A not-so-simple task

Chapter 1

A not-so-simple task

Lilian.

I wasn't always like this.

This bony and frail looking girl with hollow eyes. These eyes were vibrant once before, even my dark hair was shiny once before, now it looked scattered and dry like an overused mop.

I sighed to myself as I gave up looking at my miserable frame in the mirror. This was my life now, I had made peace with it.

There was no big bad Alpha that would swoop in to save me and destroy the lives of the people that were destroying mine everyday.

“Are you done gawking at your ugly self, Lorraine?” The Luna's disgusted and mocking tone filled my ears.

I looked up and saw the disdain her eyes had as they stared down at my bony figure.

“I'm sorry, Luna. I just wanted to tell you that I was done cleaning Cailan’s room.” I bowed my head while I spoke.

“Oh.” She stopped short at the stairs, looking all put together in the gold-coloured satin simple gown that hugged her delicate figure. “Find something else and do. It's not like there isn't any other thing in this house to keep you busy. Don't be a lazy fool and go find some work to do!” She commanded with acid dripping from her tone, and thundered down the stairs.

I nodded slowly. I sure looked really tired and weary, and my tummy grumbled due to lack of food. I hadn't eaten since the previous night as a punishment for not washing the Beta’s clothes.

My knees could give way at any moment and I could slump at any time, but I walked on.

“Lillian, there you are.” I heard a haughty voice behind me.

Beta Aidan.

“Yes, Beta.” I bowed my head to show submission, if not, I would be used and abused and nobody would care.

“Go to the lobby and scrub the floor, it needs to be sparkling and shining before I return. You can take Hailey with you.” He said.

I bowed my head once again and rushed the best I could to pick up the supplies and go to my stationed workplace. Hailey came with me, and together on our hands and knees, we scrubbed quietly.

“Seal all the pack borders! We are under attack!” My Alpha's deep voice resonated throughout the pack link, and I could feel all the hair in my body stand.

For the first time in a while, I was struck with fear of the unknown. I was doing all these lowly work because of only one goal in mind, and a pack attack would ruin it all. There was a hint of panic in the Alpha's voice, something that had never happened before.

“Something is really wrong, I have a terrible feeling about this.” My friend, Hailey, said with eyes filled with fear.

If Hailey said something was wrong, something was really wrong. She was really perceptive.

“Alpha!” A sharp voice cut through my wandering thoughts as a bloodied pack warrior stumbled in and fell at the door. “Half of our warriors are down.” He tried to muster out, coughing up a lot of blood in the process.

Whatever happened out there had really weakened the spirits of the Commander of the Pack Warriors.

Alpha Blackthorn stood up from where he sat, not quite far from the floor we were scrubbing, his eyes were blazing emerald green in anger.

“Who dares attack my pack? How many are they in number? How many are the rogues out there that you can't defeat?” His voice thundered at the warrior.

Tears spilled out of the corner of the warrior’s eyes. Bitter tears, I noted. I felt my heart drop to my stomach, dreading the next words that would come out from his mouth.

“There are no rogues,” his voice cracked. “It is just one wolf. One demon! One monster!” He shivered in fear as more tears spilled out of his eyes.

“Lilian!” I heard my Alpha's dark and grainy voice call out to me and my legs began to move on its own as it scurried forward towards where the Alpha stood.

I knelt, head buried to the ground, to listen to his orders as I always did, if not, his heavy legs would come crashing down my back.

“Since all my warriors are busy, I will task you with one important mission. I even promise to let your family go and all their debts forgiven.” He said coldly, and I knew my life was going to be on the line for this request.

But thinking of my parents, my brothers and sisters coming back home to me, I knew I would do everything in my power to make it happen, no matter how weary or hungry I was. This was my only chance to redeem my family, and I wasn't going to let this slip away.

“Y-y-yes Alpha. I will do anything.” I struggled to breathe out.

“I want you to protect my only son and child, Cailan, with all your life. If anything as little as a strand of hair misses from his head, I would slaughter your family before your very eyes and burn them till they turn to ashes,” his voice was really low and malevolent as he spoke.

I was internally gasping for breath at that gory mental picture. I swore on my life that it would never get to that, and I would protect Cailan even if it meant dying.

“I promise that Cailan will be safe after this is all over. I swear on it with my life.” I was trembling as those words came out of my mouth.

I could feel the tears begin to well up in my eyes. I could do this! I had to be able to do this! Only then would I be able to see their faces once more.

“Good.” The Alpha breathed out before disappearing in a second.

Immediately he was gone, I scampered to my feet and rushed to the corner of the room where Cailan napped peacefully. We had to hide!

Careful not to wake him, I scooped him into my arms and shouted towards Hailey, “The big oak! We need to hide there.”

I cuddled the boy in my arms and fled out of the lobby, skipping over the fallen warrior in his pool of blood.

“Not that way!” I heard the warrior shout with his last breath as soon as I dashed towards the direction of the big oak, and dread filled my stomach once again.

It was already too late to turn back…