Chapter 13— Friend Or Foe?
1545 Words
Chapter 13- Friend Or Foe?
Kyra
It’s been three days since Callie shoved me into that nightmare of a house with its stinking toilets and rotting floors and still the stench seemed to cling to me. No matter how many times I scrubbed my skin or rinsed my hair, I swear I could still smell it in the back of my throat.
It had also been three days since I last saw Tristan. He hadn't so much as looked my way whenever I spotted him across the room. It was almost as if that night on the terrace, the bottle we shared had never happened at all.
Not like I was expecting anything to happen, it was just that...
Heck, it had been oddly quiet. No cold commands barked at me. No reminder that I was his prisoner. Hell, even Callie the evil witch hadn't so much as shown her face.
At first, I thought it was a trap, a ploy to let my guard down. But it's been three silent days.
Which was worse than his cold stares and angry words. At least with those, I knew where I stood but with this quietness, I was left in the dark, wondering if he was plotting or simply... avoiding me.
Avoiding.
The word clung to me like a bitter taste. I shoved the thoughts down before my mind began to create scenarios.
The pack grounds were buzzing like an anthill today, loud with orders being thrown around. People moving supplies, scrubbing, polishing.
The Alphas Convention was tomorrow, and apparently hosting a gathering of powerful, egotistical wolves required every ounce of preparation. No hosting pack wanted to be caught lacking.
I stood among fourteen of us who were 'selected. We were in the east hall as the head servant, Amanda barked instructions to us for what she called a "briefing."
"You're not just serving you are representing the Banewolff pack," she said, her sharp eyes sweeping across our faces. "The Alphas will notice any misstep, a sour expression—Anything, and it will reflect poorly on us. So you need to make sure no one sees those imperfections. Do you understand?"
A chorus of, "Yes, ma'am," Echoed.
I stayed quiet, though I mouthed the words just to avoid being noticed.
She nodded, satisfied, then continued.
"Everything must be spotless. Every corner cleaned, table set before they're up, assist before they even request it. And most of all respect. Show each Alpha respect, discipline. No talk backs."
Around me, everyone nodded eagerly, eyes bright, posture taut like they were preparing for battle.
"Remember this is more than service, it's a test to prove your repentance and gain the Alpha’s forgiveness. If you do well, you earn freedom, if you fail..." She didn't complete it. Her silence said enough.
My mind settled on her words. Freedom? Was there anything like it for me anymore? I wasn't foolish enough to believe I would earn it, no matter how hard I worked.
The briefing ended and we were dismissed, paired into groups for our daily tasks.
"You three, and Ferguson. Take over the entertainment quarter. And that is all for today."
I was paired with three other girls tasked with the responsibility of cleaning the entertainment quarter.
For once, a normal task. Thank the goddess.
I'd barely taken two steps before two of the girls, their faces covered in disdain, and voices loud enough for me to hear began to whisper and finger-point.
"Isn't it strange?" One of the girls murmured loudly, eyes sliding towards me. "Working side by side with a former Alpha princess."
The second snorted. "Alpha princess indeed. Now, she's learn to taste what it feels like to be below all that power and status. Scrubbing floors with the rest of us."
Heat crawled up my neck, and I swallowed whatever clapback I had. Picked up the mop bucket and rag.
No matter how hard I tried to move away, it seemed like they were right next to me, because I could still hear everything they were saying.
"Don't say this to anyone, Abby," The first girl leaned in, head bent as if whatever she had to say was a secret when I could fully hear her. "But I used to admire her. Shame she's on the same level as us now. Even lower."
They both laughed. Their laughter grated on my nerves.
My jaw ached from how hard I clenched it, preventing myself from falling for their rage bait. Nope. If there was even the smallest chance that I was going to earn freedom. Even if it was a delusion I would hold it tighter than let these girls ruin it for me.
A hand brushed mine lightly. "Ignore them,” The third girl—whom I'd almost forgotten was with us—spoke. "Don't waste your breath on them.” Then she tugged me away towards the direction of the entertainment quarter.
I blinked at her, confused. Her voice didn't hold malice, eyes didn't carry hatred, instead, they stared at me with… friendliness.
Somehow I was unsettled. I was in a pack filled with wolves that wished to see me dead. Three nights ago I'd gotten a threat from an anonymous person.
Everyone and everything screamed danger to me even if they appeared in doe brown eyes, brown hair with streaks of pink and blue in it, and an overly welcoming smile.
No one was my friend.
"What do you want?" I snapped, pulling my hand away from her hold.
She gasped, feigning hurt as she wrapped a hand over her chest. "Aww! It's so sad you can't recognize me anymore."
I stared at her with a blank expression.
She cleared her throat. "You seriously don't remember me?"
My expression remained the same, and she sighed.
"Okay, fine. Remember the Ashveil pack?" She asked.
I nodded, prompting her to continue.
"Remember that little girl you saved from execution."
I nodded again, wondering where this was going.
"She was my sister. Your kindness saved her life that day and I'm grateful."
It was then that it clicked. I could see the faint resemblance to the girl I'd saved four years ago, those doe eyes filled with tears as she trembled before the Alpha begging for mercy.
It was then that the elders were trying to convince my father that a betrothal to the Alpha heir of the Ashveil pack would be of greater asset to us.
The elder council was successful in convincing him that he didn't listen to even a word I'd said. Father had made me pack my things to come along with him and honour the invitation to the Ashveil pack.
"What a small world." I smiled a little, my guard dropping slightly.
That little girl didn't know she saved me from a life of doom that day. If it hadn't been for her, if I hadn't shown Father what they were capable of in Ashveil he would have sealed my fate to Eric Ashveil on that visit.
She laughed lightly. "Yeah, it is."
"So how did you end up here? In the Banewolff pack?" I questioned remembering she wasn't just visiting but instead a member of the Banewolff pack.
Her eyes dropped a little and then she shook her head. "Eric. He never stopped. He was always looking for a way to get us punished. I don't know the full details but I was told by my mother that Alpha Tristan had found a way to make us members of his pack."
I nodded. "Good for you. At least you're safe here even though..." she was a servant. At least she wouldn't be treated as bad. Eric was a terror who hid behind good looks, and smiles. The pack entirely wasn’t filled with good people either. It was more of the same bird flocking with each other.
"I'm Maddison by the way. But most people call me Maddy. Now, before you keep looking at me like I will pull out a dagger on you at any moment. Relax”
I chuckled. It was better to be safe than dead. At least not in such a flimsy way. "I would have introduced myself but I'm on the popularity train these days." I shrugged and she laughed.
As we set to work, Maddison kept on talking about any and everything. How nervous she was, how she couldn't afford to mess this up. My lack of response didn't deter her as she kept on filling my ears.
Almost twenty minutes in and Maddy was already done with her portion.
The way she talked was the way she worked. Fast and hard. Not in a thousand lifetimes will I be able to keep up that pace.
I looked around to see the other two working as hard. It kinda seems like everyone was competing. While there was me who was working at a snail's pace not because I didn't want to get the f**k out of here but because I wasn't used to cleaning, this wasn't the kind of life I was used to and it would take me the whole day to be done.
Maddy looked over and winced. "Oww with how slow you work you might not get on the list."
"List? What list?"
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