The Queen of Fire

Chapter 2

The next 2 weeks fly past. The omega's rush around the packhouse halls, each with their own jobs. Cleaning, cooking, gardening, everything needs to be perfect. Ellie and I work on creating the perfect menu for the event, ensuring we include all of Alpha Edward's favorite dishes so that he can't be mad at us. He must be stressed, he choked Ellie up against the kitchen wall last week just for not having bread rolls available for dinner. Alpha Edward's rage has been felt by many in the packhouse, he has been rampaging the halls and many of the omega staff have been beaten or yelled at ,just for simply getting in his way. He is clearly stressed and worried about ensuring we put on a good show for the other packs. We haven't had an event like this in years. The Gray Ridge pack was one of the largest packs in our area. It would be useful to our Alpha to have a strong connection with them in case we ever needed help. It wasn't his smartest move angering the rest of the pack with his outbursts right before the other pack came to visit though.

Ellie and I stood in the kitchen discussing what we would need to prepare. "Do you think we need extra hands on deck for the party?" Ellie asks me. "Yes, probably? I mean, this is a huge event! How are we supposed to prepare all this food and have it ready on time with just our two sets of hands? I know we are good, but the extra help would be amazing" I say. I lean on the kitchen bench and think quietly to myself. "Maybe I could ask Alpha Edward for an extra staff member?" Ellie looks at me wide eyed "Are you crazy? Imagine asking him to give us someone else right now. He would murder you!" She shakes her head at me in disbelief.

"Ellie, we will get murdered if there's no food ready at the party anyway. Its worth a shot!" I smile at her, trying not to show her how nervous I am.

After dinner I wander back to my room, which is pretty much a dungeon cell with our beds and a tiny shower. I walk slowly, wasting time so I can be out in the bigger areas of the house for as long as I can. I pass by Alpha Edward's office and notice him seated behind his desk. "It's now or never" Nova whispers in my head.

" I know, I just have a bad feeling he's going to be really angry."

"You can take him, we are strong. Stronger than anyone knows"

"That's easy for you to say" I snort back at her.

I walk towards the office door and knock quietly. I look down at my feet waiting for an answer.

"What do you want?" He sneers at me.

"Alpha" I bow my head. "I was hoping you would be kind enough to seek us another helper in the kitchen for the ceremony, we want to make sure everything is perfect for your daughter and I am worried we won't have enough time to get everything prepared". I look up and meet his gaze and know I am in trouble. His eyes turn black as he fights over control with his wolf.

"WHAT!" He yells at me, spitting in my direction. "You are useless! What is the point of having a chef if you can't even do your job!".

I stammer and start to back out of the room. I am too late. He lunges at me, hitting me and I fly across the hallway. My back hits the wall with a loud thud and I fall to the floor. He is still coming after me. "Adelaide! Adelaide! Get up, we have to leave, he will hurt you" Nova is whining in my head, I feel too dizzy to try to get up. I feel him kick me in the stomach and I try not to groan out loud. I will not give him the satisfaction. I don't know how long I lay on the floor as he kick and hit me. Eventually I black out.

I wake up with a pounding headache. I can feel one of my eyes is swollen shut. Ellie is sitting next to me on the bed rubbing blood away from my face with a damp cloth. "Gosh Addy, why did you have to go and do that?" She looks at me with sad eyes.

"I don't know Ellie, I thought maybe for once he might show us some kindness" I groan as I sat up. Definitely some cracked ribs. Lucky for werewolf healing. "What happened? All I remember is him beating me and then I blacked out".

"He called one of the warriors to drag you back to your room after you passed out, I was so worried!" Ellies eyes tear up.

"Looks like it's just you and me then, I don't think were getting any help what so ever" I try to light heartedly say to Ellie.

Ellie smiles at me kindly "We've totally got this. We're going to cater the biggest event our pack has ever seen! And we are going to do such a good job he will regret ever hurting you!". I laugh at her positive energy.

It takes a couple of days for me to heal fully. I avoid Alpha Edwards at all costs. Ellie and I plan and prepare as much as we can for the event. I feel much more confident that we will do a good job. I keep my head down and keep working. As the day of the ceremony draws closer, everyone is on edge. Each night I lie in bed and I can't wait for this whole thing to be over. Then we can rest and go back to our quiet days of being ignored.