Chapter Two

{Hailey’s POV}

It was a very excruciatingly painful twenty-four hours of plane ride without doing anything other than sleep, eat, or stare blankly at the plane window. I felt like it was the longest time of my life. I wasn’t used to this kind of silence. At the pack, the only time I was quiet was every time that I was asleep. I’ve never felt lonely because I have so many people to talk to, but now, I know that’s about to change.

I didn’t know if I should feel relieved or not when the pilot announced that we have already landed, but when my feet landed on the ground, I know it was the latter. I wanted to go home.

“Miss Hunter,” A man in his late thirties, wearing a black suit came to me. “My name’s Adam. Your father sent me to escort you. I will leave once you are safely in the care of the mistress of air.”

I meekly smiled at him. “Adam, can I ask you a question?”

He nodded. “Of course, Miss Hunter,”

I brushed him off. “Just call me Hailey. Anyway, where are we? What is this place?”

He hesitated. “I’m afraid I cannot say.”

I frowned. “And why not?”

But he only shook his head, leaving me even more confused.

I was about to ask another question when a black-tinted car pulled up in front of us. Adam ushered me to get inside the backseat, leaving me no choice but to do what he asked me to as he sat in the passenger car with the driver who also wore the same black suit.

Thirty minutes passed but the surroundings didn’t change. I can’t see any houses or proof that a person was living in this place. Not even a single trace of modernization. There were only trees, and I immediately knew right then that I wouldn’t last in here. Sure, there were a lot of trees back at the pack, but it was for when pack members shift. But those who still haven’t shifted yet like me, we have so many things to keep ourselves busy and entertained.

And that’s the thing I couldn’t seem to see here.

I must have fallen asleep on our way because when we woke up, the car was already pulling over. I half-expected to at least see houses around, but there were none. Instead, what greeted my sight was a wide and empty clearing.

I gulped.

The door to my side opened, revealing Adam. I didn’t even notice that he had gotten out of the passenger side.

“Miss Hailey, we have arrived.” He said in a matter-of-fact tone, seeing that I have no plan on coming out anytime soon.

For a second, I thought of changing my mind. I couldn’t do this. After all, Dad told me that he was just one call away and I know that no matter what Mom said, once I begged him, he would do whatever it takes to give me what I want. That’s a part of him that Mom could never fix or at least stop.

But then, the image of me destroying our pack and killing everyone stopped me from doing so. I was again reminded that I was far too dangerous to go back yet.

Taking a deep breath, I went out and was surprised to see a small house, almost as big as a cabin across the clearing. I didn’t notice it just now.

The first question that popped in my head was, “I’m going to live there?” No freaking way. It looked like a hunter’s house. The packhouse at the pack was ten times larger than this…house.

“Come on, Miss Hailey. The mistress of air must be waiting for you.”

“I doubt it,” I muttered but still walk towards the clearing where the house barely stands.

The place was kind of wide for such a small house. There was no garden or anything that could be the source of food, so I wondered if that ‘mistress of air’ was already starving to death.

We were almost in front of the house when someone walked out from the oak door. Adam stopped and so was I. He then bowed at the tall browned haired woman to which she returned.

I stared at her, surprised.

I thought that the mistress of air was an old woman, but I was wrong. In fact, she even looked younger than Rae and Mom. But Aunt Rae said that she’d been living for hundreds of years now.

She doesn’t age…like the air.

I stood proudly with my chin up and confident. I am the Alpha King’s daughter not to mention that my mother is the feared Hope Trinity, no one could ever make me feel small.

I went to her and offered my hand.

“Hi! My name’s H—”

“Get your things. Bring them to the living room. You’ll sleep on the couch.” And then she turned her back to me and begin walking back inside, leaving me stunned.

What the hell?! Did she just freaking talked to me like that?!

I looked at Adam, but he only smiled apologetically at me. He didn’t look surprised which made me think if the mistress of air was known for her rudeness. That’s not going to last long. I’ll make sure of it.

***

I have prepared five luggage bags, two big backpacks, and a sling bag full of my stuff. I don’t know how long I would be staying here so better be prepared.

I hold my little sling bag while Adam along with the driver was carrying the rest of my stuff. They looked painfully heavy and I could only grimace while watching them carry my things. Sorry boys.

“Drop them.”

I stilled and looked at the woman who spoke. She was right outside the door, her face impassive while looking at the two men. The air around her was making her long brown hair sway gently.

I scoffed in disbelief. “You told me to bring my stuff inside and now you’re ordering them to drop it?”

Finally, her obsidian eyes looked into mine. “I told you to bring your stuff inside, not them. If you want those things inside my home, better start carrying them now.” Her tone was sharp and cold. She was so strict not to mention rude.

I held her stare, challengingly.

I don’t care if she’s hundred years older than me. This lady is…urghh! So freaking frustrating.

She didn’t look away and, in the end, I was forced to tear my gaze away and start picking up my stuff from the ground. One piece of luggage was enough to make me fall on my knees.

Sh/t! What in the world is inside this luggage? Rocks?

I was grumbling while carrying the thing inside and I was surprised to see that the inside of the house looked wider and neater than I ever expected.

Across the main door was the living room. A small old light blue couch, a loveseat, and a coffee table in the middle. There was a door on the left leading to what I presume was the kitchen and dining area and the right side was stairs.

I dropped the first luggage on the floor of the living room before I went outside again, already breathing hard.

“—She’ll be safe here. Please inform the Luna Queen and Raquel that Hailey’s in good hands, and also greet them for me. Thank you, Adam.”

I saw Adam bow at the ‘old and rude’ woman before going back to the car, leaving me here alone with the psycho. No!

She turned to me and if it was even possible, her eyes turned colder, making me gulp.

“Finish that.” She said curtly.

“But I’m tired! I have jetlag and—”

“I don’t care if you just came from a month of traveling. Get your things inside or leave them here for the rest of your stay.” And with that, she went inside.

I looked at the remaining four luggage bags and two big backpacks in defeat. I want to bury myself if that’s what it takes for me to finally get some sleep.

I already hate it here.

***

“You’ll literally make me sleep on the couch?”

“You heard me.” She stated while standing across the room wearing a gray cardigan and a pair of denim jeans with her arms crossed. She seemed to be in her mid-thirties, but I know better. That woman is older than my great-great-grandparents.

I gaped at her. “Do you know who I am?! I’m your guest! I’m an Alpha’s daughter too! You can’t make me sleep on that thing!” I pointed at her old light blue couch.

“I know exactly who you are and where you came from. I know everything I needed to know about you...It’s just that I don’t give a damn.” She then begins walking towards the stairs, making my eyes widen.

“Oh, no you are not gonna walk out on me again!” I complained but it was like she doesn’t hear anything. “Hey! Air!” I called her. What? I don’t know her name, so what am I supposed to call her?

She finally stopped and turned to me with an impassive face. “You’ll sleep on the couch and that’s final. You are in my home, and you’ll do as you're told if you don’t want me to throw you out, understood?” I didn’t speak nor make a move, but she still said, “Good.”

She was about to turn around, but I immediately called her again. She turned to me, looking irritated now.

“What?”

“I’m hungry.” I caressed my tummy to emphasize my point.

She let out an exaggerated breath. “You’re not a kid anymore. If you’re hungry, go to the kitchen and make yourself something to eat.” She spat.

Sh/t. I barely know how to cook.

She turned to leave again, so I called her…again.

“Air!”

“Stop calling me that!”

I blinked innocently. “Then, tell me your name.”

The side of my lips twitch when I saw her clenching her fist in annoyance. “Sapphire. Now shut your mouth and don’t bother me.” And with that, she turned around and begin walking upstairs.

“That’s a pretty name for someone so old!” I commented loudly, but I didn’t hear her reply. I laughed. “Okay, Sapphire!” Again, nothing.

I puffed a breath before turning to my things scattered on the floor. Where am I supposed to place these things? Urghh!

***

“This freaking little sh/t!” I groaned.

The couch was so hard and uncomfortable and not to mention smaller than me, making it harder to sleep in peace.

I sighed in frustration.

“Seriously?!” I hissed before sitting up. This was torture.

Sapphire’s treating me everything I’ve never once experienced in the pack. First night and it already feels like hell. She seemed so cold and rude to me but when I saw her talking to Adam earlier, she looked and sounded nice. It wasn’t in a fake way. In fact, she looked genuinely nice while softly speaking to Adam.

So, why was she treating me like crap?

I groaned before plopping down on the couch.

I’m sure tomorrow’s going to be much worse.