“Alondra, you incompetent child get down here this minute!’’ The loud echoing voice of my stepmother rang through the house, making me jolt out of bed in a hurry. My mind replayed the last minutes of yesterday before I went to sleep, trying to remember whether there was something I had forgotten to do.
I had been so tired and held up with the preparations of the party. It was my chance to prove to my stepmother that I deserved to attend. I had promised to do all the chores she had given to me before the day came.
Well, now, the day has arrived, and I'll be damned if she comes up with new chores.
Suddenly, my bedroom door swings open, Bethany walks in with a scroll on her face.
“Mother has been calling you for the past 20 minutes, is it really that difficult for you to get your lazy self downstairs?’’
My eyebrows furrow, as I stare at her.
“What does she want?’’ I ask as I pace around my bedroom, picking up a cardigan and draping it over my body. I open the bedroom windows and stare outside, noticing that the sun had not yet come out.
“Alondra!’’ my stepmother's voice echoes through the house again. This time, I jolted past Bethany, pushing her out of the way and rushing down the stairs.
At the bottom of the stairs, my eyes grow wide as I notice Mrs Pierce standing in the middle of the room.
“Luna!’’ I call out as I bow my head, and fold my knees. I could feel the diminishing stare of my stepmother and Weston’s mother falling on my head. I felt little in their presence.
Utterly worthless.
“I wish I could say that it is a delight to see you, Alondra, but it isn't.’’ she says, with a scowl on her face.
My stepmother watches me through gritted teeth. Bethany and Zoe stand at the other side of the kitchen but watch through the doorway as everything unfolds.
My heart beats drastically. Questions fill my mind. I can't help but wonder why she's here and what she wants. The Alpha's mother had never stepped feet into this home - any citizen wolf’s home in particular. She always stayed at the packhouse. Where she was served the kind of luxury that loyalty deserves. Where she was protected by the guards and the Warriors of the pack.
“What can I do for you today, Luna?’’ my voice trembles, as I manage to utter those words.
“Come here, child,’’ she says with utmost politeness.
Mrs Pierce brings herself towards the large chair in the middle of the room and she sits at the edge of it before patting the empty space next to her. I glanced at my stepmother who nodded vigorously. looking back at Bethany and Zoe as they stare at me, with fear in Their Eyes.
At least I'm not the only one afraid of what the situation brings.
I drag my feet towards the Alpha's mother and sit uncomfortably next to her.
“Today is a very important day for Weston,’’ she speaks up. "As such, very many important people are going to be here. I'm sure you've heard the rumors. My son is now the most eligible wolf in the Kingdom. He needs a mate. And if he doesn't meet his true soulmate, then he will be required to select one.’’
A sense of dread washes over me. I know exactly where the situation is going now. I know exactly what she wants to say and I cannot stop the quiet beating of my heart. She stretches her hand and places it on my shoulder. The way her fingers graze my bones makes me feel uncomfortable, like she could just snap my neck any moment. She may be the queen but she was a warrior before. Mrs Pierce was the daughter of the most powerful and ruthless Alpha. Before being mated to the Alpha, as the stories go, she was the best and most powerful warrior in her pack. She was ruthless and dangerous.
“There have been several questions raised about the woman who spends her time stuck on my son's hip, like a parasite. Might you have any idea who I'm talking about, Alondra.’’ I gulp, looking at her for a split second.
“It is important that a parasite like this learns its place. It is important that order is restored in this Pack. Commoners remain with commoners. Alphas interact with people of equal royalty and status. Now that Weston will be named the official alpha of this pack, several duties will fall on his shoulders - duties that normal people cannot understand. He will need the best guidance. He needs good friendship around him. You are a wonderful girl, Alondra. I'm sure there's a lot of great gentlemen in this Pack who wouldn't mind getting to know you better." she paused for a moment. "Why don't you focus on them?’’
I remain quiet.
Looking at my stepmother, she does not say anything. Yet I can not tell if she had something to do with this.
There was a sadistic smile on Bethany's face now.
“I'm sorry, My queen..’’
“No need to apologize, Alondra. I'm just glad that the both of us will come to an understanding. You're more mature than I thought, and you easily understand when to step away. You are a nice young woman, Alondra, and I do hope you find the best the world can give you. I hope you find good friends - friends who are of the same status as you are.’’
She stands up from the chair and walks towards my stepmother. The both of them share a weird look before nodding and turning back to me. My fingers are clenched in a fist. I fight the tears that threaten to spill. My heart breaks a thousand times as her words keep echoing in my head.
'A parasite'.
That's what she saw me as. That is how they all saw me.
“Don't you think it would be best if you refrain from attending today's inauguration? Weston would highly appreciate it if you kept yourself out of his way from now on. Keep to yourself, Alondra Greene, and you will be a true patriot of this Pack.’’
I wanted to leave this room. I wanted to ditch my clothes and return to my wolf. I wanted to run as fast as I could and as much as I could. I wanted those words to disappear from my head. Hell… I even wanted the memories erased. Weston wants me out of his way. Is this how much of a coward he could be now? My best friend. Abandoning me. Wanting nothing to do with me. My best friend rising into power and choosing to cast me away.
It wasn't the betrayal that hurt me the most, it was the fact that he chose to use his mother, a woman who has hated me since she set her eyes on me. It was the fact that he chose to be a coward. But I can't bring myself to tell him all these.
I am in love with western Pierce, and he wants nothing to do with me…?
Like, from now on?
Mrs Pierce and my stepmother exchange pleasantries at the door. They shake hands and there is a sinister smile on my stepmother's face as she bids her goodbye. However, Instead of just going, Mrs Pierce walks back to the house suddenly. I take a deep breath, reminding myself to remain calm and not to cry.“And before I forget my dear, your duties at the pack house will be allocated to someone else. You're going to be handling the garden and the Warriors halls from now on. I encourage that you refrain from any path that may cross with my son's.’’ she says that with the biggest smile on her face. So casually and yet with the meanest demeanor I've ever seen.“Do we understand each other?’’ I can't help but find myself nodding vigorously. The strength to open my mouth and say something has left me. The energy to stand up and talk to her is not with me. I am broken. I am afraid. Not only of the Alpha's mother, but also because the day that I dreaded the most has finally come. And it hasn
The remaining preparations have not been so difficult. Since everything had been arranged the previous night, all that was left was setting up the tables and all the decorations. It was like a walk in the Pack, and I was grateful that I had something too busy in my mind through all these.I have done my very best to avoid Trish who had been looking for me. She wanted to talk to me about something and I couldn't help but feel that it was the more polite and easier version to what the Alpha's mother had told me. I felt so appreciative to Trish for being a friend, for being kind and a sweetheart to me. But soon enough she will also need to step up on her role and become the leader she was meant to be. That also means that I will be required to cut off connection with her.“Have all the vases been filled with water and the flowers mounted in each?’’ Mistress Mary asked out loud. She was the supervisor in charge of planning these events. She was a kind and wonderful woman. She prefers bei
Standing in front of us both is Weston. My heart keeps beating faster. My wolf is excited. Somehow, I can't help but fight the blush that creeps up my cheeks. Weston would always have an effect on me, no matter how damn much I didn't want it.“Get out of here, this instance, before I make an example out of you!’’ He says the words with authority. And the Admiral doesn't hesitate here before disappearing in the opposite direction immediately. I can't help but look at him with shock. Weston was indeed an Alpha, but he has never been one to threaten anyone. The fear in the Admiral was genuine and sincere.All of a sudden, Weston's expression turns to a worried one. He moves towards me quickly and brushes his knuckles over my face. The touch is gentle. It is calming. I find myself incoherently shutting my eyes and taking in His Touch. His hands come over my shoulders. My stomach. I feel his eyes all over me. “Did he hurt you, Alondra?’’ It is only now that my mind registers his words -
“I assumed you were going to be an intelligent girl and do the right thing.’’ the voice startles me. I turn around only to find Mrs. Pierce standing behind me. I can't help but wonder whether she's been listening in on the conversation between Western and I the whole time. I bow my head in respect for her, feeling my fingers shake by her presence. She honestly scares me. Not only because of her authority, but because of the things she’d do to me. She has hated me from the very beginning and I know there's nothing I can do to change that.“Pardon me, Luna..’’“Don't even bother, Alondra. We had a very pleasant conversation this morning and I expected you to abide by our agreement.’“But, I did not–'’“You did not do what? You did not call for him? You did not go out looking for him? Or you are not seeking his help; which one?’’ She speaks with a lot of hatred and disgust. The way she looks at me tells me exactly that.“Yes, my queen. I did not go looking for him. I listen to your inst
“Back when I was 12, I had a best friend. Her name was Maria. She was kind and she had a beautiful heart and I loved spending time with her. She wasn't like all the other friends that mother had forced on me, she didn't spend hours talking about her manicure, she was a servant’s daughter.’’ Patricia started, sitting down on the bed next to me and rubbing my shoulders.“I remember her,’’ Aria said. “Maria was Darren’s little sister.’’ There was an expression behind her face when she spoke Darren’s name. From what I know, Darren was the boy that Aria was in love with before she met her mate. I was not sure where they were headed with this conversation, but I was certainly curious.“Well, as you could guess, my mother disapproved of my friendship with Maria. She said that a noble's daughter can never be friends with the servant's daughter. She spoke of it like it was an abomination, like it would slander and dirty the Alpha's name. I was stubborn. I was really stubborn, and my actions c
I walk quickly. Many people turn their heads to look at me but I ignore them. I wanted to disappear before the ceremony started. If I didn't, then it would be direct disobedience. Our house wasn't that far away, but it was almost at the edge of the pack where the forest began.I glanced at the garden and remembered my encounter with Weston earlier this morning. I breathe in deeply, reminding myself that Weston was not mine. He was not my mate, he was just my best friend. Currently, he was going to be nothing to me. The friendship between us was uprooted like a weed and cast aside.One foot before another, one step after another, my skirt below my knees, the palms of my hands sweating as I wipe them against the fabric of my apron. finally, I took a corner and there was my house. A frown on my face at the realization that my stepmother and sisters have not yet left. When I enter the house, the first person who greets me with a scowl is Zoe.“I think I saw someone getting lectured by th
The celebrations for the Pack lasted as long as I expected. Part of the day was quiet, probably the moments where prominent nobles were giving speeches. I knew that if I wanted information about how the inauguration had gone, I could rely on my step sisters. They were always hell-bent on making my life a living hell and this time, I was one hundred percent sure they would not stop blabbering about today's ceremony. Part of that reason also laid on the gentlemen that had attended from other Packs, and a lot of women who were prone to enjoy this night. It had been about 5 hours since the incident with my stepmother. I had not left the room to go downstairs, but I could hear that the house was quiet. I knew that they were gone - they were long gone.“Dad, if only you were here, you would tell me what to do. You'd help me make the right decision.’’ I whispered looking up at the sky from my bedroom window. It is at this moment that an exciting idea strikes me. I open my bedroom door an
“Alondra, you better fucking get up, you lazy bone!’’ My stepmother's voice rings through the house. My head shoots up from the sheets, closing my eyes beadily when the bright, yellow lines of the sun enters my eyes. I did not even close my bedroom window last night when I slammed myself in bed. I was tired. I was exhausted from all the running.Something about that brings back fresh memories of a stranger who chased me down the forest.“Alondra!’’ I get down from the bed immediately. I have no idea when my stepmother and stepsisters got home. I don't even know what time it is to begin with. All I know is that the sun has risen.Looking down at the clothes I'm wearing, I shake my head before opening the door and running down the stairs. My stepmother is seated on the couch, her fingers massaging her forehead as she shuts her eyes. “I'm having a terrible headache, I need you to head out and get me some pain killers.’’“But we have those in the kitchen.’’ I say, watching the way sh