The Descendant and Her Mates

CHAPTER SIX

ALICIA

It was a brand-new day and here I was again, standing in front of the pack house, watering the same flowers for the third day in a row.

I had gotten only one chore again today, just like yesterday and the day before. I didn’t know whether to be happy or nervous about it anymore.

A part of me wanted to enjoy the break. The other part kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. Something wasn’t right. It felt like a calm before a storm.

I bent low and reached for the base of one of the flower bushes when I heard footsteps behind me. The footsteps sounded slow, heavy, and confident.

I turned around, and sure enough, it was Blaire. And, of course, her two minions followed closely behind like always.

The look on her face made my chest tighten. Her eyes were sharp, and angry. And the way she sneered at me made it clear she didn’t come for a friendly chat.

“You,” she hissed, stopping just a few feet away from me. “Why the hell are you being treated like royalty now? Why are you doing only one stupid chore while the rest of us are working like slaves?”

I said nothing.

Her voice rose. “Three days! Three freaking days! And every time I see you, you’re just out here playing with flowers like some pampered princess. What’s so special about you, Alicia?”

I kept my face blank. I didn’t give away any reaction or any answer.

I could tell she hated that.

And then it hit me.

She was jealous. That’s what this was about. She wasn’t angry because I got fewer chores. She was jealous that I, of all people, was getting special treatment.

But what was there to be jealous of, really? I was still sleeping on a thin mat in a tiny, stuffy room. I was still wearing patched-up clothes. The only thing different was that people had stopped barking orders at me.

But that was enough for her to hate me more than ever.

“Are you deaf or something?” she snapped. “I asked you a question!”

Still, I said nothing. I looked straight at her, not blinking. I wasn’t scared of her. Not anymore.

Her lips curled into a fake smile. “Oh, I see. Playing the silent game now. Fine. Let me make this more interesting for you.”

She stepped closer and held out her hand. Her minion passed her a bag. My stomach twisted. I didn’t know what was inside, but I had a bad feeling.

Blaire raised the bag high, and dumped it all over me.

It was flour.

The white powder exploded everywhere. On my head, my hair, my face, my shoulders. My entire body was coated in it. It stung my eyes and got into my nose. I couldn’t breathe for a second.

Then I heard laughter.

Her minions were already laughing as Blaire stepped back, looking proud of herself like she’d just won some contest.

I didn’t move. I didn’t scream. I didn’t cry.

I just stood there, my face calm.

Inside, I was angry. I was really furious. But I wasn’t going to give her the show she wanted.

So instead of reacting, I turned and walked a few steps away from them, brushing the flour off slowly. I didn’t want to spread the white powder all through the pack house. If I did, they’d make me clean it up, probably with a toothbrush.

From behind me, I heard more footsteps. Then Blaire’s voice again.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she snapped. “Who said you could clean yourself off?”

I ignored her and kept dusting the flour from my arms and hair.

“You don’t move unless I say so!” she shouted.

Still, there was nothing from me.

I heard her breathing get heavier. Her rage was building up fast.

“You really think you’re better than us now, huh?” she growled. “Just because the Alpha King hugged you in front of everyone?”

I froze. My hand stopped mid-air.

So she knew.

So did everyone else.

That explained the looks, the silence, and the whispers.

But I didn’t let the shock show on my face. I stayed as calm as ever, just like I had the past few days.

“You’re nothing special, Alicia,” Blaire went on, taking another step toward me. “You’re a filthy maid with no parents and no worth. The Alpha King made a mistake, and I promise you, he’ll realize that soon.”

She smirked.

“He needs someone like me. Someone who actually looks like a Luna, not you.”

My chest tightened, but I stayed quiet.

Then her smirk turned crueler.

“Let’s test something,” she said, signaling to one of her minions.

The girl handed her something else. It was another small pouch.

I didn’t move. I braced myself.

This time, she didn’t pour it on me.

She threw it at my face.

It burst open, and the powder—maybe flour again or something else—flew straight into my mouth and eyes.

I coughed and stepped back, wiping at my face. I still didn’t cry. I still didn’t shout.

Blaire laughed. “Look at her. So quiet and so pathetic.”

Behind her, more footsteps approached.

I looked up.

Other maids had gathered. Probably ten or more of them. They stood at the entrance to the pack house with their arms crossed, whispering and watching.

Some of them started laughing. A few even clapped their hands.

One of them muttered, “That’s what happens when you start thinking you’re above the rest of us.”

Another said, “She’s always been too quiet. Creepy girl.”

They weren’t even hiding it. None of them tried to stop Blaire. Some even encouraged her.

Blaire’s smile widened. She loved the attention.

“You see that?” she said loudly, turning to the crowd. “Even they agree. Everyone knows you don’t belong with the King. You’re not worthy. And trust me, he’ll realize it soon enough and toss you aside.”

Still, I didn’t react.

I was tired of reacting. I was tired of giving people the reactions they wanted.

So I stood tall and stared straight ahead.

Blaire’s face darkened. She hated my silence more than she hated me.

“You think you’re tough?” she shouted. “You think you can just stand there and ignore me?”

She stormed toward me, and before I could move, she shoved me hard.

I stumbled backward, lost my balance, and hit the ground. The watering can tipped over beside me, spilling water across the stone path.

Everyone gasped. Some of the maids even covered their mouths, but no one stepped forward.

I stayed on the ground, staring up at the sky for a second, trying to control the tears that burned behind my eyes.

Not because I was weak. But because I was tired.

I started to sit up, but Blaire moved to stand over me.

She raised her hand like she was about to slap me, and I braced myself.