Chapter Seventeen
1839 Words
Claire's pov
My legs ached as I climbed the front steps of the pack house.
Who does he think he is? He accused me of flirting with the males when the guy was just helping me.
"I'll never understand him. He's so confusing," I muttered to myself as I entered the pack house.
One moment he insisted I train and then the next he became angry when someone was actually trying to help me.
Why does he hate me so much? I hadn't done anything.
Yet every time he looked at me, it felt as though he only saw my father's face.
Lost in thought, I barely noticed where I was walking.
Thump.
I walked straight into someone.
"Ouch!" I muttered, rubbing my head. I took a step back and lifted my head.
A young woman stood in front of me.
She was tall and petite with long blonde hair that fell in soft waves over her shoulders, and striking blue eyes that immediately reminded me of Adrian's.
"I'm so sorry," I said.
She smiled, waving her hand.
"Don't be, it's my fault. I wasn't looking where I was going."
Her eyes widened slightly. "You're the new girl, right? Everyone's been talking about you."
My stomach tightened. If the entire pack knows about me then I'm sure they must know who my father was.
"By the way I'm Elena," she said extending her hand.
I smiled, shaking her hand gently. "I'm Claire."
"It's nice to finally meet you Claire."
"Same here."
"Anyway," she murmured glancing at her phone. "I really have to get going. I'd like to get to know you though. Would you like to join us at the den later?"
"I'd like to."
Her smile widened. "Great then, I'll see you later."
Elena waved before disappearing toward the door and I stood there watching her go.
She was nothing like I'd expected her to be. I thought the shewolves here were like the ones in my previous pack, bitchy.
I turned toward the stairs. As I was about to walk up, movement caught my eye.
A heavily pregnant omega was carrying an overloaded tray stacked with dirty dishes.
The tray wobbled dangerously in her hands. Without thinking, I rushed toward her.
"Let me," I said reaching for the tray.
She looked startled. "Oh, you don't have to—"
I smiled. "It's okay, I don't mind."
I carefully took half the dishes from the tray, making it much lighter.
Relief spread across her face. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Together, we started walking toward the kitchen. The woman smiled warmly at me. "I'm Anna by the way."
"I'm Claire."
Her eyes widened slightly. "Oh you're the new girl?"
I nodded slowly. "Yes I am."
"Everyone's been talking about you."
Of course they were. They probably think I'm like Michael, cruel, manipulative and a murderer.
"What are they saying about me?" I asked, my voice light and questioning.
"There's been rumors, everyone says you're going to be the next luna of this pack."
My breath hitched. Why would they think I was going to be the Luna of the Night stalker pack? That's crazy. Adrian hates my guts and never in my wildest dreams would I ever want to be his luna or have anything to do with him romantically. The man infuriates me.
" So is it true?" Anna asked." Are you going to be our luna?"
"No I'm not," I said, my voice low.
Moon goddess I'd rather jump in a fire than be anywhere near him.
"Oh," she murmured.
We reached the kitchen and I placed the dirty dishes into the sink. When I turned around I saw Anna taking a seat on the chair and breathing heavily.
I frowned. My eyes darting around the kitchen. Where were the other Omega's? Why were they giving an heavily pregnant woman so much chores to do? Was this pack just like Michael's? Did Adrian illtreat the Omega's?
"Where are the other Omega's?" I asked, turning to Anna.
"I'm the only one that works in the pack house."
I frowned. "Why are you the only one?"
She shrugged. "Because I wanted it that way. The only thing I do around here is cook and clean the kitchen. The ones that live in the pack house clean after themselves."
"Well that's....." I paused I didn't know what to say. I've never heard of this before. I always knew Omega's were slaves to the higher ranking wolves. But this pack was different. The pack members cleaned after themselves unlike my previous pack. They relied completely on the Omega's do to everything for them.
I guess Adrian isn't that bad after all.
"Well then it's unheard of but good I guess," I said. "Why don't you go rest for a while I don't mind cleaning up and I could also help you prepare lunch?" I added.
She shook her head. "No I couldn't let you do that. You're new around here and I don't want to take advantage of you."
"You're not taking advantage of me. I'm offering to help since you're already tired and I have nothing else to do."
She smiled warmly at me. "Thank you Claire."
______________
Adrian's pov
The office was quiet except for the sound of papers shifting across my desk.
Luca was seated across me, going over the patrol reports and border updates.
"I've had a word with the patrol officers this morning and they said the eastern borders are stable, no sight of any movement as yet," he said shifting in his seat.
“But I still have my doubts on the western border. We should keep a close eye on Nathaniel, I've heard he was an Allie of Michael's."
“We’ll reinforce it then,” I replied without looking up from the file. “Double the patrol rotation at night.”
Luca nodded, flipping to the next file.
A knock interrupted us. Luca rose to his feet and answered the door.
Anna stepped inside with a tray balanced carefully in her hands.
She bowed slightly before entering my office. She crossed the room and placed a tray of food on my desk.
The smell of food drifted toward me. I was famished. I hadn't eaten a thing since this morning.
I picked up the fork and took a bite of the chicken pasta.
My brows furrowed slightly. This didn’t taste like Anna’s cooking.
Anna’s meals were always precise balanced, slightly sharp in seasoning. This was different, it was softer,
More homely and more flavorful.
I set the fork down.
“Who made this?” I asked, my eyes cutting to Anna.
Anna paused at the door, she slowly turned around and bowed her head.
“Claire, the new girl."
The name hit the room like a sudden drop in temperature. My jaw tightened.
I pushed the plate away. What was she doing in the kitchen, cooking? I don't remember giving her permission to touch anything around here.
What if she poisned the food? I don't trust that woman.
“Take it back.”
Luca looked up immediately.
“No,” he said, pulling the tray toward him.
“I’ll eat it since you refuse to."
I shot him a warning look and Luca
ignored it, taking the fork.
“Luca—”
He took a bite and paused. “…Damn this tastes really good.”
I narrowed my eyes at him.
Luca actually leaned back slightly, clearly impressed.
“She’s a really good cook,” he said, chewing. “For an alpha’s daughter.”
I didn’t respond but watch him with narrowed eyes.
“You sure she’s.... He paused, his gaze drifted to Anna standing in the doorway.
"You can leave Anna," I said.
She turned around and shut the door softly behind her.
Once she had left Luca spoke again. "You sure she's Michael’s daughter?” he asked.
My expression hardened instantly.
Luca continued anyway.
“Because it doesn't seem like it. Don't you agree?"
I stood slowly from my chair and glared at him. “Finish your report,” I said coldly.
He smirked faintly. "I'll do it when I'm done eating."
I walked toward the window watching the
Pack training grounds below.
“She’s not what you think she is, Adrian.”
Luca was right and I hated to admit that he was. Claire was different but it didn't mean I trusted her, she's Michael's daughter. What if all this is just her pretending to be innocent meanwhile she's plotting my death?
_____________
The pack house had already settled into the stillness of night, the kind that only came when the patrol officers had finished their shifts and the pack members had retreated to their rooms.
Luca had left my office hours ago.
I should’ve been in my room by now
Instead, I found myself walking aimlessly through the corridors.
My thoughts were… restless. I could hardly think straight or sleep.
Claire’s face kept appearing where it didn’t belong.
I couldn't get her out of my mind.
I turned toward the stairs but halted when I heard the sound of laughter coming from the den.
I moved toward the den, the door was slightly open, a warm glow spilling into the hallway.
I stopped just outside and looked through the gap. The first person I saw was her, she was seated on the couch and besides her was Elena and a few other shewolves were there as well.
Elena leaned forward, her gaze was curious.
“So what was your old pack like?” she asked.
Claire hesitated for a moment. Her fingers tightened slightly around the cup in her hands.
Claire shrugged. "It was okay," she murmured.
Silence flickered for a moment before Elena tilted her head and continued.
“Do you miss it?” Elena asked.
Claire answered immediately.
“No.”
No one knew who Claire really was they thought she was from another pack. I told my men the day we left from the Night Prowler Pack no one in the pack should know who Claire is. If only my pack discovers she's Michael's daughter moon goddess knows what would happen.
"So are you mated?" One of the other girls asked.
"Or are you still looking for your mate like us?"
Claire exhaled deeply. "I found my mate."
Elena blinked. "Then where is he?"
"I rejected him."
Elena’s eyes widened. “You rejected your mate?” she gasped.
Claire nodded.
Elena leaned forward, clearly curious.
“Why did you reject him?”
Claire’s voice dropped slightly as she looked down.
“He cheated on me and he was abusive.”
The words hit the room like a physical impact.
My entire body went still.
Suddenly luca's words surfaced in my mind. She isn’t like him.
I clenched my jaw.
She was Michael’s daughter. She's was the daughter of an alpha. I'm sure Michael wouldn't allow anyone to hurt any of his children including her.
My wolf stirred uneasily.
Something wasn't right and I needed to find out.
- Writer
