Loved by My Archenemy

CHAPTER SIX

Yara is now parading up and down the room frantically while Zoya watched her from the bed. “Sit down Yara” Zoya said calmly. Tapping on the bed for Yara to sit next to her. But Yara was not listening. She was still pacing and muttering words. “I can't believe our people still think like this after so many years, it is unfair!” Yara clamored. “Calm down Yara, your father is taking care of it”. Zoya replied looking at her distressed daughter as though she was sure, she reached out again to Yara to sit next to her, but Yara strolled past her and sat on the chaise lounge; facing the direction her worried mother sat looking at her. “I will meet the council myself”. Yara objected. “ I will not be belittled because I am a woman Ammi”. She added. Zoya’s eyes widened. “That is impossible Yara, the council meetings are been held and attended by Men only...” “ I will not sit back and watch my family’s honor and dignity taken away because my parents bared me! A girl!” Yara was on her feet again, but she wasn't pacing this time. She was staying put and staring critically at nothing.

Yara’s pov.

Wait! I know you're wondering how we got here and what escalated. Let me take us back a little...

“Yara...” Ammi started. I took a long breath waiting for a scold. “Yes, ammi?” I replied shakily. Ammi held my hand, caressing the back of my hands gently as though she was stroking a cat. Now, I know this isn't about what happened in school today, because whenever ammi is rubbing on my hands like this, she's got distasteful news. “What is wrong Ammi? Talk to me”. I let out, I couldn't take any more suspense. “It is the council” Ammi announced finally. “They have been prying on us ever since your father and I declared you the next alpha of the pack.” “I don't understand Ammi,” I said removing my hands from her palms. “how is my birthright a problem” I continued looking utterly confused. I’m very well aware of why they’ve been ‘prying’ but I don’t want to think it’s that which I'm thinking of. I mean it’s the 21st century. Everything has changed. Ammi is now looking at me with the ‘you know why’ face, “you really do not know?” She replied raising one of her brows while she grabbed my hands back in her palms. I let out a sigh, “your father is handling it Yara, there’s no need to worry yourself ...” she said, reassuringly“ that is the problem Ammi!” I interrupted “nobody is going to take me seriously if baba keeps coming to my rescue. I'm not a child anymore! I need to be able to handle this myself. I need to meet with the council” I peeked at Ammi hoping she concedes to supporting me. But my hope fell when she opened her mouth and replied “you don't understand these things Yara, you think you do but you don't” now I'm getting furious, I again loosened my hands from my mother's palms and made my way to the middle of the room and started to pace. How else would I learn if they are not allowing me? The next Alpha queen should be able to attend council meetings too. I am tired of being construed as weak because I'm female.

YARA’s POV END.

“Yara?” Zoya bayed as she gazed at her daughter staring at the painting on the wall on the other side of the room, as though she was oblivious of what was going on around her. “Yara?!” Zoya called out again, this time, she was louder and tapping Yara softly on her shoulder. Yara became startled and then replied finally. “Sorry Ammi, I didn't mean to zone out” Yara made to sit back down on the chaise longue. “But it's very unsettling Ammi, I don't know why I always thought this wouldn't be an issue at all. I thought with time changing everyone would have already accepted my being female and being able to rule. I mean! My whole life I was thought about how to be a leader, a good leader. By the best of them all, Basit Makhthum.” silence struck the room. Zoya looked at her daughter. As she landed her head on the small black unicorn throw pillow resting at the end of the chaise lounge, subbing and staring straight out the window, she went closer to Yara, straightened the hair on her wet face, tucked it behind her ear, kissed her on the cheek and said softly “I will talk to your father.” Yara nodded her head breaking no contacts with what laid in the dark space out the window. “Come down soon for dinner” Zoya pleaded. “Biryani is best eaten hot” she chuckled giving Yara a soft nudge by her rib, Zoya paused for a while hoping to get a giggle out of Yara, her face fell when she got no reaction from her. She gave her a pat on her hair, landed another kiss on her cheek, wiped away her tears and let out “come down for dinner when you can or call on a servant to send your food up. I love you” Zoya made for the door and turned to catch another glimpse of yara before she finally left closing the door behind her.

Yara’s pov.

After Ammi left, I started to scream so loud. I was up and pacing around the room again. Now my room seems so tiny. I can't feel my legs. ‘Breathe yara, breathe’ why won't they just give me a chance? How is it fair that they just want to pull me out like that? I don't understand athena. I remember vividly the cheers I received when Baba and Ammi broke the news to the rest of the pack at their wedding anniversary. How did it all change? What would have changed in four months? I stopped pacing, my feet still unreachable, I felt my body giving up on me. Now I am crumbling to the floor, cuddling my knees up to my chest. I can't breathe Athena... I... I th...ink I'm h..aving a..a..no..other attack. ‘Breathe yara... Breathe’ sitting on the spot Zara and I was lying down earlier, I started to rock myself like an old granny chair on the porch of a Texas farm. Breathe... Breathe... I kept muttering to myself. I closed my eyes, still trying to catch my breath. ‘It helps when you're not focused on a particular thing’ Thank you, Athena. This time I whispered out loud.

The beautiful familiar melody from the desert caused me to open my eyes the room was peach black, Ammi had also turned off the lights when she left. I was lying down on the floor, the last thing I remember was breathing as much as I could. I dragged my feet up and went for the nightstand, tapped on my phone screen to check the time, the bright screen caused me to let out a screech. “11:45 pm,” I growled. I have been out for four hours! I Reached for my phone, grabbed open a bottle of water from my mini-fridge and went on to sit on my chaise longue. My phone’s screen came up again revealing a bunch of notifications. It's from the girls.

I swiped open the messages hoping I didn't miss out on a lot.

* 103 unread messages

* 30 missed calls

wow! What could be up with Aliana and Reena?

Aliana: Hey queens! My father just told me about what the council is saying about Yara being alpha queen. How are you holding up babes?

Reena: what? I don't get it? What are they saying?

Aliana: well they are bent on removing Yara as the next alpha because she's female.

Reena: what? No! That's not right! So what if she's female?! Yara is strong!.. How are you holding up Yara?

I can't deal with this right now. I closed the app and shut down my phone. I don't need to deal with this right now. I took a long deeper breath, finished up my water And turned around to look at the moonlight and enjoy the blissful Arabian melody of the night. I will deal with this, but first I need to relax and enjoy this night.