CHAPTER 3~ BREAKFAST WITH THEM

Denae shoved the door open, walking into the dining hall. She could smell the many scents that roamed the place, but Zaid’s unique and captivating scent stood out the most.

That manly scent of petrichor and lavender, it always pulled her in like candy did kids. Whenever it was in her presence, peace and comfort would envelope her completely, but not when his father’s scent was there to taint it.

She could smell him, that awful scent of blood and mint…she hated it…she could never find peace when that scent embraced her, it was always like a puddle of water that she was drowning in.

Sighing, she exited the hall, now finally able to see everyone and everything; the tables, the food and the pack members that ate noisily. She grabbed a tray, looking down at the aisle of food in front of her.

Sluggishly, she picked up what she wanted, then stepped towards the table she knew she was supposed to be, the table she ate at every day.

Jerald was seated there, his four wives and his son, and her seat was right beside his which was also across from Zaid’s.

She placed her tray down then pulled the chair from beneath the table and sat down. “Morning…” She greeted everyone.

Nobody answered, but Jerald’s hand fell against her thigh almost immediately. His touch…it always made her skin crawl.

Shuffling uncomfortably on her chair, she grabbed his hand, shoving it off her. She heard him chuckle and then he looked over at her with eyes that always made chills run eerily down her spine. “As feisty as always…morning love.”

Denae ignored him, picking up a loaf of bread from her plate. She could feel eyes on her and she knew a pair of them belonged to Zaid. It was uncomfortable to eat around a table where both your husband and your mate resided, and for a week, Denae had been withstanding such discomfort.

Her eyes drifted up from her plate, meeting Zaid’s beautiful hazel ones. His eyes, they were as cold as always and she knew exactly what he was thinking even before he voiced it within the mind link. ‘Disgusting.’

He dropped his fork, then stood to his feet. “I’m done here…I’ll be taking my leave.”

His father looked up at him, ushering him out. “Alright son.”

Zaid walked away from the table, glancing back at her. ‘Tonight…same time, same place.’

And then he disappeared around the hallway, leaving her in the company of her father and his wives. “My poor son must be jealous, I have four wives and he has none.”

Claudia; the prettiest and most troublesome of his wives giggled. “Oh Jerald…don’t say that, you know it’s not true.”

The others followed suit, laughing as though the disgusting, old man had said something funny. “What about you Denae? Do you think it’s true?”

Denae looked up at him, shrugging uninterestedly. “I don’t know.” She wasn’t up for this…it was sickening. “Can I be excused? I don’t feel like eating breakfast today.”

She watched as his gaze switched from playful to serious and the smirk that was curved at the corner of his lips turned into a menacing scowl. “No…you’ll sit until I am finished and you’ll eat your food too, am I clear?”

The dominance in his voice was audible and it had Denae’s hand shaking as she looked back down at her food. “Crystal clear.”

“Good…now as I was saying, do you think my son is jealous or not? Answer me properly this time.”

“He probably isn’t…” Denae whispered, picking up her fork.

“That’s more like it, you should speak up more, I’m not forcing you to be here, right?”

Denae shook her head and he smiled at her, bringing the beans on his fork to her trembling lips. “Here, say ahhh.”

Denae opened her mouth and his fork slid past her lips and against her tongue. “Good girl…the best, that’s why I’m never throwing you away.”

Denae wanted to vomit and she also wanted to cry…she knew he’d never throw her away, but she really wished he would.

As his fork slipped out of her mouth, she glanced around the table, noticing that his other wives were glaring daggers at her. They were fools, the only reason why she was his favorite was because he hadn’t yet broken her into pieces.

She was still defiant and strong…she still fought against him when they were alone just like the very first night he had taken her against her will. That was what intrigued him, the disgust in her eyes as he plunged into her, it was entertaining to him…

And the fact that she continued to fight even after he’d raped her so many times was what made him adore her so much…

If these girls knew this…would they still crave her spot as ‘his favorite’?

Denae grabbed her fork as tears settled in her eyes, she hated this man, and she swore on her life that one day she’d be the one to slice his f*cking throat.

His hand reached for her thigh again and this time Denae made no move to remove it. If she denied him again, it’d only encourage him to do more.

Her fork shook as it dipped into the gravy on her plate and she held her head down as deep and painful embarrassment caved her. He was just teasing her, letting her know that he was in control, that he owned her even if she thought he didn’t.

His hand on her thigh ventured higher, lifting her thigh high floral dress. His fingers climbed beneath it and Denae swallowed the bile in her throat as they played with the rim of her panty. “You look even prettier with a blush on your cheek…I’d demand your presence tonight, but Claudia have already begged me to entertain her instead.”

He withdrew his hand and Denae could finally breathe.

She’d be the one to kill him, she swore on her father’s death!