Alora’S POV.
I follow the girl who introduced herself as Tania Gavin all the way back to the main castle entrance and throughout the walk, I cannot simply shake off the so-called Omega’s rudeness towards me. I didn’t even ask for something absurd. Just directions back to the main castle and he had to give that very rude response.
Map? Seriously? What a lame line. I’m so mad at him right now and the next time we have an encounter, I will make sure I don’t let him step all over me anymore. I will give him a piece of my mind. Show him who the Luna is.
“Yeah, sure you will!” My wolf, Inker, mocks me from within and I roll my eyes hard. She’s good at being annoying.
“Shut up Inker.” I fire back and shut her out. When we arrive at the entrance of the building, Tania stops walking and swivels around to look at me.
“Here we are.” She announces with a bright smile. I reciprocate the smile.
“Thank you very much for your assistance. I really appreciate you helping me.” I thank her with all my heart. She keeps smiling and she’s pretty.
“My duty is to serve the members of the Royal household and you are one of them. So there’s no need to thank me. I only did what’s expected of me, Luna.” She says with a slight bow.
I look at her, completely bedazzled by her formality and respect towards me. I want to tell her she is mistaken. That I am not a member of the Royal household and also that there’s really no need for how to bow to me or use formal language when talking to me, but instead I pose the question…
“How did you know who I was at first glance? Did someone tell you?” I ask, curious. She chuckles lightly and her eyes light up.
“I don’t need to be told to know who you are. Your aura says it all. One look at you and anyone will know you are the Luna of this pack.”
“But… how… how so?” I stutter, confused. Honestly this is freaking me out. How is it possible for them to know I’m their Alpha’s mate without being told? I sure look like a mess!
I don’t look anything like royalty. I don’t talk like royalty. I don’t act like royalty. How then do they know I’m mated to the Supreme Alpha just by looking at me?
“I don’t think I will ever be able to explain it to you, Luna, but just know, that we all know. You exude power and dominance in ways even you do not know and we as your subjects feel that power when we set our eyes on you and we know you are our Luna. That’s basically how it works.”
“Wow!” Is all I manage. I am flabbergasted. I had no idea something like that could happen.
“Cool isn’t it?”
“It’s amazing. The Moon goddess indeed works in mysterious ways.”
“She sure does. Also… um… forgive me for being too forward, but I am also here to give a direct application.” I squint as I try to figure out what she’s trying to talk about, but I can’t think of anything.
“I… I don’t think I’m following .”
“Very soon, you will be asked to choose a personal maid who will be with you at all times and attend to your every need. You two will grow old together.”
“Oh…” I exclaimed with a nod. Everything she just said sounds very familiar to me. It’s something I have experienced. I have been Daphne’s personal maid since I was five years old. Following her around and tending to her every need. If Alpha Jayce didn’t show up and save me, I would have done that till my last breath, so I know exactly what Tania is talking about.
“Being the Supreme Luna is no easy task, so you will have to get a personal maid who will assist you in everything you do. Now, I understand that you do not know me and you have no idea what kind of person I am within, but I can assure you that I’m a good and very diligent servant. I can work under pressure, I’m patient, soft spoken and above all, I am determined to serve you with everything that has got life in me… that is if… you know….” She chuckles nervously. “Give me the chance to do so by picking me as your personal maid for life.” She ends her pitch and I’m looking at her completely fascinated and a bit envious of her boldness and eloquence.
I would never be able to talk like that to a stranger. My confidence is as fine and fragile as a sewing thread. Almost invisible and the least pressure will break it apart.
I smile and fix my gaze on her.
“You are quite confident and eloquent and that’s a good trait that will make you thrive in anything you do. I am greatly impressed.” I compliment her. She smiles…No. She blushes hard as she drops her gaze to her fingers and plays with them. That action of hers warms my heart and I smile.
She is such a charmer.
“I have heard your request and I will ponder on it.”
“Thank you very much Luna. Thank you so much.”
“For nothing. I will head in now.” She bows to me as I walk past her and make my way into the building.
This pack is amazing. I’m already loving it here. I have a good feeling I’m going to have a terrific life here. Thank you Moon goddess.
I’m smiling as I walk into the living room and that smile instantly fades away when I see a young man seated on one of the sofas watching TV and beside him is a maid kneeling before him with a tray in her hand and a glass of orange juice in it.
“Hello.” I greet calmly to get his attention. He turns around to look at me and grins.
“You must be Alora, my brother’s mate.” He says and rises from his seat. My head goes in a mix when the word brother hits my ear drums.
Alpha Jayce didn’t tell me about having any brothers so…
Oh my God!
That’s his step-brother. The one whose mum I met in the garden a while ago. She wasn’t very nice to me so I’m guessing her son won’t be nice to me either.
“Yes… I am.” I reply when he stands a few metres away from me. The grin on his face has disappeared. He’s giving me a stern look that’s sending chills down my spine. I don’t like him. He sounds, smells and looks like bad news.
I will not be surprised if he has come here to threaten me just like his mum did back at the garden.
“I already feel sorry for you.”
“Excuse me?” I ask calmly. He takes a few steps closer to me and I take three steps back out of fear. His aura is intimidating. The look in his eyes is unfriendly. My instincts are telling me to turn around and run out of that door, but I won’t. I stay on my spot and watch him look at me from head to toe in the same condescending manner in which Alpha Myles looked at me when he found out I was his mate.
I swallow dryly and match his gaze when he looks back at me.
“Crushing you will be too easy. I feel ashamed already.” He deciphers. Tension rises in the atmosphere. I look at him with searching eyes, completely understanding what he is talking about. His mother had said a similar thing to me. “I heard you used to be a servant in a wealthy household back at the Black Diamond Pack. You must have been thrilled when my stepbrother found you. You prolly thought your life was about to change for the better. You still have that thought in your head, don’t you?” I don’t reply. I keep glaring at the asshold Infront of me. He has a sickening smile and I find myself wishing I could cripple his cockiness with the palm of my hand.
He takes a step forward, his eyes trained on me. A sick thrill runs through me and I take a deep breath.
“Well… you are wrong. This castle is far from the happy ending you imagined it to be. This a jungle where only the bravest and most resilient people survive. It’s not for the faint of hearts. It’s not for weaklings like you. You will be trample upon like dry leaves and crushed to dust, after which the wind will blow your miserable bits away and it will be as though you were never here in the first place. You will be preyed upon and you will not survive it, so if I were you, I would turn and run away, because once this war starts, death will be the only way to back out.” His words are powerful, heavy with conviction and when I look at his face, I notice he is very very serious. My heart is about falling out of my body. My jaw is dangling from shoelace. He offers me a smile that empathises with my soul. I can’t catch my breath. I want to turn around and run away like he has advised, but I can’t find my feet. He steps forward and leans in. I die.
“Run!” He whispers in my ear and I stagger backwards. my knees are wobbly and my heart is beating so fast, I wonder how it still works. I can see stars.
“You are also very beautiful, that I won’t deny.” Licks his lips and gives me a perverse look. I feel sick. “I can’t wait for the day I’ll fuck your brains out. I’ll make sure to scream my name and come back for more.” I’m still standing speechless on my spot when he majestically walks past me, not failing to give me a gentle slap on butt which makes me jump in fear. The whimper that escapes my lips makes him laugh as he strides out of the house.
I rub the back of my neck, fighting the weakness I feel deep in my bones.
What the hell just happened?