Tension Drills

When I entered the house that afternoon, the atmosphere was dripping heavily with tension. I made my way into the kitchen where I found my step mother standing across the kitchen sink, staring at me with disdain.

"There has to be something seriously wrong with you.'' she started, as I placed the basket of fresh vegetables on the kitchen counter.

"Good afternoon stepmother.'' I say, fighting the urge to roll my eyes.

"I just went to talk to the Queen and she didn't seem very happy to see me. What have you done this time, Alondra?''

"Nothing. Perhaps she was just tired, or...''

Thwart! A hard slap sounded across the room and I felt a stinging pain on my cheek. I placed my hand on my cheek, caressing it gently as I turned to stare at my stepmother.

"Don't be smart with me. You did something." She said, pointing wickedly at me. "I am not going to have your whore behavior ruining my business with the Queen.'' she spat.

"Weston is my best friend!'' I say, as I fight the tears that returned to Spain.

"Keep telling yourself that!'' A voice sounded from behind me. I turned around to stare at Zoey, who was standing across the doorway, looking at me with the same expression her mother had. "Everyone in the whole damn Park knows that you want to become a whore for the alpha, if you have not done it already.''

She shrugged her shoulders as she moved to stand next to my stepmother. And together, the both of them would always team up against me. But it wasn't just two of them.

"You should see how she acts around the royal family as well. Around Patricia who does not even like her to begin with." Zoey entered the kitchen in slowly cautious steps. The smile on her face signified a victory she believed she had won.

"Mother, I seriously feel that she destroys our family every time. Why should she be allowed to live in our house anymore?''

"This is my father's house..."

Thwart! My stepmother slapped me yet again, this time, making it so hard that I felt dizzy and there was a ringing sound between my ears. I could feel the tears breaking my eyes but I held them back. 

I hated the way they treated me.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, making me feel like I had just been saved from certain death. I rushed to open it, rejecting any other words that my stepmother was speaking.

"Alondra!'' Patricia, Weston's sister, was standing on the doorway with an urgent look on her face. "Weston wants to see you before the meeting.''

Hearing Weston's name caused my heart to jump a bit. And I abandoned the sorrows and frustrations of my own home before proceeding to walk out the door. Patricia had been my saving grace. Only a little while longer and my step mother would have badly hurt me. Zoey and Bethany, despite being my step sisters, were lazy and entitled. And my step mother funneled it. She said that she wanted her daughters to live a comfortable, perfect life, even at my own expense. The truth is that I've never really understood why she hated me. Or why she treated me the way she did. I made a promise to my father that I would keep the family together. That I would love and cherish both my stepmother and step sisters.

"Weston wants to see you.'' Trish spoke as I walked by her side.

"Is he alright?''

"He is,'' she answered, half nodding while avoiding my eyes. I couldn't control how I felt about her brother, Weston, but for very long I had tried to hide it.

"Is this about the birthday ball?'' I questioned, following as she led me through the thick bushes that prompted a short cut towards the pack house.

"Not really, he just has something important he wishes you two discuss.''

"Trish, is everything okay?''

"Alondra!'' Weston's voice rang in the empty space, as our eyes shot up. I almost jumped out of my skin, placing my hand on my chest, trying to calm myself.

"You scared me.'' I let out, "What are you doing outside the pack house at this ungodly hour?''

Weston looked at Trish for a moment, and their eyes seemed to communicate. Something felt weird and strange, and Weston did not seem himself.

With a nod, Trish excused herself from us before heading towards the pack house, leaving me utterly confused.

"Want to take a walk?" Weston asked, his gentle smile pulling me in like a magnet.

"Sure," I quipped, returning his smile as I let him lead the way. We walked slowly in silence, the fresh cool breeze brushing against us. I could tell something was bothering him. I knew him like the back of my hand. Somehow, when something was wrong with my best friend, I could feel it in the pit of my stomach. Gnawing at my soul.

"There's something I need to tell you." He said, but his voice dragged along, making it appear more like a whisper.

"What is it? " I asked with a playful tone.

"My mother. " he let out, his shoulders dropping as he let out a deep breath. " My parents,” He corrected.

“What? Is everything okay with them?’’

“They want me to choose a mate." He cut in.

"A what?" The words flew out of my mouth in a heartbeat, yet what I dreaded the most was the urgency and brokenness in my voice when I said that. 

"A mate Alondra. I will soon become Alpha, and I will be saddled with responsibilities that my parents feel are better handled when I have a mate by my side."

"But you've not found your mate yet." I argued, pausing my tracks as I turned to look at him.

"I know. And that's why I'll be choosing a mate three full moons from now." He answered, his eyes leaving mine, inviting a damning coldness that brought about a shattering ugly truth: I was going to lose my best friend.