Esmeralda
“No way!”
Vanessa’s high-pitched voice filled the air, stinging my ears as I fought the urge to cover them with my palms.
Madam Dora’s curious gaze met hers as she cocked her head to the side, giving her a suspicious look, “Excuse me?” She asked in a manner that deserves an explanation.
“Nothing, Madam Dora… she just can’t,” Vanessa stammered, avoiding Madam Dora’s penetrating gaze.
Oh, baby, I can and I would!
“She just can’t what?”
A long weary sigh escaped Vanessa’s lips, “She can’t be in charge of the Alpha’s quarters,” She chewed on her bottom lips, balling her fists, “I mean, how would this…” Her voice trailed as her gaze fell on me, pinning me to the floor with a disgusted look as if I were garbage.
“… Low-life girl walk into the house and all of a sudden, she would be in charge of the Alpha’s quarters? Who does that? On whose permission?”
“The Alpha’s permission,” I started, watching her bulged eyes. My answers were short and clipped.
Gasps flew from everyone as they were shocked by my bravery.
I was even shocked.
But I wasn’t going to let her get to me. Not her harsh words, not her intimidating body, and definitely, not the name she labelled me.
Low-life girl? Really?
Oh, baby, I’ve been called worse.
Omega girl.
You.
Slave.
Spy.
Servant Luna. The name I gave myself.
And last but not least. Low-life girl.
Awful names weren’t new to me anymore, and so was the pain. And adding Vanessa’s new name to my long list of names would be my pleasure.
“Excuse me?” She took daring steps closer to me, leaving a little bit of space between us. Each step screamed danger, forcing me to flee but I stayed still, refusing to be intimidated.
“You only speak when you are asked to,” She gritted her teeth in hate, anger flowing through her like lava.
Was she who Madam Dora described as ‘nice’?
I hoped the rest weren’t like her, or I would be in a deep mess.
“Vanessa, that is enough,” Madam Dora covered the space between us, “For fuck’s sake, be nice for once,” She cried in frustration.
“Well, I was playing nice before she interrupted me. She should know her place,” Vanessa snapped. Her eyes spitting fire.
Really? Nice?
“And as far as I’m concerned, no one will take my place in the Alpha’s quarters,” A deep frown plastered on her face as she folded her arm.
“But you just heard her say it was from the Alpha. The orders were from the Alpha, not her. Can’t you see that?”
Vanessa scoffed, “All I see is a lying bitch feigning innocence,” She fumed.
Lying bitch.
Added to the list.
“Don’t you call her names. I won’t accept that,” Madam Dora’s face scrunched up in anger, her wrinkles pronouncing.
“But she is lying. I can see it. It’s written all over her face. Can’t you see it?”
“All I see is a jealous pup,” Madam Dora fired, ignoring the feeling of hurt that flashed in Vanessa’s widened eyes.
Someone is jealous.
I bit my inner lips, suppressing the laughter that threatened to spill.
I was beginning to like Madam Dora.
“If anybody will stay in the Alpha’s quarters, then he or she is nobody but me,” Vanessa ran her hand on her head in frustration, “For fuck’s sake, I have been cleaning that quarters for years, I know how everything works in there, I know how the Alpha likes to keep his things. I know that place like the back of my palm,”
Her dangerous footsteps echoed throughout the room as she moved closer to me, “What the hell does this little thing know? The last time I checked, you need vast experience before you can be promoted to clean the Alpha’s quarters,” Her pale hand stopped abruptly in the air as her long accusing pedicured fingers stretched at me, “How long has she been here since the position was given to her? Who the hell does he think she is?”
Madam Dora cleared her throat, silencing Vanessa, “Nessa, I think you should calm down. She doesn’t mean any harm. She was just acting according to instructions. And if you think she is happy to be a maid, you are wrong. Stop hurting the poor girl,”
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I blinked hard, glueing my eyes to my feet.
The last thing I wanted was to satisfy Vanessa with my tears.
I didn’t want her to see me as weak.
“… Stop hurting the poor girl,” Madam Dora’s words resonated in my ears as I shut my eyes, struggling with my emotions.
I was the poor girl. Always.
I was the prey, trampled upon by my predators.
I was weak.
I was vulnerable.
I was afraid.
But I was lucky to have Madam Dora by my side, defending me.
For the second time in my life, someone stood up for me, shunning my bully. She didn’t see me as trash, and neither did she see me as inferior.
Maybe life was not unfair for giving me someone as understanding as Selene and Madam Dora.
But doubt still settled in my mind.
Should I let Madam Dora in?
Will she break my trust?
Help me, Moon goddess.
“I know a pretender when I see one and I can bet that this thing is one of them,” Vanessa rolled her eyes boredly, “It is just a shame that you fell for it,”
“I fell for nothing, Vanessa,” Madam Dora snapped.
“But why do you keep defending her like you were there when the Alpha told her to be in charge of his quarters, which is impossible,”
A weary sigh escaped Madam Dora’s lips, “For your information, doubting Thomas, I was there when the Alpha got back and he instructed me to place her in his quarters,”
A soft gasp escaped Vanessa’s lips, “The Alpha is actually back? Oh heavens,”
Hypocrite.
“And you were sure it was the Alpha that told you to place her in his quarters?” Her voice was overpowered by fear as he watched Madam Dora nod.
“But why would he do that?” Her voice shook with fear, “Didn’t you remind him that I was the one in charge?”
“I did,” A small smile played on Madam Dora’s lips. I could bet that she was struggling not to burst into laughter.
“Why would he do that? Why would he give my job to a stranger? Why would he want her to clean his room? She is definitely not from this Pack, she doesn’t smell like one of us,” Vanessa spat, her eyes glaring daggers at me.
Madam Dora’s slim hand rested on her temple, rubbing it slightly, “Why don’t you ask the Alpha and stop questioning me. Gosh! My head is aching already,”
A loud sneer from behind caught our attention, turning our heads to its origin, “Bet she can’t,” Bryan sang, mockingly.
“I can, and I would,” She snapped, ignoring Bryan’s sneers.
“Then prove it,” He challenged, “Prove it to us that you are not a scared puppy,” He dared.
What the hell!
Tension filled the air as all eyes were on Vanessa, watching her next move.
Was she going to meet the Alpha?