6.|| Pain and Assault.

Lilliana’s POV

“I wonder why Alpha Nikolai is still keeping her around.” I heard one of the maids say as I made my way to the backyard. I’ve been so stomped with tons of things to do that I completely forgot to eat breakfast.

I knew really well that Nikolai knew about the rumors that were being spread and the way everyone started treating me like an outcast because it all started when I rejected the offer of being his plaything.

Exhausted, I walked as fast as my legs could carry me but being weak and hungry, it wasn’t fast enough and I was almost in the backyard when I bumped into someone.

“Goddess please save me.” I silently prayed in hopes that I hadn’t bumped into Jenna because I knew for sure that it wasn’t Nikolai.

I lifted my gaze to check who it was and I was taken aback by the person standing in front of me. He looked so soft and yet so strict, he didn’t look angry but he also looked like he came to scold me.

I haven’t done anything, I made sure I did all my chores diligently, why is Beta André here?

Quickly, I looked away from him and lowered my head slightly. I’ve heard a lot about him and Nikolai being best friends and since he’s the future Beta too, I didn’t want to get on his wrong side.

His presence caused raw fear to surge through me as I waited for what he wanted to say. I lifted my head slowly and saw an expression like pity on his face.

“What are you doing?” André snarled at me, I could tell it wasn’t willingly but he did it anyway and kicked the bucket out of my hand, causing the dirty water to spill everywhere.

I would’ve cried if this had happened in the hall I’d just cleaned but it was outside and all I had to do was sweep the water somewhere.

“I just finished cleaning the hall and I want to clean this place now.” I answered, my voice lower than I intended it to be as André grunted and went around examining the place.

“There are cobwebs everywhere and you think that you have the luxury of resting?” He spat again and I opened my mouth to explain that I wasn’t resting but trying to do more things.

His eyes had turned red and the soft expression I once saw had vanished, it was almost as though I was standing in front of Nikolai’s twin except for the fact that Nikolai is more evil and good looking.

“Get this place cleaned up and meet me in the garden with the rest of the maids,” he ordered before walking away but stopped when he was just a few feet away from me.

“You have fifteen minutes to be done here and to also tell the other maids, do not keep me waiting or you’d regret it.” He finished before finally leaving.

My stomach churned and my vision immediately went blurry. I need to eat something or I’m going to pass out but how was I going to eat anything when everyone is avoiding me?

I tried finding out what they heard about me but as soon as they saw me, they stopped talking and dispersed. They look at me like some sort of bad luck and I was forced to be isolated.

Not that I wasn’t used to it but at least I had the previous Lycan king to keep company, he treated me like a daughter and would scold anyone who treated me poorly, it’s just sad his son is nothing like him.

Sighing, I quickly swept the backyard and cleaned the sills, got rid of the cobwebs and when I was done my legs felt so weak that I thought that I was going to fall.

Pain rippled through me as I walked back to the house and relayed Andre’s information to every maids I came across. Tired, I finally got to the garden and was met with angry maids and André.

“What did I say about keeping me waiting?!” André roared and I jumped, “where are the kitchen staff?” He asked and they all raided their hands at once.

“She’s not going to have anything for the rest of today!” He continued and my eyes widened and my stomach growled just at that moment, everyone who heard it bursted out laughing.

André left to address all of us and I stood far away because no one wanted to be beside me but I could still hear everything André was saying.

“And you, Lilliana!” His voice jolted me out of my thoughts, “from now henceforth you’re to be Jenna Blackwood’s personal errand slave, it’s the alpha’s order.” He finished.

Oh No, No way. There’s no way that I heard him right. I’m assigned to Jenna? That rude bitch? Rage quickened my blood but the fact that it was her stupid, selfish and condescending Alpha Boyfriend’s order got me angrier.

I swear whenever I get the chance, I’m going to kill him!

André released all of us and everyone went back to their business and I did the same. I prayed fervently for the day to end and I couldn’t be happier when it did.

‘What if we just sneak into the kitchen and get something to eat?’ Nala suggested but I disagreed and tired, I fell asleep before I could even think about anything.

_____________

The sound of my bedside alarm ringing woke me up and quickly, I got ready for my day job. I made my way into the kitchen and was glad when I was offered food, it wasn’t much but I was glad.

I got ready to meet Jenna and she probably woke up on the wrong side of her bed because she was cranky almost throughout the day.

It’s only been a few hours and my life has been nothing but hell in the hands of Jenna Blackwood. She didn’t make my life easy with all of her requests and I noticed how angry she gets whenever she sees Nikolai anywhere around me even though he wasn’t talking to me.

I’d do anything to be unable to talk to him for the rest of my life but she didn’t know that.

“I need a drink, get me orange juice with ice,” Lilliana ordered and I quickly went to get it for her but regretted it almost immediately as she dumped it all over me.

“What the hell is this?!” She yelled, spitting the juice in her mouth on my face like the one she poured on me wasn’t enough.

“You asked for orange juice with ice and I got it.” I answered and the next thing I knew, my cheeks stung, my eyes went blank and I staggered.

My mouth opened as I stared at her angrily, “what are you going to do? Beat me?” She dared when she noticed my anger. She really is lucky that I’m not allowed to fight or I would’ve let Nala take care of things.

“You’re just so useless, maybe that’s why your parents died and left you all alone in this world!” She taunted, my breath caught in my throat and anger rushed through me as I clenched my fist.

I knew she was expecting a reaction from me, something to get me to retaliate and that way she’s going to run to her boyfriend who would punish me in the worst way possible.

I couldn’t believe I had good thoughts about her when I first saw her but turns out it takes one to know one and that’s why they’re dating.

“I… I’m sorry,” my voice broke, I bit my tongue so hard that I could taste my own blood, “I thought you said Orange juice and that was why—“

“Are you talking back to me?!” She screamed before I could finish my sentence, “you have some balls opening your stinking mouth when I’m still talking!” She added, smashing her juice glass on the floor.

I jumped and before I could blink, her hand was already wrapped around my neck, choking and depriving me of air. Tears welled up in my eyes as I tried to get her hands off of me but she was stronger.

“I could kill you right now and no one would care about a wretched person like you,” she gritted out, her grip around my neck tightening as her eyes turned evilly red.

“But I’m not going to kill you, I’ll let you off with a warning,” she continued as she lifted a finger and pointed it at me, “I want you to listen to me because this is the last time I’ll say this.” She added.

“Nikolai is mine and no one else’s and if I find out even by the slightest mistake that you have as little as a crush on him, I will destroy you and I mean it.” She finished before releasing me.

I’d die before having a crush on Nikolai.

Unable to stand properly, I fell to the ground and I couldn’t control my cough and tears as I picked the pieces of the broken glass on the floor.

“GET OUT BEFORE I POUNCE ON YOU!” Jenna roared and without any protest, I ran out hoping I wouldn’t fall on my way out. I threw the broken glass away and stopped to catch my breath.

I drew in a deep breath before slowly walking away. My gaze fell on Nikolai, he was talking to André but his eyes were on me, I tried to ignore him and walk away but it felt as though my feet had been glued to the ground.

His gaze moved from my eyes and stopped when he got to my neck, his eyes immediately turned red but he didn’t flinch as his eyes lingered on the bruises on my neck from Jenna’s assault.

Remembering her threat, I covered the mark and ran away without saying a word, I should’ve just ran earlier.

My thoughts traveled back to his face when he saw the mark and something stirred inside me as my chest tugged but I immediately shook the thought away.

“He’s rude and you don’t want to be involved with him.” I told myself before making my way to my room.