Talia's POV

'What the hell happened here?" He asked as soon as I pulled up in front of what used to be Vance's spot.


'I'd say something along the lines of explosives and stuff." I replied to him.

'I can see that." He said, still stumpified.

'Any other options?" I asked him.


'None other than this. I'm the fuckin Alpha. I can't be running around like a squirrel. Take me back to the palace." Vance was very authoritative. He commanded me like I was one of his servants.

'That makes sense, except you skipped the part where we find out or figure out where I stay." I said sarcastically.


'Now why should I care about that?"He asked.

'Because, maybe, I've proved really invaluable. I've saved your ass multiple times over the last two days, and maybe you owe me a favour." I replied to him.

'That's not so far fetched." He replied thoughtfully. 'Would you even trust me if I put you in the basement again? But this time, you have your maid and all you need. The only thing I won't be able to give you is the key. I'm scared of what you might do if I do that." Vance was slipping away. I did not know what Landon did to him, but he severely neutralised Landon.

'Don't even fucking think that. It's really bold of you to even suggest it. What do you think would ever make me trust you. You said, and I know, that you've never let anyone know about the basement. You're sick and would need treatment for a few days, if I stupidly agree to get locked up again, what's the assurance that you wouldn't starve me to death?" I asked him.

'Well, I can have you meet a maid I'd put in charge of you as soon as we get back. We'd show her to the basement, so that seals it." He was looking at me for some confirmation.

I felt guilty for doing the negotiations whole he was dying, but Vance was a slippery cunning maggot who would not commit unless his own life were on the line. He valued no one else.

'Deal." I sealed it, nodding in approval.

I raced back to the palace like a mad person. By my estimate, it was something around four am. The day was still quite dark, but very much on the verge of getting bright.

We got back in no time and I supported Vance into the palace, on his request.

As I supported him, pretending the palace walls, the curtains I picked out myself, the decorations I made were all strange to me, I subconsciously remembered days where Vance pinned me unapologetically to the walas of that same palace where I was forced to walk as a stranger.

We got to Tracy's room under his direction, and it wasn't until he instructed me to tap gently to wake her up that I realised she was the maid he had in mind. My very own nemesis.

I was dying to know how she had been coping with Nadia.

'Come on out, Tracy." He said, and motioned for us to go back out.

I helped him wobble out again. By that time, I was already spent and tired. The parts of my flesh that Landon scratched open had begun to cake and feel sore.

We got out, away from the security lights.

Tracy had served Vance for years, so it was no surprise that she was out in less that two minutes. Working for the man brought out certain things in one.

'I need you to do something for me. And I need you to be really discreet about it." He started. Vance sat himself down before he continued addressing Tracy.

'My… she needs help. And we are going to help her." Vance paused and looked at Tracy. 'She's going to stay in the basement, directly below my room." Tracy's eyes opened wide as she heard that. Truthfully, no one knew about the basement..

'She has to be taken proper care of. Things are horrible enough as they are. I want her to feel as comfortable as possible." He said to her

With her hands at her back, and her head towards the floor, she paid very rapt attention to Vance.

As soon as Vance was done telling her al the instructions he had to, he picked himself up from where he ingloriously sat and headed inside.

'What of the Luna?" I asked Tracy.

'Sleeping." I knew her not to be an exactly warm person.

'I'm Isla." I said, out of courtesy, extending my hand to her.

'I'm ‘going to make you comfortable'." She replied very sarcastically.

I couldn't be hurt, I was an intruder after all. Moreover, she could have her way, cause I was coming for them, her and her Luna.

'I'm not difficult to please." I added, playing her game. 'Don't forget to get the keys from him. He forgot to drop it." I said after her as she turned to go in for some reason without even telling me.

I started going to the basement, but I felt something or someone pass. It was really brisk and unnatural. There was no evidence it happened, but the hair's on my body which were already stood was all the confirmation I needed that I wasn't going crazy.

Vance's basement was secure after all. The only other persons who knew about it was Landon and Tracy, both of which I could very well handle.

'You're gonna need these." Tracy reintroduced herself as she threw the duvet she went to get at me.

'Wait till he finds out this is how you treat me." I threatened her.

'And wait till the Luna finds out that you're the tramp who has been seeing her husband." She shot back.

'And wait till he finds out…" I started. 'This is stupid. Let's just b don with each other, for tonight…" I ended the convo and led the way.

Tracy was very ill at ease and I sensed it, but there was time for everything, and definitely time for her to confess all she knew.