The Ruthless Alpha and His Slave Mate

Chapter 9: Candice's Evil Plans

After Damien got back from the stream and returned to the castle with the guards and Connor, he was welcomed by Candice who offered him a kiss on the cheek but instead of reciprocating the kiss, he stared at her like she was a ghost.

"Why are you still here?"

Candice laughed and stared at him like he had asked the most ridiculous question. "What do you mean?

"Why haven't you gone back to your father?"

Candice shrugged nonchalantly. "I stayed back because your mother asked me to."

Damien's frown deepened and he looked slightly pissed.

"What do you mean, my mother asked you to stay back? You should have left this morning."

Candice rolled her eyes at him, already tired of the conversation.

"Whatever. Your mother was looking for you all over the castle. I think it has to do with the way you had treated your brother earlier today."

Damien didn't reply to her this time and turned on his heels to move ahead but Candice's hand immediately stretched out to grab him back by the wrist until he was facing her again.

"That smell…" She took a second to sniff him again. "Were you with a woman?"

Damien took a few seconds to process her words before he pushed her off and disentangled his wrist from her hold. He sent her a piercing glare that warned that if she tried to take a step closer, he would end her right here.

"Stop interfering in my business, Candice. Unless you want your head on a platter of gold."

Candice laughed a little cynically as she regained her balance. "It was that slave girl, wasn't it? Are you f*****g with the slave girl?"

Ignoring her once again, Damien walked away from her presence and found his way upstairs to his mother's chamber where she was being helped to try on some gold jewelry by her maids. As soon as the servants noticed his presence in the room, they dispersed immediately, leaving him alone with his mother.

"Mother." He greeted as he sat beside her on the bed while she admired the jewelries on her neck and ears in the small hand-held mirror.

"What is this news I hear about your cruelty to your own brother?" Her question was direct and straight to the point. Damien could tell his mother was angry at him with the way she spoke. But he couldn't understand why she would be angry over what he did. Roman was being disobedient and deserved to be punished.

"It wasn't being cruel, mother. He was being hard-headed…"

"He is still young, Damien." She finally turned her head to look at him. He had never seen her face this rigid before.

"But, mother…" He protested but his mother cut in again.

"Release your brother from the dungeon, else I am never seeing your face again."

……..

For the rest of the week, Candice remained bitter and imagined countless ways she could hurt Tessa. She had thought the girl was not good enough for Damien and that he would never pick interest in her. But it shocked her to discover that he had in fact, had something to do with the girl. If she could get her hands on the slave, she would choke her to death. Damien was hers and hers alone.

Tired of remaining indoors and having Damien ignore her like she wasn't worth any of his time, she decided to take a stroll outside the castle with the maids. They came across a group of slaves having their washing routine but as she was about to walk past them, she heard the maids whisper behind her.

"That's the slave Luna."

"I think she's beautiful."

"I heard he detests her to death."

Candice's heart boiled as she heard the girls talk and she looked back to the direction of the slaves to withhold the sight of the slave girl who was supposedly mated to Damien. The girl, who was busy doing her laundry, did not pay any attention to them and even with the haggard look of her clothes and hair, Candice hated to admit she looked beautiful. She was sure that if Damien didn't hate her because she was a slave, he would have gone for her. Candice itched to grab the girl by the throat and strangle her to death. A few seconds later, her mind came up with a wicked plan to hurt the girl and with a sinister smile, she walked away again with the maids and headed for the garden.

Upon reaching the garden, she sent the maids to go fetch the slave girl and make sure they didn't come with her. She had to be all alone with the girl to execute her evil plans. A few minutes later, she saw the girl approach her alone and she smirked to herself at how well her plans were going. As the girl reached her, she curtsied low in respect and Candice kept a fake smile pasted on her face.

"Say, you are the slave Luna chosen for the Alpha, aren't you?"

Tessa looked downcast and shook her head, wondering what it was that this gorgeous lady wanted from her.

"I am no Luna, my lady. I am just a slave."

Candice laughed again and then dipped her hand into the pocket of her dress, producing a gold necklace and she held it out for Tessa to collect. Skeptically but with obedience, Tessa collected the necklace from Candice, a small confused frown appearing over her forehead.

"Pretty little thing, isn't it?" Candice asked and Tessa nodded in agreement.

"You can have it."

Tessa looked up this time to see Candice's smile still intact. She knew that there was no way she would be able to turn down Candice's gift. So, she thanked her and Candice let her go back to her chores.

"I will make your life a living hell, slave Luna." Candice grinned and whispered to herself as she watched Tessa go.