Chapter 5

“Alondra, you incompetent child get down here this minute!’’ The loud echoing voice of my stepmother rang through the house, making me jolt out of bed in a hurry. My mind replayed the last minutes of yesterday before I went to sleep, trying to remember whether there was something I had forgotten to do.

 I had been so tired and held up with the preparations of the party. It was my chance to prove to my stepmother that I deserved to attend. I had promised to do all the chores she had given to me before the day came.

 Well, now, the day has arrived, and I'll be damned if she comes up with new chores.

 Suddenly, my bedroom door swings open, Bethany walks in with a scroll on her face. 

“Mother has been calling you for the past 20 minutes, is it really that difficult for you to get your lazy self downstairs?’’

My eyebrows furrow, as I stare at her.

“What does she want?’’ I ask as I pace around my bedroom, picking up a cardigan and draping it over my body. I open the bedroom windows and stare outside, noticing that the sun had not yet come out.

“Alondra!’’ my stepmother's voice echoes through the house again. This time, I jolted past Bethany, pushing her out of the way and rushing down the stairs.

 At the bottom of the stairs, my eyes grow wide as I notice Mrs Pierce standing in the middle of the room.

“Luna!’’ I call out as I bow my head, and fold my knees. I could feel the diminishing stare of my stepmother and Weston’s mother falling on my head. I felt little in their presence. 

Utterly worthless.

“I wish I could say that it is a delight to see you, Alondra, but it isn't.’’ she says, with a scowl on her face.  

My stepmother watches me through gritted teeth. Bethany and Zoe stand at the other side of the kitchen but watch through the doorway as everything unfolds.

My heart beats drastically. Questions fill my mind. I can't help but wonder why she's here and what she wants. The Alpha's mother had never stepped feet into this home - any citizen wolf’s home in particular. She always stayed at the packhouse. Where she was served the kind of luxury that loyalty deserves. Where she was protected by the guards and the Warriors of the pack.

“What can I do for you today, Luna?’’ my voice trembles, as I manage to utter those words.

“Come here, child,’’ she says with utmost politeness.  

Mrs Pierce brings herself towards the large chair in the middle of the room and she sits at the edge of it before patting the empty space next to her. I glanced at my stepmother who nodded vigorously. looking back at Bethany and Zoe as they stare at me, with fear in Their Eyes.

 At least I'm not the only one afraid of what the situation brings.

 I drag my feet towards the Alpha's mother and sit uncomfortably next to her.

“Today is a very important day for Weston,’’ she speaks up. "As such, very many important people are going to be here. I'm sure you've heard the rumors. My son is now the most eligible wolf in the Kingdom. He needs a mate. And if he doesn't meet his true soulmate, then he will be required to select one.’’ 

A sense of dread washes over me. I know exactly where the situation is going now. I know exactly what she wants to say and I cannot stop the quiet beating of my heart. She stretches her hand and places it on my shoulder. The way her fingers graze my bones makes me feel uncomfortable, like she could just snap my neck any moment. She may be the queen but she was a warrior before. Mrs Pierce was the daughter of the most powerful and ruthless Alpha. Before being mated to the Alpha, as the stories go, she was the best and most powerful warrior in her pack. She was ruthless and dangerous.

“There have been several questions raised about the woman who spends her time stuck on my son's hip, like a parasite. Might you have any idea who I'm talking about, Alondra.’’ I gulp, looking at her for a split second. 

“It is important that a parasite like this learns its place. It is important that order is restored in this Pack. Commoners remain with commoners. Alphas interact with people of equal royalty and status. Now that Weston will be named the official alpha of this pack, several duties will fall on his shoulders - duties that normal people cannot understand. He will need the best guidance. He needs good friendship around him. You are a wonderful girl, Alondra. I'm sure there's a lot of great gentlemen in this Pack who wouldn't mind getting to know you better." she paused for a moment. "Why don't you focus on them?’’ 

I remain quiet. 

Looking at my stepmother, she does not say anything. Yet I can not tell if she had something to do with this.

 There was a sadistic smile on Bethany's face now.

“I'm sorry, My queen..’’

“No need to apologize, Alondra. I'm just glad that the both of us will come to an understanding. You're more mature than I thought, and you easily understand when to step away. You are a nice young woman, Alondra, and I do hope you find the best the world can give you. I hope you find good friends - friends who are of the same status as you are.’’ 

She stands up from the chair and walks towards my stepmother. The both of them share a weird look before nodding and turning back to me. My fingers are clenched in a fist. I fight the tears that threaten to spill. My heart breaks a thousand times as her words keep echoing in my head.

'A parasite'.

That's what she saw me as. That is how they all saw me.

“Don't you think it would be best if you refrain from attending today's inauguration? Weston would highly appreciate it if you kept yourself out of his way from now on. Keep to yourself, Alondra Greene, and you will be a true patriot of this Pack.’’ 

I wanted to leave this room. I wanted to ditch my clothes and return to my wolf. I wanted to run as fast as I could and as much as I could. I wanted those words to disappear from my head. Hell… I even wanted the memories erased. Weston wants me out of his way. Is this how much of a coward he could be now? My best friend. Abandoning me. Wanting nothing to do with me. My best friend rising into power and choosing to cast me away. 

It wasn't the betrayal that hurt me the most, it was the fact that he chose to use his mother, a woman who has hated me since she set her eyes on me. It was the fact that he chose to be a coward. But I can't bring myself to tell him all these. 

I am in love with western Pierce, and he wants nothing to do with me…? 

Like, from now on?