Elegantly Rogue

C H A P T E R 10

I didn’t bother saying anything as I listened to Ana attentively listing the name and function of everything that was around is. I had no doubt in my mind that my face was still red from when Gigi had stated that I didn’t know what anything was, not realizing that she was embarrassing me quite a bit. even though Ana seemed oblivious to my reaction, along with everyone else. I had no doubt that the child was just more than happy to have something to do until her father removed himself from out presence. 

Gigi had gone back to the hospital after she made sure that the Alpha knew everything he needed to know. And of course, he didn’t even care to ask it I wanted her to go, but then again, asking for the opinion of a rogue didn’t seem like something that was usually done. 

My eyes snapped towards the other girl who came running into the living room. I think her name was Ivy? I allowed myself to look between the two girls, trying to figure out which girl was older. The other part of me wondered where their mother was. 

Ivy picked up a discarded toy on her way in and immediately went to the Alpha, starting to talk to him in an animated way. I didn’t miss the way Anas’ shoulders seemed to slump before she came and settled herself beside me on the couch. I looked back at the Alpha and Ivy and I shook my head slightly, realizing what the problem could be. 

I pulled Ana onto my lap, making sure to turn her so that she wouldn’t be facing her father. It was then that I noticed the glassy set to her eyes and I realized that my suspicions may indeed be the correct ones. 

     “Are you the older one?” 

I phrased my question in a manner that wouldn’t be suspicious if the Alpha was listening to our conversation. His attention seemed wholly focused on Ivy, so I doubted that he would pay any attention to our conversation. 

     “We are twins.” 

She spoke in a manner that made it sound as if it was obvious to the world. Something that everyone knew. I guess it was normal to expect everyone to know about you when you were the Alphas daughter. 

I looked at Ana, taking in her blonde hair and blue eyes, trying to find similarities between her and the Aloha, yet the only one I could find was that they shared the same eye color. I found myself looking at the other daughter too. She shared no definite similarities with the Alpha. Her hair was much darker than his was, her skin much lighter, and her eyes a dark brown. 

     “Do you look like your mother?” 

I heard a sharp intake of breath and I let my eyes wander over to the Alpha, to see him now watching me attentively. He had clearly heard me asking about his Luna. I wouldn’t be surprised if he thought I planned to attack her in some way or the other and that I was only using his daughter for information. 

I won’t even lie to myself, that would have been a great plan if it wasn’t so flawed. 

Ivy must have realized that her fathers attention had wavered, for she turned to stare at me too, the frown pulling at her brows once more. 

     “Would I be allowed to take Ana with me? For a walk? I’ll understand if I’m overstepping some boundaries, and I’ll welcome some of your pack members if you wish for them to accompany us.” 

I surprised myself by asking the question. I knew that I definitely overstepped a line, but what was done was done. 

     “Where do you plan on taking her?” 

     “To the forest.”

Liar.

My mind seemed to shout at me, warning me against doing what I was going to do. I inwardly sighed. I had the suspicion that Ana felt as if she was living in her sisters shadow, and despite the fact that I didn’t know either of them all that well, I picked up on the fact that Ana was a lot more introverted that Ivy. 

It would be easy to forget the quiet child when there’s another one who’s always on the scene and always heard. 

My focus returned to the Alpha to find him regarding me with an unreadable expression on his face. There was this type of nagging in the back of my head. It didn’t usually take this long for someone to answer a question, did it? 

     “You can take her.” 

I let out a breath of air that I hadn’t even known I was holding. Ana’s body relaxed against mine and I realized that she had been just as apprehensive as I had been. I repositioned her slightly so that she was no longer leaning against her injured arm. 

The thought made me look down at my own arm and found that it had healed well enough already, which explained the lack of discomfort whenever I used it. There was a scar that seemed as if it was fading, which I was thankful for. 

     “On one condition.” 

I could practically feel my subconsciousness mocking me. I should have known that there would be an ultimatum. I looked back up at him, frowning slightly as I tried to guess what he was getting at, when I felt a chill race down my spine. Goosebumps covered my arms, but I was far from cold. I could feel my frown deepening with every second that passed. 

     “And what would that be?” 

My voice held a touch of boredom and I silently praised myself for coming across as unaffected, when it truth, I was starting to feel uncomfortable in his presence. I watched his eyes focus on Ana and then move to Ivy before they made their way back to me. The gears were practically visible on his face as he thought and I started praying that the condition wouldn’t include bringing Ivy with us. Ana was the one who needed reassuring, not Ivy. 

     “It’s not really something that can be discussed amongst the children. We’ll discuss it tonight, after dinner, in my office. You’ll only be allowed to leave tomorrow morning after breakfast, so that you can be back before nightfall.” 

His voice was monotone, coming across as impersonal. I looked down at Ana, who was still facing me and I noticed that the tears were starting to gather in her eyes, making them look like glass orbs. The sight was quite heartbreaking. 

     “I hate to break it to you Alpha, but Ana wanted to talk to me. So, you’ll either have to get in line or allow your daughter and I some privacy so that we can talk.” 

I was hoping that my slight attempt at humor would get him to agree to sending Ana with me without wanting to talk to me tonight. But as I should have expected, nothing of the sort happened. He just stared at me for a few moments before standing up with Ivy still in arms. 

I watched him move amongst the furniture until he was out of the vicinity. Once I was sure that he was too far away to eavesdrop on our conversation, I turned my attention to Ana. 

     “Do you want to tell me what’s wrong? Or would you just like for us to sit for a bit?” 

Instinct told me that if I pushed her into talking, she wouldn’t share with an open heart. I watched her turn towards the doorway, looking at it suspiciously before she turned back to me. Her composure seemed to crumble right before my eyes as the tears starting spilling silently. She leaned forward and allowed her head to rest against my shoulder. 

I had to stop my body from tensing when it registered the trusting gesture. 

     “Ivy can do what she wants. Because daddy loves her more.” 

My suspicions were confirmed and I gently put my arm around her and started rubbing her back. My mother had done this with me more often than I could remember, and I hoped it was fitting for me to be doing it now. I couldn’t imagine how long she had been feeling this way. 

     “Ana, I’m sure your daddy loves both you and Ivy equally. I know that at times it may not feel like it, but I’m sure he does. You’re both his babies.” 

As comforting as my words seemed to be, a rather loud sob escaped her and I felt my heart construct as I watched her heart break. I closed my eyes for a moment as I sent a silent prayer to the moon goddess, asking her to give me the wisdom to know what to do and say. 

     “D-does not f-eel like it.”

I pulled her back and away from my body so that I could see her face. Her cheeks had gone red, and her eyes too. It made her eyes seem so much brighter. 

My eyes focused on the tear tracks on her cheeks and, knowing they would be sticky in a moment, I wiped them away with my thumb. At that moment, I felt another presence amidst us. I wasn’t surprised when I allowed my eyes to wonder for a moment and found the Alpha standing in the doorway. I decided not to comment on it, because I knew that awareness of his presence would drive Ana right back into her shell. 

     “Does your daddy tell you that he loves you?”

I watched her nod, rather hesitantly, as if she could tell that I was about to talk her into a corner. 

     “And does your daddy tell Ivy that he loves her?” 

Once again, she nodded, a tiny frown pulling at her brows. 

     “Does he tell Ivy that he loves her more than he tells you that he loves you?” 

She stared at me blankly, clearly not quite knowing what to say. Never the less, I waited for her to shake her head, which she did. 

     “Then I don’t think you should be worried, Ana. Your daddy loves you both easily. Why didn’t you want to talk to him about this?” 

It had felt like I needed to ask that question. There was a part of me that knew that that was the one question the Alpha wanted me to ask. I didn’t even know why I bothered asking it. But I didn’t like the fact that his daughter was here confiding in me, while she never gave him an inkling of what she was feeling or thinking. 

     “Ivy says daddy don’t love me. She says he’s gonna send me away. She says daddy will be mad at me if I ask.”

A fresh wave of tears ran down her cheeks, but she reached up herself and wiped at them. I waited for her arms to be relaxed once more, before I pulled her in for a hug and looked directly at the Alpha. 

I could feel his aura from here, his anger and irritation felt across the distance between his. Some more obvious signs of his feelings included the tense set to his shoulders and the way his jaw was clenched.

I had no doubt in my mind that Ivy was going to get a stern talking to.