Forbidden Mating With The Alpha

Chapter 8

When it was evident that Layla would be taking her sweet time with coming downstairs, and fifteen whole minutes had passed since Yelena and Robin came down to be seated, they decided that waiting any longer was not an option and breakfast time officially began.

Lucy had no appetite, too much weighing down on her shoulder to enjoy eating, but she could not starve her body and forced herself to have a ham and cheese roll, and an omelet with salmon and cream cheese. It was nothing short of a divine breakfast, as Kiko called it, and Lucy could not disagree.

Half-way through the meal, everyone turned their heads to watch the 'belle of the ball' leisurely stroll down the stairs to the table. Of course, she had on the dress she took from Lucy's wardrobe and her hair was styled in a bun just as Kiko's was before it was cut off. Her posture and strut were fitting of a princess and she would not disappoint.

"You look very beautiful this morning, Layla," it was Robin who called out to her with a smile as she made her way to the table. Layla simply smiled before she abruptly stopped when she saw Lucy and Karena. Karena noticed her expression change but Lucy was too concerned with eating to notice.

In her mind, Layla thought to approach Karena but she decided that the red-haired woman had suffered enough already. Lucy had gotten on her nerves many times since her arrival and it was time to put her in her place. She walked up to her and stopped directly behind her so that her back was turned towards Ida, who was keenly watching her every move.

"You look wonderful this morning. Are you enjoying yourself?" Layla asked and Lucy did not move an inch as she took a strand of her blonde hair in her hand. It was as smooth as silk and not a single strand was out of place. She wanted to cut it off just as she had done with Kiko's hair but decided that she had done enough irreparable damage for one morning.

"I am. The food is delectable. The chefs did a very good job," Lucy spoke honestly but a part of her knew not to say anything that would displease Layla.

"I'm glad to here that but you do have to realize that you're sitting in the wrong place," Layla said next, letting her hair fall down. Lucy stopped eating and turned her head to look up at Layla.

"I did not realize there were seating arrangements. I would sat elsewhere if I had known," she said to hear Kiko snicker from the other side.

"There's an empty seat right here. Are you too afraid to sit far away because you won't get all the attention?" Lucy was unaware of what the significance of sitting beside the head of the table was but she wanted to continue her meal in peace. She stood up and Ida walked around Layla to retrieve the plate and utensils she was using.

"I'll take that seat then-" but as she was about to move, Robin gently grabbed her arm and kept her from moving. Layla and Robin glared at each other for a long moment that made everyone else uncomfortable.

"You were here first, Rosalie. Sit down and finish your breakfast," Robin said to Lucy as she kept her gaze on Layla. If Layla was a proper lady a few seconds ago, she definitely was not one now. Her facial features contorted into a scowl and she clutched her right hand into a fist.

She would have slept Robin right there but the rest of the women had gained an advantage over her last night; there would no longer be any violence that would be tolerated amongst them.

"Really, I don't mind. Let's go, Ida," Lucy said to Robin, gently pulling her hand away. She walked around the table and sat down in the empty chair beside the quiet but observant Yelena. Ida set down the plate and utensils before her and she continued to eat while Layla took her rightful earned seat beside the head.

Robin's mood soured because she had to sit next to Layla for the rest of breakfast. Karena was not too pleased as well as she was sitting directly in front of Layla. There atmosphere grew tense and no one dared to say a word for the next few minutes until Kiko threw down her fork and abruptly stood up.

"I've lost my appetite," she grumbled, walking away from the table and out of the room. She did not head back upstairs and no one bothered to ask where she was going as her maid followed her.

It was no secret that the others had lost their appetites as well, but they continued to eat. Layla, especially, was the least bothered by Kiko walking out of the room. She continued to eat her meal with pleasure written on her face while holding onto the cutlery with hands steadier than those of a surgeon's. She truly was the definition of the word 'regal'. She may not have been born royalty but the training she underwent ensured that she surpassed all the others in that aspect.

When the silence grew more intense than the others could bear, Karena spared a glance in Robin's direction. Robin proceeded to glance at Yelena, who ate with her head lowered to avoid making eye contact with anyone. As for Lucy, she ate in silence but the expression on her face was more than enough to prove that she was also deeply uncomfortable.

When she was told that she would be part of a family from that morning, she did not expect that the family would be that uncomfortable. Well, she was told that friendliness was something not to be expected, but since she had no one and she had no memories of ever being close to anyone, her circumstances were made more difficult than anyone else's. And Robin took to noticing that.

"You haven't introduced yourself to Yelena yet, have you, Rosalie?" Robin asked as an attempt to ease the attention. Layla kept to herself but listened attentively.

"No, I haven't," Lucy replied as she turned to Yelena who was seated beside her. The two had caught each other's names before but had not said a word to each other since.

"She may not seem like but she's 'actually' of royalty," Robin snarkly said, subtly bobbing her head to the side. Karena quickly understood what Robin meant and lightly shook her head in disapproval. It was evident that Robin was trying to rile up Layla and they had already had enough of that that one morning alone.

"Really? I did not realize," Lucy spoke in wonderment. She truly was fascinated to be sitting so close to someone from a royal family.

"B-But that doesn't matter... We'll all be royals soon," for the first time that day, Yelena spoke with the softest voice that Lucy could not help but feel less uncomfortable. Robin tried to ease the tension in the atmosphere, and it worked, but Yelena's humbled nature was the one that brightened her spirits.

"Exactly. Origin doesn't matter," Karena said to Robin, who playfully stuck out her tongue at her.

"I'm afraid it should. Poor commoners such as yourself..." Layla finally started talking again, her reaction triggered by Robin's playful side, "... and pitiful orphans should have no place in a royal family." Her harsh words were subtle and Robin ignored the part where she was called a poor commoner, but the next part which was directed at Lucy hurt her more than the rest realized.

She carefully put down her utensils and stood up. She proceeded to walk around the table with her head lowered to conceal her pained expression. When Karena and Robin called out to her, she did not respond and hurriedly walked through the door that Kiko did earlier. She had no idea where she was going and she did not care. Layla's words hurt too much for her to think properly.

Before she knew it, she stopped in front of an opened door at the back of the inn that led to an alleyway outside. It was so bright outside and the chattering and other sounds of activity were inviting. She wanted to be away for a little while and walked towards the door, buy before she could make it outside, she was suddenly stopped by a flash of red that instantly appeared before her.

By the time she realized what had happened, Dante was firmly holding on to her shoulder with his right hand. It did not hurt but he exerted enough strength to keep her from moving forward.

"Where are you going?" He asked with his stern voice that made Lucy's lower lip quiver. He noticed that and finally saw that she was upset and on the verge of tears. He scanned his surroundings first and when he saw that no one was present, he moved in without another thought and embraced her small body.

Lucy was taken aback by that but she did not attempt to move away. She felt so warm in his arms, against his chest—warm and wanted. Dante did not consider what he had done for a moment and abruptly released her body. He felt guilty and that was what prompted him to hug her. Lucy was left confused but the pain she felt was gradually alleviating.

"You are not permitted to go out to the streets yet. It's too dangerous," explained Dante. Lucy could not comprehend what could be so dangerous about a town that was in high spirits and in a celebratory mood but she nontheless nodded. Dante looked down at her face one more time before walking away. Lucy did not move an inch from where she stood. She had no words, and even if she did, what exactly could she say?