The Beast's Blind Serenity

Part 1 - Alpha Summit, Chapter 3 – Confrontation

Ila’s POV

As we walk down the quiet street in the afternoon winter sun, Serena pats my hand and talks about the latest gossip she heard from the other senior wolves. I chuckle. I learn so much from these fussing old nosey hens. A hit to my shoulder causes me to fumble forward, but Serena steadies me before I fall.

“Watch where you’re going, you stupid cripple!” A crackle of laughter surrounds us as if the same joke hasn’t gotten old. Obviously, I’m blind!

‘She’s a bad wolf,’ Juniper says with a growl.

Nadine and her friends have always treated me like I was a crusty sore on the butt of the pack. In high school, I didn’t have any friends because they would threaten anyone who was remotely kind to me. Once we graduated, her bullying me has eased since we attended different colleges. I guess she is back for the Alpha Summit since she is the Beta’s daughter.

“How are you going to pay me for getting dirt on my boots, you worthless being!” Nadine growled out at me. “They cost more than your stupid piano.” I highly doubt that, since my piano was over 100 thousand dollars and custom-made specifically by my designs for my disability, but I didn’t think this was the right time to argue that fact.

“Your boots are fine, so go away. GO! SHOO!” Serena says with a bit of a bite to her words.

I had her ripped from my arm. I am shoved from behind, causing me to lose my balance and fall onto my hands and knees on the concrete. My bruised hands will definitely make playing the piano uncomfortable tonight. First my wrist, now this?

Scuffling noises and arguments surround me. Serena must be trying to fight them off. I feel the ground for my walking stick, hoping I can at least get to my feet and defend myself, but come up empty.

A voice whispers close to my ear, “Hey cripple, Auntie Elisabeth told me all about you trying to seduce Uncle Dean just now. I think I need to remind you what happens when someone upsets my auntie.”

Serena is somewhere shouting “Leave her alone!” Moon Goddess, please don’t let them hurt her.

A boot heel presses down hard on top of my right hand. I tried to pull my hand free, but it wouldn’t budge. I cried out in pain, screaming for her to stop, but all she did was laugh. Nadine’s plan must be to crush my hand, so I can’t perform tonight.

“I see some bitches who need a beat down!” a sassy voice calls out from the far left of me, from across the street. There is a hint of sadistic satisfaction in her voice. I smile because I know and love that voice - Katie is here.

“Who do you think you are, b***h? You’re not from our pack, so you must be a visiting wolf. Well, you either beat it or show me some respect! My daddy is the beta here!” Nadine’s loud shrill stung my ears. The shoe moves away from my hand, and I let out a sigh of relief. I hurry to a sitting position and hold my hands close together to my chest, away from any more attacks.

Katie laughs. “Don’t give a flying turd about your daddy. I don’t like wolves who bully others. But guess what! It’s your lucky day. I’ve got just enough time before the ball tonight to open a can of whoop ass on your ugly faces.” I hear fabric shuffling and something thumping on the ground. Is she getting undressed? Is she preparing to fight? From what I have heard, Nadine is a good fighter, but Katie has been the state champion in the women’s warrior division four years in a row.

“Whatever, b***h!” Nadine backed down quickly. “Watch your back, cripple. See you soon.” She laughs out her threat and the others join in.

“Hello Katie, what brings you here?” I said as I helped to my feet.

“Oh, the summit committee wanted someone on cyber security. So, they called me. Their eyes in the sky, so to speak. Big paying job for my start-up company and my pack. My alpha offered to pay for all my expenses and get me a room at the local hotel if I agreed to come, since our Alpha couldn’t make it this year. Our pregnant Luna is due any day now. I also get to help represent our pack at meetings with our Beta. He wants me to be at any meeting relating to security! Oh, guess what! I’m doing a cyber security presentation tomorrow morning at 10am. Open Invitation for all. You and Maxwell should come.”

I smiled warmly at my friend. “Yes, I will mention it to Maxwell. I know one of the smaller construction companies has been having some issues with minor theft.”

Katie snaps her fingers twice on my left side, letting me know she is handing me my walking stick. The snapping is our signal for me to know that she’s going to touch me. We made the small trick when we met my freshman year in college. Nothing is scarier to a blind person than being sneaked up on without warning. Over time, I’m able to detect her without it, but she still does it out of habit.

Serena takes my hands in hers and wipes away the snow and dirt with her gloved hand. “Oh, you got some scrapes, but nothing too bad. Your hand is a little red from where she stepped on you, but nothing major. Wiggle your fingers! Good. Nothing broken. I think some Epson salt and warm water will clean this up in no time.”

Katie pulls my attention and squishes my face between her icy hands. “You ready for tonight? This is your first time performing for more than just the music school, right? There’s going to be tons of people at the ball! Aren’t you excited?!”

I nod… “Oh yes, I just finished up practice a few minutes ago. Have you seen the ballroom yet? I am curious about how it looks.”

Katie barks out laughing, “Oh Ila, if only you could see it. It looks like a flock of flamingos got stoned off mushrooms, then ate the singing flowers from Alice in Wonderland before throwing them up all over the hall. There are so many colors. It’s so gaudy with the flowers and feathers. I honestly wish I was blind, so I don’t have to look at it.”

We continued walking down the sidewalk, listening to Katie describe the different decorations in the ballroom.

“I heard the Beast from the Devil’s Mountain pack will be at the summit! He never shows up to these things. I wonder what he’s like.” Katie questions. “The rumors say when he became Alpha, he sold his soul to the devil of the mountain and that’s why his pack is so powerful. He even eats maidens’ hearts when they don’t satisfy him in bed the way he likes! But I guess, being the King’s military, you must be gruesome. Damn, I’d love to get a cyber security contract with him!”

I laugh.

“Cha-Ching!!!” she giggles. “So, what do you think about the beast? Everyone wants to be aligned with him, but they are too scared to approach him. I heard, if you look into his eyes, you may lose your life! So don’t look at him, OK?” Katie says in a serious tone as we turn to the corner for the next street.

“Umm, Katie… I am blind. I can’t look into his eyes anyway, so I am pretty sure my life is safe.

I honestly feel sorry for the Beast being judged without merit. The stories Katie was sharing couldn’t be true, so I decided he would receive no judgment from me. Being judged was something I knew all too well. People tend to have a negative perception of me without any legitimate basis just because I am blind. Guess the Beast and I have something in common.

Katie’s heart did a double beat, and I already knew what she was going to ask when she touched my bruised wrist. “Ila, did that Alpha try anything again?” She asked with caution.

Before I could answer, Serena put in her two cents. “That man! Ugh! If I didn’t have such brittle bones, I would give him a piece of my mind.”

Katie and I both laughed. “Ms. Serena, you don’t fool anyone. You are tougher than dragon claws. Ila, did he?” Katie says. I refuse to answer. Something must have transpired between Serena and Katie, because the conversation instantly changed. “Hey, is Cerberus coming tonight? He makes everything so much more fun.”

I shook my head. “Luna said he wasn’t allowed. According to her, he will cause a riot. Not sure why, he’s such a sweet baby boy.”

Katie laughs. “If you say so… Who’s going to be your wing person if Cerberus can’t go?”

“My brother. His mate, Hannah, isn’t feeling well because she is still in her first trimester of pregnancy, so she is staying home for the night. She plans on watching movies and hanging out with my sweet boy as her fluffy cuddle buddy.” I giggle. “Good thing my brother isn’t jealous of him, right?”

“Mmmm, maybe it’s a good thing he isn’t going. Cerberus is overprotective of you; we don’t want him biting off your mate’s d**k if you meet him tonight.” Katie laughs and Serena gasps.

“Don’t be so crude, Miss Katie. Available, young men don’t like that kind of language from young ladies.” Serena hisses at her, causing me to shake with giggles. If Serena only knew the potty mouth Katie had, she would just die of fright.

“I seriously doubt I will meet my mate; I don’t plan on staying long at the ball. Where there is drinking…” I trail off, not wanting to continue that sentence. It wouldn’t be the first time I had to fend off a male who was drunk enough to take advantage of a blind she-wolf. Thankfully, Cerberus was there to protect me.

“You never know! Maybe we will both find our mates, and they will be from the same pack!” I know Katie is hopeful for me, but I just don’t have her enthusiasm.

For years now, I accept that I probably wouldn’t have a mate. A blind mate whose inner wolf is also blind. Yeah, no man’s dream girl. I know the moon goddess is said to provide everyone with a mate, but I don’t expect mine to accept me. He will learn my name and reject me right away, which is OK with me.

I knew we had stopped in front of the local coffee shop when the scent of freshly ground coffee beans tickled my nose. Katie snaps her fingers again and grabs my hand to give it a gentle squeeze.

“Well, ladies, enjoy the rest of your walk home and I will try to come find you tonight at the ball. I need to get back and double-check the security cameras. I just came out to get some coffee before I had to get back to the security room.” Katie squeezes my hand one more time before she walks away. The door’s bell chimes as it opens and closes.