*Danika*
Hy, lovelies. I hope you’ve enjoyed this story so far? Okay, I want to say I’m sorry for changing the name of the character Cleopatra to Paisley without informing you guys. It totally slipped my mind. I hope you don’t stop reading because of that???. Xoxo
————————————————————–
When I came down the lobby, I had stopped at the entrance to the dining hall to gather as much courage as I could to face the party, telling myself I could do this; that I didn’t care what anyone thought about me or my dress. I was so sure I could kill this that I walked into the dining hall with my head held high.
But, just as I had gone in and my eyes crashed into those of Alonso across the table, every morale in me died that instant, my inclined shoulders sagging in immediate edginess.
His mouth dropped, his spoon of food half suspended in the air as he locked his eyes on my body, not moving. I didn’t know when my steady legs turned to jelly and I wobbled to the closest chair that Alfred had stood to uproot for me.
I slumped down on the chair, my eyes flying down my hands beneath the table, not having the courage to look at every other person. Gad, Alfred please don’t say anything, don’t sa-
“If only you know what my sinful thoughts are cooking up right now, Danika… By God, you look like the goddess of seduction!”
I blinked, my nervous eyes meeting his, and regretted it instantly as he had that sweet smirk on. I swallowed, gathered saliva and darted back at the food that was placed before me by an Omega.
Someone cleared their throat at the table. Someone I assumed to be Theresa. “I must say you are loosening up every day, Danika…” I flicked my orifice to her, not knowing how in hell I was supposed to respond to that. She went on, a specific look on her face. “When you first came here, you seemed very timid and… distant. But, recently, you appear a bit more open-minded and accepting.” Then she gently dropped the spoon in her hand on the table and entwined her fingers, her dark matted lashes still latched to me. “… My words mean no harm but I must say, having Alfred as a friend has really helped you. Lancelot would be grateful to him.”
I paled, working very hard to avoid looking at Alonso that minute. He would surely murder me with his eyes. What does someone do when faced with this kind of situation? Well, the only thing I could think of was to simply SMILE. Yeah, I did smile. Not because I wanted to, no. But because she wouldn’t stop staring at me as if expecting a reaction.
Finally succeeding to avert my eyes and face the red soup in front of me that was now growing stale, I was about to dig in-happy that the attention was gone from me, however, it seems the devil had other plans for me. This time his missile was dressed in a red dress…
Paisley giggled in a very funny way that rang roughly in my ears. “I think I also contributed, right Danika? I mean look at that dress! I am so sure you got it from our last shopping trip.” She giggled further even though I didn’t reply. “I told you, it pays to look good!”
This time I shrugged and started eating faster, hoping that when they noticed I wasn’t responding they would get off my back.
For some time, everywhere was silent with only the sound of our cutleries audible. I gave thanks for the small serenity, taking note to scold Alfred for making such a silly comment later.
We finished the first course, and an Omega treated us to a sumptuous dessert which I dug into immediately, the sweet aroma of the chocolate chips cookies, and cheesecake wafting through my nostrils. I was munching away ravenously when Theresa in her almightiness decided to ruin the evening further with her untimely questions.
“So lest it skips my mind, Danika, I am indeed very sorry for what happened two nights ago. I only heard today that someone broke into your room. What an avoidable despicable behavior!”
I glanced up from the cake in my hand and looked at Alonso who at the same time was observing me, I smiled and straightened up to remark on her condolences. “Thanks, Theresa.”
She hummed and flagged off my comment like a buzzing fly. “You don’t need to thank me. It is our duty to make sure you are safe here with us. We owe that to our dearest Beta Lancelot for all he does for this pack. Imagine him coming back to be told something ill happened to you…” She rolled her eyes up dramatically like the thought was repulsive, hands on her chest, then looked back at me. “Gad forbid! And it irked me more that it is something that wouldn’t have happened if only my dear son listens to his mother!” her tone rising, flashing a horrible glare at Alonso whose face morphed into an equal murderous grimace in defense.
“How is that my fault exactly?” he asked calmly, even though the ice was evident in his voice.
“You ask me such nonsense?!” She patted her hands on her temple, shook her head, and continued. “I told you severally to make sure that the border is fortified triple to avoid ills like this from repeating itself! Have you not learned from your past errors?”
“Mother!” he bellowed. Her statement must have struck a chord.
“Don’t you dare talk when I’m talking. Even though you are the King of this realm, I am still your mother and have ruled side by side with your father! I know how these things work better than you can ever know, not with this pest festering on your arms in the name of a Luna!”
“Mother, I did nothing wrong to garner your strong words of contempt,” mewled Paisley. Everything was still that the tiniest sound could be heard that minute.
Then, Theresa snorted, one corner of her lip pulled up in mockery at Paisley. “Mother I did nothing wrong to garner your words of contempt… indeed!” she mimicked. Paisley looked red in the face. I felt bad for her that instant. “If you are going to truly be a good Luna Queen to him then you should make him do the right things! That’s what good Lunas do!”
“I try my best. He doesn’t listen to me. He hardly talks to me!” Paisley lost her temper, returning Theresa’s harsh words with a stronger tone.
“Just shut up, Paisley!” Alonso retorted, chilling my marrows. I get it, I am supposed to be happy right now that everyone was against Paisley. Yet, I felt nothing but emptiness, anger, and repulsion that he would dare talk to her like that right in front of his mother who was attacking her for something she couldn’t control. Why were they all like the same? This is not fair!
Paisley is a nice person and someone I would surely have considered being my friend if we weren’t all entangled in this mess. And Alonso was the cause of everything. And still, he couldn’t defend her even against his mother who he obviously doesn’t favor.
“I can’t believe you, Alonso! You are driving me insane all in the name of this stupid alliance! I told my father your family is cursed yet he won’t listen to me. Now I have to do shitty things and endure all your rubbish all for what? For this?” Paisley stood and slapped the crumbling dessert in her hand on the table, picked up a napkin, wiped her hands, flung it away, and dashed away from the dining room fuming with rage.
To be honest, that didn’t look like the Paisley I knew. She was seething in rage, pure rage that anyone who tries to cross her this minute might suffer her wrath. I could even spot her wolf eyes peeking through. This wasn’t our usual bubbly Paisley.
“Are you happy now? You always, always like ruining things, mother. You talk about me as if yours is not so tainted. I hope one day you die in peace so maybe, maybe someday I might even have a moment of peace without having your imposing presence barricading my space!” Alonso swung out at his wide-eyed mother.
“Alonso…” Alfred growled close to me.
“Don’t you dare say my name, Alfred. You two know what I’m capable of. If you become too unbearable for me, I swear by the moon I will banish you to the Draken. Don’t test me!” with that, he stormed off, leaving the three of us seated at the table in silent combat.
Wow, that was intense. Having lost my appetite, I slowly stood from the chair, meaning to sneak away.
Theresa stopped me. “Once again Danika, I’m so sorry for what happened. And also for making you witness that. Family fights most times you know, it’s the only way to get…” She sipped from her wine glass. “… normalcy. I assure you that this incident won’t happen again. The border would be fully fortified. You will see.”
I gave her a half-hearted smile and literally ran out of the dining room. Something tells me this night was going to be a long and chaotic one.
…