Esmeralda
When Jade’s smile grew wider and wider, I knew Alpha Kade’s quarters was a stone’s throw from where we were.
What was so amusing about his quarters?
What was she up to?
Sadness crept into my heart as I watched Jade’s cheerful face.
For the first time in my life, I envied someone.
I wished I could smile.
Not giving fake smiles, but genuine ones.
I wished I could find a reason to smile even when there was none.
I wished I could loosen up a bit and not let my present situation get to me. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t.
I wished I could just forget all my troubles and live in the moment, but I couldn’t.
I just couldn’t.
A minute ago, Jade was the shadow of herself. Her smiles were gone and those bright brown eyes filled with happiness were sunken, into a bottomless pit. Her sweet voice shook as they carefully selected words to me, lest they broke down in tears.
But in a blink of an eye, those hurtful memories were forgotten, they were gone in the wind. The cheerful smile returned and so were the cute big brown eyes.
Jade didn’t let the painful memories behind the North wing kill her joy. Neither did she let it take her smile away.
I was the opposite of Jade.
Sad. Worthless. Gloomy. Inferior. Shy. Depressed.
And so many more adjectives I couldn’t remember.
I couldn’t smile.
What was there to smile about?
What was there to be happy about?
None.
Searching my life thoroughly, I found none.
As far as I could remember, it’s been years since I smiled.
I couldn’t smile when I was shackled to the wall, thrown behind a cell, nor could I smile when I was punished, locked inside the correction room, screaming my lungs out in pain.
The woman behind my smile was gone, leaving me behind with monsters.
Memories filled my head, memories of my younger self, grinning from ear to ear whenever my mum took me to the mall or got me my favourite Barbie doll.
Smile.
The last time I did that was when I left my mum’s care to my dad.
I remembered hugging her countlessly and giving her that smile.
A painful smile.
When would I smile again?
Probably, never.
How would I smile when people were after my life? Haunting me at any opportunity. There was Phoebe and now Vanessa, threatening to take my life for taking what was theirs when it never belonged to them in the first place.
It was not my fault for being the first daughter, instead of Phoebe and it was not my fault that I took Vanessa’s place.
Argh!
To add insult to my injury, Alpha Kade worsened the case, introducing me as his housekeeper, and refusing to acknowledge me as his mate. Because I was…
A filthy Omega.
How would I smile when my life was a mess?
How would I smile when my status is depriving me of my mate’s affection?
How would I smile when my existence is a threat to my sister?
My life was miserable.
I couldn’t smile.
Unconsciously, my hand rested on my head, rubbing my temple and my head moving from side to side.
“Hey, are you alright?” Jade asked, concern laced in her voice.
Why does she care about my miserable life?
“I am fine,” I faked a smile, wishing she dropped the topic.
“Why were you rubbing your head and shaking it like you are thinking about something?”
My eyes grew wide, “I wasn’t… I mean, I wasn’t thinking about anything. It’s just a headache. Nothing you should worry about,”
“Okay, but why are you not healing fast? Your wound is still open,” Her hand found its way to my neck, making me stiffen under her touch.
“You are nothing but a weak Omega,” I could still recall how I was bullied and called names.
“It will heal. Just give it time,” I replied, placing my hair over the injury to conceal it.
Thanks to Vanessa.
“If you say so,” She smiled, walking behind me.
“What? What are you doing?” I asked, turning to meet her.
Why was she behind me?
What was she up to this time?
“Just stay still, Esmeralda,” Her hands gripped me hard, holding me in place as my heart raced in fear.
“Just stay still for me, Esmeralda,” Phoebe’s voice replaced my head, paralyzing me with fear.
I shut my eyes tight, erasing the memory from my head.
The only thing that mattered was Jade.
My breath hitched when I felt her hands make their way to my eyes, covering them as she urged me to take steps forward.
Why was she blindfolding me?
I don’t like this game.
“Come on, walk,” Her voice commanded, making me take fearful steps to God-knows-where.
What was going on in her mind?
“Stop walking,” She ordered and I halted. Relief washed over me as her hands freed my face.
She fumbled with her pockets before taking out a bunch of keys and a flat rectangular object that could pass for a card.
Turn the knob, girl.
But Jade didn’t, instead, she tapped the card on another flat shiny surface before the door opened.
Amazing!
I couldn’t help but stare at it keenly. I had seen doors and locks, but not the one that was opened with a card. Even my mum’s door wasn’t opened with a card.
Great!
“What is that?” I asked, still looking at it.
“It’s a key card,” She said, pocketing the card and dangling the keys on her finger.
I furrowed my brows, narrowing my brows at it, “What is a key card and is it safe?”
A warm smile caressed Jade’s cheeks as she looked at me.
I know I was naive and I couldn’t help it.
What else does she expect from a girl that had been locked up for years, familiar with only huge rusted padlocks, a bunch of unnecessary keys and shackles?
“A key card is used to open a door. It is lighter than a normal key and it is safe when in the right hands,”
“Interesting,” I nodded my head in a manner of satisfaction from her explanation.
The dangling of keys caught my attention as she opened a big black door to reveal a dark room. So dark that one could hardly see any object inside it.
I heard the switch flicker and light flooded the room gradually, leaving me mesmerized at a magnificent sight.
“This is paradise!” I gasped in shock, unconsciously completing 360 degrees as my eyes scanned the beautiful room.
“It’s not paradise, it is just Alpha Kade’s room,”
“What?! This is Alpha Kade’s room?” My eyes widened.
This was my mate’s room.
Excitement filled me at the realization that I was in my mate’s room. It was just unfortunate that I won’t share it with him.
“Why do we need to clean it when it’s sparkling clean,” My hands itched to touch the items one after the other.
“Silly you. It must always be cleaned,” She let out a burst of laughter at my behaviour, “Come on, you have a lot to learn,” Her hands found mine and she gave me a gentle squeeze before pulling me close to her.
Jade was friendly.
Her aura was warm. Inviting. Accommodating.
I had never met a stranger longing to be my friend the way Jade did. Except for Selene.
I felt safe around Jade.
I hoped this moment would last forever with nothing to ruin it.