Chapter 7

Keira’s POV

I reacted, raising my arm to shield my face.

The shards of glass grazed my arm, and I felt some stinging but that all faded in the face of the situation. My blood boiled; adrenaline coursed through my body and I stood staring at Cordelia who stormed towards me, raising her hand to slap me.

I dodged, taking a single step to the side, and she stumbled, her eyes widening in shock.

“Y-You–” she choked out, hand still outstretched to point at me.

“Me,” My tone was cold. “What did I do?” I asked.

“You dare!” Cordelia cursed. The veneer of a kind, loving stepmother she always put forth in the public eye was always a lie. She often manipulated me behind the scenes, at first, when I was younger I didn't keep track, didn't know. Not until I owned, earned and had was slowly being leeched off of by them did I stop having a good relationship with her, and began to keep my distance.

Once she had noticed that, she didn't even bother keeping up appearances anymore. My father died very early in their marriage, which made her more than free to assume responsibility of the house as the Lady.

But now, I had grown up, and she saw me not only as her daughter's rival, but as the opposition to her power in this very house.

“You have no right to speak to me like that,” Cordelia hissed with hatred. It leaked from her pores, unwittingly polluting the atmosphere, and making me choke with overwhelming tension. “I am your mother!”

“You are my stepmother,” I corrected, taking a step forward. My gaze remained on her as I noticed the eyes of two maids staring at us. From the get-go she had made everyone turn against me, and I had been foolish enough to fall for it before. But now, I was unwilling to back down. “Not my mother. And you have proven that more than anything.”

“You’re such a disrespectful girl,” Cordelia snapped. “Who raised you to be this way? After everything is this how you repay me?”

“Repay you?” I smiled bitterly. My chest was heaving as I held back all the curses I could have let spill but didn't out of self-respect. “I didn't even do anything to you. You are the one that attacked me.”

I raised my arm up for her to see. Her face paled as she saw the tiny cuts that drew blood on my arm, all from the shards. The glass that she threw had been aimed at me, and she had no way to refute that.

“What do you think the Alpha would say if he knew you treated me this way, I wonder?” I asked.

She looked even more ashen, similar to the colour of newspaper as she took a step back, her hip bumping into the door handle which surely must have hurt.

“Trying to threaten me with the Alpha now?” she laughed hoarsely. “You forget your place. I'm the one that raised you. Just because Dominic doesnt want you doesnt mean you get to latch onto whoever shows a little interest in you.”

My smile was plastic as I replied, “I learnt from you. Didn't you latch onto my father back then?” I asked.

She was speechless for a moment, lips parted but all that left her mouth was a wordless choked yell.

Laughter bubbled up in my throat, and I found it hard to conceal.

“Y-you’re crazy! Absolutely mad, Keira. I swear by the Goddess!”

Maybe I was acting a little crazy, but she started it.

She was the one who continued to encourage her daughter, and continued to push me to my limit. Did she think I would roll over and let her act like I was a doormat for the rest of my life?

Even a dog had its limits.

“What,” I crossed my arms. “Do you forget how you came to this house? Just because my father was powerful, you dared to scheme and get into his bed. And now, just like her mother, your daughter schemed herself into my mate’s bed. Well, she can have him. I no longer want him. Good riddance, is all I can say.”

She glared at me.

I turned, seeing that she wasn't going to say anything more, and began to walk away.

“You will not stay in this house,” Cordelia burst out with. Her voice echoed in the hallway and I knew that surely, people outside must have heard it. “You will get out of this house! I will not have you here!”

She shrieked the last part, her voice turning to a pitch.

I winced internally but stopped in my tracks.

Though I couldn’t care less what she raved about, I had a misconception to correct.

“I will not leave,” I kept my tone even and turned to look at her over my shoulder. “This is my house. NOT yours. The deed is not in your name. It was handed down to me. It belongs to ME.”

Cordelia’s reaction was one of disbelief and shaking, unbridled anger.

“T-That’s a lie–”

“Whether it's a lie or truth, I can prove my claim. The house has always belonged to me. So if anyone’s going to leave, it’s going to be you and your dear daughter Vivienne. Not me. So quit it with that ‘throwing me out’talk, okay? It’s getting tiring.”

I didn't wait for her response. Whatever madness she was going to do once more did not affect me. I had made my point. The maids that had been watching scattered into thin air, trying to avoid me as I walked down the hallway. I didnt head to my bedroom, i didnt even feel like it.

Instead I went to the one place I had avoided since my father’s death: his study.

It was locked, and I took out the key, which had been hidden in my pocket.

The lock was stiff, but it turned all the same with a little more effort.

It looked exactly as he had left it.

The air was stale and I called for a maid.

“Yes Miss?” The maid was hesitant. It was a soft-spoken, quickwitted maid. I recalled her name to be Caroline. She was one of the older maid’s daughters and her mother had long retired.

“Clean this place up,” I told her. “Air out the room. This is mine from now on.”

Caroline bowed her head and I added, “No one else is to be in here without my permission."

She paused, then nodded.

“Yes, Miss.”

I narrowed my eyes on her nervous frame and she quivered even more.

Maybe I was being too cold, but I still had to make my point clear.

“Should anyone set foot in my study from now on without my knowledge, I will punish you and anyone else involved. You remember the family rules, don’t you?”

Caroline paled and fell to her knees.

“I promise you, Miss,” she swore. “I will not let anyone set foot in here.”

I watched her lower her head, shrinking back with each second, then nodded.

She looked honest, and unlike the many other maids, she had not been in this house for long. She had taken over her mother, who had served for over three decades, so I hoped she was going to choose her master wisely.

Before I had let Cordelia have her run of the place, but not anymore.

Now I had to take over, even if it meant replacing everyone that served in this house.

With a wave I dismissed her and bade her to start working.

Meanwhile I walked over to the bookshelves, looking through the many old ones. The library was not current, having been abandoned for a long time. I intended on updating it with new books, but for now…

I picked out a tome on the histories of the most powerful packs in the region and began to read.

My work as a diplomat wasn't merely for show, it was a responsibility that meant my independence, and influence in this pack.

I was no longer Dominic’s mate.

I had to be a force to be reckoned with.

…