Maya’s POV
“Let’s wrap this up quickly. We have to train the wolf pups before it gets too dark. I hate sending those kids home late in the night.” I said to the six ladies around me.
Someone snickered not too far from me but I knew who it was, even without turning my head. It wasn’t anyone other than Selene and her two friends; Sarah and Sasha. The three mischievous and bitter snakes as I liked to call them and tell my best friend, Khloe.
I wondered if their parents had known what they were going to become and that was why they had named them by the first letter of a snake. I wondered what kind of snakes they would be if they really were one. Would they be anacondas, pythons or cobras? I shook my head, hating that I had poor knowledge about the crawling reptiles.
I narrowed my eyes at them, squinting at their tiny forms which were too small for even for a growing wolf much more a mature female Wolfe and agreed that they had to be rattlesnakes. That was what they were, judging by how small and dangerous they were.
I hated those girls and I didn’t fool myself that the feelings weren’t mutual. I knew why I hated them but couldn’t understand why they hated me. They always tried their best to bring out the worst in me, regardless of how cool I tended to be in any situation, and they always succeeded.
I was done being cool today. I boiled with fury, boiling enough that the heat could cook stones. I didn’t know why they were here. I always volunteered to train the wolf pups and babysit them to keep them busy while their parents did something else with their time or get the time to rest.
I didn’t know why they were here to join the trainings when they didn’t care before.
I didn’t want to be a nuisance. The kids were soon going to be here and I didn’t want to cause a scene for them. Kids didn’t have discretion and if we fought here, they would tell everyone in the pack and the news would spread like wildfire. Then the alpha of the pack would find out that we had fought in the presence of kids and call us to order. I shuddered in fright at the thought of that happening. That wasn’t how I wanted my future father-in-law to meet me. That wasn’t the image I wanted him to think of me as.
I tried counting to hundred, cooling off my temper as I ignored the snicker. I only had to finish building the training ground for the kids, train them, dismantle the training poles and go home, putting everything behind me and sleep as I thought of Kevin and my life with him later on in the future.
I couldn’t help wondering when he was going to come back from his trip and what was keeping him waiting. I had tried going back to his campground at the outskirts of the land where I had been the other day but he wasn’t there, not even any of his men and I couldn’t get information from anyone around here as no one knew of his whereabouts.
I hissed as I thought of Liam. That brother of mine was of no help at all. Couldn’t he have written to tell me that they would all soon be traveling knowing how much I would worry when I find out?
I sighed, rolling my eyes. Liam wouldn’t even tell me anything when I asked him questions directly. How could I have expected him to write to me? I didn’t get why he loved to act like I didn’t exist. I knew he was Kevin’s beta and had to be loyal to him but he didn’t have to shove it in my face that he cared about his duty to the alpha than the bond he had with me, his family.
I was on edge and didn’t need those snakes riling me up right now.
“Look at her.” I heard Sasha whisper to her friends and then they all laughed.
That was it. I thought as I threw the rope I had been using to bind sticks down on the floor. I had had enough. I growled low in my throat, narrowing my eyes at the three as I moved towards them.
Sensing that trouble was about to start, Khloe rushed forward and put herself in the way, her arms spread out as she tried to stop me.
“Get away from me, Khloe.” I hissed at her. My vision was red and all I could see was fighting those little tramps and giving them the beating they have been craving for.
Khloe was stubborn and wouldn’t listen to me. She shook her head, still spreading her arms before me to stop me. I was amused at her efforts. We both knew that she couldn’t stop me if I really wanted to go through. I was the strongest female wolf in the pack and that was why I was the right fit for Kevin. I was the only female who deserved to be by his side and with time, he would learn to accept that and stop chasing the shadows of a girl that he might never meet again.
“Don’t do this.” Khloe begged. “The kids are almost here. You don’t want to ruin yourself while they are watching.”
“Fuck the kids.” I said through bared teeth. I wasn’t going to deal with this disrespect anymore. “Let me go, Khloe. I can rough them up and be done with it even before the first kid comes.”
“What will you gain from beating them?”
“Watching them cry out in pain when I’m done with them is a bonus.” I explained.
“You’ve been trying hard to build your social image. Do you want to lose it because of those pesky werewolves?”
I sighed, feeling my anger deflate. Yes, that was it. My social image. I had worked hard to build it and make majority of the female wolves accept me. I shouldn’t lose it because of those little ants.
Khloe knew how to get me to calm down. She was truly my best friend.
“Okay, Khloe,” I said in a calmer voice. “I won’t do anything stupid but you have to let me go.”
I had seen the expression on the girls’ faces and knew that they had enjoyed riling me up. Khloe hadn’t seen it because she had their backs to them but I had and wasn’t going to let it go like that. They were going to try again and I couldn’t promise that I would be sane when that happened.
I had to put them in their places once and for all now.
Khloe searched my eyes and nodded when she realized that I wasn’t going to be fine until I have had a go at them. She also seemed to believe me that I wasn’t going to do anything stupid. I loved the decision she made as she moved away and let me through.
We still had ten minutes before the kids come for their trainings. If luck was on my side, I should be done with lashing out at the girls. I regretted that Khloe wouldn’t let me be aggressive with my claws but I knew that my words would be enough for this moment.
“Why were you snickering?” I said as I moved closer to where they were. “Did I say anything funny? Was there something funny in having us hurry so the kids can start their trainings early? They had to start an hour late the other day because we weren’t finished with setting up the ground on time.” I was surprised at how cool my voice sounded when I actually wanted to yell at them. I didn’t know why I was explaining myself to them either.
The other ladies sensed that there was going to be a row after all and stopped working to look at us. I sighed, hoping that we were able to start the trainings on time at this rate. I had to end this quickly.
“Do you have a problem with me?” I finally asked what I had been dying to ask them, moving closer and showing them how aggressive I could be.
They weren’t bothered and I felt stupid for squaring my shoulders. They rolled their eyes at me.
“We don’t have a problem with you but it’s getting annoying how you always act like you are our leader.” Sarah hissed. “I’m sure the other ladies are annoyed as well.”
I looked at Tamara and Tela to know what they thought and confirm if Sarah was right but they quickly averted their eyes, looking away from me. I was stunned. I knew that there were other ladies who felt this way if some of them I could stare at this moment felt so.
I had to force myself to not let my lips shake as embarrassment washed over me. It wasn’t their fault. I would have the last laugh when Kevin made me his mate.
I wanted to rub that in their faces but decided not to. It would be better if they see me become the Luna and regret being rude to me.
“Let’s get to work.” I said and turned to leave, deciding not to fight with them anymore.
The bitches weren’t done. “Stop acting like you are the Luna, Maya.” Selene hissed. “We know you dream to be but you aren’t.”
I couldn’t ignore that jibe. I turned to face them, a cold smile on my face. “Yet, Selene. Yet.”
I turned away to not let anyone see that her words had hurt me. I focused on building the rafts and poles for the kids to train, praying that Kevin would come home quickly to declare me as his mate and shut the mouths of these mockers.
I hoped he never finds Ella and she never forgives him even if he did.