ESTELLE
“Please, stop this. Stop!” I panicked, looking at the news and bad comments popping on my phone.
Everyone was attacking me to the point of running me insane. I immediately turned my phone off and ran to my room, locking myself inside.
I stayed there, shaking over the mess I made. “I only wanted to revive my life and my career. I don’t deserve this,” I panicked, ducking down at the corner of my bed, just imagining all the insults and angry words coming from the people.
“I just wanted to revive my reputation!” I yelled in the corner I was in, unable to handle the comments I read.
Suddenly, my door came banging from outside, causing me to shiver in fear. “Estelle!”
“Dad?” I gasped, realizing father was back from wherever he had gone . “Goodness! Has he seen the news?” He must be pissed to see his own daughter being displayed as a whore to the whole world… Again!
“Estelle, open up!” He yelled, knocking harder, but still, I didn’t answer him. I remained in my spot, covering my ears, scared of what he would do when he steps in.
I know he’s going to spark out and join those people in calling me names. It’s what he knows how to do best. He did it when he found out about his grandchild’s death. He’s going to attack me like everyone else.
All of a sudden, I heard my door opening wide with force. Father broke in and came inside, looking for me.
Where I was, I began to shake, bending my head while getting ready for his screams. That’s when father pulled me up to my feet and roared out, “What did you do?! Why did you head down to that… ” He paused, staring deep into my eyes.
I was still shivering, wondering why he had stopped screaming. Only for him to pull me into his arms for an embrace, patting me like a new born baby. “It’s okay. Don’t cry, ” He said, still petting me on the back.
That’s when I realized that my eyes were leaking tears and father had stopped when he saw my wet eyeballs. He… He was touched.
“It’s not your fault, dear. It’s those animals that caused it. They are the ones who made you go through all these stress and pains. They are the bad eggs, not you, ” He said, supporting me with love.
Hearing this from my father, I felt so relieved. At least his support is enough to pull me out of the mental state I was already drifting into. I no longer felt scared of the people.
But… My reputation.
“That fool thinks he can humiliate you to gain fame?! I’ll show him that no one messes with my daughter and goes free! ” He raged, storming out of my room while taking his phone out, typing something.
I couldn’t tell what father was doing, until later on. I discovered that father had made a post, accusing my ex-Boss of defamation.
He dragged his name to the press, believing he invited me over, so he could use me to make a name for himself. “He knows that he has wronged my daughter in the past and decided to tarnish her name fully! He was afraid that she would expose his bad deeds, that’s why he tricked her! I will not allow you to shame my poor child in order to get famous, you Goat!” Father had insulted my ex-boss, labeling him as an abuser.
But the comeback father got, made both of us the laughing stock all over again.
“Deron or whatever you call yourself. I’m sure you saw the video with your own two eyes, didn’t you, sir? In case you don’t know, that video was never taken by me. I don’t even know who recorded your daughter and I when she came over to seduce me in giving her a place in the organization!” My Ex-boss exposed publicly with no fear.
“She was the one who called me and requested for a private meeting. I agreed to it, since she used to be a model in my organization, but what did she do? She tried to make love to me, so she’d get her job back! I’m glad I kicked her out. I pray the goddess doesn’t give her any opportunity to ruin someone else’s home, because I’m a married man with a family. I will not allow such a brat like Estelle to shatter my home! Never!” He boldly disgraced me, getting the public to side with him, after they rewatched the video and confirmed that I indeed seduced him.
This ruined everything for us, as everyone began to lash at father, throwing insults at us. I got so scared that I even ordered the guards to keep the gates shut, just in case those angry buffalos came running down to the mansion to blast us.
And just as I suspected, they showed up. Not much but few. They tried to get in, but they were sent away by the guards, who managed to chase them from our resident.
The hate was just too much. I don’t think we can survive this any longer.
“Don’t worry, Estelle. We’ll surely get out of this mess. I am here, okay? ” Father comforted me, pulling me into his hold for a hug.
At this point, father is the only one I have. I have no one else to look up to. In fact, we are all alone in this place we call a home.
.
Two days later, after that troubling incident I caused, I noticed father’s mood had changed. He was no longer confident like before, but dull like hell.
I saw him sitting in the living room, watching a news from our councils, who began to make their announcement on their cruel decisions towards father.
They publicly told everyone about his removal and rendered him unfit for the throne. “Our past Alphas brought good names to Red Wood pack, but this would be the first time our pack would be recording a bad Alpha on the throne. One that has brought nothing but shame upon shame,” They said openly, referring to my father.
I was standing at the entrance of the living room, watching this live broadcast, when I noticed something. “Where are they talking from?” I asked, stepping into the room while fixing my gaze on the screen.
I couldn’t point out where the councils were making their announcement, but I felt I knew the place.
Well, it didn’t take long for us to find out where they were exactly. The camera view came out wide, revealing the location of the councils. Those oldies were standing outside Argon’s company, with Brielle by their side! I was stunned, immediately grabbing what was about to take place after their information.
Father saw this and became furious. The glass of wine he held, came shattering into pieces. It was clear that he knew what was about to happen next.
And just as we suspected, this backstabbing wolves presented Brielle to the world as Red Wood’s Luna! My whole body shook while staring at her happy face. She waved her hand with class, expressing her joy to this news. “Thank you so much, ” She appreciated, innocently wiping the droplets that escaped her eyes.
To even gaze at her made my blood boil with intense hatred for that woman. This is the same Brielle that I considered worthless and useless. The same Wolfless orphan I made my servant back then. Now look at her. She has taken away my life, my dreams, my career, my love… She stole everything from me and now she’s taking my father’s throne as well!
And what’s Argon doing? He’s just watching everything blindly, supporting the mother of his unborn child in everything she does!
“Child,” I muttered that word, recalling how Argon mellowed down during the time I had our baby in my womb.
I could tell he was ready to be a father, even though he was angry with me. But what did I do? I killed that baby because of a career that was later taken away from me!
I… I just don’t know what to do any more! I’ve tried so many ways to get back on my feet, but I’m hopeless! Even my own father has become a failure before his own people. We are no longer Royalty!
“All hail the Luna of Red Wood!” Both Red Wood and Wolf Crest Councils chorused, praising Brielle before the world.
I saw how she blushed with a smile, holding Argon closely.
I felt hurt seeing them together.
“That should have been you, Estelle, ” Father grumbled what was in my mind, turning off the TV in detest.
He looked at me and said, “They think they have destroyed us, but one day we’ll rise and shock them all. Let’s believe in the goddess, my child. She won’t allow her children to suffer.”
“Yes, father,” I supported, lowering my head down. “She won’t allow her children to suffer. Not at all.”
Like that wasn’t enough for us, I woke up the next morning to a sudden surprise from the servants, who left my father and I in shock.
“We’re sorry, but we can’t work for you any more.”
“What do you mean by that?!” Father had sparked out on hearing his guards and maids talking.
They all had their bags ready by their sides, all dressed and set to leave my father and I alone in this large mansion.
“Sir, we are tired of being part of your problems. There’s no where that we’d go to, that the people won’t attack us because we serve you and your daughter. They always want to hurt us! You haven’t paid us our salary since last month, and not just that, you aren’t the Alpha anymore! That means bad news for we the helpers,” One of the guards said, speaking for the others.
“We can’t continue with you any more. It’s best we leave and go elsewhere. Goodbye.” They all grabbed their bags and began to leave.
I stared at this in shock, not knowing what to say. “Father, ” I looked at Dad, who gazed at this helpers, as they dragged their luggages, exiting the mansion.
Out of anger, I sparked at those idiots, “Who needs you anyway?! You think you’re going to end up fine in your new place of work? Wrong! You’re all going to suffer like hell! Get lost! ” I shouted, helping them out of my home with a push and a kick.
They all left along with our watchmen, leaving father and I all by ourselves.
For the first time ever, I got to hear the silence of our home without any servants roaming around. It sounded like a graveyard.
I gulped down and drew closer to Dad, holding him close. “Don’t worry about them, father. I’m sure they’ll return to us. They won’t survive a day without any food or drink, ” I said, comforting my old man, who looked lost. He just stood there frozen, before turning around and making his way to his room.
I remained down stairs, watching him leave, until the sound of the room shutting up came in.
That’s when the silence struck me deeply. It felt so creepy that I had to race to my own bedroom and lock myself too.
I was frightened.
.
“I’ll be back. You just wait for me,” Father had said while racing down the stairs hurriedly.
He had called me out of my room that night, to reveal his plan in getting us a new place far away from Red Wood and Wolf Crest pack. According to him, no one would be able to recognize us there, and we’ll just change our identity and start a new life afresh.
He just got a call from someone, who was interested in buying the mansion and cras for a better price, and he didn’t want to miss that opportunity. “That’s the money we’ll use to take care of ourselves, dear,” He had said, getting to the bottom of the staircase.
He was filled with excitement for our future, while I was scared because he was planning on leaving me alone to see this customer of his.
“Why can’t I come along with you?” I asked, drawing closer to him. That’s when father snapped his finger and two hefty men came in, standing next to us.
I was surprised because I don’t recall seeing them before in this mansion or with my father. Did he just hire them? When?
“They are here to take care of you. Just wait for me till I return, okay?”
“But Dad…”
“No time to waste. Bye dear,” He kissed my cheek and rushed out of the mansion, taking one of his cars and driving into the night.
I was alone with this two men he hired to stay with me. But somehow, I wasn’t comfortable with them. I don’t know them and they were always getting too close, all because they were guarding me.
“Do you mind? I need my personal space,” I groaned, stopping them from following me around. I had to walk away, leaving those huge men in the living room, while strolling through the passage upstairs.
“So, once we sell everything we own, we’ll move to a far away pack?” I asked, hovering my gaze around the pathway I was walking through.
“I grew up here. So, every memory would be gone, including Argon?” I flashed to him, remembering all the beautiful moments with the man of my heart.
But now knowing that he belongs to Brielle and not me anymore, I felt so bittered and jealous.
“It’s because she’s carrying his child, that’s why he’s treating her like a queen. If I didn’t kill my baby, by now I’d be ruling both packs like a goddess. Everyone would bow down to me, singing my name!”
“All hail, Luna Estelle!” A voice cheered from the terrace, causing me to shiver in fear.
I was just two doors away from the rooftop before hearing that response. I know for a fact that there was no other person around, except those two men and I. So… “Who was that?” I muttered, slowly walking close to the entrance that led to the terrace.
When I got to the door, I spotted a strange lady, standing on the banister of the terrace with no fear, staring into the sky.
Who’s this?
“If you hadn’t killed your baby, maybe you would have been the queen today. Isn’t that right, Estelle?”
“Wait, that voice… I know that voice.” I gazed at this woman, who suddenly turned her head to face my point, revealing herself.
And when I saw her face… “Brielle?!” My eyes popped out in astonishment.
What is she doing here?