, what else could she still be doing?

He proceeded to keep his device aside, but then a knock suddenly came at the door and then the handle turned, the door slowly creaking open.

The first thing that popped into his view was Alexis’s head and then her lips stretched into a smile.

"I can smell food," she mumbled.

The man arched a brow at her and shook his head before returning to work.

Alexis stepped into the room and shut the door behind her. She adjusted the shirt she wore, dusted her black fitted slacks first before walking over and taking a seat at the table.

She picked up her spoon and scooped up a full spoon of rice, but when she tried to eat, the bruise ached painfully making her wince.

Keelion averted his gaze from the laptop, eyes landing on her face. "Why are you—what happened to your face?" he asked, staring at the bruise.

She blinked at him and slowly shook her head. "Nothing."

His expression fell into a scowl.

"Alexis, why do you have a bruise on your face?" He tossed the device aside and stormed over to her, grasping her chin and tilting her head up to have her look into his eyes.

His gaze fixated on the bruise.

Whoever had hit her, did it with clear intention to hurt her.

"Who hit you?"

"No one." Alexis shook her head at him.

"Are you lying to me?"

He cocked a serious brow at her, and she swallowed, for a second almost giving in.

"Tell him the truth, girl." Sereia nudged her against the leg. "Who cares if that jerk gets fired?"

"No." Alexis shook her head at Keelion with a smile. "I fell, that’s it."

Keelion narrowed his eyes. "You fell?"

"Yes." She nodded at him. "I slipped during work. It’s really fine. It barely hurts."

"Barely?" He didn’t let go, instead, he leaned in until his hot breath could hit her face. "You can’t even chew properly."

"I’m okay," she said to him. frёewebnoѵēl.com

Keelion peered at her, and suddenly let go, shoving his hands into the pocket of his sweats. He walked to the door and left the room, slamming the door shut.

"What is wrong with you? Why didn’t you just tell him the truth?"

"You know why I couldn’t do that!"

"You’re pitying that jerk? Do you think he’ll leave you alone? That jerk is still going to mess with you, what’s the point of thinking about his situation? Just because he had it rough doesn’t mean he should be an asshole. You’ve had it rough and you’re not, so—"

"Let it be, Sereia. I’m really fine."

"Shut up. You can fool Keelion but not me." Sereia grunted, hopping onto her lap and curling into a softball. "If he touches you again, I’ll bite off his hand and you won’t be able to stop me."

...

"You called for me, sir," Augustus stepped into the office and shut the door behind him.

Keelion looked up from the documents in his hold, asking, "What happened to Alexis’s face?"

"Alexis?" Augustus blinked. "Well, I asked him and he told me that he fell," he said.

Keelion studied him.

He questioned, "And you believe it?"

The man’s throat bobbed as he suddenly swallowed, not exactly oblivious to the change of atmosphere in the room. "Sir..."

Keelion scooted the office leather chair back and stood up to his feet. He walked out from behind his desk, shoving his hands into the pocket of his sweatpants.

"I never took you for someone slow, Augustus. You’re not like that. So I’m going to ask you again, did you really believe him? Did that bruise look like he fell?"

Augustus’s eyes darted all over the office. "No." He shook his head. "No, I didn’t."

"Then why didn’t you find out what happened to him? Who gave him that bruise, why didn’t you?"

There was no response coming from him.

Keelion hummed.

"You neglected him, I see. Why? Give me an explanation."

"I-it was just a bruise, sir. I didn’t want to make a fuss over it. Everyone—"

He was in his face in a matter of a few seconds, grabbing his throat, and shoving him against the wall. His much taller figure intimidating and crowding his space.

All confidence left Augustus, his body sagging as if he had no bone in him. "Sir..."

"Alexis is different, Augustus. Just because sh—" he swallowed his words, half smiling to himself in an alarmed manner. "Just because he is working with the staff doesn’t mean he’s like any of you. I would kill anyone who touches him and I don’t think you understand that."

He squeezed his throat tighter, watching him choke. "I don’t want even a single hair plucked out of Alexis’s hair. He’ll do his work, yes. But if anyone touches him or hurts him... Augustus, you know me, don’t you?"

"I-I do, sir," the man choked his words out. "I do."

"Augustus, you are crossing the line," Keelion said. "I’ve been too soft on you. You question my decisions, you don’t listen and you do as you please because I think you think I would never hurt you merely because you’re the only person I trust." He further tightened his grip, watching the man’s face turn gray. When he almost lost consciousness, he let go of him, stepped back, and watched him drop to the floor, coughing hard and fighting for his breath.

"But you forget that I can always get rid of you the moment you cross that line that you’re leaning a bit too close to, Augustus. I regard you more than I would ever regard anyone, but don’t test me."

"I fucked up, didn’t I?" Augustus asked, slowly rising to his feet and rubbing his throat. "Do you distrust me?"

"No," Keelion said as he walked back to his office chair to sit down. "I trust you, that won’t change and you know why?"

Augustus shook his head.

"You may step out of line sometimes, but what you’ll never do is betray me. Though they say, you can never really know a person, but I’ve put that knowledge to the back of my head just for you. It is one reason why you get away with some bullshit."

"Yes, sir." Augustus nodded and his lips slowly curled into a light smile. "Understood."

Keelion let out a soft breath and picked up the documents to continue from where he stopped.

"Find out who hurt him. Twenty-four hours is all you have."

Augustus gave a nod and turned to leave.

"Oh, and don’t let this repeat itself," the man added, halting him on his step for a second. "You know what will happen if it does."