Chapter 7

It has been two years since I started cooking for the pack and Luna and Alpha have started keeping wolves from other packs from seeing me. Luna has been more verbally abusive than physically. Every time Alpha starts to grab my wrist to beat me, Luna stops him, “She can’t cook if she’s hurt.” I guess they like my cooking that much. When I asked Luna about blackberry bushes, she told the gardener to plant some. After the first time I made bread, Luna makes sure I have all of my ingredients all the time now. She also makes sure I have plenty of fruit for my cobblers and muffins. She has instructed that I keep muffins all the time now. She has Ayame and Gabrielle wrap them individually when I’m at school. Gabrielle has told me that Ayame keeps getting mad that she is cleaning up after me.

When an Alpha from another pack comes, I have to take the day off school to cook dinner for that night, then run to my room and stay there until morning. Then I have to get up super early and make a big breakfast and run back up to my room until the Alpha is gone. I always hope that someone will ask who is cooking for them, but I’m sure Luna is telling them that Ayame is cooking. I’m sure any Alpha who has been here more than once can tell the difference. Ayame has been looking more arrogant lately, so I’m sure that’s happening. I know they don’t want anyone knowing I’m cooking because I’m only twelve now. They don’t want anyone knowing that a child is being forced to work for them. There have been several times I would be looking out my bedroom window when the Alpha leaves and I know I caught his eye. I am so thankful to Gabrielle on those days, because she brings a plate of food to me, so I wouldn’t starve until the next day.

When an Alpha is staying longer than one night, I am forced into the dungeons to ensure that I am still able to keep my strength up and Ayame cooks for them. That’s when they really get screwed over. I keep my recipes locked in my room, so they are forced to rely on Ayame’s cooking alone. It’s good, just not what the pack is used to anymore. Doug and Andrew tell me that the pack grumbles when I don’t cook and that makes me happy. It cracks me up that they don’t want me seen, so they are griping about food that is less than what they want. They are doing all this to themselves and punishing me for it. At least now they are only putting me in the dungeons, but I’m not getting whipped anymore. They want me well enough to cook for them when their guests leave. The problem with that is Ayame comes down and stabs me with her silver knife every time she has to cook long enough for the complaining to reach her ears. As soon as she starts hearing it, she punishes me. Alpha and Luna don’t know about it… yet.

I was in the dungeons for the fourth day when Ayame showed up. She opened my cell, stabbed me in the side and sliced up into my ribs. I fell to the floor as Ayame sneered, “You’re always so much better than me. I’m tired of everyone comparing me to you. My life would be so much better if you were dead.” I just laid there with my eyes closed and waited for someone to notice her standing over me with the knife in her hand. I mind linked The Moon Goddess, “Selene, would you please send Andrew or Doug to the dungeons?” She linked back, “Already done.”

Almost instantly, I heard running in the dungeons and Andrew taking Ayame into custody. I heard Andrew’s voice, “Ayame! What did you do?” She growled, “I’m sick of listening to the pack bitch about my cooking. It was good before this little bitch started cooking. Now they have no choice but to like my cooking again. An added bonus is I won’t have to be put on cleaning duty again. Alpha and Luna won’t send her to the doctor. She’s just a slave.” Just then, I heard Luna Kate, “Ayame! You are so wrong! We want her healthy enough to cook. Why are you down here? Our guests are gone now. We were going to put you back on cleaning duty, but now you can stay in these dungeons. We will deal with you shortly. Andrew, take Isabel to the hospital. Gabrielle can take care of lunch.” I felt Andrew pick me up and that was when everything went dark.

When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed and Andrew was still by my side. I asked, “What happened?” He smiled, “I’m so glad you’re back. Ayame happened.” He shook his head, “She got all pissy because people were bitching about her cooking, so she decided to rip up your side with a silver dagger. The doctor had to do surgery to repair some of the internal damage, then he had to stitch you up.” I shook my head, “I don’t understand why she has been so mean to me since I got here. I didn’t ask for any of this.”

Luna Kate walked in and sighed, “No, you didn’t ask for any of this. It was not my intention to let Ayame go that far with you. She was never supposed to use any kinds of weapons on you and she was never allowed to punish you for any reason.” I chuckled as I shook my head, “She has been using silver knives on me since I got here. She follows the scars you and Alpha Ben have left on me so you don’t notice.” She furrowed her brows, “She’s been doing this to you for years?” I nodded and she asked, “Why didn’t you say anything?” I asked, “When did you ever give me the idea that I could come to you? I get kids beating me up at school every day, you and Alpha are hitting me all the time, I’m lower than dirt in all of your eyes, so why would it be worth it to say anything? You’ll just tell me that I deserve no less. That’s the way I have felt.”

Luna Kate lowered her gaze to the floor, “That was not the intention. I want you to hurry and get better because we do love your cooking and we miss your homemade bread, muffins and cobblers. I won’t be changing the way I treat you, except that the pack will know they are not allowed to use weapons on you.” I shrugged, “I guess that’s a little improvement, but know this; I will start defending myself at school and in the pack house.” She added, “As long as you don’t do it with the Alpha or myself, that’s fine.” I chuckled again, “So you can berate me and abuse me, but I’m still supposed to cook for you and make all that extra stuff for you?” She nodded, “You are.” I asked, “Have you ever heard the phrase you get more bees with honey than with vinegar?” She nodded and I asked, “Don’t you think I would do even better for you if you would treat me better?” She laughed, “You will do your best for us because we are providing a roof over your head.” I laughed, “Yeah, either a room in the attic, where there is no insulation, no heat and no air conditioning, or the dungeons with no heat or air conditioning. That’s one hell of a roof. I guess it keeps me out of the rain or snow. But a cave would do the same thing and I wouldn’t be subjected to the beratement or whippings.” Luna Kate growled, “Don’t even think of running. You will spend your life cooking for us. I will make sure of that.” I asked, “What if I find my mate?” She replied, “You won’t. I will make sure of that.” I sighed, “Okay. Whatever you say. I will try and heal as fast as I can so I can go back to cooking for you. I need to get back to school anyway.”

Luna Kate added, “You are done with school now too.” I furrowed my brows, “But I’m only twelve. I have to go to school until I either finish or until I’m sixteen.” She replied, “We are the Alpha and Luna. We tell you when you can and can’t quit school. You are almost done anyway, so you can quit now.” I gasped, “I’m almost done anyway, so why not let me finish?” She shook her head, “No. I want you cooking here three meals per day.” I asked, “Will you allow me to take the test to graduate early?” She asked, “Do you think you can take it now?” I nodded, “I do.” She replied, “I will ask the school counselor to come here and let you take the test while you are healing. That way you aren’t taking time out of your cooking duties to do it.” I nodded, “Okay.”

Luna Kate left and I looked at Andrew, “Did you believe any of that?” He laughed, “Not one word.” I sighed, “Me neither. I will be shocked if the school counselor shows up.” Andrew agreed, “Me too.”