2. The Wolves Talk
.… "Look, I brought her in one piece as usual," the guard said with a sickening smirk on his face as he threw me across the room until I landed on the tiled floor of the pack house kitchen. I imagined how I looked, laying helpless on the kitchen floor, drained of life and light. But these people could care less about how I looked or how I felt. They have made that known to me countless times over the past three years. It's strange how circumstances can reveal people's true feelings towards you. Those who stay with you in both good times and bad times are your true friends. The quick betrayal of the Redsand pack baffled me. They turned against me in the blink of an eye, even though they weren't directly involved in the wrongs committed. It was as if they had a hidden rage before the tragedy, and that event triggered a chain reaction that brought about my suffering. "Good, Sean! You sure took your damn good time," the kitchen head, Vera, spat as she stared at me in disgust. It was obvious she could still smell the guard's discharge on me, and her stare made me feel even more disgusted with myself. If only I had the privilege of a good bath. But all my privileges had been taken away from me since the day I lost everything, including my dignity. Well, most of it. What was left of my dignity was what I used to boost my strength to survive each day without contemplating ending it all. Though I often wished for death, deep inside me, I didn't. I wanted to live. I wanted to be alive and happy. And deep down, I longed for a mate who would love me unconditionally, flaws and all. The spirit of my parents lived inside me, urging me to be strong and not give up. Despite my father's sin, I knew he was a good man, a wonderful father, and a great beta. Sometimes I questioned the moon goddess. Was this the purpose she had for me? Was I not destined for happiness? "Of course," Sean grinned and walked out of the kitchen, but not without giving me a sadistic glance, eyeing my body lustfully. "Filthy whore!" Vera spat at me from the floor, looking at me with pure hatred. "You are just like your mother, a filthy whore. She was also a filthy whore, just like you." Vera held extra hatred towards me, and I knew the reason why. She had always had affections for my father. My mother once told me that my father and Vera were once a couple before my father discovered his true mate. Vera must have been devastated by the loss of her lover, even though they were not destined by the moon goddess. Vera rejected her mate, thinking my father would do the same. But he didn't, and even to this day, she remains unmated but not celibate. Vera was the real pack whore, but she always blamed her predicament on my father. She fervently blamed him for tricking her and making her lose her mate, even though she was the architect of her own misfortune. While it was a misfortune for her, my misfortune was even greater. "Go clean yourself up, you wench! Your stench is ruining my kitchen and my nose," Vera spat again as she dragged me from the kitchen floor into the staff bathroom before shutting the door behind me. I wasn't allowed here on a regular basis, but today I must have smelled really bad, and I got to enjoy this privilege. I was well aware that Vera wouldn't allow me to take my time to properly bathe. So I immediately stripped out of my clothes, a little saddened that I would have no other choice but to put the dirty dress back on after a clean bath. The cold water streamed down my body from the shower, and I took the opportunity to let the tears slip out of my eyes as I thought about my heartbreaking life. I wanted to scream, but I couldn't. My throat wouldn't allow it. I felt like I was choking, as if a cord had been wrapped around my neck, tightening with each passing second. More tears streamed down my eyes, and the water from the shower washed them away immediately. How I wished the water could also wash away my pain and sorrows or even wash me out of this place to freedom. I knew that wish would not come to pass when I heard a loud bang against the bathroom door. "Get out of there now!" I heard Vera shout angrily from the other side of the door. I immediately jumped out of the shower without drying my body and quickly put on my tattered dress that I had laid on the bathroom sink. Then I marched to open the bathroom door. "Here," Vera slapped the dress against my chest. "Wear it and get out now. I'm doing you a favor this time. The Alpha would not be pleased ifyou appeared like trash before him while he entertains his guests." "Serve the Alpha? His guests?" I questioned, confused. I was never allowed to serve him; my duties had always been to clean the kitchen after every meal. I have never been allowed to enter the pack hall during mealtimes or work alongside the pack members. "Do not question me. Do as I say," Vera frowned. She waited for me to put on the dress. It wasn't the best, nor was it new, but it would do. My former dress had already become ragged. This new dress would last for a while before another act of generosity falls upon me. I finished putting on the dress and followed behind her. "Follow the other servants and behave properly. Any act of defiance would cost you everything, and trust me, it wouldn't be death. Death would be a privilege, a gift, and Redsand Pack has no interest in gifting a tramp like you," Vera scolded. I bowed my head down as I nodded in acknowledgment. Her warnings were unnecessary; I would never act out of turn. I wasn't strong enough, and I had no allies. It would be to my disadvantage if I behaved foolishly and incurred more wrath from the pack. I stepped into the pack hall, carrying a cooler in my hand, and followed quietly behind the servants, not uttering a single word. The pack hall was just as I remembered, but this time it looked more beautiful, more modern. A lot had changed in three years, and the world had moved forward while I remained stuck in one position. In the past, my family and I sat at the table, to the right hand of the Alpha's table. Those were the happy times, dining with my family and my pack. Those memories were still cherished, despite the harsh treatment I received from the pack members who had once called me sister, daughter, and friend. "Join in the serving, assist Tora in serving the Alpha's table," Vera instructed. I nodded in acknowledgment without uttering a single word. Though my heart was frightened, I hadn't been able to set my eyes on the Alpha directly for more than two years. He had forgotten about me, leaving me at the mercy of the wolves he commanded. I wondered if he would recognize me today. A part of me wanted him to, to see the pain he had made me endure for three years simply for being born to a guilty person. But another part of me didn't want him to recognize me at all. He might remember the great sin of the past and unleash more wrath and judgment upon me. The wolves talked as I carried the tray of food to the Alpha's table. They realized my presence among them in the halls. It had been three years since I graced their presence all together in one building. They were surprised to see me serving with the servants today. The whispers grew louder as I approached the Alpha's table. Alpha Samuel had noticed my presence, but I kept my head down and avoided meeting his gaze. My gaze fell on William. I felt nothing, no attraction or pull, which confirmed that he was not my mate. None of the wolves in the hall were my mate, and I felt a certain relief. William also stared at me, his face frowned and his mouth scrunched up as if he wanted to say something or do something but was holding back. Williams’ sister, Diana, was seated beside him. She was once my best friend, and as I looked into her eyes, I could see sorrow radiating from them, as if she pitied me. I didn't need pity from her, not now, not ever. "Louisiana, you still live," the Alpha's voice boomed across the silent halls. The wolves knew not to talk when the Alpha spoke. "Yes, Alpha," I responded softly, keeping my gaze rooted on the tiled floor of the halls. Was he hoping I would be dead? He was the one who dumped me in the dungeons. Surely, he made inquiries about his prisoners from time to time. "Who is she?" the stranger beside him spoke. The power radiating from him told me that he was an Alpha, the visitor Vera spoke about. "She is the daughter of my former Beta, Beta Darius, the traitor," the Alpha announced loudly, as if reminding the pack of my stained identity. My heart broke, and I quivered as I was reminded of my position. "The one who murdered Alpha Kaden's pregnant mate?" the strange Alpha asked. "Yes, a tragic event it was," Alpha Samuel replied. "And she lives? Alpha Kaden spared her life?" the Alpha said, surprised. "That puzzled me as well, but I assure you, Alpha Leonard, she is paying for her sins properly," the Alpha responded. My sins! My sins! It wasn't my hands that were stained with blood. I looked up slightly to stare at the Luna's face, Luna Tamara. She had been like a second mother to me all those years before the tragedy. She had consoled me when my mother passed, and she held so much love in her eyes for me. But this time, I could only see indifference in them. Was there really no one willing to help me, to stop the injustice done against me? "You may leave," the Alpha commanded, and with a bow, I walked away from his table. As I left, I glanced at the table that was once occupied by my family, now occupied by another family. The former Gamma, Gamma Eric, was now the new Beta. A single tear rolled down my cheek as I moved away from their presence and returned to the server's stand. Fortunately, Vera didn't require my assistance anymore; otherwise, I would have had to walk back to the tables I had just passed, overwhelmed with shame. Perhaps this was all part of Vera's plan to remind me of my rightful place, and unfortunately, her plan succeeded. I am well aware of where I belong.A little freedom . . I was sent back to the dungeons after I finished the day's work, after I finished with serving in the halls I was assigned to the cleaning of the kitchen which had been my normal job in the kitchen to begin with. All the while I was doing my chores Vera had this joyful smile drawn across her slightly wrinkled face as she watched me slave away my bones, I was sure there and then that the whole serving fiasco was all her idea, her idea to make herself feel good and to make me feel the worst of myself than I already felt and sadly she had succeeded, watching them in that pack hall taught me lot of lessons but the one that stuck out the most was that their lives were going perfectly well, all the pack members were living their best lives, they were happy while I was living a life of suffering and torment. After I had finished with the kitchen, I proceeded with cleaning and moping of the pack house all by myself, the pack house was over three-story building with
4. Friends of the past part One . . . "I see the dress fits you perfectly. I had to go down a few sizes considering how much weight you've lost," Diana said with a smile as she entered my room, catching me off guard. I turned my head away from the window where I had been lost in thought, contemplating my problems. I stared at Diana without responding to her comment. She used to be my best friend, my sister, but now I was supposed to be her personal slave. Diana had become even more beautiful since the last time I saw her. She had matured into a woman, losing her girlish figure and demeanor. Her presence exuded strength, and she carried herself with confidence, as if seeking to assert dominance. I couldn't tell if it was intentional or if it had simply become a part of her over the years. Regardless, there was no need for her to dominate me. I was nothing, no one. There was no need to display power to a girl who had nearly lost her connection to her wolf. Diana's blonde hair was
Friends of the past Two... "I want you to call me Diana, Anna not mistress or madam or whatsoever. You are not my slave, I know a lot has happened but we are still friends are we not?" There was a quiver in her words like she was the one that was dealing with a broken heart and a broken life. "I can't mistress" I declared, I truly couldn't, it was not about my pride or anything else, rather I was embarrassed at the situation, I cannot simply act like three years had not breeze past us and I had not been locked up for three years in the same pack she lived in. "We are not friends, not anymore, so I cannot call you by your name Madam " I added though each words felt like a dagger to my chest Diana immediately grabbed my hands, enclosing them in hers. But almost as soon as it happened, I pulled my hands away from her and took a few steps back, creating distance between us. I bowed my head down once again. "What happened to you?" She asked and my head immediately snapped back up,
The mate dance part One ... I never imagined that in this lifetime I would witness the RedSand pack buzzing with such activity. The preparation for the Mate Dance was treated as if the president of the country or the Alpha King himself was gracing our presence. Alpha Samuel spared no expense to ensure that the Mate Dance Ceremony would go flawlessly. Pack workers scurried around in a frenzy, creating a chaotic scene. Fortunately, as Diana's appointed personal servant, I was spared the burden of working on the preparations for the grand event. Instead, I utilized whatever free time I had from attending to Diana's needs to plan my escape from this place. Although Diana rarely assigned me tasks, I had to create them for myself to avoid arousing suspicion among the pack members. Diana was kind, but the rest of the pack was not, and I refused to let her generosity lead me to greater harm in the future—assuming I didn't succeed in escaping on the night of the event. I struggled hard t
The Mate dance part two...I smiled weakly as Diana's words touched me, like a mother comforting her child. Diana was truly motherly, and she would eventually be a good mother to her pups. It's funny how we were both the same age, but she seemed to have advanced psychologically over these three years. "Thank you," I said, tears glistening in my eyes, but I held them back. I would not cry anymore for my predicament. My freedom was here, and I would take it. "No need to thank me. You deserve more than I can offer, Anna," Diana cooed, her eyes shone with sincerity. **** Maybe choosing to shop with Diana was a wrong idea. I had imagined that tailing Diana around the pack would be tiring, but I stand to be corrected. Shopping with Diana was proving to be even more challenging. But as challenging as it was, it brought delight to my soul as I watched Diana giggle over every dress that caught her eye. "You have to try this one," that was the nth time Diana had said to me as she pushed
A glitch in my story . . . The moment was finally here. I was extremely tense, but I was still doing a good job of hiding it from Diana, who still had not suspected a thing, even till now. I silently praised my perseverance. Diana was busy gushing about how perfect everything in the field where the mate dance was to be held looked, and truthfully, it was breathtaking. It looked like a wedding in the forest, except it was not a wedding but still a celebration of love when mates find each other. A part of me wished I could fully be part of the mating ceremony. I could put on that blue dress in complete happiness as I awaited my other half. Instead I feigned happiness while I was seated patiently, all dressed up in the beautiful blue dress, while Diana painted my face to what she called perfection. I was yet to see her final work on my face "Perfect!" Diana exclaimed as she finally stepped away, allowing me to look at myself in the mirror beside me. "So, what do you think?" she a
A glitch in my story part two ... "Oh my goodness! Is that you, Louisiana?" Luna Tamara almost screamed. I was confused. Was she just noticing my presence? She made sure to ignore me when I served them in the dining halls. "Good evening, Luna Tamara," I calmly bowed. "Wow, I haven't seen you in ages. You have made yourself scarce around the pack after your father's death," she said, and I stared at her blankly, even more confused. Have I made myself scarce? Or has the pack made sure that I am always scarce by imprisoning me? I wanted to scream at her, but I couldn't. "I was ashamed of my father's sin," I replied, biting my lips so hard that they almost bled. "Your father's sins are not yours to bear," she replied, and I grew even more confused. Was she not aware of what I have been going through in the pack? "Enough of your pain, my dear. You should be happy now," she added, and my heart broke. "Enough, Tamara. Let the girl be," the Alpha finally stepped in, cutting short the
Alpha Kaden's Torture part one . . . I feel myself falling, the world spinning before my eyes, and then I feel nothing. I succumb to the darkness, embracing it like a mother embraces her child, until I feel nothing. My head feels heavy as I try to open my eyes. The light from the light bulb shines brightly into my eyes, causing a sharp pain in the front of my head. It takes a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the light, and when they do, it almost feels like they're going to pop out of their sockets. How did I end up back here? Why am I lying on my bed in Diana's house? Who brought me here? I calm myself down and try to piece everything together. My brain isn't working as fast as I would like, but I patiently wait for the pieces to form. I remember being by the river, where I had decided to take a rest for a few minutes before continuing my run. It was a big mistake on my part, one that I now realize. If I hadn't stopped, I might not have been caught by Alpha Kaden. Alpha K