chapter 5

So this is what you’ve been doing? Lying around, acting like you don’t have things you’re supposed to do. You’ve been slacking off?” He asked raising his voice.

His alpha pheromones filled the room, and though it didn’t affect me much, I still lowered my gaze in submission.

“No, sir, I haven’t,” I responded meekly.

“What were you doing then?’ He demanded

“I was fixing my arm; I didn’t want it to heal badly.”

“You mean the arm my son broke because you were being disrespectful to him and his friends?”

I raised my eyes in shock, “Sir? I never disrespected your son Alpha.”

“Really?” He asked, crossing his arms, “Because Adrian told his mother and me that when you went up to deliver their food, you talked back at them and even insulted them.”

“I never did that. That never happened.”

“Alright, then give me your version of events that will differ from what three other boys told me happened.” He said watching me expectantly.

This was a trap of some sort. Adrian and his friends must have lied, but I was sure that if I tried to say what really happened, he wouldn’t believe me, but I still decided to give it a shot.

“Yes, I did deliver the food to them, but I didn’t disrespect anyone. I was following Luna’s orders; she told me to drop the food and leave, which I did. But your son wanted me to greet them and I did that too.” I said, “Then he had his friends hold me down and break my arm.”

He sighed disappointedly shaking his head, “So I see you’ve added lying to your list.”

“What?” I asked shocked.

“Adrian told me you insulted his capabilities as the future Alpha, and that he asked his mother about this so-called order. Luna said she didn’t give you such an order. She said she told you to take the food upstairs not that you shouldn’t pay your respects to your future Alpha.”

My mouth was wide with shock I was speechless. Why would Luna lie like that? I asked myself, and then I remembered the look she gave me at dinner. Ah, so this was my punishment.

“Alpha, I swear to you. I did not say such things about your son, and I was obeying Luna’s orders. I swear I was.”

“Well, she said she didn’t give such orders. Are you saying your Luna is a liar?” He asked eyes narrowed.

I remained quiet lowering my gaze again.

“Like I thought.” He said when I didn’t respond, “You’ll sleep outside tonight and for the rest of the week. Tomorrow head over to the square to receive fifty lashings. Next time be sure to watch your words around my family. I’m going out to patrol; you’d better be gone by the time I return.” He said, turned, and walked out.

I could not find it in me to cry. I hugged myself, taking in new breaths and gathering the flimsy blanket that was a makeshift bed off the floor. I turned to leave the house, only to run into Adrian, grinning as if he’d won the jackpot.

“Is someone about to cry?” He asked mockingly.

“Please,” I said, “Please just leave me alone.” I tried to walk past him but he grabbed the blanket.

“Ahn, ahn, ahn. I’ll take this. You don’t need it.” He said as he tore it to shreds, “Now’s your chance to be one with nature, and who knows, maybe that will awaken your wolf.” He laughed at that then went back up the stairs to his room.

Defeated and without the one thing that was to keep me somewhat warm, I walked into the woods to my old home, I had no intention of sleeping out in the wild.

The old house was a gloomy silhouette against the night sky. The old worn-out door creaked loudly as I entered. The house was empty, stripped of everything after my family died. It was almost as though they couldn’t wait to get rid of all things related to them, except me, of course. The room was dusty and I coughed as I tried to clear up a space where I could rest my head.

Sniffling, I lay down, being mindful of my arm and still trying to be alert, but I was so exhausted that sleep came quickly.

I woke up later than I usually would, when I realized I bolted out of the house to the pack house hoping I could at least start dinner before the Luna woke up. I crept silently into the kitchen only to run into Adrian and Casey making out. Ew. I stopped in my tracks, debating on what to do. I couldn’t just leave them to go at it; I had to get to work. So I decided I was just going to make all of us comfortable.

Coughing loudly to alert them of my presence, I entered the kitchen opening cabinets and pulling out what I’d need to make breakfast. They pulled away from each other hurriedly then hissed when they saw it was me.

“Ugh, freak. Can you not take a hint?” Casey said annoyed at my interruption.

“I’m sorry.” I wasn’t, “I have to get started on breakfast immediately.”

“You’re probably just jealous; bet you wish it was you with Adrian.”

“No!” I responded, a little too quickly perhaps as I noticed the frown forming on his face, “I am not worthy of such a powerful person. I wouldn’t dare dream of tainting him with my unworthy self.” I added trying to salvage the situation. Teenagers were evil when they were unhappy. My words must have assuaged his anger because the frown left just as quickly as it came.

“I’m just glad you know your place.” She said flipping her hair.

“Pay her no mind. It’s like she said, she’s not worthy.” Adrian said, grabbing her waist and full-on kissing her while looking at me at the same time. Talk about multi-tasking but also gag.

I ignored the two lovers even though a part of me wondered why Adrian was making out with Casey when he was also sleeping with Beatrice-a thruple perhaps. None of my business, let’s get to work. I mashed the meat, rolling it into balls, adding it into the pasta sauce already simmering, then I boiled the pasta, and soon breakfast was ready.

Sneaking a glance around me and confirming I was alone in the kitchen I snuck some food into a container and hid it in a secret spot I’d created in the kitchen, then I began all my other chores. Today was a weekday so everyone was coming down for breakfast at different times, so I had to do the dishes multiple times. When the Alpha and Luna came downstairs for their own breakfast, I waited knowing he was going to follow me to the square so that I couldn’t escape. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time.

The Luna was stealing glances at me, a satisfied smirk on her face. Seriously, why are you competing a teenager, you’re the freaking Luna of this pack.