3

《 Aurora's pov 》

"Ow." I wince as I pulled my finger to my chest and hold it tightly. I had forgotten that the pan was still hot and stupidly touched it without oven mitts.

"Oh did the little elf burn her finger? Oh how upsetting." Alice snarled.

They were still there, unfortunately. And they were hell-bent on throwing insults after insults at me. Over the years, I had grown to block them out as much as I could. But I'll admit that their words still dented my armor.

I pressed my lips together and went over to the sink. I opened the faucet and let the cold water run over my throbbing finger. Their giggles had me gritting my teeth. 

"No wonder they left her in the woods when she was a baby. I mean who would want a freak of a daughter that looked like that?" Becka's words had my chest tightening uncomfortably and my head turning to face her.

Her pretty features craft into a look of disgust. "Don't look at me freak!" She screeched. 

I rip my eyes away from her and closed the faucet. "I hate when she looks at me with that freakish eyes of hers. They give me the chills." She murmurs to her friends. 

I swallowed the lump in my throat as I wiped my hand on a kitchen towel. Most of the wolves in the pack could never look at me directly in the eye. They said the color of my eyes was creepy and they'd never seen anything like it before. Apparently, they thought I'd haunt them in their dreams if they stared at me for too long.

I lift up the clean shiny silver spoon and looked at my reflection through the stainless steel. My light green eyes clash with the ones of my reflection. My irises were the color of a light minty green but that wasn't what creeped them out. It was the color of my pupils. They were the color of lavender. 

They were framed by long dark lashes. The color of my eyes clashes against the pale pink of my hair. I chewed on my soft lower lip. I suppose I understand why they see me as a freak. Sighing, I went back to making the dinner with the three wolves mocking me at every chance they got.

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Cooking for hundreds of wolves were a hassle and very tiring. But I did it. 

I smiled after getting out the last meatloaf in the oven. Breathing out a sigh, I placed the pan on the top of the stove. The sweet aroma of the meat and spices made my stomach grumble out in hunger. 

"Come on girl, set the table quickly. Dinner will be starting in half an hour." Gomery demanded, entering the kitchen with her tight features in displeasure. 

I nodded, swallowing my saliva. I was starving but I didn't want to ask Gomery permission to eat. I knew she wouldn't allow me anyway. 

I followed her to the huge dining room quietly. There were more than ten tables that were very long and ended at the far wall. Many chairs lined around them but I know that I would never have the luxury of ever sitting on one. 

They were for the pack members and even though I had been in that pack for many years, I wasn't considered as one of them.

Gomery suddenly whirls around and has me stumbling back a step in shock. Her eyes pinned me down with heavy disgust. "You have a stench girl." Her nose turned up to show her distaste.

My eyes burn as I lowered my head in shame. "I'm sorry." I apologized. My eyes burned through the cream tiles and wished I'd burn a hole to escape this place.

"Whatever. Just get to work before the Alpha and Luna gets here." She spat and walks past me. Her shoulders purposely brush against mine and I stagger. 

I pressed my lips together to suppress my cry of shock and finally sighed in relief when I couldn't sense her in the room anymore. Scanning my eyes over the room, dread settled in my stomach. I had a lot of work to do for such little time. 

________

I slowly placed the hot bowl of soup before one of the she wolves. She grunted and sends me a disgusted stare. "Your scent alone is enough to make me lose my appetite."

I lowered my eyes and refuse to respond. She was right. I did stink, just not so badly to look down upon with so much repulsion. 

"Did you hear?" Another she wolf draws her attention away from me. 

"What?" 

I was just about to turn and leave before the name on her tongue caught my attention. 

"Xavier Knight has taken down another pack last night. I fear we are next on the list." The she wolf whispered, eyes wide with fear.

Xavier Knight was the Alpha of the Crimson Moon pack. After taking over the pack after the news of his father's sudden death, Xavier had turned from being the mysterious son of Alpha Kyle to being the vicious merciless alpha. 

Being feared by many was an understatement. His name when uttered sent fear into the bones of many, freezing them solid with dread. 

"Shhh don't say his name so loudly. If the Alpha hears you, he'll cut off your tongue." 

It was no secret that Alpha Raphael hated Alpha Xavier with a passion. He had forbidden the members of his pack from ever uttering the name of the 'bastard' that killed his first Luna. 

"Stacie I'm scared. He's merciless and I've heard that he even kills the women and children when he takes over their packs." 

"Alpha Raphael won't ever lose his pack to that mutt. So there is nothing to fear." 

I couldn't exactly blame the she wolf for fearing. I too am afraid of the famous Alpha. If what they say is true and he is merciless and a seeker for blood. Then I am sure I'd be the first he'd kill. I would practically be useless to him. 

My cheeks warmed when the she wolves turn their attention to me. They snarl nastily. "Why are you still standing here?" 

"Sorry." I squeaked and walked away from them.  

I was about to head back to the kitchen before Gomery stops me. I turn around. "Yes?" I asked softly.

"Bring the Alpha and Luna's dinner now. Don't let the hot plate slip from your fingers like the last time." Gomery warned as she took a seat at the table. The sight of her sitting on the chair and awaiting her warm meal made me jealous.

 I was so hungry. I could eat anything at this point.

But instead of voicing out my hunger I just nodded and do as I was told. If I didn't, I'd be severely punished.

I held in my cries of pain as the hot plate burned my flesh. I knew I had to swallow my cries and pretend it didn't faze me as I brought the plates to The Alpha and Luna. They sat at their own table, in front of the entire pack. 

When they sensed my approach, Luna Lisa's upper lips curled into a snarl of hatred while alpha Raphael glared at me. 

Alpha Raphael was a man who was already nearing his forties and Luna Lisa wasn't far behind. They were second chance mates and only found each other a good seven years ago, a year after Alpha Raphael's first mate was murdered by Xavier. During those seven years Luna Lisa had failed to conceive an heir for the Alpha and it seemed time wasn't their friend.

I placed the plates before them gently, feeling the relief of having the heat off my fingers. "Enjoy your dinner Alpha, Luna." I bowed.

"Get the fuck out of my sight." He roared.