CHAPTER FIVE

Sila growls, “That’s enough! You don’t know anything. And I’m going to be personally reporting this to your families. Whatever your personal grudge, she is still the daughter-in-law of the Moore family.”

The two girls who had attacked me so violently, now have uneasy looks on their faces.

“Whatever,” Lisa mutters. “She’s not going to be around here for long anyway.”

They walk off and leave me trembling the arms of the two girls who had come to my rescue.

It’s the other one who asks me, “Are you okay?”

I try to say something, but the shock of the treatment make it difficult for me to form words.

“I’m Cassie,” The girl introduces herself before looking at Sila. “Let’s get her home. She looks like she will pass out.”

I shake my head, “I - Can I - Water.”

Cassie jumps into action, leading me into the cafe while Sila orders some water and some food.

It’s only after I have consumed something that I feel more like myself.

“Thank you,” I manage to say.

“Don’t mention it,” Sila’s eyes sparkle with anger. “This whole faction business is wrong. You had no choice in this matter.”

When I look at her, she clarifies, “There are some people in the pack who aren’t happy with the fact that the Moore family chose another mate for their son, and even that from another pack.”

I wet my lips, feeling so alone right now, “But why - I didn’t want this.”

“It’s more complicated than that,” Cassie murmurs. “Maybe if it had been any other family, nobody would have cared but the Moore family is one of the richest ones in our pack. They have a long history in this pack. Any female that enters their family is going to be blessed with respect and power.”

“Not that it helped Maria any,” Sila mutters under her breath and Cassie gives her a sharp look shutting her up.

I look between the two, feeling myself begin to calm down now, “Is it true? What they said about Ness being the future Alpha pair?”

Sila scoffs, “Well, she is in the running but there is no guarantee. Our Alpha has not chosen a mate and he is well past his prime.”

“He’s not that old,” Cassie protests.

“He’s in his late early thirties,” Sila says, irritably. “He should have chosen a mate by now. Don’t know what he’s holding out for. None of us get a choice in mate. Why does he?”

Cassie’s eyes darken, “Even the walls have ears, Sila.”

Sila falls silent, “Look, I know you’re young but you’re going to have to prepare yourself. Your arrival has caused a political friction. And you should definitely stay out of Ness’s way. She has been against your coming here from the beginning.”

I don’t understand.

If Ness is one of the candidates for the future Alpha pair, why is she adamant on wedging herself between me and Cameron? Anybody would love to take the position of the Alpha pair.

I hesitate before asking, “Were Cameron and Ness friends?”

The two girls exchange a look, “Well, not friends. Maria was friends with Ness. She was almost like a sister, I would say.”

I stare at the two girls, not knowing whether to tell them the words Ness had spoken to me the other day. There had been nothing like ‘sisterly affection’ in her words. But I don’t know these two girls. And my position in this pack is nothing short of tremulous. I need allies, not enemies.

So, I choose to keep my mouth shut.

They may be saying all these things against Ness now, but I can’t risk saying something which can make them suddenly alienate me.

I choose my next words carefully, “Why was Cameron forced to choose another mate so soon after his mate’s death?”

The two women stiffen before Cassie fidgets with her fingers, “We don’t really know. Nobody knows, to be honest. Usually, after a mate’s passing, one year is allowed for grieving. His case was also special, losing a true mate. But the Moore family has a significant role in our pack. Our Alpha was the one who forced -”

“Cassie,” Sila’s voice has a warning edge to it.

Cassie shrugs, “Sorry. Anyway, I’m Cassie and this is Sila. A proper introduction was forgotten. We are the Vera sisters. Vivian mentioned to my mate that she had sent you to meet Lisa and Dolores, we decided to come by, just in case something happened.”

“Did you already expect something like this to happen?” I ask, slowly.

Both women exchange a wary look, “Well, Lisa and Dolores are Ness’s cousins. After Marie’s death, Ness was very vocal about allowing Cameron to grieve and then choose a mate himself. Normally, that doesn’t happen, but the Moore family has the ability to pull those kinds of strings. I mean true mates is so rare now. If you don’t find yours by fifteen, the Alpha is always the one to designate the mate.”

Her words make my heart sink even when I already know this, “What happens if a mating doesn’t work?”

The silence that falls is heavy. Both Cassie and Sila look away for a moment.

I feel a hard ball form in my gut as Cassie says, “An Alpha’s mating choice is final.”

As I look at them, I wonder how many more challenges I am going to face on the future to get Cameron to accept me and to deal with Ness who clearly wants Cameron for herself.

*

It’s late afternoon when both women drop me back home with promises of coming to see me soon.

The servants eye with a cold look in their eyes when I enter the mansion. I’m already used to their disdain, but a bad feeling crawls up my spine. It solidifies a moment alter when I step into the drawing room.

For a moment, the scene before me stuns me.

The entire family is gathered.

Cameron and Vivian are sitting next to a red-eyed, sniffling Ness, both of them trying to comfort her.

Michael looks angry.

They look up as soon as I walk in, and I’m taken aback to see the sheer hatred in Cameron’s eyes for me when he looks at me.

Vivian looks furious.

I have barely taken one step further when she jumps off the couch, striding over to me, and slaps me, so viciously that my ears begin to ring, and I stumble onto to the marble floor because of the force of it.