Beef

“This salmon is simply divine,” said one guest, Zack Hogan, a business-oriented werewolf. He was responsible for building structures in our pack and beyond. “Where did you find such a talented chef?”

“I have my sources,” Menelik replied with a wink, “But on a serious note, I am very lucky to have such talented individuals in our pack. They always go above and beyond to make sure our events are a success.”

I overheard the conversation, and I was slightly annoyed, because why can’t he just acknowledge me as the talented chef, whose tears and pain delivered this wonderful meal?

As the dinner progressed, the guests were treated to a variety of entertainment, including live music and performances by talented members of the pack. The atmosphere was electric, and everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time.

“I know we’re all having a good time tonight, but I want to take a moment to discuss something of high importance with you all,” The Beta, Ras Tafari said, “As you all know, the Lakewood pack has always been a peaceful community, but the recent developments are proving otherwise. I want to reassure all of you that the Alpha and I are working hard to address any issues that may arise, and we want to make sure that everyone feels included and valued within our pack. We will surely take care of our own, and the respective packs under our rule.”

In response to the Beta’s statement, they were murmurs from around the table, but the Alpha stepped in to address the matter. 

“Hmm Hmm.” The Alpha cleared his throat, and there was grave silence. Everyone stopped talking, they stopped whatever they were doing, ready to hear what the Alpha has to say. “We’re all in this together,” The Alpha roared, “and we will always do our best to make sure that our pack is strong and united. So, let your hearts be at rest.”

The others, put their hands together for the Alpha, and they were happy, to hear the strong words of the Alpha, because the pack just lost some werewolves to some rogue wolves, and that has been a major concern because it has been a long time since the pack came under rogue werewolves attack. The Warriors must have been on the trail of those rogues.

Sometimes, I just try to wonder what these rogue wolves might have gone through, and I genuinely feel for them. Some of them might have legitimate reasons why they desperately want revenge, and some of them might have been kicked out of their respective packs, for the greater good of the packs. Being a rouge is really a dark place to be in. You don’t know who is who, and that makes it hard to sympathize with them.

My mother would always say—when the dry leaves are burning, the wet leaves will also burn with it. Correspondingly, as long, as a werewolf is labeled a rogue—no matter the werewolf’s background or the reason, or reasons why the werewolf is forced into the wild, good or bad; the rogue would always be considered a threat, and an evil flame that’s meant to be extinguished.

As the dinner continued, they enjoyed a delicious feast of grilled meat, salads, fried potatoes, and vegetables, all cooked to perfection, of course, by me. 

I stood around the table; in case anyone should need me to do anything for them. Matilda, the beta’s first daughter, and Menelik’s lover gestured to me with her hands, signaling that I should come closer to her. It seemed that she has been trying to get my attention for a while, but I wasn’t looking in her direction.

When I got closer to her, she gave me a resounding slap, across my face, “You shameless snub!” Matilda angrily spat in my face.

I just held my flushed cheeks; I couldn’t utter a word in response. Stuff like these, always make me remember that I was also once the daughter of an Alpha. I guess this is part of my punishment, for also being rude to slaves in the past when I was still protected. I just hope that what is currently happening to me, doesn’t happen to the golden pups of this pack.

“Didn’t you see that I have been calling you all day?” She scoffed. “Just go get us some more beef. You insolent bitch.” 

I returned with the beef; Matilda wanted, and as I was walking towards Matilda, I missed my steps, and I almost knocked over the plate of meat, but fortunately, Malik helped at the nick of time. He came out of nowhere, took the plate away from me with one hand, and steadied my hands with the other, preventing me from tripping. 

I opened my eyes wide in surprise and mumbled, “Thank you so much.” I was elated. I couldn’t get over the moment of magic, that I had with Malik, just now. Despite not having the gift of sight, he just showed me, that he’s truly superhuman, and he doesn’t need eyes to see. He helped me to survive a disaster, that could have potentially sent me back to the pack clinic.

“Be careful next time,” Malik replied in a stern tone. He was a little embarrassed when he felt that everyone stopped what they were doing, and focused their attention, on him.

I dropped the beef, at Matilda’s table, and she hissed as if she was beefing with me. Well, I wasn’t perturbed by her conduct at all, I was still over the moon because of the clutch moment I just had with Malik.

I was observing the whole proceedings, from a corner in the garden. For now, I was done with my work, but I still had to clear the plates when everyone was done eating. 

Menelik was flirting with all kinds of beauties around him, and he would often disdainfully point to me, and his so-called friends and lovers, would also join him in mocking me.

The conversations around the table quickly turned to the topic of the evening: the upcoming full moon.

“I can’t wait for the full moon. I always feel alive when I transform, and I always feel on top of the world when my powers reach its peak.” A brawny werewolf with a thick beard and piercing green eyes said. He was seated right beside Menelik.

“I can’t believe it’s already time for another full moon, I always get so anxious around this time,” Elena, a young woman with long blonde hair and a nervous smile beamed. She was a close friend of Matilda.

“Have you guys felt it yet? I can already feel my powers starting to grow.” Matilda mumbled.

“Yes, I can feel it too. The full moon always brings out the beast in me.” Menelik interjected. “I can’t wait to do some really nasty things.”

“Stop being naughty.” Matilda joked.

“Nah! I’m just looking forward to the hunt,” Menelik countered, obviously trying to change the topic. “There’s nothing like the thrill of the chase, maybe we can even take on a pack of vampires.”

“Now, that’s a great challenge. But seriously, the full moon is a time for us to embrace our true nature, a time to howl at the moon goddess, and let our inner wolves roam free.” Elena beamed. “I always love running through the forest during a full moon. There’s just something about the energy of the night that makes me feel alive.”

“Well, let’s not get too carried away. Let’s just enjoy the full moon and see where it takes us. It’s surely gonna be a wild ride!” the brawny green-eyed werewolf blurted.

They washed the food down their throats with glasses of red wine and they laughed and chatted late into the night, while I just watched on.

I suddenly started to smell the whiff of a heavenly honey-like fragrance. I could swear that that was the most beautiful, and pleasant scent that I had ever smelt since I was born. The scent was heavenly, and this surely, has to be from the moon goddess, and I guessed that this was the sign that I had found my mate. 

I looked around, to see and I was surprised that the scent was coming from Menelik. I stylishly moved closer to him, and the concentration of the heavenly-like scent only multiplied, confirming the crux that Menelik was my mate.

I instantly backed off, terrified that the moon goddess has cursed me, by mating me with Menelik, but before I knew it, Menelik stood up, held my hand, and sniffed me up from my neck. My heart was beating very fast, and panic was slowly settling in.

“You know you’re my mate, right?” He finally spoke, after what took like forever. “but you don’t deserve me, do you? So, I’m gonna reject you, as my mate. The moon goddess must have made a mistake, I mean…” he chuckled. “you are a slave, and not even an ordinary slave, an...”

I trembled as he spoke in a menacing demeanor, and I felt a twinge of anxiety creeping over me. 

His words pierced deep down into my soul, and it was like as if a needle was jabbing at my skin.

“Why am I even chattering with this thing?” he queried himself. He held my chin up and forced me to look directly into his eyes. When he touched me, I felt sparks all over my body, and when I finally looked into his eyes, his gaze went through me like a blast of ice. 

“I, Menelik Brooks, reject you, Calista Maximoff, as my mate.” As soon as he finished spitting these words in my face, he pushed me to the ground, and my body made a loud thud upon landing on the ground. 

I bowed my head in defeat, and I felt intense pain all over my body, more than anything that I had ever felt before. It felt like the cord that held my life together was cut into two.

“Ha-ha-ha.” Matilda, the beta’s daughter, and Menelik’s lover laughed at me. She had been waiting patiently to mock me for my latest downfall. 

“Did you really think you were going to be the Alpha’s heir mate?” Elena, Matilda’s friend sneered. “You this worthless slave.”

The hot tears finally burst out of my eyes, when she mentioned that I am a worthless slave. 

“She’s really crying.” Matilda jeered on, laughing maniacally.

I took a hot, impatient breath, and after several seconds, with tears already forming in my eyes, I ran towards my room. I couldn’t withstand Matilda’s mockery and the excruciating pain, that was banging my soul.

“Hey, come back here. Where do you think you’re going to?” Menelik lashed at me. “Come and finish the work you started.”

I chose not to obey Menelik this time around. I have been strong for too long, and I don’t think I can take this anymore.

I thought werewolves get mated to each other by the divine ordinance of the moon goddess, and it was already registered in my subconscious mind that my mate—my knight in shining armor would one day, walk through the Alpha’s chambers, claim me as his mate, and finally deliver me from the hands of these evil and disgusting werewolves.

I concluded in my mind, that I’d seen enough, of starvation, of segregation, of constant bullying, of being recognized as a worthless slave. It’s either, I get free, or I die trying. I ditched whatever plan, I had to avenge my slain pack; I just wanted to survive, and be free. 

I cooked up a plan in my head, and the plan was simple—I would sneak out from the Lakewood pack at midnight, and I would crawl into the woods. By sunrise the next morning, I would have gotten to another pack. I made up my mind, that if I get caught in the process, I would kill myself before they get hold of me because I couldn’t afford to return to Lakewood pack, under any circumstance.