*Danika*
“Are you sure you are okay, Ms. Danika?” asked Nadia, folding a dress and placing it in the closet, her eyes intent on me.
I had just come in from the infirmary when I saw her in the room doing her evening arrangement. I wonder what I would have done so far without her help. One of these days I will surely buy her a present of appreciation. Maybe on her birthday.
I smiled at her and nodded while removing my earring to place on the vanity table. “I am fine, Nadia. Thank you.”
“Well, you don’t look so… if it’s the work that makes you this tired maybe you should consider taking a break,” she suggested, her forehead creased with worried lines.
“I am good, Nadia. You worry too much.” I waved away her concern and went to sit down on the armchair by the fireside. “Besides, you don’t expect me to disobey the King’s orders. I don’t want any troubles,” I said as I yawned, sleep catching on.
It’s true working at the infirmary was stressful and draining, yet it’s a good place to be in. If there is one good thing I might have to thank Alonso for doing, it’s sending me to work there. Not only have I learned so many caring skills, but I can also now effectively stay around children without running for cover. It is something very refreshing that I look forward to every day-not to mention the place is my escape from my present reality.
“The King would never force you to work there. He adores the Beta so much and I believe the love would stretch to you too. Many people think the King is unapproachable but the thing is he is not that bad, just very strict.” She shrugged, closes the closet, and went to the window to latch it after bringing down the curtains. Nadia is very efficient and over time has shown how much of a multitasker she can be. If I were the one talking, by now I would either be sitting down to concentrate, or I will be stuck folding the clothes till Gad knows when.
“Why do you think so?” Her assertion about Alonso caught my attention full-on. For the first time, someone is trying to contradict the point-blank opinion I have of Alonso and all I have heard about him since childhood.
Fascinating.
She stopped her movement, her eyes meeting mine in hesitation. I shrugged to impel her, sitting up from the armchair I had been relaxed on. I noticed the room temperature has fallen- possibly because of the artificial firehouse ahead of me. I especially like the scented candles she uses in the room, calms me.
She continued, “Since I was a child people used to say all manner of vile things about him. I remember the first time I wanted to come and work here, I was very scared that maybe he will kill me one day when he gets angry,” she chuckled as she said, looking down at her hands that were tucked in front of her as she dawdled in one position. “I cried all night, cursing my fate as an Omega who has no choice but to do what others want without anyone caring what I wanted. I had already made up my mind I was going to die… but, when I came here and started working, I found out he wasn’t that kind of man. I mean he kills people no doubt, only when necessary and warranted,” she went on, while my mind drifted off in contradiction.
I opened my mouth to counter her but shut it immediately, still not believing she would call him a good man. Alonso is nothing short of a monster! A cold-heartless monster! However, I didn’t say a word, just continued skimming my eyes over her, wondering if maybe she was having a crush on him, that is the only thing that would make her pay blind eyes to all his evil ways.
With everything I now know about him, I can’t say for sure if not to side with his mother for choosing Alfred over him. Who wouldn’t? Alfred is lively and approachable, while he is not. No wonder Alfred said they were two parallel lines. There could never be any better description of their personalities.
Nadia was still rattling. “So, now I understand better why he is the kind of man he is. It’s not easy to be the King over tough packs like he rules over. You have to toughen up and have a good mate by your side,” her tone kind of sympathetic.
I snorted within. She pities him because she hasn’t felt his wrath. “What if he has found his mate and still doesn’t want to change?” I arched my neck to the side, appraising her. Her uneasy eyes fell to her intertwined fingers, before gathering the boldness to scoot to the bed to sit down. “Yeah, you are right. He became much colder than he used to be, after that tragic incident with his wife, the former Luna-” She halted when a knock came at the door, her eyes flashing to me in fear before she jumped up, gave me a curt nod, and ran to get it.
Why did she look that scared when someone knocked on the door? Is that topic very sacred? I noticed no one has ever told me anything about the King’s demised wife apart from the general fact that she was his first love. What could be the problem?
“Danika!” I jumped on my seat, being provocatively startled out of my drift by the raucous Paisley. My blood boiled that she was the one that has brought to an end such an interesting interaction I was having with Nadia. Imagine the amount of information I would have gained today if not for the bumblebee barging in.
I blinked to steady my heartbeat before standing up, and as usual plastering my fakest smile to welcome her. “Hy, Paisley. It’s good to see you too.”
She eyed me. “You know that’s not true,” she came to my side, nudged me away slightly, and flopped down on the armchair. Typical bitch. “… If you truly missed me, you would have come to check on me as I do you.” She batted her faux lashes at me, flicking her brown shimmering hair vainly with her equally fake painted nails. Today, she is wearing a jeans shorts and a black crop top that has her boobs popping at the top of her cleavage. At least, it’s not red.
I stride a few feet away from her, folding my hands on my chest to give her a good round-up. She doesn’t look bad at all. Always glittering with goodness and sophistication. Her cologne alone might buy me if displayed for sale to another willing master.
Realizing I was acting creepy, my fake smile deepened, raking my head for what to say. “I’m sorry about that, you know I am always working,” I tried to reason, shifting on my feet. I don’t know why she would insist on this relationship. Is she that blind to my dislike of her, or is she pretending? By now she was supposed to know that I don’t like her!
“Oouf! Never mind, I am just happy that you are good. By the way, when are you going to stop allowing that smelly girl around you?” Her index finger pointed to the door, letting me know who she was talking about.
“Nadia is my friend,” I defended her without any hesitation. Imagine the effrontery. Why do people behave this way?
She scrunched her nose up in distaste. “Don’t say that ever again especially around the former Luna Queen. As the female Beta, you have nothing in common with those lowlifes, what is your stress with them?!” She narrowed her eyes at me, apparently disgusted with my utterance, like I cared about her opinion.
I shook my head to abate the anger building inside me for how she addressed my friends, even though they’re Omegas. “Is that why you came here? To judge them?” I went to stand by the window, fresh air brushing my shoulders and calming my anger abruptly.
Her face broke off in gaiety, her hands going up to jig. “I have come to pluck you out of your confinement for dinner…” she sang, strolling toward me. I paled, anxiety creeping up my skin. I didn’t plan to go down this evening for dinner because of the incident with Alonso. How can I face him?
“I’m weak and tired, Paisley. I can’t, I’m sorry,” I said frankly, shaking my head at her.
“You can’t decline, Danika. The King asked that you come down.”
“The King? Why?” I because more nervous.
She tsked. “Because he cares about you. You have been skipping meals these days because of that shitty place. Mom is mad at him for making you work there, so he has commanded that henceforth you will always join us for breakfast and dinner.” She took my hand and placed it on her elbows, commencing to drag me out. “Don’t worry, I know you are skittish of the attention. We all do, but we have to stick like a family-Lance did when he was around.” Like that, I was dragged out of my room without even a bath or change of clothing.
“Son, when last did you speak to Lance?” That was the first thing I heard when we walked into the party that was already eating.
This is not going to go well. I know how much Alonso hates his mother’s questions during meals. Another family feud was brewing, I could smell it.
…