CHAPTER FOUR

Cameron’s actions are vastly different from the rude way he walked out on me and the stark disgust in his eyes when he first saw me. But even now, I don’t see a trace of affection within his eyes.

Three days have passed since I was brought here.

Three days in which I waited in our bedroom, and he didn’t arrive, making me look like a fool. My face is flushed with humiliation on the third day when Ness arrives, with an entourage of maids.

She doesn’t dress like a maid.

It bothers me but Ness wears no uniform like the rest of the staff do. She usually has on a tight fitted short dress, her hair styled in waves, her cleavage on display. She is also not treated like she is a servant of the Moore family.

I have to ignore the way she touches Cameron when she sits next to me at breakfast, a place that should be mine. I, on the other hand, have been demoted to sitting at the end of the table, like a stranger.

Cameron doesn’t shrug off her touches end something in me breaks at the sight of it.

Vivian and Michael are nice to me, but they don’t seem to question, anything, not even this strange seating choice.

It is during breakfast that Vivian says, “I know you must be quote lonely here, Danielle. So, I’ve arranged for you to have lunch with some girls your age this afternoon. Cameron can drive you-”

Cameron meets my gaze and is about to say something when Ness takes his arm in a proprietary hold, “I’m sure Danielle would prefer to explore the town on her own. It would be better for Danielle to do something productive with her time. Right, Cameron?”

Cameron looks away from me and my mouth feel dry. I want to say something. To stand my ground but his parents seem to be oblivious to our relationship and Cameron wants nothing to do with me.

“I -”

“Well, then,” Vivian smiles at me. “It’s decided.”

Ness just gives me a triumphant smile and I figure out why two hours later when I wait for the driver to take me into town. The car appears and I’m about to enter when the driver stops me, a strange expression on his face, “This is for Ness. Not you.”

His tone is abrupt, and I blink, “B-But what about me?”

Ness’s voice comes from behind me, “Well, you can walk to town. And better not be late. Vivian will be upset.”

Saying that, she gets into the car and drives away.

My heart sinks as I realize that the gate has closed behind me and the only option I have is to walk the two hour walk into town.

*

By the time I reach, I am sweating bullets, my shoes dusty, my face red with exhaustion. However, with some guidance from passersby, I find the cafe.

Two dolled up girls are waiting for me, and they burst into peals of laughter at the sight of me when I introduce myself, a little out of breath.

“What?” One of them smirk. “You’re not good enough to be driven here?”

I clench my jaw, “Ness took my car.”

“Ness?” One of the girls speaks up. “So, it’s true then?”

Her friend, Lisa, elbows her, “Come on. Is it really that surprising? She and Maria were as close as sisters. She would not feel right about leaving Maria’s mate to fend for himself.”

She makes a sudden face, covering her mouth, as if embarrassed, but I see a gleeful look in her eyes, “Sorry. I mean your mate, Danielle. I mean, after all, Cameron and you are mates, aren’t you?”

Dolores, the girl who had been surprised by Ness’s name, just smirks, “Oh, wait. I heard he hasn’t even touched you yet.”

My face flushes in humiliation at her words, “T-That’s not-”

“So, has he touched you?” Dolores gets in my face suddenly. “Where’s your mating mark? Let’s see it!”

Before I can react, she’s pulling on the neck of my dress, forcing it down and tearing it.

“What are you doing?!” I cry out, scared and terrified of the sudden ruthless attack, but Dolores just looks over her shoulder at Lisa.

“Come on! Hold this little bitch down! Let’s see if Cameron gave her a mating mark!”

We are in a public setting as I am pushed to the floor and people are stopping to watch but no one comes to my aid. My face is held down in the mud and as I struggle to lift it, I see two of the servants from the mansion.

I try to call to them for help but they just give me disdainful looks and just watch on.

I hear my dress rip from the back just as Dolores says, gleefully, “Told you! There was nothing!”

Humiliated, beaten, my clothes torn, I feel my face wet with tears.

Lisa kicks me in the stomach, “What a whiny bitch! Did you really expect that people would like you here? You’re just an outside-”

“Enough!” Comes a furious voice and suddenly I find myself being lifted up by a pair of hands and then another pair of hands is wrapping a shawl around my shoulders, covering me.

My face feels filthy as I look at my two saviors. They are two young women. Glaring at Lisa and Dolores who are just laughing, one of the women shouts, “Have you lost your mind? She is the daughter-in-law of the Moore family! How dare you treat her like this?”

“What daughter-in law?” Lisa sneers. “She has no mating mark upon her. He didn’t even touch her. That just shows what he thinks about her. Don’t act like you don’t know, Sila.”

“Cameron just lost his mate, a month ago!” Sila holds me close, protectively. “Nobody expected him to give his new mate a mark so soon! You have no right-”

“No right?” Dolores laughs. “You’re backing the wrong horse Sila. She is an outsider. She doesn’t deserve to be here. And on top of that, she has the nerve to demand that the Alpha’s future mate serve her! We should rip off her clothes her and now and put her in her place!”

“W-What?” My voice is shaking. “I didn’t ask for anyone to -”

“Oh, shut up,” Dolores spits at me. “We know that you specifically asked Ness to be your maid! That was your condition for saying yes!”

Ness?

She’s the future Alpha pair?