Chapter Six

Chapter Six.

                      Jaslyn 

“Sorry,” I mumbled absentmindedly as the teacup fell off my hand and spilled its contents on the floor. “I’ll clean it up.”

“You don't have to.” Zeeland said, biting into his croissant. It was the first sentence he'd uttered since we arrived at the dining hall. His stepbrothers had sour expressions on their faces.

“She isn't even the Luna yet, she's still as good as an Omega.” Benoit spat, his eyes shooting lasers at me.

I stared at him unfazed. “Now that I think of it, I don't have to clean it myself. Would you like to help out?” I asked with a sweet smile.

Benoit's face alternated between purple and red, as he stabbed his finger at the empty air. “You-”

“Oh, come on, It's just a teacup.” I gingerly picked up my pecan pie and bit on it slowly. I caught Zeeland's smirk, before he dipped his gaze.

Armand was intently watching me with knitted brows. I'd been avoiding the brothers ever since my encounter on the night of the mating ceremony. And they've been trying to get under my skin. Unfortunately for them, I had thicker skin than they could ever imagine. I didn't live through years of my father's discrimination, and even the slave traders’ torture without the skin and heart of a porcupine.

“You’re enjoying this, aren't you?” Armand finally spoke up. 

“What if I am?” I countered.

“Enjoy it while it lasts.” He said, with narrowed eyes.

I shrugged. “Thanks, I will.”

I leaned back against my chair, allowing my thoughts to swallow the voices in the background. It was the same thoughts that'd made me unintentionally break the teacup. Tried as I could, the image of that stranger was deeply embedded in my mind, giving me restless nights.

I'd racked my head, trying to figure out where I'd met him before. And it always led back to one conclusion- I didn't know him, nor have I met him before that night in the forest. 

A particular thought had struck me though, and I couldn't help but latch onto it. He was a Vampire, just like my mother was. It could be possible that he knew me through my mother.

The thought of my mother made my heart ache. I didn't know what she looked like, nor did I know if she was still alive or dead. All attempts to get my father to tell me something about her always proved futile. There was one day when I'd been persistent though, and that had gotten my father into a fit of rage. 

In between his hurtful outbursts, he'd called my mother a bloodsucking demon who'd ruined his life. He'd cursed the fruit of their union- me- and even cursed the day I was born. I resolved never to ask about my mother after that day.

“And you think she's going to beat the other Lunas in the competition? What a joke.” Armand was saying, when I finally snapped out of my thoughts. 

“She might've succeeded in passing the Luna test, but that was because the method wasn't fair and square.” Benoit put in, his nose flaring.

I was amused. “Wasn't it fair and square? May I ask where the both of you disappeared to that night?” I asked with an innocent look.

They both turned their furious faces at me, gritting their teeth hard.

 “We were busy.” Armand offered.

“Busy on such an important night?” Zeeland argued.

I felt his gaze on me, and looked in his direction for a moment. I swallowed and turned away.

“And since when do we answer to you?” Benoit's tone was harsh.

I snorted and smothered it off immediately. “Sorry.” I mumbled.

“You don't answer to me. And I don't want you to.” Zeeland replied calmly.

He rapped on the table thrice, and Dmitri walked in from the little room adjacent, where he'd been from the start of our breakfast. He pushed Zeeland out of the dining room.

“Well?” Benoit sneered. 

“Well, what?” I shot back.

“Aren’t you going to accompany your Alpha?” Armand asked sarcastically.

“That’s my decision to make, not yours.” I said with a small smile. 

With simultaneous slams on the table, both of them barged out of the dining hall. I fondled my stomach, and sighed.

I wasn't really hungry. For whatever reason, I'd begun losing my interest in food since the past year. I could still eat whenever I wanted to, but none of the dishes held the allure they used to. Worse still, the measly meals I was served back at the slave house made matters worse. 

I picked at my plate but when my stomach growled again, I reluctantly pushed off the chair and went in search of blood. 

Servants moved to and fro the wide hallway as I strolled along, and I eyed all of them without appearing to. My eyes caught on a robust looking manservant with two trays balanced on both hands. I was about to reach into his mind and control him to follow me, when someone suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled into a corner.

The smell of cigar and whiskey crossed my nose and I wrinkled it at the smell.

“Ew, what are you? An old man?” I made a face.

“Shut the fvck up,” Benoit growled, switching positions and pinning me against the wall. “How dare you speak to us in whatever way you please?” He hissed in anger.

I fought back the urge to puke as the overwhelming stench of whiskey filled my senses.

“Brother, not again.” I muttered on a sigh.

“Let me go.” I ordered.

He laughed without mirth. “We know what Zeeland is doing. You're not his mate, and we're going to prove it.” His lips curled into an evil smile.

My heart skipped a beat at his words, but I pushed away the sudden wary feeling that was unfolding in my belly. 

“You have no proof that we aren't mates, Benoit. And if you don't let me go this instant, your balls can get ready to divorce you.” I warned.

His eyes gleamed with stifled anger. “How the hell did you escape us that night?” He spat again, his voice lowering to a whisper.

“When I met you and your brother, I had the impression that the both of you were smart. Unfortunately, you guys aren't living up to my expectations.” I shook my head.

He gripped my neck. “Shut your mouth, bitch!” He grunted.

I hit his hand in a futile attempt to force his hand away from my neck. Instead he tightened his hold on me. I was too weak from the lack of blood to slip into his mind. 

What the heck was it with men and bruised egos?

“Let me go,” I choked out.

“If you ever try getting into our way, I'll kill you and erase every trace that you ever existed.” He threatened, his annoying breath fanning my face.

My reflexes kicked in, and I jerked my knee upwards hitting the sonofabitch on the balls.

He whimpered, and backed away. 

“Who’s the one in pain now?” I clucked my tongue, and dashed away before he recovered.

I cursed at Benoit inwardly when I didn't spot my potential donor as I searched around with my eyes. On a sigh, I led an unsuspecting servant into an unused room and quickly fed before heading to the forest to practice on awakening my dormant wolf. 

If I had one.

…

It was nighttime when I finally left the forest. I was exhausted and my body was jonesing for sleep. I stretched my limbs. My efforts to awaken my wolf had turned out futile as usual. 

Muttering a silent prayer not to encounter any of Zeeland's stepbrothers, I headed towards the Fort. While I was in the forest, I'd hoped to encounter that stranger once more. I'd been on high alert in order to sense his presence in case he was hiding and didn't want me to see him. But throughout my entire training, I didn't see nor sense him. 

But for the fact that I could still remember how gorgeous he looked and his cold touch on my neck that night, I could've brushed off that encounter as a hallucination. 

I absentmindedly nodded at the stern looking guards as I passed through the entrance. Buried in my thoughts, I didn't realize that I'd passed by the sculpture in the hallway that I'd admired since I arrived at the Zen Fort days ago.

It was a sculpture of a man holding a scepter and standing majestically. Loving the aura emitted from the sculpture, I always found myself staring at the sculpture whenever I passed by it.

I didn't have the time to admire it tonight however, I was too tired to.

As I rounded around the corner that housed the room I shared with Zeeland, I heaved a sigh of relief. My body was itching to get under the shower, and on my side of the bed.

There was no one in the room when I walked in, and my face finally dissolved into a smile. I could just quickly shower and sleep off before Zeeland arrived. At the thought of him, my stomach did that thing and I gave myself a mental shake.

‘Come off it, Jas.’

I took off my tight pants and blouse in a rush, leaving my body clad in only the thong and panties which I loved wearing. I packed my hair into a bun and pushed the door open.

My eyes widened and I subconsciously let out a loud shriek. Zeeland raised his startled gaze at me before his eyes slightly went wide. Only his upper body was visible, while his lower body was submerged in the foam and bubbles in the

bathtub.

“What the heck are you doing?” His voice came out in a rumble that made my stomach do that thing again. 

“I-I’m sorry, I didn't know you were inside.” I stuttered. Recalling that I was almost naked, I cursed, slammed the door shut and rushed back into the bedroom.