6| Gifts.

 

“Good morning, sleeping beauty.” Bella’s voice beamed, jolting me awake. 

 

I slowly opened my eyes to see her opening the blinds, and I quickly shut my eyes as the rays of sunshine hit them.

 

Turning to the other side, I opened my eyes again. I looked around the room, hoping to see Maximus, but he wasn’t in sight, and that left me wondering where he went. I didn’t even think he returned yesterday night. I was awake for a long time, waiting for him to return and thinking about the things he did to me before sleep swept me away. 

 

I wondered why he touched me, arousing me, and then suddenly stormed out of the room afterwards. Did I do something wrong? Or could it be part of his torture scheme?

 

Bella abruptly yanked the blanket off my body. “Wake up, Miss. It’s time for breakfast.”

 

“I’m awake.” I sighed as I lazily sat up. “Have you seen him this morning?” I asked Bella.

 

I didn’t need to mention his name for her to know who I was talking about. 

 

“No, I haven’t.” She replied before turning her gaze in a particular direction. “But he asked that those things be brought to you.”

 

I trailed her line of sight, and my eyes narrowed when I saw the customised boxes and paper bags sitting on the sofa at one end of the room. 

 

“What are those?” I asked curiously. 

 

“Let’s check them out.” She squealed as she pranced towards the sofa. 

 

Jumping out of bed and approaching her, I watched as she unboxed the items. 

 

The contents included shoes, dresses, night wares, jewellery, and all sorts of things that I had never owned in my entire life. They looked really expensive.

 

“Why did he get all these things for me?” I voiced out my thoughts. 

 

“Because you are his mate.” Bella affirmed, nudging me excitedly.

 

She drooled over the gifts, wishing she would one day get to own things like that. But I, on the other hand, wasn’t too happy about them, knowing they might just be compensation for the torture he and Lauren were preparing for me. I hated them.

 

“I’ll arrange them.” Bella offered, and I didn’t object. 

 

She arranged everything in the space Maximus left for me in the closet, and after that, she took me out to the kitchen to have breakfast.

 

Thankfully, I woke up late, and all the pack members had already had their breakfasts, so the kitchen was empty. 

 

“What would you like to have?” Bella asked me. 

 

“Sandwich and coffee.” I told her. “What about you? I could make it for both of us.”

 

“No. I won’t allow you to. It’s my duty. That’s what I was assigned to do.” She quickly protested. 

 

“But I know how to cook and do all that stuff. I used to do it in my old pack.” I pouted. 

 

“Like you said, your old pack. Not here.” She dragged me to one of the stools and forced me to sit on it. “I’ll get into trouble if the Alpha sees you doing any sort of work. I had been instructed to do everything for you.”

 

I rolled my eyes. “I am not a baby.”

 

“You are his baby.” She teased and giggled before trudging to the coffee marker to begin preparing breakfast for me. 

Only if she knew what I had to endure yesterday.

 

“Look who’s here.” Lauren’s annoying voice suddenly sounded, and I hoisted my head to see her walking into the kitchen. 

 

I sighed and rolled my eyes. Not again. 

 

“Did you just roll your eyes at me?” She questioned me, her arms akimbo, with a frown slated on her face.

 

Ignoring her, I focused on Bella, who was preparing sandwiches, while occasionally glancing at me to make sure I was okay.

 

“Are you deaf?!” Lauren yelled as she marched towards me. 

 

“I don’t want any trouble!” I snapped. 

 

“That’s exactly what I intend to give to you.” Before I knew what was happening, she had already grabbed my hair tightly and pulled my head back with it.

 

“Lauren!” Bella exclaimed as she rushed towards us. 

 

“What? Do you want your hair to be pulled  too?" She threatened with a raised brow. 

 

“Stop this nonsense!” I yelled, wincing in pain as I tried to free myself in a futile attempt. She was much stronger than me. 

 

“What did you do with Maximus yesterday? Uh?” She asked. “I know he asked me to leave because of you.”

 

“Nothing!” I lied. 

 

“Unless you tell me the truth.” She pulled my hair harder, and I groaned in pain. “I won’t release you.”

 

“I said, nothing!” I gritted out. 

 

“Maximus is mine, and mine alone. Don’t you ever think of stealing him away from me just because you are mates. I would—“ She trailed off when we heard two she-wolfs greeting the Alpha just outside the kitchen.

 

She quickly let go of my hair and, within a split second, dishevelled her own hair. I widened my eyes in perplexity, knowing what she was about to do.

 

Just then, Alpha King Maximus appeared in the doorway. I glanced at Lauren only to see that her eyes were already wet with crocodile tears. She was a damn actress. 

 

“What happened?” He asked, concerned, as he inched closer to her and placed his hand on her shoulder.

 

“Starlette.” She pointed an accusatory finger at me, sobbing. “She pulled my hair so hard, now I have a headache.”

 

“I didn’t do it.” I defended myself. 

 

“You did.” She retorted. “You were jealous about what happened yesterday; you got so angry and attacked me.”

 

“You have to believe me.” My attention is on Alpha Maximus now. “I didn’t do it. Look at my hair. She did this to me.”

 

His nose flared, and he began to take intimidating steps towards me. The frown rooted deep in his face scared me, and I recoiled instinctively. My heart began to beat so fast against my ribcage, afraid of what he might do to me. 

 

And when he came to a stop in front of me, his intoxicating scent became stronger and hit my nose harder. Memories of last night came rushing back, and I became aroused out of my own will.

 

Who gets scared and aroused because of the same person at the same time?