Chapter 29 - THE ALPHA TASKED ME WITH PROTECTING HIS SOULMATE?!

"THE ALPHA TASKED ME WITH PROTECTING MADELINE?" Briar yelled.

Adrian winced, "Quiet down."

"I'm merely the messenger, but yes. The alpha has tasked you with protecting Miss Madeline, so do not let him down," he nodded, acknowledging her.

Briar had to resist the urge to curtsy.

"Of course!" She exclaimed, now even more determined to do the job she'd intended to do in the first place.

She had always intended to keep Madeline safe from harm. But now that Xavier had ordered her to, she couldn't help but feel more determined.

Bidding Adrian goodbye, she headed to Madeline's quarters, where her dear friend hadn't yet awoken and was still in a deep slumber.

"Wakey wakey," Briar said singsongingly, opening the curtains wide enough for the sun to come blasting in at Madeline's face.

Briar had became successful in waking her friend up. Madeline rubbed her eyes, letting out a yawn.

"Did you have to wake me up so early?"

"Wake you up so early? Heavens, Maddie, it's late in the afternoon."

"Then why is the sun so bright?"

"I wouldn't know," Briar answered.

"And what are you doing here anyway?"

Briar grinned sheepishly.

"Well... I came here to tell you what Adrian told me."

Madeline groaned in annoyance.

"Oh?"

"Was it that important that you had to interrupt my sleep?"

"Yes. Yes it is actually, and it concerns both you and me."

Madeline sat up in her bed.

"...what?" She asked, her curious piqued.

"What is it then?" Madeline questioned impatiently.

Briar answered, "Xavier's assigned me to be your bodyguard."

Instead of seeming shocked, Madeline doubled down in laughter.

Briar couldn't help but stare at her friend. Had she lost her wits? What could she find funny about this?

"That's a funny prank you're playing on me," Madeline said in between laughs, unaware this actually wasn't a sick joke.

She paused once she noticed Briar not laughing with her.

"Oh," she said quietly.

"This isn't a prank or a joke."

She wanted to slap herself.

Looking at the bright side, she realized, "At least that means you have a reason to stay by my side."

Briar beamed, "Well you're certainly right about that."

"It'll be fun," Madeline insisted.

Briar chuckled - that mere action flooded Madeline with relief.

"You're right, it will be fun now that I've been tasked with hanging with you all day."

"Everyday will seem like a sleepover too," Briar pointed out.

"You'll be sleeping in my quarters starting now on?"

"Oh, uh--"

"I didn't mean it as a bad thing or anything, I'm just…"

Madeline looked incredibly excited.

"I can't believe it, we get to spend even more time together."

One could easily tell Madeline was radiating with excitement by how she spoke.

Briar shared the same sentiment to this new change.

She no longer had any other duties except guarding Madeline. One that didn't seem like a duty and more like a blessing.

Glancing at the wall clock, Briar reminded Madeline she had breakfast with Xavier coming soon.

It was then she realized that by being Madeline's bodyguard, she'd got to feast with the alpha as well.

"Oh god, I'm eating with you and Xavier," Briar winced merely thinking about it.

"I don't want to be the third wheel."

"What was that?"

Briar panicked, "Nothing!"

"Hm, okay."

"I'm going to go take a shower now. See you in a few."

Madeline slipped on her slippers and headed for the bathroom. Briar made herself comfortable on one of the chairs in Madeline's quarters.

Less than half an hour later, Madeline walked out of the bathroom wearing her ensemble for the day.

"What do you think?" Madeline questioned.

"You look perfect," Briar said, giving Madeline two thumbs up.

"So, ready to go to breakfast now?" Briar inquired.

"Yep," Madeline responded.

"Let's go."

Less than an hour later, she and Briar were seated on the dining table along with Xavier.

Briar had offered to leave but Madeline had insisted she stayed - and Xavier didn't seem to mind.

And by 'didn't seem to mind', it meant that he had no other choice but to let her stay.

'Looks like I'll have to get used to this,' Xavier thought to himself.

He thought back to what Adrian had said. Adrian was right.

Had he tasked a stranger to guard Madeline, he'd likely never heard the end of it from her.

"Got any plans for today?" He inquired, beginning to get bored from the silence that filled the entire room.

Whilst he had other matters to attend to, he felt it rude if he left now when he'd already left early yesterday, and during the days before.

Madeline shook her head, "Nope."

"Why ask?"

"No particular reason," Xavier answered, returning to eating.

The entire time, Briar watched the two engage in conversation. She didn't feel like it was her place to speak, especially with the alpha there. She'd save her thoughts for later.

When Briar snapped out of her train of thought, she was confused as to what happened.

Madeline and Xavier were… bickering.

Briar tilted her head, watching the both of them.

"I already told you, I have nothing to do all day."

"And I told you I'm busy."

"Can't you spare some time or something to go exploring with me?" Madeline asked out of nowhere.

She seemed surprised by her own words. The way she looked, it was as though she wanted to melt into a puddle right then and there on her chair.

With a stutter to her voice, Madeline said to him, "I-I was j-joking."

At that point, the both of them hadn't noticed Briar making up some excuse and leaving the dining room.

"Sort of," she added.

"Are you asking me to go exploring with you?"

"What if I am?" Madeline asked curiously.

"Are you?"

"I don't know."

"You can be very confusing at times… you know that?" Xavier asked.

He scrunched his nose.

"I am not," Madeline said insistently.

"You say that and then you continue to say things like…"

Xavier cleared his throat, before mocking her, 'Can't you spare some time to go exploring with me?'