The delicious smell of freshly made breakfast became stronger as time went on. Soon, two familiar young women who worked as maids brought in a food trolley. They set the table and invited us to have breakfast. It was nice, being treated like a guest. I decided to enjoy it while it lasted. I knew that within a few hours, I would be back to slaving away either in Blackmoon or whichever pack accepted to trade with the rogues. Given how well my captors were being treated, I had a feeling that I was going to stay at Blackmoon.
Thirty minutes later, Marlon and Ridian walked into the house. My heart did a backflip when I sensed him in the vicinity. The air seemed to be getting hotter for me and I couldn’t breathe well with him so near. I could almost feel him.
“Good morning,” he said.
Everyone responded at the same time. My answer was so low that I doubt anyone heard it.
“Let’s talk in the living room,” Ridian said as he walked past the dining table. As if on cue, my captors stood up, pushed their chairs back and went to join the two men. I stood up slowly, wondering whether I was needed during the negotiations.
“You can stay there,” Nia told me.
“Please step outside,” Ridian said.
“No,” Nia protested. “I don’t trust you.”
“She doesn’t need to hear this. Slaves don’t have to know how much they’re sold for and all that. Let her go with one of your guys.”
She sighed. “Please go with her, Nick.” Nia instructed.
“Or I can just block her from hearing,” nick suggested.
“You can do that,” Ridian said.
And that was how the meeting proceeded and ended without me hearing a word of what was discussed. A while later, everyone stood up. Marlon handed a bag over to Mason. Afterwards, they all walked outside while I stayed inside waiting for my fate. Seeing the happy smiles on the faces of every rogue, I knew that things had gone well for them.
“Thank you so much for transforming our lives, Cilla.” Nia said. “I will never forget about you, and I hope that one day you will be reunited with your siblings.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.”
I stayed there alone when they were gone, waiting for instructions that never came. Instead, I received the best surprise ever.
I could tell it was her as soon as the door opened.
“Cilla!” Cara Girad screamed.
I rose up and rushed to hug her. It felt so good, seeing a familiar friendly face again. All the negative thoughts and feelings vanished when she hugged me back. I hadn’t realized how much I had missed her, the one adult human being in the world that seemed to genuinely care about me.
“I’m so shocked,” Cara said after pulling away. “I had heard that that pack wouldn’t sell you back. What happened? How did they finally let you go?”
“They didn’t.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Let’s sit,” she said. “I have all day.”
We went towards the couch and sat on it. “I escaped and got kidnapped by rogues.”
“No way!”
“Yes way.” I told her. I proceeded to give her the details of everything that had happened to me in the last twenty four hours. After that, I gave her the back story, everything that had happened to me from the day I had sold off. It was a long story but I enjoyed telling her every bit of it because she looked genuinely interested.
“Wow, so you turned a couple of brats into sweet angels? That’s crazy.”
“What’s crazy is that I was actually starting to enjoy spending time with those little girls, and now I miss them. I wonder how they are doing.”
“They must be devastated,” Cara said. “Now I understand why the father didn’t want to sell you. Hell, why would anyone want to sell you? I wonder what was going on in alpha Ridian’s head when he made such a decision. Look at you, you’re gold.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, let’s not overdo it with the praises. I might end up believing everything you say.”
“And that’d be a good thing because everything I have said is true. You’re super amazing and we are all lucky to have you. You won’t guess who I’ve been working with. She nearly drove me crazy.”
“Who?”
“Guess.”
“Mind’s blank.”
“Maryanne,” Cara said. “She keeps trying to seduce the alpha.”
I found myself standing up. “What? Maryanne has been serving alpha Ridian.”
“Yes. She was assigned to take over from you.”
“Pretty sure she couldn’t wait to get into the role.”
“Yeah, she’s always trying to make the alpha notice her. He doesn’t seem to like her every much.”
I sat down.
“Why are you so worked up?” Cara asked, before her eyes widened. “Oh no, you’re in love with him.”
I shook my head, but apparently that was not convincing enough for her. She knew that he was my mate so it was easy to make such a conclusion. She was somehow right. However much I tried to focus on Ridian’s bad qualities, I couldn’t. Ever since he had accepted the mate bond, the good side had enlarged in my eyes. I figured it was the overwhelming attraction blinding me. Despite the flaws he had, I wanted him. I had begun to make excuses for his behavior which was so unlike me.
“You do. My goodness, Cilla. It’s expected, given you know what.” She said, looking around.
I sighed. “Anyway, let’s not talk about that. What else has Maryanne been up to?”
“Ahh, she eats like she has never seen food before. The friend of yours is a beast.”
“Friend? I don’t know about that.”
Cara shrugged. “Okay, let’s get you to your room. You look like you need a shower.”
“I’m sure I smell like I need one as well but you’re too polite.”
“Not really,” Cara said. “You actually smell alright.”
Since I did not have any belongings apart from a few things in a polythene bag, we just stood up and left the house. The sun outside had become hotter, and the air smelled great. I felt free. It was weird. I was still a slave but I felt free at Blackmoon pack. It was like home for me.
We walked past the main house. Cara had suggested I go in and great the ladies in the kitchen but I was not in the mood to chat with other people. Running into Maryanne was something I was not prepared for as well. That back stabbing b1tch. How dare she want to take Ridian away from me?
Granted, she didn’t know we were mates but that did not make me feel any better. We had almost reached the flower garden when I heard my name called out in a very familiar soft voice. I considered ignoring it and continuing my way. It came again.
Rolling my eyes, I stopped and turned.
“Maryanne,” I said.
“I didn’t know you would be coming back to this pack.”
“Is that the way to greet an old friend?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Maryanne smiled. She tried to make it look real but it was as plastic as they come. Totally fake.
She stepped down the steps and walked to where Cara and I were standing. She wrapped her hands around my body, and I did the same. “Welcome back, Cilla Markle.”
“Thanks, Maryanne. I missed you.”
Maryanne chuckled and pulled away. “I’m not desperate enough to believe that, Cilla. Let’s keep the flattery to the minimum.”
“Why is it so hard for you to believe I can miss you?”
Maryanne rolled her eyes. “My dear, I’m going to return to the house now. I have actual important things to do.”
“Hmm, I know you do.”
“Cara Girad, I hope you’ve not been spreading lies about me.”
“I only speak the truth.”
“I hope so. Bye, losers.”
Cara chuckled while I just shook my head.
“Such a drama queen,” Cara said.
“Right.”