The Beast's Possession
30: How did you do it?

**Aife pov**

I handed Bane the open notebook with my answer, written black on white, and watched his reaction as he read it. Since his eyes skimmed the sentence a couple of times, I started wondering if he doubted my ability to read based on his own shortcomings.

But then, when he shot up from the bed, growled, and threw the notebook against the wall, I realized he understood my words, just kept re-reading them.

"Fine, if you want to act like a bitch then be one!" Bane screamed at me in anger and left the room.

Well, that was what I called a proper, toddler-worthy tantrum.

It was funny how I kind of wanted to care about his antics because after every anger outburst came consequences, but I couldn't replace it in me to bother at this point.

Whatever Bane planned as the next 'punishment' would come regardless of my ability, or lack thereof, of kissing his ass.

Slowly, I tried to sit up in bed just as a knock sounded from the bedroom door. I froze.

The person who stood behind the door didn't open it, which made me think they waited for me to call out that they were allowed to enter the room. But how could I, lacking the tool I needed for that?

So, instead, I just waited until the person would get the hint.

The person knocked again, but seeing as I wasn't reacting, finally opened the door.

A rather annoyed looking maid entered the bedroom, hands full of laundry. "Would telling me that I was allowed to enter the room kill you?" She snapped at me.

I offered her the most sarcastic 'are you kidding me' glare I could muster and pointed my finger at my neck. She had to be smart enough to understand I couldn't speak.

At first, she didn't understand, but once the realization sunk in, her eyes widened and gibberish apologies spilled out of her like a wild waterfall.

Even as she entered Bane's closet, she kept apologizing and once she set the laundry where it was supposed to be, she rushed to my side to apologize again. "I am so sorry, I didn't know you couldn't speak. It is no excuse, I understand that,

but I assumed you were just another woman who wanted Alpha's attention. Those women treat staff members like dirt under their feet, so we give them a hard time in return."

I reached out to grab her hand and offered her an understanding smile.

Although I used to believe that first impressions mattered the most, as I got older, I realized that way of thinking was completely backwards.

At times, I could meet someone the first time while they were having the worst day of their life, so who was I to judge anyone without properly getting to know them?

The maid's eyes scanned the room until they stopped on the notebook. She pulled her hand out of mine and hurried to pick it up.

She also opened the notebook and chuckled at the words I wrote there. "I guess you and our Alpha don't see eye to eye, then?" A smile spread across her lips as she handed it back to me.

Carefully, I ripped out one page and grabbed a pen. There was no way I would leave the answers written in the notebook for Bane to replace and read.

"I have some time to hang around here if you want company? You can answer in writing," the maid offered as she sat on the bed right next to me.

'Let's say Alpha and I aren't friends. And yes, I would love some company.' I wrote and handed her the piece of paper.

As she read my answer, her eyes lit up. "So cool. I don't get to see many girls around my age here. Okay, to be fair, I don't see many women at all, but that's beyond the point. My name is Silvia, and yours?"

Silvia was like a ball of energy. She kept giggling and flashing me the most blinding smiles, which made me feel like I was back home, around family and friends.

'Aife.' I wrote down my name and cringed at how foreign it looked.

"It's nice to meet you, Aife. Do you mind if I ask you a more personal question?" Silvia mumbled the last part, as if she was unsure if she had the right to ask.

Instead of writing, I nodded my head, giving her the green light to ask whatever she was curious about. Sooner or later, I would have to talk about my experiences with someone anyway. If I didn't, the thoughts, assumptions and fears would drive me insane.

"How did you do it?" Silvia blurted out.

All I did was raise an eyebrow at her question. What did she mean?

"Oh, you probably need a little more context. Okay, what I wanted to know was how did you get so close to our Alpha? I'm not implying that you and him have anything going on, but all this," she said as she gestured to me, laying on the bed. "Well, it's unusual to say the least. Alpha doesn't bring women to his bedroom, let alone the bedroom in his private house. In fact, other than staff members and some party guests, no woman has entered this house. Not like you anyway." The more she spoke, the more curious I grew. Silvia had a point, if anything she said was true. I, too, wanted to know why Bane took me here. He could shove his excuses about what happened in Delta's house - there was no way any of that was the real reason behind his decision.

'I have no idea,' I wrote on the paper, handed it to Silvia and shrugged.

She frowned at the words and muttered, "but this makes no sense at all. I've spent years working for Alpha Bane and, I don't know, perhaps I'm looking too much into this, but he has changed."

No matter how much I wanted to know how Silvia thought Bane had changed, I didn't ask.

"He's treating you differently, you know," she suddenly muttered. Her voice was so low, it sounded as if she didn't want me to hear what she had to say.

But then, when I heard heavy steps approach the bedroom door, I understood why she spoke so quietly - Silvia didn't want anyone to overhear us.

She jumped to her feet and shoved the paper in her pocket before she muttered, "I'll come see you a little later when Alpha leaves the house, okay?"

I nodded and mouthed a 'thank you'.

Siliva just waved me off and chuckled. Just as the door to the bedroom opened, she spoke. "I will bring more laundry a little later today, let me know if you will need anything, Miss."

My eyes snapped to the door. Bane stood by it and held it open. "Thank you, Silvia," he said right as she bowed and slipped past him.

Then, Bane closed the door and locked it. My heart rate instantly picked up. Why did he feel the need to suddenly lock the door?

"You're building friendships," he chuckled as he stepped closer.

Since I didn't answer even with a gesture, Bane groaned. He pinched the bridge of his nose and took a few deep breaths, as if he was fighting off the frustration.

I prayed to the Goddess he wouldn't have any ill intentions while he was busy trying to calm himself down. For as long as Bane didn't try to force himself on me - I would live.

"Listen," he finally spoke up. "I took a walk to calm down and came to a pretty important conclusion. It's been a long time coming, probably too long, but it's about time I claim a woman as this pack's Luna. So, I decided that it's you. I will claim you as the future Luna."