Mia's head was reeling in confusion. "You can't do this to me Aaron." She said,
Her eyes darted to Justice who was ready to do as his Alpha had instructed. He was tall and had brown hair and brown eyes. He wasn't bad looking either but he also had that rugged build that his Alpha had.
She walked closer to Aaron but not too close,
"Please you have to think this through. What if they find out?" She whispered to him.
He scoffed, "and who will find out? If they do, what exactly are they finding out? That I no longer want to mate Miram and want to take a different mate or that the mate I'll be taking in is very beautiful and irresistible?"
He purposely left out the part where she was his step sister.
"Aaron, you have to stop this. How am I supposed to find a cure to my curse if you'll have me locked in this place." She said and gestured to the palace.
"I can't take my chances and have you leave..." He leaned into her ear,
"Little sister." He completed and stood back properly.
She was shorter than he was and so he had to bend to be able to whisper to her. He smirked when he saw the expression on her face.
She was visibly angry.
"You big brute. You've only met me after so long and this is how you treat me? You left without saying a word and left me in the claws of your mother and now you're back all of a sudden, an Alpha, and this is how you welcome me and receive me after so long. " She yelled in anger and frustration.
"Do you know what I've had to suffer?" She asked through gritted teeth with tears forming in her eyes as she spoke.
Aaron walked closer to her and teaches his fingertips on her hair, his eyes following his movement as he did so,
"I'm sorry, but there is nothing that I could have possibly done. Everything that has happened to us has happened because they needed to. You can't change it Mia, you can only live with it."
Then he turned to Justice, "you may take her now."
He turned his back to her and Mia could do nothing but curse him under her breath.
"Save your breath, you'll be here for a really long time." He muttered but it was loud enough for her to hear him.
Justice tried to hold her by her arm but she violently shoved his hands off, "I can walk by myself."
He led her out the door and through the hallway. On every floor there seemed to be maids working on all of them. The palace was so huge. The maids all wore brown aprons, it wasn't really that fashionable, but there were those who wore white aprons and had finer dresses. They all just walked around and went about their duties without saying anything.
Aaron must also be a brute to his subjects. His reputation precedes him but not as much as Miram.
She shook her head, she had more pressing issues to deal with.
He took her to the room. Her mouth fell open when she saw how very huge it was. The bed was a queen sized bed. Three of her self wouldn't be enough to fill the space on the huge bed.
She gasped as she took in the whole room.
"Will this really be where I'll stay?" She asked Justice.
"Yes, anything you need will be delivered to you." He replied.
She nodded, "thank you."
After he left, she plopped on the bed and just stayed there. Her initial joy vanquished with the thought of Aaron's proposal.
"How does he expect me to lift the curse while staying here at the palace? My mother is dead and so I might as well just accept this curse and do as he asked." She thought.
But that was a very bad thought. It wasn't going to work out. Not when everyone eventually finds out about what they really are. It would bring disaster to everyone involved.
Some maids walked into the room and that temporarily veered her from her thoughts and back to reality.
There were about five of them. Each carried something in their arms.
"What's that?" She asked no one in particular.
She was looking at something which was wrapped in a box.
One of the maids stepped forward. She was wearing a different uniform, the one with the white apron.
"We are here to take good care of you, miss. Now if you please, head to the shower." She said,
Her voice was rather commanding and Mia didn't really like that. She hated taking commands from others. She crossed her hands over her chest and just stood there.
"What's all this about?" She asked.
"Well, you're the newcomer and the Alpha instructed us to make sure that you're well taken care of. But first, we have to give you a..." Her eyes raked over Mia's body like she was irritating and Mia was offended by it but tried to remain calm.
It seemed like she wasn't liked by this particular maid.
"...good and refreshing bath because it seems like you really need it."
Mia closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, "what exactly do you take me for ehm...servant lady?" Mia asked not finding the right words to call her.
The lady looked at Mia with a look of indifference like what Mia said barely grazed her heart or emotion,
"It's Celia to you and I am not the servant lady, I am the head maid and will be in charge of anything that has to do with you so it would be in your interest to show me some respect. Even maids deserve as little as that. It's little because it's coming from you." She said and Mia has never been more annoyed.
Celia clapped her hands and all the
maids scurried into the bathroom, dragging Mia along as they proceeded to do their job.
Aaron knew for a fact that what he was doing was potentially dangerous to everyone involved. Both him and Mia could be greatly affected by this. He couldn't understand why his wolf responded so quickly to her. It reacted to things as insignificant as her scent. She was cursed and could not transform to her wolf form. It was the rumor that preceded her the moment that she set foot in his territory. That night when he had seen her in that inn, she was at the bar and she was just sitting there, drinking from her cup, his wolf had reacted to her. He tried to control it but it was very hard and almost impossible.Finally, he approached her.He was wearing a cloak that night so that he wouldn't be recognized by any werewolf within his territory. There were only a few who knew it was him and they were the ones he had met with in that same inn."You're wasted." He said."Why do you care?" She asked"I don't actually." Aaron replied coldly.She scoffed and took another huge gulp from her cup
Mia's face didn't look too pleasant. "They are all stuck up jerks in this palace." She thought to herself as she stood at the balcony of her room.The moon was shining high in the sky and beautifully lightened up the sky but Mia was feeling the exact opposite of beautiful. Everyone seemed to have a problem with her presence and she didn't like that she had to put up with it. She had stayed indoors almost all day because she didn't want to have to face anyone in the palace."I shouldn't be so scared of them, it's not like they can harm me now, can they?" She spoke to herself while pacing around the room.She was wearing a white silk flowing gown. It was very beautiful and the dresses were all that she liked about the palace.I should step out for a while.She went to the door and opened it slightly. She peeled through the open and was startled to see Justice standing guard just beside her room. She shut it immediately and placed her hand over her racing heart.Then she opened it agai
Mia has faced a lot of cruelty growing up so she should get used to being treated poorly and being disrespected or embarrassed. Even if someone didn't embarrass her, she always ended up embarrassing herself. However, this particular act by Miram has Mia feeling so shocked and annoyed.The fact that she is weak and cannot match Miram's strength since Miram is a full blooded werewolf and even had the blood of an Alpha running through her veins, only made Mia feel even more miserable and annoyed.Mia looked down like she was told to by Miram. She was doing her possible best to avoid any trouble until she was able to find a way out of the palace. But deep in her heart even as she acted gullible and naive, she hated Miram deeply because of this one act.Miram closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, then she opened her eyes and scoffed mockingly, "Aaron's guest? You must be kidding me. Not while I'm here in this palace. Even Aaron answers only to me and I will not stand for this." Miram
Mia was reduced to nothing because of what Miram had done. The maids had no regard for her anymore. She didn't feel very different from when she was still staying within her pack."It's time to have your bath." A maid came over to her room and said,She didn't even register when the maid came by. Mia was startled. "Oh!" She exclaimed softly.She looked at what the maid was carrying in her arms. "Is there an occasion?" She asked."Yes there is. The Alpha requests that you be present at the dining room in a few minutes and he said that we must make sure that you look presentable." The maid answered."Presentable?" Mia looked down at herself."When have I not been?" She thought."I won't be wearing those." Mia said adamantly."But you have to." The maid insisted."I do not want to. You can't force me to. I will just wear plain clothes instead. There won't be any need to wear too many fancy things." Mia responded.Mia eyed the dress in the maid's hands. There were shiny silver jewelries
"Dear Alpha, you shouldn't have done what you did to Miram. What if she goes to tell her father?" The old adviser asked."Miram is for me to handle and for your information, I am the alpha now. Her father has been disposed as one so, stop telling me about her father like I should be afraid of him. If anything, they should both be afraid of me." Aaron said calmly.He was not perturbed by Miram's outburst. It somehow scared Mia. They haven't lived together for a very long time and it seemed to her like he's very changed now and that the Aaron she knew while she was still a little cub, has disappeared.He turned to Mia, "now, what do you have to say?"Mia's swallowed hard, "i am saying that instead of raiding them, we can simply try to work with them. We can call them in a meeting and set up an agreement.""What sort of agreement?" Aaron was very intrigued by what she had to say."I don't know. You should maybe try to have some kind of leverage against them." Mia said.Aaron sighed, "I g
Aaron got to his chambers and saw Miram there sitting on his bed.He smirked, "I guess in the end, even you can't get angry at me for too long."Her head whirled in his direction. She stood up and went to him."Do you think this is funny? Why did you bring that thing to this palace and to this territory in the first place?" She asked him like his actions were incredulous."I did bring her to the palace, but not to the territory. She came here of her own accord." He said very calmly. He moved to his wardrobe and slowly began to peel his clothes from off his body.Miram came to his back and placed her palm on his bare back before she began to trace her long and slender index over it.His wolf didn't like to be near her anymore and so it kept growling. He was fighting it and trying hard to keep his cool. He didn't like to act like his animal self. He preferred to be calm and collected."You know that I don't like it when you disrespect me in front of your subjects, much less in front of
Miram eventually found Justice in the mines. "What are you doing here?" She asked through gritted teeth."I have to check something. The Alpha asked me to do something." He replied."I gave you a task and you're already failing at it but Aaron passes you around and like a lost puppy, you do as he asked. What is the matter with you Justice?" She silently yelled at him."I don't understand what you're talking about. I never said I would agree to do it." He replied without looking at her.She gasped and placed her palm over her head. She was frustrated. Her face was already becoming a very bright red."All I asked was for you to get me as much information as possible while seducing her. If she falls for you then she won't fall for Aaron and if she doesn't fall for Aaron, he might as well send her out of this palace for good and then I won't have to kill anyone." She said that last part and looked intently at Justice.Justice rolled his eyes, "do you think that I would want anything to d
Mia kept squinting at the piece of parchment in front of her. She looked at it for a very long time before she grunted loudly and scrunched it up and then tossed it aside. Nothing seemed to be coming to her mind as she just stayed there looking at it. She hasn't even drawn a common stroke."You seem to be very frustrated at how slow you're progressing." She jumped at the sound of the voice. Her heart was beating so fast she had to use her hands to regulate it."Sorry, I didn't know when you came in." She said,"It's fine, after all Aaron assigned me to you." Justice said."Is that why you're here? Because he sent you?" Mia asked."Hardly." He replied."Then why have you come?" She asked."Well, I think we started off on the wrong foot. I seemed a little bit cold and distant." "Isn't that how you're meant to be, I mean you're a beta guard." Mia said in response."That doesn't mean that I can't help you out, can't I?" He asked."Oh please, I would greatly appreciate that. Although, I
She slammed into her table with such a force that it shook harshly, the contents rattling along with the shaky table.Just then the door to her room opened up and Justice walked in."What's the matter with you Miram?" He asked her.She screamed violently—wailed and moved to throw more items off her table but then he held her hand, stopping her movements."Let me go." She protested as she tried to yank her hand free from his firm grip."Calm down, Miram. All these won't help." He yelled at her."Don't you see? She's trying to take my pack, my territory and even my position from me." She said, a cynical tone lacing her voice."That's not the case. I think it's Aaron who's making her stay here. I have seen that she wishes to leave." He said to her, trying to placate her.She scoffed, a pained expression crossing her face, "do you really believe that?" He shrugged, "as a matter of fact I do and do you know why?" He quickly interjected, "because I know Aaron and I know that there's someth
The door to the study flung open and Miram barged in,"What did you say?" She asked with an edgy tone to her voice.She turned to Aaron and slammed her fist into the table. Mia jumped in her skin with fright.Miram scoffed and closed her eyes as she tried to understand and process what she had just heard, "Aaron, you're lying right?" She asked him."Yes Aaron, tell her that you're lying." Mia chipped in, her voice and entire disposition racked with desperation.She wanted Aaron to admit it openly to Miram and to her that he was only lying and making things up. It wasn't true that he wanted to make her his Luna, he was only lying about it and trying to pull her legs, or perhaps, all he wanted to do was frustrate her. Those were the words Mia hoped to hear at that moment, slip from Aaron's sexy mouth.Where did that come from, Mia? She chided herself and willed her mind to focus on the matter at hand and not on Aaron's enticing lips."Miram, I'm sorry but you shouldn't have heard this
"Alright, is there anything else that I need to know pertaining to the settlements beyond the grasslands?" He asked one of his enforcers posted to that part of the pack land."Well, for now there's nothing, Alpha." He answered and lowered his head in reverence."Then that would be all for now. As for the rest of you, make sure you keep a close watch on the territory. We will be going out to the Silver Claw pack very soon and I don't want any surprises. It will first be them and then the Shadow pack will be next." Then he relaxed back into his seat and stretched his legs."We will see just how well the Nyx coin works in all this." He added, "You are all dismissed." He announced.All the troupes start to file out of his office one after the other, leaving Justice behind.Aaron sighed, "and why aren't you leaving?" He asked Justice who remained seated at the office with his hands folded against his chest in the mist lackadaisical manner."Well, I didn't think you'd buy her act back at t
Mia sighed as she stepped out of the council room. Justice was the first to receive her in the hallway."I can't believe you actually pulled it off with that little act." He said with a small smile plastered on his face.Mia was beginning to really start seeing Justice as a friend at this point."Well, I can't believe it myself."She really couldn't and it was evident in the subtle shock that sat in her voice.Justice chuckled lightly beside her. "I can see how shaken you are about the entire event." He said, "why don't I take you out for a bit. Get your mind off all that had happened." He suggested.A smile tugged at her lips but she lowered her head so he wouldn't see it. By the time she looked back at him, her face was straight."Alright, where to?" She asked him with an excited eagerness."Right this way." He said and they both laughed at the way he gestured like a gentleman.The moon was already raised high up in the sky, in its rightful place. The sound of old wooden instrument
Mia swallowed hard as she thought deeply about what to do to save herself from this dire situation. Her eyes darted to Aaron but he didn't seem to care anymore and that made pain slice through her chest but she knew something else other than pain, something sharp and more painful than any pain she felt right now was going to definitely slice through her chest."You're taking so much time. Are you going to prove yourself or not?" Miram asked with a slyness in her tone as she spoke.Mia's brows drew together in a frown as Miram's voice cut through her chain of thoughts. "Your time is ticking, darling. Come up with something now or else." Miram shouted."Please, I'm thinking." Mia said, not intending to be rude.After thinking for a few more minutes, "Ugh, fu*k this." Mia heard Miram say and in that moment, a thought came to her head."The prisoner." Mia yelled.The sound of the elders whispering among themselves filled the air around Mia. It was clear to her that they didn't understa
Mia swiped her dirty forehead with her dirty and sweaty palms. It had become black from working with fire for the last few days without any stops. She was exhausted at this point but she continued with hopes that it would all soon be over."Well, don't be lazy. Get the steel and start shaping it." Donald yelled from where he sat, a couple feets away from the fire.She sighed exhaustively and moved to do as he asked. The Pan was very hot. It was hard enough that she had to carry the pan over to where she needed to work and then moulding it to shape was an even harder process for Mia.Not once in all that process did Aaron come by. That thought left a hollow feeling in Mia's already battered heart. He was the one who claimed that he was going to help her through it all and now, he was missing in action.She shook the thought out of her head and she continued to work. "Come on now, the last day is tomorrow. We don't want to be laid back." He complained.Mia's ears twitched with anger. H
Mia's eyes slowly fluttered open once more and this time she was met with Aaron's very stern face. His facial features were so hard that if looks could kill in that moment, then she'd be dead.His brows were very furrowed and stress lines had appeared around his face and under his eyes.She groaned as her entire body ached with every single movement she made. She felt so weightless, as though she could be swept away by even the slightest torrent of an ocean.Her head felt very heavy, weighed by the thought of everything negative that had defined her life in recent times."What— what am I—""You're in the alchemist's room. You fainted." He wanted to say more but held himself back. Mia turned around where she lay on the bed, ignoring the ache that shot up to her head and threatened to split her skull open."But how?" She asked with a low voice that was empty and completely weak.Her stomach grumbled loudly and she instinctively wrapped her hands around it, as embarrassment crawled up he
"Miram, what is the meaning of this?" Aaron roared with so much anger laced in his voice.Even his eyes were red with fury."What is what?" Miram asked him, feigning ignorance.She was sitting in front of her huge dressing mirror testing out the jewels that were delivered to her."Why did you lock Mia up?" He thundered."Is that a problem and why should that be of any concern to you?" She fired back, finally done with play in ignorance and a bit fed up with the way Aaron raised his voice at her over an insolent and cursed brat.He closed his eyes and sighed deeply, "you can't do that. Not right now." Aaron pointed out."Why can't I? She disrespected me and I have all the right in the world to do as I please with anyone who disrespects me." She spat back at him with matched anger.Aaron knew that if he continued to argue with Miram that way then he would get nowhere with the argument. He had to try a different approach.He closed his eyes and took in a very deep breath to try to calm t
Mia's eyes became teary as soon as she saw that everything was gone. She felt a lump grow in her throat at the sight. Just then, a sage raised her head and looked to the side, her eyes caught Julia's eyes but she just walked past her.Mia ran up to her and held her by her arm. Julia turned back to Mia with a shocked expression on her face, like she didn't just see her."Julie, are you busy?" Mia asked her."Why? Did something happen?" She asked.Mia bit her lips in shame and embarrassment at what she was about to ask her,"Well, I think I'll need your help today." She said sheepishly."With?" Julie asked."The gems..." Mia hesitated while Julia looked at her with anticipation, and her arms crossed over her chest, "...they were stolen." Mia completed."So I'll need your help with digging." Mia added.Julia looked about her, her hands, dropping to her side,"I don't think I'll be able to help you out today. I've got more sections to work on." She said and then turned around, "take care."