Malia’s POV
After my failed attempt at hitting Penelope with a pillow, I got up to shut the door since she hadn’t had the chance to do so trying to escape from my pillow attack.
I gobbled up the rest of my breakfast and hurried to the bathroom hoping that I would be out of the room before Ronan came to check on me.
As I showered, I wondered if Lila would object to me being on the training field because Ronan was usually there.
I guess I could try to be busy at all the times I would spend on the field.
I planned to disappear immediately when I was done and not wait behind for any chit-chat.
This is ridiculous, a voice in my head said.
I agreed. It was even impossible to totally avoid the Hawkins brothers.
But I just needed to law low until I had something against Lila.
Let’s say a video recording of her and Derek making out if I was lucky.
I got out of the shower and quickly got dressed.
I tried the best I could with the laces of my sneakers and went out the door.
I was already halfway down the hallway when I realized that I had worn my T-shirt inside out.
I sighed in frustration.
I didn’t want to go back into my room so I looked to see if anyone was coming.
The hallway was deserted.
I quickly took off my top and wore it the right way.
“Wow, I didn’t know you were into strip teases,” a voice that was unmistakably Ryder’s said.
I looked up at him and took two steps backwards when I saw that Lila was beside him.
I bowed deeply and when I straightened, I saw that his expression was puzzled.
I don’t think I had ever bowed to him before.
“I must apologize, your Majesty. I didn’t realize that I wore the wrong side of my top until I was out of my room.”
I saw Lila’s frown and I knew I had to disappear.
“If you’d excuse me I’d like to leave first. I have an early appointment.”
I turned on my heel without waiting for a response and hurried away from them.
Good job Malia, I congratulated myself.
That wasn’t so hard, though I couldn’t get over the confused look on Ryder’s face.
I chuckled as I imagined what would be going on in his head that instant.
I arrived at the training field and as expected, Lucien was still absent. So was Ronan. The newbies were performing the basic moves they had learnt while Scott was training with another old member.
I walked closer to them and watched to see if I could learn some new techniques from both of them.
Someone tapped me on the back and I turned.
My eyes widened in surprise when I saw that it was Lucien.
“I wasn’t expecting you to be here on the field today,” I said.
“Good morning to you too, Malia,” he greeted with a lopsided grin.
“Good morning, Master Lucien,” I greeted and he cocked an eyebrow at my use of ‘master.’
“I take it your wife is feeling much better, judging by your good mood.”
“Yes, she is. The doctor said she’d be free to come back home this evening,” he replied with a small smile and I could tell that right underneath his seemingly good mood, there was a thick layer of anxiety.
“Have you and Margaret sorted things out?” I asked.
His eyes narrowed in suspicion.
“I overheard you and the Alpha talking about it when we were at the hospital yesterday,” I quickly added.
“You shouldn’t have eavesdropped and we’re not here to talk about my private life so let’s begin your training.”
I silently berated myself for asking that question. Now I had put him in a somewhat bad mood and I was going to suffer for it.
We were already in the middle of training and I was wondering why the hell I had even come to the field today because Lucien was pushing me so hard and it looked like he was enjoying every bit of my suffering.
Ronan appeared in front of us looking annoyed.
“Don’t you think you’re being too hard on her?” He asked.
Lucien pointedly ignored him and focused on making me complete a hundred reps of a really hard move.
I collapsed to the ground at the end and Lucien scowled at me.
“I haven’t given you permission to rest just yet. So stand up,” he ordered.
“You may rest as much as you want, Malia. Don’t you dare stand up just yet,” Ryan ordered and moved so that he was standing face to face with the Gamma.
“What has gotten into you, Lucien?”
“I understand that you’re going through a difficult time but you do not have to take it out on others.”
Lucien gave him a sardonic grin and then looked at me.
“I can see that you have the brothers wrapped around your little finger. But it’s not going to last for so long.”
He left the field after giving me a look filled with disgust.
I looked up at Ronan in confusion.
“What did I do so wrong?” I asked.
He plopped down beside me. “Do not take his words to heart. He’s just having a hard time.”
I sighed. First, it was Lila, now it was Lucien. I didn’t think I could handle any more antagonizing.
I felt Ronan stiffen beside me and I turned my head to face him.
“What’s wrong?”
His attention was on something else. I followed his gaze and instantly got to my feet. “I have to leave now. I just remembered I’m supposed to do something.”
He cocked an eyebrow but didn’t say anything.
As I walked across the training field, Lila who was standing where I was headed gave me a sickly sweet smile.
“Had fun at training today?” She asked me as soon as I got close enough.
I nodded and brushed past her, wondering why she had come to the field.
Was she stalking me now?
I arrived at the palace, quickly took a shower and donned a pair of leggings and a T-shirt.
I was tired and would have loved my food to be brought up to me but I decided that going to the kitchen was better.
I didn’t want to risk either Ronan or Ryder coming to my room and Lila finding out about it.
Penelope was making a salad when I got to the kitchen. I was grateful that she was the only one there. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise when she saw me.
“I thought you’d still be on the training field,” she said, pouring some olive oil into the big bowl of vegetables.
I sighed deeply. “I thought I’d be too. But guess who showed up?” I asked, grabbing a carrot stick.
Penelope gave me a suspicious look. “No way, she didn’t…”
“Yes, she did, Penelope. Lila came to the training field.”
She scoffed. “But from what I’ve heard, she’s not interested at all in fighting.”
“Girl, she must really be on your case,” she said with a chuckle.
“It’s not funny Penelope. I feel like she’s stalking me. This morning, we crossed paths in the hallway.”
“I’m sorry. Don’t worry, this is not going to go on forever.”
“Let’s hope that when Derek returns to the palace, they both become more careless with their trysts,” she said as she grabbed another bowl and broke some eggs into it.
My stomach growled and she gave me a look. “Hungry already despite the huge breakfast you devoured?” She asked.
“Don’t look at me like that Penelope. Lucien pushed me too hard at training today. I used up all the food I ate this morning for strength.”
She chuckled and went ahead to dish mashed potatoes and grilled chicken into a big bowl.
When she handed me the bowl, my mouth opened slightly.
“Just eat Malia. Don’t complain about the portion. The Goddess knows you eat more than a werewolf. Are you sure you’re not something else?” She teased.
I scowled at her and shoved a spoonful of mashed potatoes into my mouth.
“I kind of wish I was something else,” I said, setting down my glass of water.
Penelope gave me a puzzled look.
“Something else like a human?” She quizzed.
I shook my head and grinned. “Something even better. Like a vampire.”
She gasped and looked around to see if anyone was listening.
I rolled my eyes. “No one else is here besides us, Penelope.”
“You shouldn’t say things like that,” she scolded, sounding very much like Elder Zelda for a moment I blinked in surprise.
Then her eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Now why are you looking at me like that?” She asked and I burst into a fit of giggles.
She shook her head as she mixed some dry ingredients in another bowl. “There’s something seriously wrong with you, Malia. There’s no doubt about it.”
I tried to stop giggling. “I’m sorry Penelope, it’s just that for a moment, you sounded so much like an elder in my previous pack.”
She regarded me with a frown. “I don’t know whether or not to be pleased.”