CHAPTER 8: Rude

Aria

I spent the rest of the evening trying to ignore Daniel’s intense stare. He was watching my every move and that made me frustrated. I wanted to go to him so badly; I missed him like crazy, but Tania was right. I had to try to avoid him until she signalled me to make my move.

Daniel was only one of many problems though. Watching my mum and dad interact with everyone in the pack but me, hurt so much. I was just an Omega who they had just met. My father didn’t even know my name yet. Shit! That was a tough one. I had always been my father’s baby girl. That bulky scary man was the sweetest dad ever. It was said that I, his daughter, had put a spell on him the day I was born and the wild wolf would become a lamb near his pup.

And now that wolf was sitting a few meters from me, holding my mother in his arms, not letting go, unaware that his beloved child was so close.

That and Daniel’s previous behaviour brought tears to my eyes. I didn’t want to embarrass myself and stood up, ready to leave with the excuse of not feeling well.

“Aria, you need to thank our Alpha and Luna before you go,” Maria advised and I looked at her, surprised.

Right. I had completely forgotten about that. That gesture was a must in the Opal Moon pack on such occasions.

“Maria, I don’t feel that comfortable around them, you know. Could you please join me?” I requested and wondered where the hell my self-esteem and confidence had gone. I was the Moon Goddess for heaven’s sake.

“You used to be the Moon Goddess, Aria. Now, you are an Omega, whatever that means. And it would be best if you acted as one. I am the one that’s keeping you from revealing your status, and I have to do it so that our plan can work. Forgive me, sweetie,” Tania confessed and I felt at ease. My wolf could predict things, saving me from unpleasant situations in the future.

“Thanks, Tania,” I replied, and mastering my courage I followed Maria to where Daniel’s parents and mine were sitting.

Forcing myself to act normally around my parents, I spoke softly, bowing my head in respect.

“Alpha, Luna, thank you for letting us join tonight’s feast. I need to go now,” I turned to leave but Luna Sarah stopped me.

“Aria, is it?”

I turned to her, nodding.

“Don’t forget that tomorrow after breakfast you should clean Daniel’s room, my dear.”

“Yes, Luna,” I replied and a loud “no” made everyone turn their attention to the person who had spoken.

“No, mother, that won’t be necessary. Lea and I need our space and prefer they clean the room in the afternoon. And why not ask Maria to do it? She is more familiar with my habits than anyone else,” Daniel proposed, not even looking at me.

Do you think? I sneered inwardly but lowered my head, waiting for Daniel’s mother’s response.

Luna Sarah didn’t reply immediately, and I looked up, confused. She had been staring at me with a smirk on her pretty face. I bowed my head again waiting for her instructions.

“Okay, then. Maria will clean the room. But if she ever needs help, she will call Aria. Maria is getting older, Daniel. She shouldn’t be working too hard,” Luna Sarah replied and with a whispered goodnight, I left, not looking back. I didn’t want to hear Daniel’s reply.

“How rude,” Tania growled. “It seems that Daniel needs a lesson or two, Aria. And I will be more than glad to teach him,” she continued and I smiled.

“Now who’s the one that can’t stand his behaviour, Tania?” I asked my wolf and Tania huffed, annoyed.

I got home and went straight to bed.

“We need to rest, Tania. Let’s deal with Daniel and his behaviour tomorrow,” I suggested and hit the pillow. I was asleep in no time.

I woke up at dawn and followed Valeria to the packhouse. The same routine waited for me to start my day. The pile of bacon had doubled today. It would be an intense training day and the warriors had to eat more protein.

I should get used to the oily scent on my clothes and hair, I thought and, taking a deep breath, put the first pieces of meat in the frying pan. Too preoccupied with my cooking, I didn’t notice that someone was standing next to me. Only when he pulled my t-shirt did I look his way. A young boy, around eight, had stood beside me, smiling.

“Hello, beautiful lady. Can I have some bacon please?” He asked politely.

My heart melted at the sight of him. He was Andy, Daniel’s younger brother. The poor baby had died beside my in-laws by the dirty hands of Erick Williams. He loved me so much back then and never felt tired of expressing his love.

“Young man, are you sure you are allowed to have plain bacon at this time?” I asked him, remembering what a foodie he was and how my mother-in-law forbade him to enter the kitchen alone. She insisted on him having a completed breakfast and not pickings.

“Just one, please?’ He smiled shyly at me and I couldn’t resist his charming smile.

“Just one,” I replied, giving him a slice of bacon.

“Be careful; it’s hot,” I warned him and turned to my cooker.

“Andy, what are you doing here?” Daniel’s voice boomed inside the kitchen and I jumped surprised, almost burning myself with the hot oil.

“It’s just one piece of bacon, Daniel,” Andy whispered and approached me. Now what? How was I supposed to react?

I patted Andy’s head and smiled at him, not saying anything.

“You!” He retorted. Was he talking to me?

I looked back and locked my eyes with his stormy ones.

“How dare you give him the bacon? Don’t you know my mother forbids him to eat before breakfast?” He gritted his teeth.

“Sorry, Alpha. It won’t happen again,” I apologised and turned to my cooker.

At the speed of lightning, he was next to me pinning me to the nearest wall.

“Don’t you dare turn your back to me Omega. Is that clear?” he gritted his teeth, his hot breath teasing my skin.

“It was just a piece of bacon for heaven’s sake,” I whispered turning my head to the side and realised my mistake too late.

“How dare you talk back, you mutt? What gives you the courage to do so,” he growled, pressing me to the wall and grazing his fangs on my tender skin.

Holy shit! That wasn’t supposed to happen now.

I gulped, pretending to be frightened, but I felt aroused by his warm body touching mine. All I wanted to do was turn my head towards him and kiss him hard, claiming what was rightfully mine.

“I am sorry, Alpha. I shouldn’t have said that,” I whispered breathlessly trying to move my body away from him. His hard member pocked my belly button as his breath got heavier. I was a tall woman, but Daniel was much taller than me.

What the hell was I thinking? Where did height fit in? The problem was that I had an angry and horny Daniel pressing me to the wall and I needed a way out before I ruined everything. I couldn’t predict Daniel’s next move. Me and my big mouth!

“Beautiful lady, the bacon is on fire,” Andy’s childish voice brought us back to reality and Daniel released me immediately taking a few steps back.

“Shit,” I cursed removing the frying pan from the cooker. The smell of burned meat filled the kitchen and I rushed to open the windows, facing the surprised looks the other Omegas gave Daniel and me.

Shit! I forgot we weren’t alone in the kitchen.

Daniel had already gone by when I returned to my position, taking his little brother with him. I began frying the bacon but my hands were trembling and some pieces slipped a few times, falling to the ground.

Maria came to my rescue and patted my shoulder in a motherly way.

“Why is Daniel behaving this way? Something must be bothering him since yesterday,” the poor woman said, trying to excuse Daniel’s rudeness towards me and make me feel better.

“Yes, his hardened di.ck,” Tania angrily replied inside my mind and I almost choked trying not to laugh out loud and make others think I lost it out of fear of Daniel’s previous reaction towards me.