Chapter 3

I shuffled back home. I entered the house and saw Harley looking furiously at the time. Her eyes were black, I shivered upon sighting her eyes. Her eyes mostly scare me. No day passes without me having to see those black, spine-chilling eyes of hers. I inhaled sharply. She looked up at me, I clung to the hem of my gown, my hands were already sweating. My legs shuddered as I shuffled to her. Niamh curled back down, she was scared too.

“Where have you been?” she asked in a husky tone that got me cowering back. She stood up. She was holding my mathematics textbook. How did that happen? I was sure I didn’t bring home the textbook.

“I…I…went for lessons,” I stuttered, beads of sweat streamlined on my forehead and forming a chain around my neck.

“You lying brat!” she snapped out angrily, grabbing my arm and pulling me closer to her. My arm hurts. I almost pee in my dress. “You went for lessons and you trashed your textbook The book I bought with my money.”

Then I was confused. A book I left in my locker was suddenly trashed. A book I haven’t seen since our last class yesterday.

“I…I didn’t do…”

Before I could finish my defense, she freed my arm with a slap across my face. Hot. My vision blurred for the moment, I could feel the hotness on my cheek. If I had a mirror, I would see her fingerprint on my cheek. My palm plastered my cheek to soothe the pain.

“You are such an ingrate,” she barked. “If Lucian hadn’t seen this and brought it to me, I would have thought you went to class. You filthy little thing. I will report you to Glenda,” she threatened, pointing an angry finger at me. She stormed out of my sight. I was left in the middle of the living room, my palm still clamped to my cheek. I was dumbfounded. I was trembling. I was scared. I already told Alpha Desmond Lucian burned my book. Now Harley has threatened to report me to Luna Glenda for trashing my textbook. If Alpha Desmond hears about it, he will think I lied against his son. What would be my punishment? Lucian had everything planned out. He made me fall for his trick and now I’m in trouble, not just a normal trouble but a big trouble that could greatly affect my relationship with Alpha Desmond. The pain shifted from my cheek to my heart, I felt a constant pang in it. My heart was already flying out of my chest with the way it was pounding. I just stood there, ignorant of what to do.

~Lucian~

After the awesome class at the school, I headed home happily. I would tell my mom how great my day went. I was smiling through the hallway, heading to my mother’s room when Father appeared in my front. I froze for a moment before relaxing my mind.

“We need to talk,” I heard Father’s order and he walked away, leading us down to the throne room.

When we entered the throne room, he took his seat on the throne which was a few distance away from the entrance. There was a large table in the middle of the room. Set of couches facing each other around the table. There was a large wolf craft on the table. I hated being summoned by Father this way. I couldn’t look at him. But I knew he was angry. At least, he never calls me in his happy moments. I always get to see the black eyes of my father. Even when people talk about how good, kind and soft my father was, I never believed any of those. How would I when all I get is that I-am-angry look? My wolf grouched in my head. What was Father going to say?

“Why did you burn Muriel’s textbook?” Father queried in a husky tone that got me moving back a bit. Why didn’t I think of it? That Omega witch was behind this hellish call I never wished to honor but got to.

“Father, I…I did no such thing,” I defended. Not sure if Father would believe just that. He never takes special consideration in me as his only son. I wasn’t bothered though, at least, other pack members still recognized me as their future Alpha. That’s enough anyway.

“You always don’t learn to…”

Father was interrupted by the badging in of my mother. Thank God. Got a backup now. I sighed. Then Aunt Harley and Muriel trailed my mother. I wasn’t surprised. My plan was working. Let’s see how Muriel gets out of this mess.

~Muriel~

I didn’t know what my life would turn into in the next few minutes. Lucian had planned all this and I stupidly fell into his trap. If only I hadn’t reported him to the Alpha, I wouldn’t have been much scared. I was dying from within. The thought of answering the Alpha got me feeling spooked. My heart was already flying out of me. Niamh has stopped existing within me. I noticed she was pulled down, curled up in fear. As Harley dragged me along to the throne room, I knew something would go wrong. Luna Glenda was tramping in front of us. She just couldn’t wait to reach the Alpha before setting my life ablaze. We entered.

“Greetings, Alpha,” Luna Glenda saluted, moving close to the Alpha with her shoulder square to show confidence.

Harley threw me on the floor like I was a bag of trash. Lucian chuckled wickedly at me.

“What happened?” Alpha Desmond asked, his voice manly and ordering. I shivered. I covered my face on the floor. I hope this is a dream. I pinched my arm, I was fully awake. The next minute might be my last, who knows?

“This filthy thing,” Luna Glenda pointed at me. “She trashed the mathematics textbook Harley bought for her. She dares do that and I want to punish her.”

“Muriel?” Alpha Desmond called. I couldn’t lift my eyes to him. “Why did you do that? You told me Lucian burnt your textbook,” Alpha Desmond said softly.

“She did?!” Luna Glenda exclaimed. “I won’t spare her!” she said between gritted teeth as she trampled toward me.

“Let her be, Luna,” Alpha Desmond said and Luna Glenda stopped in her tracks. “I will deal with her my way.”

“With all due respect, Alpha, let me handle her. She doesn’t deserve your tiniest attention,” Luna Glenda stated and tugged at my dress from my back. She jerked me up roughly and began dragging me along outside.

“Luna?” I heard the faint voice of Alpha Desmond. He loves Luna a lot. He will do anything for her sake. He is conscious of her and fulfills every one of her wishes. He won’t stop her, I know. What will be my punishment now?