When I entered the house that afternoon, the atmosphere was dripping heavily with tension. I made my way into the kitchen where I found my step mother standing across the kitchen sink, staring at me with disdain.
"There has to be something seriously wrong with you.'' she started, as I placed the basket of fresh vegetables on the kitchen counter.
"Good afternoon stepmother.'' I say, fighting the urge to roll my eyes.
"I just went to talk to the Queen and she didn't seem very happy to see me. What have you done this time, Alondra?''
"Nothing. Perhaps she was just tired, or...''
Thwart! A hard slap sounded across the room and I felt a stinging pain on my cheek. I placed my hand on my cheek, caressing it gently as I turned to stare at my stepmother.
"Don't be smart with me. You did something." She said, pointing wickedly at me. "I am not going to have your whore behavior ruining my business with the Queen.'' she spat.
"Weston is my best friend!'' I say, as I fight the tears that returned to Spain.
"Keep telling yourself that!'' A voice sounded from behind me. I turned around to stare at Zoey, who was standing across the doorway, looking at me with the same expression her mother had. "Everyone in the whole damn Park knows that you want to become a whore for the alpha, if you have not done it already.''
She shrugged her shoulders as she moved to stand next to my stepmother. And together, the both of them would always team up against me. But it wasn't just two of them.
"You should see how she acts around the royal family as well. Around Patricia who does not even like her to begin with." Zoey entered the kitchen in slowly cautious steps. The smile on her face signified a victory she believed she had won.
"Mother, I seriously feel that she destroys our family every time. Why should she be allowed to live in our house anymore?''
"This is my father's house..."
Thwart! My stepmother slapped me yet again, this time, making it so hard that I felt dizzy and there was a ringing sound between my ears. I could feel the tears breaking my eyes but I held them back.
I hated the way they treated me.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, making me feel like I had just been saved from certain death. I rushed to open it, rejecting any other words that my stepmother was speaking.
"Alondra!'' Patricia, Weston's sister, was standing on the doorway with an urgent look on her face. "Weston wants to see you before the meeting.''
Hearing Weston's name caused my heart to jump a bit. And I abandoned the sorrows and frustrations of my own home before proceeding to walk out the door. Patricia had been my saving grace. Only a little while longer and my step mother would have badly hurt me. Zoey and Bethany, despite being my step sisters, were lazy and entitled. And my step mother funneled it. She said that she wanted her daughters to live a comfortable, perfect life, even at my own expense. The truth is that I've never really understood why she hated me. Or why she treated me the way she did. I made a promise to my father that I would keep the family together. That I would love and cherish both my stepmother and step sisters.
"Weston wants to see you.'' Trish spoke as I walked by her side.
"Is he alright?''
"He is,'' she answered, half nodding while avoiding my eyes. I couldn't control how I felt about her brother, Weston, but for very long I had tried to hide it.
"Is this about the birthday ball?'' I questioned, following as she led me through the thick bushes that prompted a short cut towards the pack house.
"Not really, he just has something important he wishes you two discuss.''
"Trish, is everything okay?''
"Alondra!'' Weston's voice rang in the empty space, as our eyes shot up. I almost jumped out of my skin, placing my hand on my chest, trying to calm myself.
"You scared me.'' I let out, "What are you doing outside the pack house at this ungodly hour?''
Weston looked at Trish for a moment, and their eyes seemed to communicate. Something felt weird and strange, and Weston did not seem himself.
With a nod, Trish excused herself from us before heading towards the pack house, leaving me utterly confused.
"Want to take a walk?" Weston asked, his gentle smile pulling me in like a magnet.
"Sure," I quipped, returning his smile as I let him lead the way. We walked slowly in silence, the fresh cool breeze brushing against us. I could tell something was bothering him. I knew him like the back of my hand. Somehow, when something was wrong with my best friend, I could feel it in the pit of my stomach. Gnawing at my soul.
"There's something I need to tell you." He said, but his voice dragged along, making it appear more like a whisper.
"What is it? " I asked with a playful tone.
"My mother. " he let out, his shoulders dropping as he let out a deep breath. " My parents,” He corrected.
“What? Is everything okay with them?’’
“They want me to choose a mate." He cut in.
"A what?" The words flew out of my mouth in a heartbeat, yet what I dreaded the most was the urgency and brokenness in my voice when I said that.
"A mate Alondra. I will soon become Alpha, and I will be saddled with responsibilities that my parents feel are better handled when I have a mate by my side."
"But you've not found your mate yet." I argued, pausing my tracks as I turned to look at him.
"I know. And that's why I'll be choosing a mate three full moons from now." He answered, his eyes leaving mine, inviting a damning coldness that brought about a shattering ugly truth: I was going to lose my best friend.
“Bu..but I thought you said you were going to wait until you found your mate.’’ I let out, finding the words even though my mind was a storm of emotions.“I am going to be alpha. That responsibility falls on my shoulders, whether I want to or not. I would want to avoid it with everything that I have, but I just can't. Everyone is looking up to me…’’“And I believe in you, Weston. You are my best friend, but I just don't think this is the right step for you.’’ I thought out loud, meeting his eyes for a split second. “A mate should be someone destined for you. you can't just choose one.’’“And you think I don't know that?’’ he let out, as he slowly walked away from me. His fingers found his hair, as he paced around. We were only a short distance away from the garden. “Alondra, all I want is to become a good Alpha, and if that means that I would have to sacrifice my own happiness for the bitterness of the park, then, so be it.’’“But you don't have to. You can be happy and the pack would
The birthday ceremony for Weston was not as bad as we all had expected. I had spent the time serving drinks and taking away some of the plates and dishes. While the Queen had demanded that it was a ceremony for wine and champagne instead of food, the food prepared for their children had been brought by werewolf dignitaries into the pack.Weston's birthday party was unlike anything ever seen. I couldn't help but feel that he was sleeping from my fingers already, as I watched him interact with everyone. I believed that sooner or later, things would have to change, and I wasn't sure whether that would mean our friendship dynamic as well.Feeling rather suffocated in the presence of such loyalty and conversations, I could hardly understand. I choose to sneak out and head to the balcony. I knew that none of them would notice me going because they were all engrossed in other conversations. There were more than enough servants to distribute the rest of the remaining champagne, in case any of
“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 star
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