A test of hell…
Simon-
After cleaning myself in the bathroom, I snarled fiercely, remembering how I had let myself lose to Ashley. She simply had a way of toying with my thoughts. When I try to forget about her, things become more difficult. She’s like something I want to tame, break, and fucking make obedient. She is mine, after all.
“Where have you been all this while?” I asked as soon as Lucas walked in, beaming boyishly.
“With Ashley… you won’t believe what I figured out-she’s actually allergic to cats!” He laughed as he sat on my bed. I scowled, feeling an upset and an inexplicable urge to cry out.
“You spend more time with her than on pack business!” I finally blurted out, and Lucas gave me a sideways glance.
“Is that true? I just thought maybe our mates needed some quality time. I actually love her!”
“She will only be a good breeder. We can’t mate her, no matter how much we love her! Veronica’s there!”
“Veronica isn’t our mate, Simon. I don’t mind if you reject her, but playing games with her is annoying!” Lucas yelled at me and stormed out of the room. I angrily followed him.
“So what? You think an Omega is suitable to be a Luna? Can you hear yourself?” I shouted, certain everyone in the house, including the maids and Ashley, who was cleaning the library, heard my outburst.
Ashley emerged from the corner, looking at us as we exchanged heated arguments. I smirked, turning in her direction.
“Ashley!” I called. She looked up at me, her head bowed, lips parted-damn, she looked incredibly tempting.
“Yes, my lord?” she answered.
I dragged her to the center of the sitting room, my irritation simmering.
“If you were an Alpha, tell me, would you desire an Omega?” The question seemed to strike a nerve. She slowly glanced between me and Lucas, who wore an unreadable expression.
“Simon, what are you trying to do?” Lucas demanded, frustration evident in his voice.
I ignored him and proceeded, “Imagine you’re a king. Would you marry a slave, or would you go for someone of greater standing who could help you advance?” Ashley’s eyes widened as her breaths quickened.
“I-I don’t know.”
“You don’t know, or you can’t admit the truth?” I pressed, relishing the discomfort in her expression. “Answer me! If you were in my shoes, would you ever settle for an Omega?”
Her face reddened, and tears formed in her eyes. “I-I can’t. I just can’t.”
I turned to Lucas with a frigid smile on my lips. “There you have it. Even in a hypothetical setting, she can’t imagine being with someone of lower standing.”
Lucas clenched his jaw, looking torn between anger and helplessness. “Simon, this isn’t right. You’re playing with her emotions.”
“Maybe,” I said with a shrug, “but it’s necessary to understand her place. If she can’t handle this, how could she ever handle being anything more than what she is now?”
Lucas sighed heavily, shaking his head. “You’re pushing this too far. We’ll talk about it later. For now, let’s just… give it a rest.”
Ashley stood there, trembling, her eyes locked on the floor. The emotional manipulation had clearly taken its toll on her, and as she slowly walked away, I couldn’t help but revel in the chaos I’d stirred.
A few minutes later…
“Baby!!!” Veronica’s voice rang out as she opened my office door and walked in, looking all pretty and sexy. She plopped herself onto my lap, and I felt an urgent urge to kick her away. Something about her scent was unsettling, and my wolf couldn’t make sense of it anymore.
“I missed you,” she murmured, drawing invisible lines on my chest with her fingertips.
I was about to tell her to leave when an idea struck me. I glanced over at Ashley, who was standing just outside the office, her posture stiff and nervous. “Ashley,” I called out, “come in here.”
She entered cautiously, glancing back and forth between Veronica and me. “Yes, my lord?”
“I mentioned in a nonchalant manner that Veronica wants a massage,” I said. “Assist her while I wrap up some tasks.”
Ashley’s eyes widened in surprise, but she nodded and walked toward Veronica, who appeared oblivious to the atmosphere. Veronica lay down on the couch, closing her eyes as Ashley started massaging her shoulders.
I observed as the situation progressed, relishing in the unease of Ashley’s actions and how Veronica seemed to become calmer with her touch. I thought back to my discussion with Lucas, the disagreement we had, and considered how I could benefit from this situation.
Veronica, now clearly wanting to talk more, started expressing her frustrations. “I can’t comprehend why Simon continues to keep you, Ashley,” she remarked rudely. “You are just an Omega, nothing else.”
Ashley’s hands paused briefly before resuming their work. “I’m here to perform my duties,” she murmured, her voice shaking.
“I’m sure,” Veronica added, dripping with sarcasm. “Isn’t it somewhat embarrassing to be treated in such a manner? I would have expected that you’d desire better things for yourself.”
Ashley’s shoulders became tense, and I observed a tear falling down her cheek. “It’s not up to me to comment,” she responded, attempting to maintain a steady tone.
Veronica let out a harsh chuckle, breaking the silence in the room. “Certainly not. Honestly, I would never allow myself to be in your place. I would insist on being respected.”
Ashley’s hands shook while she kept applying pressure, breathing heavily in short bursts. As I observed her difficulty, I noticed the tension on her face and felt a sense of contentment.
Veronica’s voice became increasingly disdainful as she mentioned how difficult it must be for Ashley.
Ashley recoiled from the words, her breathing becoming more irregular. Due to a slight slip of her hands, she accidentally toppled a glass cup on the table. It broke into pieces on the ground, causing sharp fragments to spread out.
Everyone was startled by the abrupt noise. Veronica leaped to her feet, holding her hand tightly with a cut caused by the shattered glass. “Fantastic,” she said curtly, eyeing the chaos. “Ashley, see the mess you’ve made!”
Ashley’s eyes expanded with fear when she saw Veronica’s injured hand. “I apologize.” I didn’t intend to…
“Simply tidy it,” Veronica said, dismissing Ashley with a wave of her hand, clearly displaying her anger. Her eyes were full of frustration as she looked at me. I find this hard to believe. What am I supposed to do in order to unwind?
I reclined in my seat, feeling a satisfying twist in my chest. “I can see that you’ve created quite a mess,” I remarked to Ashley. “Take care of Veronica’s cut and tidy up this area.”
Ashley hurriedly bent down to gather the broken pieces, trembling as she attempted to steer clear of the sharp edges. She whispered sorry quietly, tears streaming down her face. Meanwhile, Veronica sat with a sulking face, observing with a blend of irritation and self-satisfied smugness.
After clearing the area and treating Veronica’s cut, Ashley remained standing with flushed cheeks and red eyes from tears. I could perceive her embarrassment and fatigue clearly displayed on her face.
“Is there something more?” Ashley inquired softly, her voice barely audible.
“I said no, sounding cold.” “You are free to leave.”
Ashley departed from the office feeling downhearted, her movement weighed down by a sense of defeat. After the door shut, I redirected my focus to Veronica.